Eu: Latest News

A new Covid-19 wave appears to be brewing in Europe as cooler weather arrives, with public health experts warning that vaccine fatigue and confusion over types of available vaccines will likely limit booster uptake.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Asia’s highest inflation rates and ongoing fuel scarcity continue to threaten food security in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka continues to experience an unprecedented economic crisis with high inflation, rising commodity prices, power shortages and scarcity of fuel.The World Food Program said that Asia’s highest inflation rates and ongoing fuel scarcity continue to threaten food security in Sri Lanka. According to the World Food Programme (WFP), an estimated 6.2 million people in Sri Lanka are facing moderate to severe acute food insecurity, with one in every four households applying negative coping strategies such as reducing the number of meals per day, reducing expenses on other essential things such as healthcare or withdrawing children from school. Female-headed households are seen to be particularly hard it, as are the urban poor and people working in the estate-sector.The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that given the deteriorating food security and nutrition situation in Sri Lanka and the strong likelihood that the upcoming Maha season will not produce sufficient yields, several countries have pledged further assistance, especially towards improving food security and the critical inputs for the agriculture sector. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced an additional US$20 million in humanitarian assistance, bringing USAID’s total assistance to nearly US$92 million since June of this year. The United Kingdom pledged £3 million in lifesaving support going mostly toward food security and supporting farmers, while the EU released €1.5 million in humanitarian aid which will mainly be utilized for multipurpose cash assistance.The final

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission congratulating President Ranil Wickremesinghe on his election as the President of the Democratic of Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka has assured its support to the government of Sri Lanka for the efforts to overcome the crisis successfully.Issuing a statement, Ursula von der Leyen noted that at a time of unprecedented challenges faced by the people of Sri Lanka, the European Union remains committed to support Sri Lanka’s efforts to overcome the crisis successfully, including the necessary reforms that will bring the country back to a path of inclusive prosperity and lasting national reconciliation.She further stated that in this process, freedom of expression and assembly, dialogue among all stakeholders, as well as respect for the rule of law and fundamental rights will remain essential.She has also made a reference to the assessment by the European Union on the progress made by Sri Lanka on GSP+ commitments.

Europe's COVID cases showed more signs of rising last week, marking the first regionwide spike since the most recent BA.5 wave, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said today in a weekly update.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – EU released €1.5 million in humanitarian aid to respond to the ongoing socio-economic crisis affecting millions of people in Sri Lanka.The new EU funding will mainly focus on multipurpose cash interventions to respond to the basic needs of the population, among which are food, health, education, and protection.Humanitarian assistance will target the most vulnerable households that require immediate support.Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, said, “The people of Sri Lanka are suffering the hardship of a protracted socio-economic crisis that is increasingly exhausting resources and threatening the food security of millions of people.

ITALY - An Italian land artist whose past creations include images of Greta Thunberg and Pope Francis has unveiled his latest piece: a massive appeal to world superpowers to end current conflicts.Dario Gambarin’s latest creation in Castagnaro, Italy, was plowed on a 26,000-square-meter plot of land using only a tractor, plough and rotating harrow. He didn’t do any tracing on the ground, according to FOX News.In the past, Gambarin has used a plough to create images of Leonardo da Vinci, Dante, Beethoven and Nelson Mandela.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of military reservists for the war in Ukraine.Flights filled up quickly and the prices of tickets for remaining connections sky-rocketed, apparently driven by fears that Russia’s borders could soon close or of a broader call-up that might send many Russian men of fighting age to the war’s front lines.Tickets for the Moscow-Belgrade flights operated by Air Serbia, the only European carrier besides Turkish Airlines to maintain flights to Russia despite a European Union flight embargo, sold out for the next several days. The price for flights from Moscow to Istanbul or Dubai increased within minutes before jumping again, reaching as high as 9,200 euros ($9,119) for a one-way economy class fare.

Another Covid requirement in Spain is being rolled back, while the Netherlands has axed all travel rules and requirements. The Dutch move marks the first time unvaccinated visitors will be allowed entry.

TheEuropean Union executive recommended on Sunday suspending some 7.5 billion euros in funding forHungary over corruption, the first such case in the 27-nation bloc under a new sanction meant to better protect the rule of law.

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has said vaccines that have been adapted to Covid-19 variants are set to be introduced to the booster programme from next month.

Holiday-makers hoping to jet to sunny Spain over the half-term will face the nation's tough Covid restrictions, which will remain in place until 15 November.

The EU's medicines watchdog has approved a vaccine specifically targeting the new and infectious types of the Omicron variant amid fears of a new wave of winter infections.

Pfizer’s Paxlovid has been approved by US FDA for COVID treatment. Jagadeesh Babu Rangisetty, Co-founder and Managing Director at Zenara Pharma, said, "We have launched this product in India with an aim to bring the best treatment options against COVID within reach of patients in our country.

ALSO READ: Covid-19: Immense efforts are on for next-generation vaccines, says top health expert "There might be a completely new variant emerging that we are not able to predict today," Marco Cavaleri added. Earlier on 1 September, the EMA approved vaccines by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna that are adapted to tackle the older BA.1 subvariant of Omicron.

(With inputs from agencies)

omicron. Other versions of omicron, BA.4 and BA.5, are now more prevalent, but the virus is evolving faster than new vaccines can be formulated and tested, and this is the closest match available that has received clearance.

FURTHER APPROVALS European Medicines Agency (EMA) officials expect COVID variant-adapted vaccines to be approved in the European Union by September, and have signalled the regulator is open to using shots targeting the older BA.1 variant this autumn, given those specifically targeting newer subvariants are further behind in clinical development. In contrast, the U.S.

Greece and its many stunning islands like Mykonos, Crete, Corfu and Rhodes are some of the top choices for bargain hunters.You can secure holidays to Corfu in the North West from just £146 per person on LoveHolidays!READ MORE: Greece hotel has magical overwater bungalows that cost much less than the MaldivesBut, after years of travel restrictions following the Covid-19 pandemic people are understandably nervous about flying.So what are the rules when travelling from the UK to Greece and all of its islands?All of the Greek islands have the same entry rules as the Greek mainland when it comes to vaccinations and PCR-tests.Whether you’re fully vaccinated or not, you don’t currently need to show any proof of a Covid vaccination, negative test or certificate of recovery.Children and young people also do not need to have a negative test or be vaccinated.People transiting through Greece do not need to show a negative test or vaccination.Everyone is required, however, to wear a mask when on public transport in Greece or on the Greek islands.While there are currently no Covid restrictions on travel from the UK to Greece, Brexit means there are entry restrictions.If you are planning to travel to an EU country (except Ireland) your passport must be less than 10 years old before you enter the country.So, the issue date must not be over 10 years old when you board your flight.Your passport also needs to have at least three months of validity left after the day you plan to fly home.It’s important to check as passports issued before October 2018 sometimes have extra months of validity on them.So you may think your passport is valid, but if it’s 10 years and one month old it won’t get you into Greece.You do not need a special visa to

Spain’s tourism industry is urging the country’s government to remove all entry requirements for UK visitors as the summer holiday season is underway. It comes as France was the most recent country to remove all Covid rules for Brits last week.

King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard have cancelled the remaining 13 dates of their current UK and European tour, citing frontman Stu Mackenzie’s newly revealed struggle with Crohn’s Disease.The Australian psych-rock outfit had completed four dates on the run, with the most recent being a headline show in Prague last night (August 5). Among their axed performances include a set at the POLandROCK Festival in Szczecinek, Poland, which was scheduled to go down tonight (August 6).“Unfortunately due to a personal health crisis we’re going to have to cancel the remaining EU and UK dates,” Mackenzie wrote in a statement shared to the band’s Instagram page overnight. “For the past decade or so I’ve dealt with Crohn’s Disease the best I can.

An infectious disease professor has named two Covid symptoms that are telltale signs of the virus as UK cases remain high amid a wave of BA.5 infections.

MADRID - Spanish offices, stores and hospitality venues will no longer be allowed to set their cooling systems below 27 degrees Celsius (81º Fahrenheit) in summer nor raise heating above 19ºC in the winter under a new set of energy-saving measures passed Monday.Shops will also be obliged to keep doors closed and heating systems must be checked more often to increase efficiency under the new measures, Spanish Ecological Transition Minister Teresa Ribera said.The measures include switching off store window lights after 10 p.m. Street lighting will not be affected.The government passed the bill as part of a bid to reduce the country’s gas consumption by 7% in line with the recent European Union energy agreements to limit dependency on Russian gas.Ribera said the measures would initially be maintained until November 2023.Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced the new package last week, saying, "You just need to walk into a shopping mall to realize that maybe the temperature is set too low."Spanish public institutions already operate similar energy-saving regulations.The government says the measures will not only save energy but will also bring down bills for households and businesses.Spain is one of the hottest European countries in summer.

NEW DELHI: The number of visas issued by Vietnam to Indians has grown 24 times compared to pre-pandemic levels, said Pham Sanh Chau, Vietnam's envoy to India.  The country issued just about 250 visas a day before the coronavirus pandemic and immigration authorities are now issuing 6,000 visas a day to Indians, making it the single largest in-bound market into Vietnam at the moment, he said. Addressing the Outbound Tourism Summit organised by FICCI, the ambassador said the reasons behind the increase was proximity and the opening up of direct flights between the two countries.

SPAIN - Video taken by a train passenger in Spain captured what was described as ‘moments of panic’ as the train stopped in the middle of a raging wildfire.The video, which was taken by Francisco Seonane Perez, was posted onto Twitter on July 18. Seonane said the train was headed from Madrid to an area in northwestern Spain when the train stopped for a few minutes.

Central Hastings OPP are investigating a fraud involving bitcoin that they say cost an area resident more than $100,000.

KATWIJK, NETHERLANDS - MAY 19: A package of Skittles, a fruit-flavored candy, produced by Wrigley Company, a division of Mars, Inc., is seen in this illustration photo on May 19, 2020 in Katwijk, Netherlands. (Photo by Yuriko Nakao/Getty Images) A group of consumers are suing candy maker Mars, alleging Skittles contain a "known toxin" that makes the rainbow candies "unfit" to eat.

From flight cancellations due to airport staff shortages, to airline strikes and Covid outbreaks, there is a lot to consider when travelling abroad this summer.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday approved an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine, bringing a fourth vaccine to the US market against the backdrop of a BA.5 Omicron subvariant surge and lagging vaccine and booster dose uptake.

The Biden administration announced this morning that it would buy 3.2 million doses of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine, which is expected to soon receive authorization from the Food and Drug Administration, according to a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) news release.The protein-based vaccine would be offered as a pr

Greek authorities have updated rules for tourists infected with Covid-19, including mandatory isolation. Last week, Greek government officials decided to remove quarantine rooms at hotels, meaning travellers who become infected with coronavirus will not have to follow self-isolation rules, reports SchengenVisaInfo.com.

ALSO READ: Your sore throat can determine if you have contracted Covid-19. Here's how to understand Since April, EU health agencies have recommended a second booster only for those older than 80 and the most vulnerable.

The number of people with Covid-19 in hospital has risen to more than 1,000 for the first time since April.

LONDON - He was the mayor who basked in the glory of hosting the 2012 London Olympics, and the man who led the Conservatives to a thumping election victory on the back of his promise to "get Brexit done."But Boris Johnson's time as prime minister was marred by his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and a steady stream of ethics allegations, from alcohol-fueled government parties that broke lockdown rules to how he handled a sexual misconduct scandal involving a senior party lawmaker.2001-2008: Serves as a member of Parliament in the House of Commons representing the constituency of Henley.2008-2016: Serves as London mayor, overseeing 2012 London Olympics.(L) London Mayor Boris Johnson speaks to reporters as he leaves the Electric City Conference on Dec. 6, 2012, in London, England.

In response to Covid-19 rates improving, most EU countries have dropped entry rules to allow restriction-free travel to boost tourism.

Russian President Vladimir Putin fishes in the remote Tuva region in southern Siberia. The picture taken between August 1 and 3, 2017.

Europe prepares to lead the world in regulating the freewheeling cryptocurrency industry at a time when prices have plunged, wiping out fortunes, fueling skepticism and sparking calls for tighter scrutiny.

NGO Promote Ukraine, together with the Institute of Innovative Governance and Avenir de lEurope organize a symbolic EU-Ukraine human chain in support of Ukraine's EU Candidacy on June 12, 2022 in Brussels, Belgium. (Thierry Monasse/Getty Images) European Union leaders on Thursday are set to make Ukraine a candidate for joining the 27-nation bloc, a first step in a long and unpredictable journey toward full membership that could take many years to navigate.Making Ukraine a contender now seems to be a done deal after national leaders were initially divided on how quickly to embrace the war-torn country's request to become an EU member, which the Ukrainian government submitted only a few days after Russia invaded its neighbor on Feb.

The Austrian government has said it will scrap the country's controversial policy of mandatory vaccination against the coronavirus, just months after it became law.

monkeypox, including one death, have been reported to WHO from 42 countries. But WHO's Europe office and the EU health agency conveyed that 2,746 cases had been recorded in Europe alone till Tuesday.  "The emergency committee will provide a recommendation to the director-general based on scientific principles, and an assessment of the risk to human health, the risk of international spread and the risk of interference with international traffic," the WHO said.

China, according report released Monday by the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China. The survey was conducted at the end of April, when Shanghai was still in shutdown and restrictions in places like Jilin disrupted business activity.

The Ukrainian cabinet approved a resolution on Friday to bar Russian citizens from entering Ukraine without a visa.

Canada is seeing an increase in several fast-spreading COVID-19 variants that have been fuelling new outbreaks in the United States and Europe, Canada’s top doctors said Friday.

WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden, who has recently been focused on boosting oil production to reduce rising gas costs, will turn his attention to climate change on Friday when he convenes a virtual meeting of some of the world's biggest economies.Among the participants will be China, Germany, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and the European Union. Also present will be Egypt, which is hosting the next United Nations summit on climate change, and the U.N.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (C) gives a press conference alongside EU commissioner for neighbourhood and enlargement Oliver Varhelyi (R) and spokesperson Eric Mamer (L) on the EU membership applications by Ukraine, Moldova and The executive arm of the European Union recommended Friday that Ukraine be granted candidate status to one day join the 27-nation bloc.The promise of membership in a union created to safeguard peace on the continent holds deep symbolism for the nation at war. But it is only the first step in a process that could take decades.And it didn’t silence the guns and artillery that continue to kill civilians and flatten cities as well as sending millions fleeing from their homes since Russia launched its invasion of its neighbor on Feb.

GENEVA : In a strong stance on the patents waiver issue at the World Trade Organisation, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal on Monday stressed on the importance of including diagnostics and therapeutics under the deal besides Covid-19 vaccines, in line with the joint proposal with South Africa. Addressing the thematic session on ‘Response to the Covid-19 pandemic’ on the second day of talks in Geneva, Goyal also pressed for a consensus-based outcome on the issue.

AstraZeneca's tests for treatment of people at risk of death from coronavirus has revealed good results in a late-stage trial, its maker AstraZeneca announced Wednesday. The British pharmaceutical giant, which has already produced a widely used coronavirus vaccine, said the Evusheld jab "provided clinically and statistically significant protection against progression to severe Covid-19 or death".

Finland is the latest EU nation to extend Covid entry restrictions for travellers from the UK until next month.

Spain has scrapped coronavirus travel rules for all countries in the European Union - but not for the UK.