Hungary, Other Nations, Spying On Journalists and Activists
Hungary’s government has denied wrongdoing after a worldwide investigation showed authorities infected cellphones to spy on critical journalists, politicians, and business figures.
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Rescue Crews Rush To Save Lives As Europe’s Flooding Kills 150
Rescue crews were racing to find survivors of floods that devastated parts of western Europe, killing more than 150 people and leaving at least hundreds of people still missing. In the Netherlands, a low-lying seafaring nation, authorities declared an emergency in the south.
England lifts COVID-19 restrictions as cases rise again
England celebrated the end of many grueling months of COVID-19 restrictions as of midnight Monday, but the lifting of all restrictions came amid a surge in infections and warnings about supermarket shortages, Ynet News reports. Following an intense nationwide inoculation drive, 87% of the UK population has now received at least one dose of the vaccine; 68% of the population is fully vaccinated.
Europe Floods Kill 130, Over 1,000 Missing
At least 130 people were confirmed dead, and as many as 1,300 people remained missing as devastating floods hit Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
‘Islamic State’ poses growing threat across Africa
Last week, Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum said his country needed technological assistance from its European partners to fight jihadis. He complained of swaths of territory in Mali and Niger being taken over by the so-called “Islamic State” (IS) — known also as ISIS — and its affiliates.
Dutch Investigative Journalist Peter R. de Vries Dies Of Shooting Wounds
Dutch investigative journalist Peter R. de Vries, whose relentless coverage of the Dutch underworld made him friends and foes, has died from injuries sustained in a shooting in Amsterdam, several sources confirm. He was 64.
Uzbekistan’s New Religion Law Adds Pressure on Christians
Christian rights activists say Uzbekistan’s new Religion Law maintains restrictions despite state media claims that it extend freedoms.
More than 140 Cubans detained or disappeared in widening crackdown by regime
More than 140 Cubans have been detained or disappeared in a widening crackdown by Cuba’s security forces, according to international rights advocates monitoring the aftermath of the anti-regime protests that swept the island nation on Sunday.
U.S. Says No ‘Deadline’ For Iran Nuclear Talks
Washington has said that it will issue no ultimatums on the window for a seventh round of talks on Iran’s atomic activities but added a warning over potential “nuclear advances” in the meantime.
FDA adds new warning on Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine
The Food and Drug Administration announced a new warning Monday for the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Johnson & Johnson, saying that the shot has been linked to a serious but rare neurological disorder developed in some who took the vaccine.
Lapid Declares Support for Two-State Solution Before EU Foreign Ministers
Israel’s Foreign Minister Yair Lapid addressed his 26 European counterparts during a speech to the EU Foreign Affairs Council, a first for a member of the Israeli government since Tzipi Livni in 2008.
‘All G20 Back President Biden’s Global Tax Reform’
In another move towards a unified tax system, Germany’s finance minister said Saturday that all Group of 20 (G20) nations back global tax reform.
Lithuania Accuses Belarus Of Supporting Migrants Influx
Lithuania has accused neighboring Belarus of flying in migrants from abroad to send to the European Union where they seek a better life. As a result, the government says it plans to build a barrier on the border and deploy troops to prevent them from crossing illegally into its territory.
Dutch Pray For Miracle After Journalist Is Shot
A sea of flowers marks the Amsterdam location where Dutch crime reporter Peter R. de Vries was shot through the head. Some placed messages of hope at the Lange Leidsedwarsstraat, the downtown street where the 64-year-old was gunned down following a TV appearance.
Dutch Police Detain Suspects In Shooting of Journalist
Dutch authorities say they have detained two suspects, including a rapper involved in shooting journalist Peter R. de Vries, known for his courageous reporting on the Dutch underworld.
World Bank: $480M needed for short-term Gaza recovery
A World Bank report estimates that it will cost $485 million in recovery for damage caused in the Gaza Strip during 11 days of fighting between Israel and Palestinian terror groups in May.
Belarus President’s Challenger Sentenced To 14 Years Jail
A former challenger of the autocratic president of Belarus has been sentenced to 14 years imprisonment. Viktor Babaryko received the penalty for alleged financial wrongdoing, charges he says are politically motivated. The jail term is another setback for thousands of people demanding change in the former Soviet nation.
Dutch Reporter Peter R. De Vries Shot In Amsterdam
Dutch crime reporter Peter R. de Vries was shot and injured in Amsterdam after participating in a television show, authorities confirmed Tuesday.
US, Europeans warn nuclear talks in danger as Iran plans enrichment boost
The United States and Europe warned Iran to stop nuclear “brinksmanship” and European powers expressed “grave concern” over Iran’s latest moves to enrich uranium, saying it would complicate its return to talks aimed at restarting the 2015 nuclear accord.
Evangelical denomination passes resolution to acknowledge Church’s “complicity” in “dispossession, subjugation” of Indigenous peoples in Americas
On June 25 the Evangelical Covenant Church in the US voted to approve its “Resolution to Repudiate the Doctrine of Discovery,” acknowledging what it calls the Christian church’s “complicity” in the “dispossession, subjugation and relegation” of the Indigenous peoples of the Americas, Christianity Today reports.