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European Union
Birth rates Europe plummet amidst pandemic
The number of newborns in Europe decreased significantly during the pandemic, a United Nations study concludes. Since October 2020, data from nineteen European countries and the United States have shown a “strong decline in the birth rate” compared to the same months of the previous year, writes German daily Frankfurter…
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Southern Europe
Young Spanish Christian killed in possible homophobic attack
The 24-year old Samuel Luiz, who was killed by a mob on Saturday, helped his father at the head of an evangelical congregation. A group of young people kicked and punched the young man and left him lying in the middle of the street. Even though the health services tried…
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Northern Europe
Suicide rate Norway remains stable during pandemic
The corona pandemic did not lead to more suicides in Norway in 2020. Studies in other countries point in the same direction. Popular expectations might have been different, but those numbers are exactly as expected. That says chief physician Marianne Sørlie Strøm at the Cause of Death Register at the…
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Eastern Europe
Lithuania declares state of emergency because of migrant flood
Lithuania has declared a state of emergency to deal with the unusual number of refugees crossing the Belarussian border into Lithuania, Bloomberg [reports](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-02/lithuania-declares-emergency-over-illegal-migrants-from-belarus). According to the Home Affairs Minister Agne Bilotaite, the decision is not because of an increased threat to the country, but to implement a more robust system…
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Southern Europe
Spain reverses burden of proof regarding trans discrimination
If the Spanish government gets her wish, people accused of trans discrimination have to prove their innocence. The new Trans Law will reverse the burden of proof very openly. According to El Mundo, the Spanish Minister of Equality presented the bill on Tuesday. Irene Montero speaks about a “historic” proposal.…
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Western Europe
Controversial bioethics bill passed by French parliament
French lesbian couples can now have assisted reproduction in France. After a discussion of almost two years, the French parliament adopted the controversial bioethics bill by 326 votes to 115 on Tuesday. Until now, the right to assisted reproduction was limited to heterosexual couples only. Lesbian couples or single women…
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Northern Europe
Terrorist preparations lead to five years in prison for 16-year-old Norwegian
A 16-year-old Syrian boy has been sentenced for terrorist preparations and participation in the terrorist organisation IS. Of the total jail time of five years, three of them are conditional. Earlier, State Attorney Marit Formo requested that the 16-year-old be sentenced to eight years in prison, four of which were…
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Central Europe
Green leader in Germany accused of plagiarism in book
The new German Green leader Annalene Baerbock is accused of plagiarism. In her new book “Jetzt: wie wir unser Land erneuern” (Now: how we renew our land), there would be at least ten passages that have been copied from other sources without mentioning. The Neue Zürcher Zeitung reports that based…
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Christian Life
Dutch research: Digital church service can remain valuable after Covid
Many churches use digital facilities during the Covid pandemic. Camera and microphone serve the people at home. Digital church services can also be valuable after the crisis. That is the conclusion of theology student Mark Joosse and professor of Practical Theology Hans Schaeffer of the Theological University of Kampen (TUK).…
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Southern Europe
Italy's PM rejects criticism of LGBT bill from the Vatican
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi rebuked the Vatican after it asked for changes to an anti-discrimination bill that would protect LGBTQ people. “I want to say that ours is a secular state, not a confessional state. So Parliament is free to discuss”, said Draghi, who is himself a catholic. According…
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