World News

Hungarians protest against PM Orban’s LGBTQ rights crackdown

Thousands of Hungarians protested outside Parliament in Budapest on Monday against legislation that would ban discussions of homosexuality or gender change in schools as Prime Minister Viktor Orban prepares for…

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Supermarket chain says Polish workers found cocaine in banana boxes

Supermarket chain Carrefour SA said on Friday it had notified local police after employees at one of its Warsaw stores had found suspicious parcels in a delivery of bananas, which…

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Lufthansa’s low-cost airline Eurowings to open Prague base

German airline Lufthansa's said on Friday its budget carrier Eurowings would open a new base in Prague with two aircraft in October, in a sign of growing confidence in the…

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Poland faces first citizen lawsuits over climate change

Five individuals in Poland are taking the government to court over its alleged failure to protect them from the impact of climate change, the first such litigation in the coal-reliant…

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Czech jobless rate drops to 3.9% in May, vacancies near pre-COVID high

The Czech unemployment rate fell to 3.9% of the workforce in May, from 4.1% and showing a deeper drop than expected, as COVID-19 lockdown restrictions eased and workers returned to…

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As Hungary lifts restrictions, couples can wed at last

Marton Aszalos, a young Hungarian ambulance paramedic, and vet Eniko Tokacs-Mathe had to cancel their wedding twice during the pandemic and are finally getting ready for their big day this…

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Top EU court dismisses Hungary’s complaint over democracy probe

The top European Union court dismissed Hungary's challenge against the opening in 2018 of a disciplinary procedure against Budapest for undermining democracy in the formerly communist country. Budapest had challenged…

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Czech government survives no-confidence vote months before election

The Czech governmentsurvived a no-confidence motion on Thursday after a party holding decisive votes shunned the opposition's attempt to overthrow Prime Minister Andrej Babis' minority Cabinet months before a general…

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Czech prime minister may be among first in crosshairs of new European prosecutor

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis and his business empire may be among the first cases investigated by the European Union’s new joint prosecution after a referral from national authorities, a…

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Wizz Air warns of more losses if restrictions not lifted

European budget airline Wizz Air warned of further losses in its current financial year, amid a slower-than-expected recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The ultra-low-cost carrier faces another "transition year" as…

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Poland to raise limit for wedding guests as COVID-19 cases fall

Poland will triple the number of guests allowed at large gatherings like weddings, the health minister said , as the country eases COVID-19 restrictions further due to a falling number…

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Czech PM faces risk of no-confidence defeat

The Czech centre-left government faces potential defeat in a no-confidence motion on Thursday, a vote that may keep the prime minister in office as caretaker until an October election but…

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Austrian far-right leader quits

The leader of Austria's far-right Freedom Party (FPO) Norbert Hofer stepped down on but pointedly did not back his high-profile deputy and rival Herbert Kickl to succeed him. Hofer, widely…

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Czech police recommend charging president in fraud case

Czech police recommended for a second time on Monday that Prime Minister Andrej Babis should be indicted over fraud involving European Union subsidies. Prosecutors in Prague said they had received…

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Polish economy grows more than previously estimated

Poland's economy, the largest in central and eastern Europe, grew by more than initially estimated in the first quarter of 2021, according to updated data from the statistics office released…

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UPDATED: COVID-19 curbs eased further in Czech Republic

Czech restaurants, bars, night clubs and other hospitality venues can serve customers indoors from Monday, Health Minister Adam Vojtech said on Friday, announcing a quicker-than-planned easing of COVID-19 restrictions following…

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Hungary PM laments loss of UK from EU ahead of Johnson meeting

Hungary is missing Britain's presence within the European Union and the two countries need to build new bilateral ties, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday ahead of a meeting…

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Pope kisses tattoo number on Auschwitz survivor’s arm

Pope Francis kissed the number tattooed on the arm of a survivor of medical experiments at the Auschwitz Nazi concentration camp when she was introduced to him on Wednesday. The…

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Photo Story – Foggy morning in Tatra Mountains

View of dense mist gathering on a foggy morning over a village of Czorsztyn, in Tatra Mountains, southern Poland, 26 May 2021. VIA EPA-EFE/Grzegorz Momot

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Hungary signs up to huge EU COVID recovery fund, moving deal a step closer

Hungary on Wednesday approved a bill essential to the European Union's massive recovery fund, bringing the bloc a step closer to putting the deal into operation and hopefully ending Europe's…

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Photo Story – Rainbow above Nagykanizsa during sunset

A rainbow is seen above Nagykanizsa during sunset, Hungary, 23 May 2021 (issued 24 May 2021). VIA EPA-EFE/Gyorgy Varga

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Czech PM Babis: no plans to withdraw lawsuit against Poland over Turow mine

The Czech government has no plans to withdraw a lawsuit it filed against Poland over the Turow mine as no agreement has been reached yet, Prime Minister Andrej Babis said…

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Austrian hospital amputates wrong leg of elderly patient

An Austrian hospital amputated the wrong leg of a patient, blaming human error for what it called a “tragic mistake”. The elderly patient is suffering from many illnesses, the Freistadt…

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ECHR rejects anti-lockdown case from Romanian MEP

A member of the European Parliament lost his case against a COVID-19 lockdown in his native Romania, after the MEP had suggested the restriction was comparable to being under house arrest.…

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Poland says Nord Stream 2 sanctions waiver a threat to energy security

Poland said on Thursday that the waiver of U.S. sanctions on the company behind Russia's Nord Stream 2 was a threat to energy security in central and eastern Europe. The…

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EU top court’s advocate general says Polish law on judges against EU treaty

Poland's law introduced by the nationalist ruling coalition that allows the justice minister to second judges to higher courts and end that secondment at any moment is incompatible with EU…

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Czech president chides Russia for listing his nation as unfriendly

Russia's decision to put the Czech Republic on a list of "unfriendly" states is silly, Czech President Milos Zeman said on Sunday, following a chill in ties between the two…

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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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