Mandatory vaccination rules come into force in AustriaIt's official: From Saturday, Austrians over the age of 18 must be vaccinated against Covid-19 or face the possibility of a heavy fine, an unprecedented measure in the European Union.The new measure, adopted on January 20 by Parliament, was signed into law by President Alexander Van der Bellen on Friday, the culmination of a process that began in November in the face of the rapid spread of the Omicron variant.The government decided to pursue…See More

Live: Biden, Macron pledge to coordinate response to Russian military buildup in UkraineUS President Joe Biden and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron pledged Wednesday to coordinate their response to Russia's military buildup on the Ukrainian border, the White House said. France's Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian will hold talks on the crisis in Bucharest on Thursday with nine ministers from Eastern Europe and the Baltic states.08:40 Paris timeUkraine faces ‘massive displacement’ if…See More

French retirement home group Orpea fires chief amid allegations of patient abuseThe chief executive of major France-based elderly care home group Orpea was dismissed on Sunday, the company board said in a statement following allegations of patient abuse and hygiene negligence.Orpea boss Yves Le Masne will leave the company with immediate effect, the statement said, without stating a reason but noting the non-executive chairman would replace him.The company appointed the current non-executive…See More

News'Gentle' France lags behind eager EU neighbours in race to vaccinate kids as Omicron ragesAs France's bid to vaccinate 5- to 11-year-olds against Covid-19 hits the one-month mark, progress remains ploddingly slow, light years behind many EU neighbours. As the Omicron wave rages through France with average confirmed cases exceeding 300,000 a day, Prime Minister Jean Castex on Thursday euphemised that the jab campaign had begun "gently" and pledged to loosen the strict logistics holding it…See More

News'Gentle' France lags behind eager EU neighbours in race to vaccinate kids as Omicron ragesAs France's bid to vaccinate 5- to 11-year-olds against Covid-19 hits the one-month mark, progress remains ploddingly slow, light years behind many EU neighbours. As the Omicron wave rages through France with average confirmed cases exceeding 300,000 a day, Prime Minister Jean Castex on Thursday euphemised that the jab campaign had begun "gently" and pledged to loosen the strict logistics holding it…See More

COVID 19 Biden enters second year looking to fight after signature legislation stallsJoe Biden 1.0 was a calming, grandfatherly figure, a low-key veteran coming out of retirement in 2020 to heal a nation deeply divided by Donald Trump. A year later, meet Biden 2.0 -- the frustrated, angry fighter."I'm tired of being quiet," he said last week in a blistering speech.Biden was referring specifically to his many fruitless "quiet conversations" behind the scenes with senators in a doomed effort to…See More

COVID 19 Biden enters second year looking to fight after signature legislation stallsJoe Biden 1.0 was a calming, grandfatherly figure, a low-key veteran coming out of retirement in 2020 to heal a nation deeply divided by Donald Trump. A year later, meet Biden 2.0 -- the frustrated, angry fighter."I'm tired of being quiet," he said last week in a blistering speech.Biden was referring specifically to his many fruitless "quiet conversations" behind the scenes with senators in a doomed effort to…See More

Biden enters second year looking to fight after signature legislation stallsJoe Biden 1.0 was a calming, grandfatherly figure, a low-key veteran coming out of retirement in 2020 to heal a nation deeply divided by Donald Trump. A year later, meet Biden 2.0 -- the frustrated, angry fighter."I'm tired of being quiet," he said last week in a blistering speech.Biden was referring specifically to his many fruitless "quiet conversations" behind the scenes with senators in a doomed effort to get his…See More

North Korea fires two suspected ballistic missiles in fourth test this yearNorth Korea fired two suspected short-range ballistic missiles from an airport in its capital city of Pyongyang on Monday, South Korea’s military reported, in the fourth test this month.Japan’s government also reported the launch, with chief cabinet secretary Hirokazu Matsuno condemning them as a threat to the region’s peace and security.In less than two weeks, nuclear-armed North Korea has conducted three other missile…See More