By 1 January 2021, two southern European countries will have high-profile roles in international politics. Portugal will have taken up the presidency of the EU, following Italy’s assumption of the G20 presidency a month earlier. Both presidencies will run through the second (and perhaps third) wave of the covid-19 pandemic – an extraordinary time for Italian, Portuguese, and global politics.
The two presidencies will seek to implement a common, coordinated strategy on climate change and environmental issues more broadly, including the European Green Deal. And Italy will co-chair the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) alongside the United Kingdom, holding a round of preparatory meetings such as ‘Youth4Climate: Driving Ambition’ and the pre-COP26 summit. The goal of these efforts is to revamp the Paris Agreement on climate change and help fulfil its political ambitions – tasks that will likely become easier after the United States rejoins the deal under the inc
Countries halt flights from Britain over concerns about coronavirus mutation
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December 20, 2020
A wave of European countries and some beyond the continent, including Canada are restricting travel from the United Kingdom amid mounting fears about an infectious new strain of the novel coronavirus first detected in England.
Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands and Switzerland were among those that announced bans Sunday, with others expected to follow. British officials have reported that a mutation of the virus appears to speed its transmission, and they have imposed restrictions on 18 million people in London and across southern England.
British Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the BBC Sunday that “the new variant is out of control.”
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Nations Impose UK Travel Ban Over Out Of Control Coronavirus Variant Nations Impose UK Travel Ban Over Out Of Control Coronavirus Variant Austria, Belgium, Italy, Ireland, Germany, France and the Netherlands announced bans Sunday, with others expected to follow. Israel, Turkey and Saudi Arabia have also temporarily suspended flights departing from or arriving in the United Kingdom.
Updated: December 21, 2020 9:01 am IST
British officials have reported that a mutation of the virus appears to speed its transmission.
Highlights The new variant is out of control : UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock
New strain also found in Australia, Denmark, Netherlands: BBC reported
European countries - and some beyond the continent - are restricting travel from the United Kingdom amid mounting fears over an infectious new strain of the novel coronavirus first detected in England.
Coronavirus digest: Germany to limit travel with UK over COVID mutation
After several European countries put a stop to all flights coming from the UK,
Germany announced it would impose limits of its own. The travel restriction would also include South Africa, said government spokeswoman Martina Fietz.
Coronavirus digest: Dutch government bans UK flights over new virus strain
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mutation of the coronavirus. The German government maintains contact with the European partners, she wrote on Twitter.
The federal police also warned that people should only travel to the UK if it is absolutely necessary. Air traffic could be halted, they wrote.