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UNITED STATES

Sweden refuses to release CIA flight info

When two human rights organizations asked 28 countries for information in order to map out CIAs secret air transports of terror suspects, Sweden was one of three countries refusing to give out any details.

”All flights that are not regular flights are classified under Sweden’s secrecy legislation” confirmed Caroline Karlsson, advisor to minister for infrastructure, Catharina Elmsäter-Svärd.

Denmark, Finland and Norway are among seven countries that have shared their information, while Sweden, Canada and Portugal refuse, according to Access Info Europe, one of the organizations behind the study.

The American Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has released 27,128 documents to the two organizations, Access Info Europe and Reprieve.

So far, Eurocontrol, the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation, has joined Sweden, Canada and Portugal in refusing to give out any information.

Five countries, including Great Britain, say they don’t have the information requested by the organizations, while 13 countries have so far failed to answer.

One incident when a CIA plane touched down on Swedish soil, receiving significant attention in Swedish media, was the flight transporting Egyptians Mohammad Alzery and Ahmed Agiza from the Bromma airport in Stockholm to Egypt in 2001, where they later were tortured in prison.

Sweden has previously been slammed by human rights organizations about its part in the incident.

The actions of the Swedish security service Säpo has been criticized but the highest authority belonged to Sweden’s foreign minister at the time, Anna Lindh.

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TRAVEL

Travel: Germany downgrades Covid-19 risk status of USA

The United States is no longer classed as a "high incidence area" by Germany - it has returned to being a "risk area".

Travel: Germany downgrades Covid-19 risk status of USA
People walking in New York in May 2020. Photo: DPA

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) changed the risk classification of the United States on March 7th.

The US was previously classed as a “high incidence area” by the RKI. These are regions where the incidence is over 200 Covid-19 cases per 100,000 residents with a period of seven days.

However, now it’s a “risk area” – which is used by German authorities to describe a region with an increased risk of infection, usually above 50 coronavirus cases per 100,000 people in seven days.

Other factors are also taken into account, such as measures in place.

It means the travel requirements for people coming from the US to Germany have changed.

However, entry from the US is only permitted in a few narrow exceptions. Proof of urgent need to travel is required, German authorities say. You can find more information in the story below.

READ MORE: When are Americans allowed to travel to Germany?

What happens if I need to travel from the US to Germany?

If you are a German resident from the US, or fall into one of the exception categories, you still face strict testing and quarantine measures.

All travellers must have a negative Covid-19 test result at the latest 48 hours after they enter Germany. It must be presented to authorities if they request it.

Some individual airlines may however still say that travellers have to present a coronavirus negative test result before boarding is allowed. You should contact your airline before travel to check.

Both PCR tests as well as rapid anitgen tests are accepted if they meet the quality standards. Testing is still mandatory even if travellers are vaccinated or have recovered from a coronavirus infection. 

People returning from “risk zones” are required to self-isolate for 10 days after they arrive.

The quarantine can usually be ended with a negative coronavirus test result taken at the earliest five days after arriving in Germany.

However, states can differ on their travel regulations so check with your local authority before travelling.

Everyone entering Germany is also required to register online.

New “high incidence areas”

In the RKI’s latest travel classification list, Sweden, Hungary and Jordan are now classed as “high incidence areas” which means stricter testing and quarantine rules apply.

Areas of “variant concern” include Austria’s Tyrol region, the UK, Brazil, Portugal and Ireland. Even stricter rules apply for these regions.

You can find out more information about travel rules in our story below.

READ MORE: What you need to know about Germany’s latest rules on foreign travel

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