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Estonia

Kaja Kallas to become Estonia's first female prime minister

The centre-right Reform Party and the ruling left-leaning Centre Party have voted in favour of joining a Cabinet headed by Reform’s prime minister-designate and chairwoman Kaja Kallas.

Switzerland

From plane to train: Swiss pilots are redeploying as train drivers

Pilots in Switzerland are switching the cockpit for the cab as they redeploy as train drivers to keep working in the pandemic.

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Portugal votes for new president at height of COVID pandemic

Voters are choosing among seven presidential candidates amid rising COVID cases.

New Zealand

New Zealand records first COVID case outside of quarantine in months

A 56-year-old woman tested positive for the virus after spending two weeks in quarantine after being in Europe.

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Vatican

Pope Francis cancels three more appearances after sciatica flareup

The pope will not deliver Mass, nor evening prayer, on Sunday. A meeting with diplomatic corps on Monday has also been rescheduled.

China

Relaxed scenes in Wuhan - a year on from alerting the world to COVID

Exactly a year ago, Wuhan shocked the world by confining its 11 million inhabitants to their homes, beginning a 76-day lockdown.

United Kingdom

British doctors seek review of gap between Pfizer vaccine doses

Doctors at the British Medical Association are calling for a review of the UK's 12-week gap between the first and second doses of the Pfizer COVID vaccine.

World News

EU vaccine delays dog effort to speed up COVID inoculations

Delays to vaccine deliveries from AstraZeneca and Pfizer have raised concerns about the EU's vaccination timeline.

China

Thousands in Hong Kong locked down to contain coronavirus

Thousands of residents in Hong Kong were locked down on Saturday to contain a worsening COVID outbreak.

USA

Biden signs orders to kick-start economic recovery

US President Joe Biden signed executive orders to kick-start his recovery plan as he warned the effects of the COVID pandemic will deepen.

Denmark

Denmark suspends flights from Dubai amid doubts over virus tests

Danish authorities faced a “concrete and serious citizen inquiry into" how the tests are carried out at Dubai entry and exit points, the Scandinavian country's transport minister said.

Spain

Holiday plans threatened as Spain warns of possible tourism disruption

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said earlier this week that Spain would be better equipped to welcome foreign tourists at the end of summer.

Belgium

Belgium bans leisure travel until March amid fears over COVID variants

Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said Friday that “when people travel, the virus travels with them".

Economy

Economists revise eurozone growth downwards amid second COVID wave

Lockdowns and pandemic-related restrictions were likely to slow down Europe's economic recovery as the ECB cut its predicts for 2021 and beyond.

Spain

The Silence of the Trams: Barcelona commuters hushed to stop COVID-19

"People shouting or talking on the phone can emit up to fifty times more particles," according to the Spanish National Research Council.

France

Emmanuel Macron promises students one euro lockdown meals

Students whose mental health is suffering from prolonged isolation from classes and friends will also be offered "psychologist cheques".

Japan

Tokyo 2020: Japan rebuffs claims Olympics Games will be cancelled

A majority of the Japanese think the Olympic Games in the capital should be postponed again or cancelled amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

USA

Biden signs string of COVID orders and vows 'help is on the way'

US deaths have surged past 400,000, and the new president noted projections that they could reach 500,000 in a month.

Experiences

This Norwegian concept could be the perfect lockdown tonic

With anxiety levels rising amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the world could learn a valuable lesson from some of the happiest people in the world and their love for the great outdoors.

Netherlands

Dutch parliament backs plans for a 9pm-4.30am COVID curfew

The Netherlands will now join the likes of France, Belgium, Italy, Greece and some areas of Germany in introducing the night-time restrictions.