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Czech Republic

Czechs have fourth new health minister in a year amid COVID-19 fallout

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis fired Jan Blatny on Wednesday, the third health minister who has lost the job in the pandemic.

World News

COVID-19 prompts life expectancy to fall in a majority of EU countries

According to Eurostat, the biggest drop was recorded in Spain, with a loss of 1.6 years on 2019.

World News

North Korea tells World Health Organization it's still virus-free

Isolated North Korea has continued to claim a perfect record in keeping out the coronavirus in its latest report to the World Health Organization.

World News

1/3 of COVID patients suffer brain disorders within 6 months - study

A new study has found that 34% of those who had COVID-19 were diagnosed with neurological or psychiatric conditions.

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World News

Amnesty International slams rich countries for hoarding COVID vaccines

'Governments restricted not only freedom of movement, but also freedom of expression,' the human rights group said.

Brazil

Brazil's daily deaths from COVID pass 4,000 mark for first time

Only the US and Peru have had daily death tolls higher than 4,000. Brazil's pandemic toll is quickly approaching 340,000, the second-highest in the world.

USA

Every American eligible for COVID-19 vaccine on April 19, Biden says

“No more confusing rules. No more confusing restrictions," Biden said.

United Kingdom

Oxford University suspends AstraZeneca vaccine trial on children

Oxford University has paused a trial of the vaccine on children and teenagers until further review by the British regulator.

Hungary

Hungary to ease lockdown despite COVID-19 surge

PM Viktor Orban said the country could start reopening after more than a quarter of the population has been inoculated.

World News

France and Spain ramp up COVID-19 vaccinations as cases surge

The Stade de France stadium was on Tuesday turned into a mass vaccination centre while across the border the Spanish Prime Minister called on people to "vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate".

Denmark

Denmark among first in Europe to introduce COVID pass scheme

The COVID-19 "passport" is available via a secure application or in paper format to people who have either been fully vaccinated, have tested positive for COVID-19 two to 12 weeks previously or negative over the previous 72 hours.

France

EU approves €4 billion aid to Air France, with strings attached

The European Commission has approved a plan for France to provide up to €4 billion in aid to Air France, which has suffered from the collapse of passenger traffic due to the coronavirus pandemic.

World

French hospitals pass second wave peak in intensive care patients

France's health minister Olivier Véran warned on Monday that the number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care could reach levels seen during the first wave of the crisis a year ago.

Travel News

Travel between Australia and New Zealand allowed from April 19

Travellers will not have to quarantine when they move between the two nations.

Norway

Norwegian 'caught trying to dodge quarantine' by skiing over border

The 50-year old was hoping to evade quarantine rules in his country by crossing over mountains from Sweden but bad weather thwarted his plan, emergency services said.

Money

In pandemic-stricken Cuba, cryptocurrencies are becoming a lifeline

Can cryptocurrencies be a long-term solution for impoverished countries, particularly in times of economic crisis? Cuba could be about to find out.

France

French ministers accused of dining at secret restaurants amid pandemic

A TV documentary accusing government ministers of dining in secret restaurants sparked fury in France as the country entered a new coronavirus lockdown.

Portugal

Portugal eases COVID restrictions but UK flight ban remains

Cafes, restaurant terraces, museums, and gyms have been reopened with Portugal to limited capacity, but strict travel restrictions remain in place.

Bulgaria

Bulgarian PM set for tough coalition talks after splintered election

While Borissov led preliminary results with 26% of the vote, his centre-right GERB lost ground to smaller parties following months of anti-graft protests.

United Kingdom

UK PM says he's hopeful international travel can resume from May 17

Johnson added that vaccine passports could be used as a way of continuing international travel without reimporting COVID-19 cases.