European Union

The UK's Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has announced a partnership with a contingency of the UK’s leading video games firms to deliver in-game coronavirus warnings to players.

Bulgaria banned entry to its territory to citizens from around the globe except for 19 EU member states, as it battles to contain the spread of the coronavirus, its health minister said on Monday (6 April).

Iran on Monday (6 April) welcomed the launch of a European barter system to bypass US sanctions as a "good omen" but said it was insufficient in light of the Europeans' commitments.

The pace of new coronavirus deaths in Spain slowed for the fourth day on Monday (6 April), but overwhelmed crematoria in Barcelona and the death of soccer coach Pep Guardiola's mother showed the national agony was far from over.

Hospitals in the European Union are facing shortages of critical drugs to treat COVID-19 patients because of trade restrictions and excessive stockpiling by EU governments, EU and industry officials said on Monday (6 April).

Every evening, thousands of Europeans step out of their confinement for a few minutes to applaud the efforts of every health worker involved in fighting COVID-19. The first time I heard it, it gave me a sense of solidarity, shared...

EU countries are nearing an economic rescue plan for European countries worst hit by the coronavirus outbreak, sources said on Monday (6 April), but not at the level of ambition called for by Italy and Spain.

The coronavirus pandemic has increased citizens’ confidence in their governments. In Germany, this extraordinary situation has made the desire for political renewal, which many had been longing for, fall into oblivion – Angela Merkel is once again perceived as an anchor of stability and pragmatism in this crisis, writes Kenneth Stiller.

European leaders battling a deadly coronavirus outbreak are facing the "biggest test" to their union, Germany's leader said Monday (6 April), as the United States braced for what authorities warned would be its hardest week in living memory.

A new report from the World Health Organization published on Tuesday reveals gaps in the nursing workforce and calls for increased investment in nursing education, jobs, and leadership. Although there are about 28 million nurses worldwide and 90 percent are female, it found only a few nurses are in senior health leadership positions. "Nurses are the backbone of any health system," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom.

China delivered two million surgical masks, 200,000 N95 masks and 50,000 testing kits to Italy, said the European Commission on Monday. The gear is a direct donation to the European Union, with distribution set for throughout Italy. "We are grateful for China's support," said Janez Lenarčič, European Commissioner for crisis management, noting that the EU had also delivered some 56 tonnes of equipment to China already in February.

The European Commission approved a €56.8bn "umbrella" scheme to help UK small and large firms affected by coronavirus. The scheme was approved under new and more flexible rules on state aid to help soften the economic fallout of the virus. Although the UK is no longer a part of the EU, it still has to follow its rules during a transition period set to last until the end of 2020.

EU leaders have begun to explore possible exit strategies to their national lockdowns - as the latest figures in the worst-hit member states indicate a slowing in the rate of new coronavirus cases and deaths.

The German chancellor warned that the only answer can be more Europe. However, disagreements countinue over how to rebuild the bloc's economy after the pandemic. Commissioner Gentiloni warned about the state's increased role.

UK prime minister Boris Johnson was taken to intensive care at a hospital in London. The 55-year old Johnson was tested positive for the virus Covid-19 ten days ago. The BBC news reports he was given oxygen late Monday evening. "Over the course of [Monday] afternoon, the condition of the prime minister has worsened," said a government statement.

The threat of sanctions coupled with personal EU diplomacy can help in the global "battle for truth", award-wining Phillipine journalist Maria Ressa, who faces prison, has said.

When journalists were barred from the EU Commission press room in March because of coronavirus, the relatively-new chief spokesperson, Eric Mamer, amiable Frenchman, had to improvise.

A report from the Irish data protection watchdog has said that health organisations in the country could be sharing sensitive data about a user's illness with tech platforms such as Google or Facebook.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was in hospital undergoing tests on Monday after suffering persistent coronavirus symptoms for more than 10 days, but the government said he was in good spirits and still in charge.

While small shops in Austria will be allowed to reopen on 14 April and all trade will be permitted from 1 May onwards, gastronomy and hotels will follow in mid-May at the earliest, with current initial restrictions extended until the end of April. According to Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, the aim is "to get out of the crisis faster than others".