‘Our forests are sick’: German woodland hit by record damage due to fires and pests, says damning new report

Fires, storms, droughts and bark beetle infestations have damaged German forests so badly that they are now in their worst condition in four decades, the country’s Agriculture Minister Julia Kloeckner said on Wednesday. … Read More >‘Our forests are sick’: German woodland hit by record damage due to fires and pests, says damning new report

Facebook says it ‘erred on the side of over-enforcement’ when blocking news content in week-long standoff in Australia

Social media giant Facebook said Wednesday it “inadvertently” blocked some content including a large swathe of charity and state health pages when it imposed a week-long ban on news in a standoff over Australia’s new media code. … Read More >Facebook says it ‘erred on the side of over-enforcement’ when blocking news content in week-long standoff in Australia

Australian defense minister hospitalized ‘as precaution’ amid scandal over alleged rape of young staffer

Australian Defense Minister Linda Reynolds has unexpectedly taken sick leave just as she was about to answer questions about a young staffer’s claims that she was raped by a male colleague inside the minister’s office. … Read More >Australian defense minister hospitalized ‘as precaution’ amid scandal over alleged rape of young staffer

Poland outlaws face coverings and scarves in favor of masks, ramps up regional restrictions as British Covid-19 variant spreads

The Polish government has banned the wearing of face coverings and scarves as an acceptable means of protecting oneself against Covid-19, as the third wave of the virus gathers momentum in the east European state. … Read More >Poland outlaws face coverings and scarves in favor of masks, ramps up regional restrictions as British Covid-19 variant spreads

‘Preacher without a face’: ISIS’ ‘chief recruiter’ in Germany sentenced to over 10yrs in prison following years-long trial

A man described as the head of Islamic State’s (IS, formerly ISIS) recruiting network in Germany has been sentenced to 10 and a half years in a high-profile case that took more than three years to try. … Read More >‘Preacher without a face’: ISIS’ ‘chief recruiter’ in Germany sentenced to over 10yrs in prison following years-long trial

France’s Dunkirk area to join Nice in weekend lockdown amid ‘deteriorating’ Covid-19 situation – health minister

From this Friday, the city of Dunkirk and the surrounding area will enter a weekend lockdown similar to that in Nice, France’s Health Minister Olivier Veran has announced while warning of an uptick in Covid-19 cases nationwide. … Read More >France’s Dunkirk area to join Nice in weekend lockdown amid ‘deteriorating’ Covid-19 situation – health minister

Bernie Sanders blasts Israel for sending Covid-19 vaccines to allies while ‘Palestinians are still waiting’

US Senator Bernie Sanders has lashed out at Tel Aviv for sending surplus coronavirus vaccines to friendly nations overseas instead of giving them to Palestinians, saying it must do so as an “occupying power.” … Read More >Bernie Sanders blasts Israel for sending Covid-19 vaccines to allies while ‘Palestinians are still waiting’

Sweden clamps down on restaurant hours, advises solo shopping in bid to curb ‘worrying’ Covid-19 situation

The Swedish government will tighten the opening hours of hospitality businesses and order shoppers to go out alone in a bid to avoid a third wave of Covid-19 infections, Prime Minister Stefan Lofven announced on Wednesday. … Read More >Sweden clamps down on restaurant hours, advises solo shopping in bid to curb ‘worrying’ Covid-19 situation