Europe

For the first time in decades of disarmament, the British government wants to allow an expansion of its nuclear arsenal. According to a document on the country's strategic reorientation after Brexit, which Prime Minister Boris Johnson presented in parliament, the limit on the number of nuclear warheads, which had previously been set until the middle of the decade, is to be increased from 180 to up to 260.

This is necessary to maintain a minimum level of deterrence in the face of the "changing security environment, including a range of technological and ideological threats", it said. It is the most far-reaching change in Britain's foreign policy since the end of the Cold War.

Bars and restaurants in parts of Germany have gotten a warning from the authorities: anyone who has closed their business for one year without interruption is threatened with the expiry of their restaurant licence. This mainly affects pubs, bars and clubs, many of which have had to close not only since the recent lockdown, but consistently since March 2019.

The city administration of Bad Waldsee stated: "We certainly didn't want to annoy the innkeepers with this information letter, on the contrary, we see the letter as support to prevent the deletion period from taking effect. In order to make this notification as informal as possible, we have deliberately offered a non-bureaucratic phone call or email as feedback in the letter,"

A total of 13 European countries have suspended the use of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine as of Tuesday due to blood clot concerns. Germany, France, Italy, Span, Portugal, Luxembourg and Slovenia suspended the vaccine on Monday, Sweden and Latvia followed on Tuesday.

Germany on Monday halted the use of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine, the Health Ministry announced in a statement. Italy, France and Spain follow suit later in the day.

"After new reports of thrombroses of the cerebral veins in connection with the vaccination in Germany and Europe, the PEI considers further investigations to be necessary," the Health Ministry announced.

The European Medicines Agency will decide "whether and how the new information will affect the authorization of the vaccine"

The largest provider Eurowings spoke of bookings "in an unprecedented dynamic" and launched 300 additional flights between Germany and Mallorca at short notice for the Easter period.

Since Sunday, the RKI no longer classifies the Balearic island as a risk area. Many Germans therefore book flights to Mallorca for the Easter period.

Italy headed into another strict lockdown on Monday. Regions that are considered red zones are affected by the new measures to contain the spread of more potent Coronavirus strains.

“I am aware that today’s measures will have an impact on children’s education, on the economy but also on the psychological state of us all,” Prime Minister Mario Draghi said Friday. “But they are necessary to avoid a worsening that will make inevitable even more stringent measures.”

Voters in Baden-Württemberg continue to back the Greens. According to the projections of infratest dimap, Minister-President Winfried Kretschmann's party landed at 32.4 percent - 2.1 percentage points more than the record result of 2016 with 30.3 percent. Kretschmann was pleased with the good results of his party. "Greens and Baden-Württemberg - that goes well together," said the 72-year-old. He understands the result "as a mandate to continue to serve our state as Minister-President". He accepts this mandate with "great gratitude and humility".

In Rhineland-Palatinate, the Social Democrats remain the strongest political force despite slight losses. According to Infratest dimap projections, the party headed by Minister President Malu Dreyer achieved 36 per cent. Although this is slightly worse than five years ago (36.2 per cent), it is enough for another clear victory in the state election. For the seventh time in a row since 1991, the SPD is the strongest party in Rhineland-Palatinate.

Ursula von der Leyen's Deputy Commission Head Frans Timmermans has stated that "It is true that mistakes were made in ordering the vaccines both in Brussels and in the member states,". He added that he is "ready to take stock at the end of the pandemic. Then we can see what we did wrong and what we did right."

In the current situation, however, the first priority is "to ensure that all of Europe receives vaccine," Timmermans continued. He defended the joint procurement, saying that a European approach was "also in the interest of the richer countries" such as Germany.

The head of the London Metropolitan Police is under pressure to explain her officers' actions during a vigil in south London on Saturday in memory of Sarah Everard.

Police were seen grabbing and leading women away from the event in handcuffs.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he was "urgently seeking an explanation" from Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick, while Home Secretary Priti Patel has asked the Met for a report on what happened.

Ireland temporarily suspended the use of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine. The move follows a report from Norway of patients developing blood clots post-inoculation.

The Norwegian Medicines Agency said there were four new cases of serious blood clotting in adults.

The Irish National Immunization Advisory Committee (NIAC) made the directive as a precaution.

Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has sharply criticized the distribution of vaccines against the coronavirus in the European Union. The distribution of the medicines among the EU member states is unfair, contrary to the declared objective of fair participation, he said. Since there were striking differences in the progress of vaccination between the member states, he and other heads of government had compared the national supply data. The result was that deliveries were not made according to population keys: Deliveries were not being made according to population keys. "When I shared this information with some heads of state and government yesterday, many could not believe their eyes and ears," Kurz said.

According to a YouGov survey commissioned by UN Women UK, 97% of women aged 18-24 and 80% of women of all ages have experienced some form of sexual harassment. The survey, that collected data from over 1000 women, also showed that 96% did not report incidents as it was either not serious enough (e.g. groping, coercion into sexual activities) or would not change anything.

“This is a human rights crisis. It’s just not enough for us to keep saying ‘this is too difficult a problem for us to solve’ – it needs addressing now,” so Claire Barnett, executive director of UN Women UK. “We are looking at a situation where younger women are constantly modifying their behaviour in an attempt to avoid being objectified or attacked, and older women are reporting serious concerns about personal safety if they ever leave the house in the dark – even during the daytime in winter.”

The Swedish-British vaccine manufacturer AstraZeneca has again revised the announced delivery quantity downwards. According to this, the member states of the European Union will probably only receive 30 million doses of Corona vaccine by the end of the month - ten million less than last announced. This was already a reduced quantity: originally, AstraZeneca had contractually promised to deliver 90 million doses.

Poland is taking the new rule of law clause in the EU budget to the European Court of Justice. This was announced by the government in Warsaw on Thursday. The EU's top judges are to examine whether the new mechanism for cutting EU funds in the event of certain rule of law violations is permissible.

Hungary and Poland oppose the new rule of law mechanism in the EU's multi-annual financial framework for 2021 to 2027. They fear that the mechanism is aimed at cutting EU funds to them because of controversial political projects. Both countries receive billions of euros net from the EU budget. At the same time, both countries are subject to legal proceedings under Article 7 of the EU Treaties for alleged disregard of fundamental EU values.

Prince William denies Britain's royals are racist after Meghan Markle, wife of his younger brother Harry, said one unnamed member of the family had asked how dark their son Archie's skin might be.

On Tuesday, Buckingham Palace issued a statement on behalf of 94-year-old Queen Elizabeth, the princes' grandmother. She said the family were saddened by how challenging the couple had found the last few years.

William said he had not talked to Harry since the interview was broadcast just over three days ago.

The European Medicines Agency has announced, that their human medicines committee (CHMP) concluded by consensus that the data on the Covid-19 vaccine Janssen were robust and met the criteria for efficacy, safety and quality.

"With this latest positive opinion, authorities across the European Union will have another option to combat the pandemic and protect the lives and health of their citizens," said Emer Cooke, EMA's Executive Director, adding, "this is the first vaccine which can be used as a single dose". These measures will allow regulators to swiftly assess data emerging from a range of different sources and take any necessary regulatory action to protect public health.

Russia's media regulator says it will block Twitter if it does not remove 'illegal' content. The measures will only apply to images and video, not text. The regulator cites 2,569 cases of users inciting minors to commit suicide and 149 cases of child pornography.

In December, the Russian Parliament's lower house passed two bills that would give the state greater power to punish Facebook and Twitter companies.

Buckingham Palace issued a statement Tuesday, responding to Meghan and Harry's interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Queen Elizabeth's statement reads: "The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan. The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. Whilst some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately. Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved family members."

Intensive care units in hospitals in Paris are nearing full capacity as severe Coronavirus cases increase. Paris hospitals currently treat almost 1,000 people in ICU and are being force to put of non-urgent surgeries.

English television personality Piers Morgan is leaving Good Morning Britain – ITV's breakfast news show – following comments he made about Meghan Markle, including questioning her suicidal thoughts. The announcement comes after aver 41,000 people complained to UK media regulator Ofcom after the show aired.

"Following discussions with ITV, Piers Morgan has decided now is the time to leave Good Morning Britain," ITV said in a statement. "ITV has accepted this decision and has nothing further to add."

The former regional president of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont, loses his immunity as an MEP. The European Parliament voted on Monday evening to withdraw the right of protection, as has now been announced. Two of Puigdemont's comrades-in-arms in the fight for Catalonia's independence from Spain are also affected. The Catalans now face extradition to the Spanish authorities.

Members of European Parliament are set to vote on declaring the European Union a LGBTIQ Freedom Zone in support of the community. The move comes two years after the first Polish county officially discriminated against persons based on sexual preference or identity.

The Swiss biotech company Adienne Pharma & Biotech signed an agreement to manufacture the Sputnik V vaccine at its production site in the Milan region, said Antonio Francesco Di Naro, founder and president of the company.

The deal comes as Prime Minister Mario Draghi pledged to speed up Italy's fledgeling vaccination campaign amid a new rise in infections from the disease that's led to more than 100,000 fatalities in the country.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday lashed out at manufacturers for failing to uphold their commitments as countries in Europe struggle to step up the pace of inoculations.

When asked during Downing Street news conference about the allegations made against the Royal Family by Meghan marble and husband Prince Harry, the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson declined to comment.

"I have always had the highest admiration for the Queen and the unifying role that she plays in our country and across the Commonwealth," Johnson said. "As for all other matters to do with the Royal Family, I have spent a long time now not commenting on Royal Family matters and I don't intend to depart from that today.

Nikolas Löbel, a lawmaker from German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU), stepped down on Monday over a government deal to procure face masks.

"In order to avoid further damage to my party, I am resigning my Bundestag mandate with immediate effect," Löbel said.

After two months of home-schooling, millions of pupils in England are returning back to school on Monday as the government eases restrictions. Pupils aged 5-11 will return to schools on Monday, secondary school students aged 11-18 will return to their classrooms the coming week and are asked to take Covid-19 tests in the first two weeks. The Department of Education has recommended face coverings in classrooms.

An official of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) is cautioning the European Union to hold back on granting emergency authorization for Sputnik V, Russia's Covid-19 vaccine until its effectiveness has been reviewed.

“We need documents that we can review. We also don’t at the moment have data...about vaccinated people. It is unknown. That’s why I would urgently advise against giving a national emergency authorization,” EMA managing board head Christa Wirthumer-Hoche said. “We can have Sputnik V on the market here in future when the appropriate data have been reviewed. The rolling review has begun now at EMA.”

Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, have opened up about life in the British royal family in a tell-all interview with US television personality Oprah Winfrey. Meghan, who is biracial, said there were concerns about how "dark" her child would be.

The American also addressed the numerous rumours of intrigue between her and Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, married to Prince William, second in line of succession to the throne and Harry's older brother.

The turbulent life amidst the royal family -although the former actress spoke of maintaining good relations with Queen Elizabeth 2nd- even led Meghan to have suicidal thoughts.

A Mumsnet poll for International Women’s Day has shown that over half of the women in the United Kingdom think that the pandemic has set back gender equality decades. Since the start of the pandemic, women have been more likely to lose their job and be furloughed while taking care of household chores and their children's needs and education. Women have reported that, while their male partners were able to work uninterrupted, they had to reduce their work hours to take care of childcare.

“This survey paints a fairly depressing picture of how gender inequality has been exacerbated during the pandemic, with women really struggling to cope,” said Mumsnet founder Justine Roberts. “What’s needed is a proper women’s strategy, with specific policies to redress the inequality that’s been triggered by Covid, or we’re at real risk of heading right back to the 1970s with regard to women’s economic power.”

French billionaire Olivier Dassault was killed on Sunday in a helicopter crash, a police source said, with President Emmanuel Macron paying tribute to the 69-year old conservative politician.

Olivier, seen as the favourite of founder Marcel, was once considered favoured to succeed Serge at the head of the family holding, but that role went to former Dassault Aviation CEO Charles Edelstenne.

"Great sadness at the news of the sudden passing of Olivier Dassault," Valerie Pecresse, a conservative politician who is president of the Paris region, said on Twitter.