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World News

Europe closes borders in fight against coronavirus variants

Europe's tightening of coronavirus measures includes severe travel restrictions in attempts to keep out new variants

France

France avoids fresh lockdown, but closes borders to non-EU countries

France is to close its borders to countries outside the European Union from Sunday, but has stopped short of imposing a new lockdown as the country continues to battle the spread of coronavirus.

Germany

Germany bans entry from UK and four other nations over COVID variants

From Saturday Germany will close its borders to arrivals from five countries that are affected by COVID-19 variants, in order to "protect the German population" the German health ministry said.

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2020, a year of slowdowns, but not for global warming

Partner content presented by Copernicus

2020, the hottest year on record wrapped up the hottest decade ever. Although global lockdowns have not stifled the warming climate, the global health crisis might nudge us into climate action.

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Netherlands

EU approves AstraZeneca COVID vaccine despite concern for older people

The European Medicines Agency says it is not restricting use of the vaccine for people aged over 55 in order to 'give options', but some member states are set to withhold it

Destinations

Europe's first digital nomad village is opening on a stunning island

Nomads who commit to staying for a month can get a working space, wifi and a Slack community - all for free

World

Younger people subject to mental health issues amid COVID pandemic

The shutting of schools, disruption of daily life, paired with reduced social interaction and uncertainty over the future has increased the pressure on many young people.

Portugal

Portugal extends lockdown and limits foreign travel amid COVID surge

President Rebelo de Sousa called for quick and drastic action to fight a January pandemic surge that has stretched medical services in Portugal to breaking point.

China

WHO team visits Wuhan hospital that had early COVID patients

A World Health Organization team visited a hospital where China says the first COVID-19 patients were treated more than a year ago as part of the experts' long-awaited fact-finding mission on the origins of the coronavirus.

World News

What are the real reasons behind the EU's slow vaccine rollout?

As the EU faces heightened criticism over delays to the coronavirus vaccine rollout, we take a look at why it's taking so long.

United Kingdom

Novavax COVID-19 vaccine appears 89% effective in UK study

While the Novavax vaccine study is still ongoing, initial results show it is nearly 96% effective against the older coronavirus and nearly 86% effective against the new variant circulating in the UK.

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Boris Johnson travels to hospital laboratory in Glasgow amid lockdown

Prime Minister Boris Johnson travelled to Scotland on Thursday to laud the rapid rollout of coronavirus vaccines across the United Kingdom

Germany

Germany considers stopping flights from countries with COVID variants

The country is set to take "drastic measures" to stop the spread of coronavirus variants, with plans to stop flights from the UK, Brazil, South Africa and Portugal.

Europe News

EU is 'stuck between a rock and a hard place' on vaccine rollout

"The problem for the European Commission is going to be once the rollout happens, it's not going to get the credit. The member states ... are going to take the credit," said Finland's ex-PM Alexander Stubb

France

France reports around 2,000 daily cases of new variants

France's health minister said that although the 6 pm curfew is having an effect, infections are still rising.

France

French restaurant customers 'will be fined' after unlawful lunch

Restaurant owner Christophe Wilson defiantly served lunch to dozens of people in defiance of pandemic restrictions in the French Riviera City.

United Kingdom

UK steps up travel restrictions to crack down on rule flouters

'Going on holiday is not a valid reason to travel', said UK home secretary Priti Patel.

Serbia

Serbia has second fastest vaccine rollout in Europe thanks to China

The President of Serbia has compared the distribution of the coronavirus vaccine in Europe to the sinking of the Titanic - saying the rich are being saved while the poor of the Balkans are being left to drown.

World News

Which COVID variants have been identified and how infectious are they?

Here's what we know about the coronavirus variants that have emerged in the UK, South Africa, Brazil and California

My Europe Series

Why the riots in the Netherlands go beyond a COVID curfew

Violence rocked Dutch towns and cities for successive nights after a curfew to stop the spread of coronavirus was imposed. It is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to grievances with the government.