Now playing Next world news COVID-19 vaccine: Are poorer countries at risk of being left behind? Campaigners want some intellectual property laws to be waived, which they claim will speed up and boost production of the critical treatments, technologies, and vaccines that every country needs access to to defeat coronavirus. 16/12/2020
Now playing Next China Team of experts to travel to China in search of coronavirus origin The mission is expected to start next month and continue for four-to-five weeks. 16/12/2020
Now playing Next Lithuania Lithuania deploys police checkpoints to enforce COVID holiday lockdown Hundreds of police checkpoints are being put in place across the Baltic country to try to stop people from travelling over the holiday period. 16/12/2020
Now playing Next Germany Germany's tighter COVID constraints begin after 'lockdown light' fails Germany is closing most stores and schools, and further limiting social contacts after Angela Merkel and 16 state governors agreed to tighten measures to curb rising infections. 16/12/2020
Now playing Next Russia Oliver Stone says he has taken Russia's COVID-19 vaccine The US movie director told Russian state TV that he had received the first of two jabs of the Sputnik V vaccine. 16/12/2020
Now playing Next United Kingdom Johnson in call for 'smaller' Christmas but eased restrictions to stay The planned relaxtion of coronavirus restrictions over Christmas in the UK contrasts with measures being taken by other European nations, such as Germany, the Netherlands and Lithuania, which have announced sweeping new restrictions for the holidays. 15/12/2020
Now playing Next Sweden Sweden's health officials 'misjudged' second wave of COVID-19 Sweden has stood out for its approach to the pandemic, for a long time not mandating lockdowns and instead relying on citizens’ sense of civic duty. 15/12/2020
Now playing Next Spotlight How Japan is assisting foreigners during the COVID-19 pandemic IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF JAPAN Across the world, people are adjusting to the 'new COVID-19 normal’. The economic and social landscape in Japan, as elsewhere, looks very different now. We look at how Japan is facing the challenges of life during a pandemic through the stories of people on the ground. 15/12/2020
Now playing Next France French culture industry angry as country swaps lockdown for curfew France replaces lockdown with an overnight curfew from Tuesday, except for on Christmas Eve. Theatres, cinemas and museums remain closed. 15/12/2020
Now playing Next Turkey Turkey to bring in the new year with a new COVID-19 lockdown The short lockdown will begin on New Years Eve and last until the morning of January 4, the president has announced. 15/12/2020
Now playing Next no comment Wuhan river swimmers happy to be back after virus lockdown Wuhan was where the first cases of COVID-19 were detected at the turn of the new year. 14/12/2020
Now playing Next United Kingdom 'New COVID variant' spreading rapidly in southeast England Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirms over 1,000 cases of 'new mutation' has caused a faster spread of coronavirus in southeast England, as tighter restrictions are announced in London 14/12/2020
Now playing Next Europe News Clown doctors show laughter is the best medicine, but they need help Some went online, others also performed in front of windows, balconies and courtyards. Europe's clown doctors even used hydraulic lifts to reach patients on the upper floors of clinics. But fundraising events to support such work has been hit by lockdowns. 14/12/2020
Now playing Next Netherlands Coronavirus: Netherlands begins imposing tough new five-week lockdown Schools, nonessential shops, museums and gyms close from Tuesday. PM Mark Rutte's announcement prompted a rush of last-minute shopping. 14/12/2020
Now playing Next France COVID-19: Parts of France launch mass testing ahead of deconfinement Areas of France have launched mass COVID-19 testing campaigns in a new attempt to try to curb the pandemic before a relaxation of measures incoming ahead of the holidays. 14/12/2020
Now playing Next Italy Italy surpasses UK to record worst coronavirus death toll in Europe While the way coronavirus deaths are recorded in both countries differs, Italy has now overtaken the UK as the worst hit country in Europe, according to the latest figures released on Sunday. 13/12/2020
Now playing Next no comment COVID-19 vaccine set to be distributed throughout the US Dry ice, shipping labels and packing tape were on hand as workers in face masks and gloves prepared the packages of vaccine doses. 13/12/2020
Now playing Next Germany Germany to close businesses and schools in COVID-19 lockdown German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced that schools and non-essential businesses will close from Wednesday through January 10 to stop the spread of COVID-19. 13/12/2020
Now playing Next Albania Fresh clashes in Tirana over death of man shot by police during curfew The clashes are becoming a flashpoint between the Socialist government and the centre-right opposition party who have demanded the prime minister's resignation. 12/12/2020
Now playing Next South Korea South Korea reports biggest daily jump in COVID-19 cases South Korea reported its biggest daily jump in COVID-19 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. 12/12/2020