TOP HEADLINES

• Austrian voters have elected a candidate from an anti-restrictions party into parliament. Formed in February, the Menschen-Freiheit-Grundrechte (People-Freedom-Fundamental Rights) party wants an immediate end to lockdowns, compulsory vaccinations and mask requirements. 

• The pandemic has caused the largest drop in life expectancy since World War II, according to a study published by Oxford University. The study looked at 29 countries and found that there was a reduction in 27 of them. For example, the life expectancy of men in the U.S. dropped by more than two years. In 22 countries, life expectancy dropped by more than six months compared to 2019.

• People traveling to Ireland from "designated states" will no longer have to quarantine in hotels upon arrival. Since March, around 10,300 people had to quarantine in a hotel for two weeks after entering the country. Of that number, an estimated 600 tested positive. 

• France's prime minister Jean Castex confirmed that the government will no longer reimburse the cost of a test for non-medical reasons as of October 15, although the tests will still be free for minors. The new policy is to encourage vaccinations and reduce the country's health care bill. In 2020, France spent $2.5 billion on screening.

• COVAX is overhauling the way it distributes vaccines after the UK received half a million jabs while Botswana, which hasn't started its vaccination drive, only got 20,000 doses. The UK also got more vaccines than Libya, Togo and Rwanda. This is because the organization's original distribution methodology was based on the member country's population, but not the percentage of that population already vaccinated.

• The number of protesters opposing France's health pass is declining. This past weekend, an estimated 63,700 people protested over the Pass Sanitaire, down on the previous weekend's estimated 80,500 and a stark decline from the 237,000 protesters on August 7.

• The UK is considering using the army to make deliveries after a shortage of lorry drivers, caused in part by Brexit and the pandemic, resulted in panic buying. It is estimated that half of the country's fuel pumps have run dry, according to the Petrol Retailers Association, whose chairman Brian Madderson blamed "panic buying, pure and simple." 

• A rugby match between Ireland and the U.S. was canceled because of border restrictions, according to the Irish Rugby Football Union. The fixture, originally set to take place next month in Las Vegas, has been rescheduled for October 2022.

FROM OUR GLOBAL COLLEAGUES

CGTN Europe: Madrid relaxes nightlife restrictions with industry cooperation

CGTN China: Chinese mainland reports 35 confirmed COVID-19 cases

CGTN Middle East and Africa: Zimbabwe receives new batch of China-donated COVID-19 vaccines

CGTN America: COVID-19 pandemic devastates Argentina's economy

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