Wind speeds in Europe are falling, causing a rise in the price of power and gas. The continent's energy system is becoming vulnerable, even as it has built up large reserves of stored gas ahead of the winter heating season. This comes amid a cut in demand to reduce its...
Europe Locking Down Again As COVID Surges, US Cases Also Rising
A new wave of lockdowns and business closings swept across France, Germany and other places in Europe on Wednesday as surging coronavirus infections there and in the U.S. wipe out months of progress against the scourge on two continents. The resurgence and the resulting clampdown sent a shudder through Wall...
Europe Reels as It Sets Virus Records, Slaps on New Rules
BERLIN — Fears rose Thursday that Europe is running out of time to control a resurgence of the coronavirus, as infections hit record daily highs in Germany, the Czech Republic, Italy and Poland. France slapped a 9 p.m. curfew on many of its biggest cities and Londoners faced new travel...
Austrian Minister to Trump: No, We Do Not Live in Forests
BERLIN — The Austrian government has spoken up to correct President Donald Trump's claim that people in its country live in "forest cities." Trump recently cited Austria and other European countries as models of good forest management that U.S. states like California, which has seen devastating wildfires lately, should learn...
Mercedes Gets Big Electric Van Order From Amazon
BERLIN — Amazon says it's buying 1,800 electric delivery vans from Mercedes-Benz, the biggest such order for the German automaker to date. In announcing the order Friday, Mercedes said it would also join a climate initiative established by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. By signing up to The Climate Pledge, Mercedes-Benz...
Virus Flareups in Europe Lead to Club Closings, Mask Orders
PARIS — New flareups of COVID-19 are disrupting the peak summer vacation season across much of Europe, where authorities in some countries are reimposing restrictions on travelers, closing nightclubs again, banning fireworks displays and expanding mask orders even in chic resort areas. “Unfortunately, this virus doesn’t play ball,” British Transport...
UCSF Study: COVID-19 Arrived in California From Multiple Locations
University of California San Francisco researchers believe at least seven different COVID-19 lineages made their way into California. Genome detectives using a method called "Genomic epidemiology," tracked the virus evolution and spread in Northern California from late January to mid-March 2020. Samples from 36 patients spanning nine counties and the Grand...
Over 1.5 Billion Globally Asked to Stay Home to Escape Virus
PARIS — The hunt for masks, ventilators and other medical supplies consumed the U.S. and Europe, as more than 1.5 billion people — one-fifth of the world's population — were urged or ordered to stay home Monday to try to blunt the spread of the coronavirus. Political paralysis stalled efforts...
Solar Orbiter Blasts Off to Capture 1st Look at Sun's Poles
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Europe and NASA's Solar Orbiter rocketed into space Sunday night on an unprecedented mission to capture the first pictures of the sun's elusive poles. “We're on the way to the sun. Go Solar Orbiter!” said Cesar Garcia Marirrodriga, project manager for the European Space Agency. “It's...
In Snub to US, Britain Will Allow Huawei in 5G Networks
LONDON — Britain decided Tuesday to allow Chinese tech giant Huawei to supply new high-speed network equipment, ignoring the U.S. government's warnings that it would sever intelligence cooperation if the company was not banned. Britain's decision is the first by a major U.S. ally in Europe, and follows intense lobbying...