Thursday, March 28

Europe

Nearly 17,000 Healthcare Workers in Italy Infected With Coronavirus
Europe, Italy, News

Nearly 17,000 Healthcare Workers in Italy Infected With Coronavirus

Nearly 17,000 people who work in healthcare in Italy are infected with the coronavirus. This is evident from a report by the Italian Institute of Health.   These people account for 10 percent of all Italian infections. About two-thirds of the 16,991 infected health care workers are women, the report said. About 43 percent work as a nurse or midwife, 19 percent are hospital doctors, almost 10 percent work in medical passenger transport and the rest work in other branches of healthcare. Healthcare workers come into contact with infected patients more often and can, therefore, become infected more quickly. Italy is one of the hardest-hit countries in the world with nearly 169,000 infections and over 22,000 deaths.
France Remains Locked Until May 11 to Deal With the Coronavirus Crisis
Europe, France, News

France Remains Locked Until May 11 to Deal With the Coronavirus Crisis

France remains locked until May 11 to deal with the corona crisis. President Emmanuel Macron said this to the people on Monday evening in a TV speech.   It started just after 8 pm to allow the French to applaud the health care personnel. Macron announced additional measures to support companies and employees severely affected by the lockdown. A specific aid plan is also being prepared for sectors such as tourism, hotels, catering and culture. Macron admitted that France was insufficiently prepared for the consequences of the lung virus outbreak. Even today, hospitals and care institutions are heavily taxed, especially in the Paris region and in the northeast of the country. Strict restrictions to curb the dreaded infection came into effect on March 17 and have been extended once ...
Hope From Italy: For the First Time, the Number of People on Intensive Care is Falling
Europe, Italy, News

Hope From Italy: For the First Time, the Number of People on Intensive Care is Falling

The corona figures in hard-hit Italy remain high, but there is also hope. The death toll still rises by 681, but that is the lowest number in 9 days.   The number of patients on intensive care has fallen for the first time since the epidemic. Currently, there are 3,994 people in intensive care by corona. So the pressure remains high, but that is more than 70 less than yesterday, a decrease of 1.8 percent. In the severely affected northern region of Lombardy, in particular, fewer people are now receiving intensive care. "This is important news because it allows our hospitals to take a breath," said Civil Protection chief Angelo Borrelli. The death toll continues to rise, with 681 deaths reported in the past 24 hours. But there is also a bright spot: it is the lowest increase in 9 ...
A sharp Increase in Coronavirus Deaths in France
Europe, France, News

A sharp Increase in Coronavirus Deaths in France

The death toll from the coronavirus in France has risen sharply in the past 24 hours. French health authorities reported 89 new deaths, bringing the total to 264.   France was in a lockdown situation for the second day on Wednesday, which aims to stem the spread of the virus. The number of infections increased from 7,730 to 9,134. Of the patients, 931 are in bad shape.
EU Proposes to Temporarily Close European External Borders to Combat Coronavirus
Europe, News

EU Proposes to Temporarily Close European External Borders to Combat Coronavirus

The external borders of the European Union must be closed temporarily. That is what Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a video on Twitter.   It proposes heads of state or government to suspend all "non-essential" trips to the EU for at least 30 days. The EU hopes that this drastic measure will prevent the further spread of the coronavirus. European leaders may turn a green light tomorrow during their video conference. The entry ban for non-EU nationals will apply for thirty days but can be extended. Those who are not EU citizens, but who have lived in the EU for a long time, will still be allowed to enter the EU, as can family members of EU citizens, diplomats and "essential" workers such as doctors and nurses The travel ban applies only to people. Freight transpo...
Pope Francis Holds A Live Video Stream Due to Coronavirus
Europe, News

Pope Francis Holds A Live Video Stream Due to Coronavirus

Pope Francis celebrates Sunday Mass via a live stream instead of from his window that looks out onto Saint Peter's Square in Vatican City.   The reason is the growing concern about the new coronavirus. The mass can be seen on a live stream on the Vatican's video channel and large screens on St. Peter's Square. The Vatican announced this in a statement. The ecclesiastical state had previously announced that it would examine the agenda of Francis 'to prevent the spread' of the lung virus. The pope has been out of the running for a week due to a cold. He received two cough showers during Sunday's mass a week ago. He then announced that he would stay home for a while to recover.
Radical Islamic Leader Mullah Krekar Extradited to Italy
Europe, News

Radical Islamic Leader Mullah Krekar Extradited to Italy

Norway is to extradite Najmuddin Faraj Ahmad, founder of the extremist Kurdish movement Ansar al-Islam, to Italy. The 63-year-old man, better known as Mullah Krekar, is said to have planned terrorist attacks in Europe and the Middle East.   In 2015, Italian authorities said that at least fifteen suspect members of a jihadist group, including Krekar, had been arrested in six European countries on suspicion of planning attacks. The group of jihadists is said to have made plans to abduct Norwegian diplomats, to commit (suicide) attacks in Europe and to recruit fighters for the war in Syria and Iraq. Italy has asked for the extradition of Krekar after he was convicted by the Italian court last year for terror and was sentenced to 12 years in prison. The Norwegian court agreed on Wedne...
Norwegian Royal Family Says Goodbye to Ex-Husband of the Norwegian Princess Martha
Europe, News, Norway

Norwegian Royal Family Says Goodbye to Ex-Husband of the Norwegian Princess Martha

Norwegian royal family says goodbye to author Ari Behn, the ex-husband of the Norwegian princess Märtha Louise.   In Oslo, the capital of Norway, the funeral of Ari Behn (47), the former husband of Princess Märtha Louise, took place. Ari Behn died on Christmas day. Daughter Maud Angelica (16) took the floor during the ceremony at the side of her mother Princess Märthe Louise, with whom Ari Behn was married from 2002 to 2017. Together they had three children. Various dignitaries and royal faces attended the funeral service. In the end, the coffin was carried outside, among others by crown prince Haakon. In the photo in the tweet below, we see how King Harald comforts his daughter.
Pope Francis: the Church is Losing Influence
Europe, News

Pope Francis: the Church is Losing Influence

The influence of the Roman Catholic Church is waning. That was the message of Pope Francis today during his annual Christmas speech to the Roman Curia in the Vatican.   He noted that the Christian world takes less account of the Christian faith and therefore called for a "pastoral change of mentality". "We are no longer the only ones producing culture today," said the Pope.   According to him, new ways are needed to "reposition our way of thinking and our attitudes." Since Francis became pope in 2013, he has been trying to make the conservative Roman Curia, the pope's governing body, aware that change is needed within the church.
Thieves Steal Priceless Treasure in German Museum Heist
Europe, News

Thieves Steal Priceless Treasure in German Museum Heist

Criminals struck this morning at historical museum Grünes Gewölbe (Green Vault) in Dresden, Germany, and stole antique historic jewellery. As outlined by German media, this might be "the biggest artwork burglary in post-war background." The perpetrators have got fled.   The perpetrators ruined a display circumstance this morning around 5 a.m. and possess robbed three gemstone jewellery units from your eighteenth century. This can include a established with twenty elements and something with 37 parts. Based on the German newspapers Bild, the jewellery is worth a billion euros, but the general director from the Marion Ackermann museum cannot communicate the worth exactly. According to her, the fabric benefit is significantly less than the cultural significance. The director released...