Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:
Portugal Eases COVID Travel Curbs
Portugal announces an easing of its travel restrictions for holders of European COVID-19 certificates by scrapping a requirement to test negative before entering the country.
Travellers with an European Union (EU) digital health pass or other recognised vaccine passes will be exempt from having to prove a recent negative test result from Monday.
French Cinema, Theatre Trips Down
Cinema and performing arts audiences in France were down by around 25 percent at the start of the year compared to the same period before the health crisis, according to Culture Minister Roselyne Bachelot.
However, the minister says she expects a "beautiful festival season" adding that she will continue "to help all those who need it".
In total, nearly 14 billion euros have been mobilised for the French culture sector since the start of the health crisis, according to figures from the ministry.
Canada Protests Gather Steam
More demonstrators pour onto the streets of Ottawa and other Canadian cities on Saturday demanding an end to COVID vaccine mandates, as demonstrations against pandemic restrictions enter their second week.
In the capital, demonstrators huddle around campfires in bone-chilling temperatures and erect portable saunas and bouncy castles for kids outside Parliament, while waving Canadian flags and shouting anti-government slogans.
Their chants of "freedom" are met with cries of "go home" by a smaller group of counter-protesters fed up with the week-long occupation of the capital.
Over 5.7 Million Deaths
The coronavirus has killed at least 5.7 million people since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019, according to an AFP tally compiled from official sources on Sunday.
The United States (US) has recorded the most COVID deaths with 902,266, followed by Brazil with 631,802, India 501,979 and Russia 335,414.
Taking into account excess mortality linked to COVID-19, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates the overall death toll could be two to three times higher.