World First positive COVID tests for athletes in Olympic Village Two athletes have tested positive for COVID-19 in the Tokyo Olympic Village, organisers said on Sunday, sparking fears of a larger outbreak just days before kickoff. 18/07/2021
United Kingdom In U-turn, UK's Johnson self-isolates after COVID-19 contact Downing Street first said Johnson would self-isolate outside of work only but backtracked amid accusations of double standards. 18/07/2021
France France: Tens of thousands protest against COVID pass, vaccination "Macron, no to the health dictatorship!" was among the slogans as tens of thousands took to the streets to protest new coronavirus measures. 17/07/2021
World First resident of Olympic Village tests positive for COVID Tokyo Olympics organisers sought to reassure competitors that the event would be safe after the first Covid-19 case was confirmed in the Games Village on Saturday. 17/07/2021
Russia Russian culture icon Pyotr Mamonov dies with coronavirus aged 70 The rock musician died in a Moscow hospital after spending two weeks on a ventilator being treated for coronavirus. 16/07/2021
Greece Sluggish start to tourism season in Greece Uncertainty over the Delta variant is blamed for the low number of visitors 15/07/2021
Europe Carrot or stick? Which is best at pushing Europeans to get vaccinated? Some countries are now requiring health passes to access restaurants and travel in an effort to push citizens to get COVID-19 jabs. 14/07/2021
France Watch: France observes Bastille Day under shadow of Delta variant France returns to its annual military parade down the Champs-Élysées after it was cancelled last year due to the pandemic. 14/07/2021
brussels bureau Hungary left waiting as 12 EU states have COVID spending approved A dozen EU countries have had their COVID recovery spending plans approved, paving the way for funds to arrive later this month. 13/07/2021
Iraq Dozens killed in fire on coronavirus ward in Iraqi hospital At least 92 people were confirmed to have died in a fire at a coronavirus hospital ward in southern Iraq. 13/07/2021
Spain Curfews return in Spain as infections soar in young people Catalonia and Valencia are limiting social gatherings to 10 people and restoring late-night restrictions on all activities, while Asturias banned indoor bar and restaurants operations. 13/07/2021
United Kingdom Boris Johnson to press on with lifting measures despite COVID surge The British prime minister Boris Johnson asked people to “proceed with caution” as he said lifting all remaining lockdown restrictions in England would go ahead in a week as planned, despite a sharp rise in coronavirus cases. 12/07/2021
World WHO calls on the West to donate extra vaccines to poor countries World Health Organization officials want rich countries to give their extra coronavirus vaccine doses to poor countries that haven’t yet immunised their populations, rather than using them as boosters. 12/07/2021
Europe France's Macron to outline plans to curb Delta variant as cases spike Emmanuel Macron is expected to announce new measures just days after lifting them as new infections fuelled by the more contagious Delta variant soar. 12/07/2021
Cuba Demonstrators in Havana protest shortages, rising prices It was one of biggest anti-government demonstrations in Cuban history. 12/07/2021
Belgium Woman, 90, dies after being infected with two COVID-19 variants The elderly woman, who had not been vaccinated, contracted both the Alpha and Beta variants, which were first detected in Britain and South Africa respectively. 11/07/2021
world news France warned its citizens to avoid Portugal and Spain this summer Due to concerns about rising cases of the Delta COVID variant, France says avoid travel to Portugal and Spain. 08/07/2021
