TOP HEADLINES

- The European Union is suing AstraZeneca over its failure "to come up with a reliable strategy to ensure timely delivery of doses," as EU spokesperson Stefan De Keersmaecker put it during a news conference. The pharma group's vaccine supply shortfall would allegedly represent a breach of the contract the company signed with Brussels, who's launching legal action on behalf of all its 27 members. AstraZeneca said the EU's legal action was "without merit."

- Portugal reported zero COVID-19-related deaths in the last 24 hours, the first time since August 3, 2020. The country has just eased a two-month long strict lockdown and has vaccinated 20 percent of its population.

- World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus spoke on Monday about the "beyond heartbreaking" situation in India, telling reporters that the "WHO is doing everything we can, providing critical equipment and supplies," including "thousands of oxygen concentrators, prefabricated mobile field hospitals and laboratory supplies."

- Cafes, beer gardens, gyms, libraries, museums and non-essential shops have started reopening in Scotland, with the country moving to a lower level of restrictions. 

- International tourists will be allowed to visit the EU if they've been vaccinated using one of the drugs approved by the European Medicines Agency, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the New York Times.

- Some EU countries, including Germany and Italy, are following the UK and others in restricting most passengers arriving from India due to the surge in cases in New Delhi and other cities.  

- In the UK, the vaccination program has been extended to those aged 44 and over from today. All people in that group should be contacted and offered an appointment. About 500,000 more people will now be eligible. Nearly 50 percent of the adult population has been offered a vaccine jab. 

- Italy is easing its lockdown for the majority of its residents, but five southern regions will remain under stricter rules. In the north, outdoor bars and cinemas that maintain social distancing can open. But the island of Sardinia is still the most high-risk region and remains a "red zone," with the harshest restrictions still in place.

- Despite the Dublin government saying it will continue "going slowly" and not rush to reopen the economy, Irish business confidence rose in April – and even surpassed pre-pandemic levels. The latest Bank of Ireland index soared 14 percent in one month, as some shops reopen and the vaccine drive continues. 

- One of the signs of a return to normality is the resurgence of live music and festivals. Images of events in New Zealand have spread around the globe. But music industry figures have warned resale businesses are a threat to COVID-safe festivals. Entertainment firms must keep customer details for contact tracing, but touted tickets would disrupt that chain. 

- Finally, the mayor of Spanish city Pamplona has confirmed that thrill seekers will have to wait another year to test themselves against the city's famous "Running of the Bulls." The festival has been called off for the second year in a row due to COVID-19.

AROUND EUROPE 

Iolo ap Dafydd in London

As dry weather continues in most parts of Britain, the reopening of outdoor bars, cafes and restaurants in Scotland and Wales is welcomed by many. After a four-month lockdown in Scotland, shops, gyms and swimming pools are also opening, as are museums and many holiday accommodations. Travel restrictions to other parts of the UK have been eased.  

Up to six people in Wales can meet socially with members of six different households as pubs and restaurants reopen. But social distancing measures and strict hygiene rules are still in place, with outdoor attractions, zoos and theme parks opening up once more.   

In England, vaccine roll-out is now available to 44-year-olds. Meanwhile, the opposition Labour Party is calling for ministers to publish information about which firms were awarded COVID-19 contracts. Loud accusations of sleaze are being directed towards the Conservative UK government. 

Ross Cullen in Paris

The first easing of the French government's COVID-19 "supplementary braking measures" it imposed in March is taking place this morning, with the return of primary schools. All schools were closed for three weeks to try to control the third wave of infections. 

Elementary schools and creches go back to full physical attendance from Monday April 26. Secondary schools go back next Monday May 3 on a hybrid timetable. 

The president and the education secretary will visit a primary school this morning to mark the return of classes. Primary schools across the country will carry out 400,000 saliva tests this week on pupils and there will be tightened restrictions in dining halls. 

If one pupil or teacher tests positive for the virus, that class will be closed and all children in the class will be considered contact cases. Face masks have to be worn by all children aged six or older.

Toni Waterman in Brussels

EU overview

Fully vaccinated Americans will be allowed to visit Europe this summer, that's according to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. In an interview with the New York Times on Sunday, she said that because Americans were using the same vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency, "this will enable free movement and travel to the European Union."  

Von der Leyen did not say when travel could commence or how it would work. The EU closed its borders to non-essential visitors from the U.S. more than a year ago. The bloc is hoping vaccine passports will be in place by mid-June to help facilitate safe travel throughout Europe. 

Belgium

Belgium is rolling back several COVID-19 measures on Monday. Hairdressers and beauty salons can reopen, outdoor gatherings can expand to 10 people and shoppers can visit non-essential stores without an appointment. Some cultural events have also been given the green light on a test basis. 

The easing comes as infections reverse their decline and rise slightly. There were an average of 3,605 new daily cases identified over the past week, a 2 percent increase from the week before. Vaccination rates are also going in the wrong direction. An average of 55,500 people received a jab a day in the past week, down 13 percent from the previous week. 

Penelope Liersch in Budapest 

After opening outdoor dining this weekend, other services are expected to reopen later this week, once 4 million people have had at least one dose of vaccine. As of Monday, close to 3.7 million people have had their first shot. Once the 4 million figure is reached, indoor dining, gyms and hotels will be allowed to accept customers who can show their vaccination certificate. 

Meanwhile, local media and scientists have scrutinized a table released by the Orban government ranking different vaccines on their safety. The table showed Sinopharm was significantly better than the Pfizer-BioNTech jab. 

However, scientists have questioned where the data came from and stressed the figures may have overlooked several important factors, making them highly problematic. 

Ryan Thompson in Frankfurt 

Sixteen state leaders will sit down with Chancellor Angela Merkel today for a vaccine summit as Germany looks to take its inoculation drive into a higher gear.

Europe's largest economy has vaccinated 25 million people with at least one dose. Officials say that by mid-May it should be vaccinating between 3 and 5 million more people per week. 

The summit is expected to answer questions that have recently come up about the vaccination priority list and updating timelines for when people can expect a jab. Most controversial, some suggest, will be discussions about whether restrictions can be lifted for vaccinated people sooner? 

Leaders are also likely to discuss some states' decisions to ignore federal vaccine guidelines and begin offering unused AstraZeneca jabs for people under 60 years old.

FROM OUR GLOBAL COLLEAGUES

CGTN Europe: Who leads the vaccine race?

CGTN China: China to assist India to fight second wave

CGTN America: Towns in California are "fighting back" against COVID-19 restrictions

CGTN Africa: Egypt postpones school exams until over COVID-19 concerns

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