French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday that Paris owed “a debt” to French Polynesia over nuclear tests conducted in the South Pacific territory between 1966 and 1996, but stopped short of apologising, news wires reported. “This debt is from having conducted these tests, in particular those between 1966 and 1974,” Macron said in a speech to Polynesian officials during his first official trip to the territory, adding that there should be better compensation for victims of the tests.

An explosion at a chemicals plant in the western German city of Leverkusen on Tuesday led to an "extreme danger" warning being issued and residents of the city on the Rhine being urged to close windows and doors, dpa reported. Leverkusen police said several people were injured. A large number of police officers were deployed at the place of incident. They closed the nearby motorway and urged residents to keep roads free for the emergency services.

About 1,000 Hungarians protested on Monday over allegations that the government used Israeli-made Pegasus spyware for illegal surveillance of public figures in Hungary, drawing comparisons with the country's communist past, Reuters reported. Protesters gathered at the House of Terror Museum in the capital, Budapest, which commemorates victims of Nazism and Communism, and marched to the headquarters of the governing Fidesz party. Criticising PM Viktor Orban, some chanted: "Victator."

European Union finance ministers approved on Monday the national recovery plans of Croatia, Cyprus, Lithuania and Slovenia, paving the way for the disbursement of EU pre-financing for projects envisaged under the schemes, news wires reported. The European Council is expected to adopt its implementing decisions on the approval of these plans by written procedure shortly after the informal ministers’ meeting held on Monday. Following the formal adoption of the decisions, this second batch of member states will be able to use the facility’s funds to foster their economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The business climate index in Germany posted a surprising fall as the recent surge in Covid-19 infections prompted concerns over possible difficulties linked to glitches in the supply chains of raw materials. Local entrepreneurs share fears that the last economy rebound from the pandemic recession will be short-lived, Reuters reported.

German politicians were deeply divided on Sunday over a warning by Chancellor Angela Merkel’s chief of staff Helge Braun that restrictions for unvaccinated people may be necessary if Covid-19 infection numbers reach new heights in the coming months, AP reported. Braun told the newspaper Bild am Sonntag that he doesn’t expect another coronavirus-related lockdown in Germany. But he said that unvaccinated people may be barred from entering venues like restaurants, movie theaters or sports stadiums “because the residual risk is too high.”

France's parliament approved a law early Monday requiring special virus passes for all restaurants and domestic travel and mandating vaccinations for all health workers, AP reported. Both measures have prompted protests and political tensions. The law requires all workers in the health care sector to start getting vaccinated by 15 September, or risk suspension.

Germany’s national railway operator estimated on Friday that last week’s flooding caused damage worth €1.3 billion ($1.5 billion) to its network, offering another glimpse of the extent of the devastation, AP reports.

French anti-riot police fired teargas on Saturday as clashes erupted during protests in central Paris against COVID-19 restrictions and a vaccination campaign, television reported.

Germany is listing Spain and the Netherlands as “high-incidence areas,” meaning that most people arriving from those countries who aren’t fully vaccinated will have to go into quarantine from next week.