The European Union agreed Monday to impose targeted sanctions against Russian officials and entities allegedly involved in the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny but officials insisted the move should not undercut Europe’s continued high-level contacts with President Vladimir Putin. Foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg backed a Franco-German proposal to impose a travel ban … Read more
Sweden, almost alone in Europe in rejecting a broad lockdown this spring, has introduced new guidelines to curb a surge in coronavirus infections but is sticking to its largely voluntary approach. The Nordic country, which only had minor restrictions throughout its epidemic, had until recently been spared by the second wave of Covid-19 cases currently … Read more
SCHWERIN, Germany—A sharp difference in the number of coronavirus cases between western Germany and the former communist East has emerged as a new divide, three decades after reunification. The five states that once made up the bulk of East Germany are among the regions of the country least affected by the pandemic. (Berlin, located in … Read more
ISTANBUL—The severity of Turkey’s coronavirus outbreak was called into question after the government acknowledged it wasn’t counting asymptomatic cases, triggering criticism from local medical professionals and prompting the U.K. on Friday to toughen quarantine requirements for travelers coming from the country. The growing controversy comes as Turkey, which has recorded more than 8,000 deaths from … Read more
PARIS—French President Emmanuel Macron took aim at radical Islam Friday, announcing plans to outlaw what he called “Islamic separatism” in communities where he said religious laws are taking precedence over civil ones. Mr. Macron said the law, if passed, would empower authorities to shut down associations and schools that he said indoctrinate children, and monitor … Read more
LONDON—The U.K. and Canada imposed sanctions on Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and senior figures in his government, a sign of widening discontent in the West over ongoing repression of peaceful protests against his purported victory in a disputed election. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab accused Mr. Lukashenko and his allies of multiple human-rights violations in … Read more
PARIS—Two people were seriously wounded in a knife attack near the former office of Charlie Hebdo that prosecutors are investigating as a possible terrorist act, more than five years after gunmen opened fire in the satirical magazine’s newsroom. The assault began late Friday morning when a man wielding what appeared to be a butcher’s knife … Read more
The Feito Río bar in Madrid was still recovering from this spring’s lockdown when city authorities, reacting to a resurgence of Covid-19 infections, this week imposed a 10 p.m. curfew on bars and restaurants—right around the hour when many Spaniards like to head out for tapas. “People who go out for dinner won’t have it at five … Read more
BRUSSELS—In a troubled part of West Africa, Europe is fielding a military force intended to show it can handle its own security and reduce its reliance on the U.S. The coalition of European countries, led by France, is assembling based on a calculation that helping each other overseas will cement security and defense back in Europe. But the … Read more
Months after Italy’s lockdown against the coronavirus ended, Enrica Grazioli still sanitizes everything that comes into her Milan apartment, wears face masks diligently and limits interactions between her sons and their grandparents. Ms. Grazioli, a self-proclaimed social butterfly who loves to cook for guests, still hasn’t had friends over for dinner since the virus struck. … Read more