CDE News - World News

Austria’s Kurz expects to be charged but cleared in perjury case

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz expects to be charged but eventually cleared in an investigation into whether he gave false testimony to a parliamentary commission, he told Sunday newspapers, ruling out…

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Polish ruling party promises ‘middle class for all’ post-COVID

Poland's ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party promised a middle class future for all on Saturday, putting lower taxes for most, higher healthcare spending and support for young families at…

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‘Like New Year’s Eve’: Polish bars celebrate midnight reopening

Champagne corks popped at the stroke of midnight on Friday as bars and restaurants in Poland opened their outdoor terraces for the first time in over six months and many…

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Budapest mayor launches bid to challenge Orban next year

Budapest mayor Gergely Karacsony on Saturday announced his bid to become the prime minister candidate for Hungary's six opposition parties which are trying to forge an alliance to take on…

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Polish economy slips less than expected in Q1 amid pandemic

The Polish economy shrank slightly less than expected in the first quarter of 2021, statistics office data showed on Friday, as a strong recovery in industry offset disruptions to tourism,…

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Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Czech Republic launch Pro-family coalition

The four Central European countries that make up the Visegrad Group – Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic – today launched a “pro-family coalition” at an event in Warsaw.…

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Austria’s Kurz being investigated by anti-corruption prosecutors

Anti-corruption prosecutors are investigating Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz over possible false testimony to a parliamentary commission investigating the fallout from the so-called Ibiza sting video that felled a previous government.…

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Poland brings forward reopening of cinemas, to vaccinate 16-year-olds

Poland will bring forward the reopening of cinemas and start vaccinating 16- and 17-year-olds, the prime minister said on Wednesday, as COVID-19 cases decline. The country reported 4,255 new cases on Wednesday, part…

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Austria snubs EU plea to accept Lampedusa migrants

Austria on Tuesday rejected a plea for other European Union countries to accept migrants from Italy, following a surge in arrivals on Lampedusa that seems likely to expose deep-seated divisions…

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Slovakia suspends use of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine as a recipient dies

lovakia's Health Ministry said on Tuesday it was suspending the use of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine for people getting their first doses, after experts reviewed the death of a recipient. The…

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Disciplinary system for Polish judges deemed illegal

The disciplinary system for judges in Poland is against EU law, says the European Court of Justice Advocate General in an Opinion published today. "This is yet another blow to…

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Biden to join eastern European NATO states summit, focus seen on Ukraine

U.S. President Joe Biden will join a virtual summit of eastern European NATO states held in the Romanian capital Bucharest on Monday, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said, with a focus…

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Poland to shorten gap between COVID vaccine doses

Poland will shorten the gap between doses for Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca COVID-19 jabs, the minister responsible for Poland's vaccination programme said on Monday. The gap between doses for the…

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Hungary’s Orban: EU should approve vaccines shown to be effective elsewhere

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said he would propose to European Union leaders that the bloc authorise all vaccines that have been shown to be safe and effective elsewhere and…

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Photo Story – Blessing Christ statue, Hungary

An 8.5 metres high statue of Blessing Christ stands on a hill near the old cemetery of Tarcal, Hungary, 05 May 2021. The granite statue was unveiled in 2015. VIA…

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Slovenian border police get EU reinforcements ahead of possible migrant uptick

Police officers from three other European Union nations will help their colleagues in Slovenia to monitor its border with Croatia, amid concerns about a possible increase in illegal migrants as…

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Poland detects first cases of Brazilian coronavirus variant

Poland has detected its first three cases of the Brazilian variant of the coronavirus, the health minister revealed, as the European nation starts to emerge from a third wave of…

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Austria says it will only buy Sputnik V vaccine after EMA approval

Austria will only buy Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine if the European Medicines Agency approves it, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz's office said, further clarifying its position on the planned purchase. Facing…

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Polish parliament approves legislation needed for EU recovery fund

Poland’s lower house of parliament on Tuesday approved legislation essential to the European Union’s 750-billion-euro ($901 billion) COVID-19 recovery fund, bringing the 27-nation bloc a step closer to implementing the…

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Poland tightens quarantine rules after cases of Indian COVID-19 variant

WARSAW (Reuters) - People travelling to Poland from Brazil, India and South Africa will have to quarantine, the Polish health minister said on Tuesday, as he announced cases of a COVID-19 variant…

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Hungary reopens for people holding COVID-19 immunity cards

Spa fans flocked to Budapest’s world-famous thermal baths over the weekend as Hungary relaxed lockdown restrictions for people with government-issued vaccination cards. A queue formed in front of the Szechenyi…

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Change of editors at Polish media group spark criticism

WARSAW, April 30 (Reuters) - A Polish media group recently acquired by state-run refiner PKN Orlen has replaced top editors at three local newspapers, upsetting some reporters and the country's…

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Poland to send provisional version of recovery plan to Brussels

WARSAW, April 30 (Reuters) - Poland will send a draft of its National Recovery Plan to Brussels on Friday for consultation with the European Commission, a deputy minister said, but there could…

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Hungary to ease virus curbs

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Friday said parts of the service economy will reopen as scheduled on Saturday as the country's COVID-19 vaccination rate surpasses 40%, adding he would…

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Poland to open hotels from May 8, shopping centres from May 4,

WARSAW, April 28 (Reuters) - Poland will reopen shopping centres on May 4, while hotels will be allowed to open and restaurants will be able to serve food outdoors from…

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Scientists, doctors slam Hungarian government criticism of western vaccines

BUDAPEST, April 27 (Reuters) - Hungarian scientists and doctors have warned against relying on numbers released by the government that suggested Russian and Chinese COVID-19 shots were more effective than Western ones, the latest twist in the country's unorthodox…

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EPA’s Eye in the Sky: Krakow, Poland

A new place for recreation for tourists and residents of Krakow is being built in Park of aviators next to 'Tauron Arena' in Krakow, Poland. Photo: EPA-EFE/LUKASZ GAGULSKI

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Czech President: Russia not necessarily behind 2014 ammunition blast

PRAGUE, April 25 (Reuters) - Czech President Milos Zeman said on Sunday the idea that Russian spies caused a 2014 ammunition dump explosion in the central European country was just…

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Austria to let restaurants, hotels and theatres reopen on May 19

VIENNA, April 23 (Reuters) - Austria plans to loosen coronavirus restrictions on May 19, letting restaurants, hotels and theatres reopen their doors for the first time in more than five…

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UNICEF warns Poland lost measles herd immunity due to parents refusing vaccines

The level of vaccination of children against measles in Poland has fallen so low that the country has lost herd immunity against the disease, warns UNICEF. The trend has been…

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Czechs order Russia to pull out most embassy staff in worsening spy row

MOSCOW/PRAGUE (Reuters) -The Czech Republic on Thursday ordered Russia to remove most of its remaining diplomatic staff from Prague in an escalation of the worst dispute between the two countries…

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Moscow vows to retaliate against any new Czech moves against its diplomats

Russia's foreign ministry said on Thursday it would retaliate against any new steps taken by Prague against Russia's diplomatic staff, the RIA news agency reported. The Czech Republic demanded on…

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Poland eases virus curbs in certain regions

Poland will reopen hair salons and let some children return to schools in 11 of its 16 regions from April 26, the health minister said, as daily COVID-19 case numbers…

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Austria to funnel 651,000 COVID vaccine doses to Western Balkans from EU

Austria said on Tuesday it plans to funnel 651,000 doses of BioNTech and Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine to six countries of the Western Balkans by August as part of a European Union scheme to…

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EPA’s Eye in the Sky: Somosko, Hungary

Heavy fog covers the landscape around the Castle of Somosko, near Salgotarjan, Hungary. Via EPA-EFE/Peter Komka

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Poland marks 78th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising

The Warsaw Ghetto insurgents chose to die with weapons in their hands and refused to die in concentration camps or gas chambers. They fought heroically, like lions, to the very…

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Czechs say Russian retaliation stronger than expected, ask EU partners for solidarity

PRAGUE, April 19 (Reuters) - The Czech Republic said on Monday Russia's eviction of 20 Czech embassy employees in response to Prague's expulsion of 18 Russian staff was a stronger than expected reaction and the government…

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Russia’s reaction to Czech diplomat expulsions stronger then expected -Czech minister

Russia's eviction of 20 Czech embassy staff in response to the Czech Republic's expulsion of 18 Russian staff was a stronger-than-expected reaction and the government will consider further steps, acting…

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Russia furious at accusation that Skripal suspects killed two in Czech blast

MOSCOW/PRAGUE, April 18 (Reuters) - Moscow reacted furiously on Sunday to Czech accusations that two Russian spies accused of a nerve agent poisoning in Britain in 2018 were behind an explosion at a Czech ammunition dump four…

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AstraZeneca could have COVID-19 vaccine against variant by end-2021

ZURICH, April 18 (Reuters) - A modified version of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine tailored to combat a coronavirus variant first documented in South Africa could be ready by the end of…

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Czechs to discuss alleged Russian link to 2014 blast with EU

The Czech Republic is informing its NATO and European Union allies about suspected Russian involvement in a 2014 ammunition depot explosion and will discuss the matter at an EU foreign…

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UPDATED: Czechs expel 18 Russian envoys, accuse Moscow over ammunition depot blast

The Czech Republic is expelling 18 Russian diplomats over suspicions that Russian intelligence services were involved in an ammunition depot explosion in 2014, its government said. The central European country…

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Poland unveils plan to free its utilities from coal assets

WARSAW, April 16 (Reuters) - Poland plans to create a special energy agency that would take over coal and lignite-fueled power plants from state utilities, including PGE , Enea and Tauron, so…

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Update – European countries vie to host US-Russia summit

Vienna/Geneva (dpa) - At least three European countries have offered to host the summit with Vladimir Putin proposed by Joe Biden amid rising tensions between the United States and Russia. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian…

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Wizz Air forecasts gradual flying recovery into late summer

Hungarian low cost airline Wizz Air forecast flying would only recover gradually into late summer, as the travel industry enters a second year of pandemic restrictions. Wizz Air said on…

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Romanian PM fires health minister over handling of COVID-19

BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Romanian Prime Minister Florin Citu fired his health minister on Wednesday, saying he wanted to shore up trust in state institutions as they battle the coronavirus pandemic,…

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Poland keeps most coronavirus curbs

Poland will reopen kindergartens and allow open-air sports from April 19, but other restrictions will be extended by a week, the health minister said on Wednesday, after a spike in…

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Photo Story: Mural in Poland dedicated to the Belarusian opposition

A view of the mural on the wall of one of the tenement houses at Legnicka Street in Wroclaw, Poland. The mural is to commemorate the award of the Sakharov…

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Polish court suspends approval of Orlen’s Polska Press takeover -ombudsman

WARSAW, April 12 (Reuters) - A Polish court ruled on Monday that antitrust approval for state-owned refiner PKN Orlen's takeover of newspaper publisher Polska Press should be suspended, said the…

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Czech schools, shops reopen after long COVID-19 shutdown

PRAGUE (Reuters) - Czech schools, libraries, zoos and some stores reopened on Monday after months of coronavirus closures in one of the world's worst-hit countries. A six-month state of emergency expired at midnight, lifting restrictions on movement…

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Photo Story – Climbing at Great Window in the Krakow Czestochowa Upland

A climber makes his way up the Great Window on a sunny day in Piaseczno, in the Krakow-Czestochowa Upland, south–central Poland, 11 April 2021. The Great Window is a group…

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Czech Republic starts lifting Covid restrictions

A boy performs himself antigen test as first to fifth grades return to elementary schools across the country, in Prague, Czech Republic, 12 April 2021. The Czech government closed all…

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Photo Story: Spring in Bucharest

A crow flies under a bunch of trees full of white blossoms during one of the first hot spring days following a cold weather period, in Titan Park, Bucharest, Romania.…

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Photo Story: 11th anniversary of the presidential plane crash near Smolensk

Leader of the Law and Justice (PiS) ruling party Jaroslaw Kaczynski lays a candle in front of the Smolensk Catastrophe Victims monument at the Powazki Military Cemetery during the ceremonies…

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Poland seems to have passed COVID-19 infections peak

Poland seems to have passed a peak in the number of coronavirus infections, Health Minister Adam Niedzielski said on Friday, adding that the country is still testing its health system…

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Hungary delays secondary schools reopening

Hungary will push back the reopening of secondary schools by three weeks to May 10, Prime Minister Viktor Orban told state radio on Friday, after teachers and students called for…

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Polish doctors exhausted by non-stop COVID third wave

Some Polish doctors and nurses are just taking naps between shifts as they fight a third wave of the coronavirus, the health minister said on Friday, amid reports of medical…

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