Month: June 2020

Thousands of protesters gathered outside the U.S. Embassy in London on Sunday to condemn police brutality after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, some wearing face masks to protect against COVID-19 bearing the slogan “racism is a virus.”On Saturday, thousands of protesters had gathered in central London in a demonstration that was peaceful but …

Read more “Thousands Join Black Lives Matter Protest outside US Embassy in London “

A Russian journalist whose jailing prompted protests in which police detained demonstrators has been released. The detentions brought criticism that authorities were using coronavirus restrictions to suppress opposition. Ilya Azar was sentenced to 15 days in jail on May 28, but was released Sunday after a court reduced his sentence. Azar was arrested after holding a one-man picket …

Read more “Russian Journalist Jailed for Violating Virus Ban Released “

Pope Francis on Sunday warned Italians to not let their guard down against coronavirus now that infection rates have fallen and urged them to obey government rules on social distancing and wearing masks.Francis, addressing several hundred people in St. Peter’s Square for his Sunday blessing, reacted to applause that broke out when he said their …

Read more “Don’t Celebrate Victory Over Coronavirus Too Soon, Pope Tells Italians “

Think about Hannibal Lecter, the psychopathic cannibal in the “Silence of The Lambs.” Or Jason Voorhees, the hockey mask-wearing murderer in the “Friday the 13th” slasher film series.Before the coronavirus outbreak abruptly disrupted the livelihoods of millions of people, the sight of masks worn in public spaces in the Western world conjured up images of …

Read more “Surgical or Homemade, Masks Mark A Major Shift in Thinking “

Tens of thousands of people gathered Saturday in cities far from the United States to express their anger over the death of George Floyd, a sign that the Black Lives Matter movement against police brutality is resonating with wider calls over addressing racism in Asia, Australia and Europe.In Berlin, where police said 15,000 people rallied …

Read more “Protests Support Floyd, Black Lives Matter On 3 Continents”

As forces loyal to the internationally recognized Libyan government in Tripoli gain more ground near the capital from forces under eastern military commander General Khalifa Haftar, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sissi called for a cease-fire. Sissi urged both sides to resume dialogue. Tripoli-based Prime Minister Fayez al Sarraj also met Friday with his main backer, …

Read more “Egypt Proposes Libya Cease-fire, Calls for Withdrawal of Mercenaries”

A ceremony to honor the sacrifice of those who lost their lives in the D-Day landings in 1944 was held on Omaha Beach in Saint-Laurent-Sur-Mer in France Saturday.Due to the coronavirus restrictions, the commemoration was much smaller than previous annual events, when tens of thousands or people congregated on the northern French beaches of Normandy.Billie …

Read more “France Holds a Ceremony to Commemorate the Normandy Landings”

Greece is preparing to reopen to international tourism in the coming days, a move expected to bring in as many as 10 million travelers from several countries. The re-start is vital for the weak Greek economy that relies heavily on tourism. However, health officials fear tourism could fan a flare-up in COVID-19 and have grave …

Read more “Greek Experts warn of COVID-19 Flare up as Tourism Gears up to Reopen”

French military forces killed al-Qaida’s North Africa chief, Abdelmalek Droukdel, during an operation in Mali, officials said Friday.”On June 3, French army forces, with the support of their local partners, killed the emir of al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, Abdelmalek Droukdel, and several of his closest collaborators, during an operation in northern Mali,” French Armed …

Read more “France Says It Killed Al-Qaida North Africa Chief With US Help”

France said Friday that its military forces had killed al-Qaida’s North Africa chief, Abdelmalek Droukdel, a key Islamist fighter whom its forces had been hunting for more than seven years, during an operation in Mali.”On June 3, French army forces, with the support of their local partners, killed the emir of al-Qaida in the Islamic …

Read more “France Says Its Army Killed al-Qaida North Africa Chief”

The Trump administration’s campaign to keep Chinese tech giant Huawei out of its allies’ 5G networks appears to be gaining ground in Britain.  Last year the British government concluded that although Huawei posed a “significantly increased risk” to British communications, the government decided to ban Huawei only from the country’s so-called network “core,” but otherwise allow …

Read more “Facing More Pressure from Washington, Britain Pushes Back on Huawei Dependence”

All too many have been, for 76 years since that fateful June 6 on France’s Normandy beaches, when allied troops in 1944 turned the course of World War II and went on to defeat fascism in Europe in one of the most remarkable feats in military history.Forgotten they will never be. Revered, yes. But Saturday’s …

Read more “On Sad Anniversary, Few to Mourn the D-Day Dead in Normandy”

Officials in Norway say eight structures were swept into the sea by a landslide near the Norwegian Arctic town of Alta.A local resident, Jan Egil Bakkedal, captured the event on video Wednesday in the village of Kraakneset. He told the Associated Press he ran for his life when he realized what was happening. Among houses …

Read more “Norway Landslide Takes Homes Into Sea”

British Prime Minister Prime Minister Boris Johnson Thursday opened the Global Vaccine Summit, a virtual gathering of more that 50 countries, to raise funds for the U.N.-backed public-private health alliance known as GAVI, with the goal of ensuring vaccines are available to all.The summit hopes to raise more than $7.5 billion for the development and …

Read more “Britain Hosts Global COVID-19 Vaccine Summit”

Madeleine McCann’s family is hoping for closure in the case after a key suspect was identified in Germany and as authorities there say they believe the missing British girl is dead. McCann was 3 at the time of her disappearance while she was on vacation with her family in Portugal in 2007. U.K. and German …

Read more “McCann Family Seeks Closure as Germany Presumes Girl Is Dead”