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• France's daily death toll rebounded on Friday, three days before it starts lifting its lockdown. Friday's 243 fatalities was up significantly on Thursday's 178, for a total of 26,230 – the world's fifth-highest toll.

• The UK will introduce a 14-day quarantine period for those arriving in the country , according to the country's national body for airlines. All port and airport passengers will have to provide an address for their self-isolation. An exception will be made for those arriving from the Republic of Ireland.

• German economy minister Peter Altmaier said the pandemic has shown Europe is too reliant on other countries for some medical supplies, and that European states should work together to diversify supply chains.

• Russia's daily total of new cases has topped 10,000 for the seventh successive day , although Saturday's 10,817 is below Thursday's record 11,231. The country now has 198,676 cases – the world's fifth-highest case-load – while 104 new fatalities take the death toll to 1,827.

• Virus-hit companies bailed out by EU governments will face a ban on dividends, share buybacks and bonuses while the state holds a stake in them, the European Commission said.

• Thousands of cyclists protested in Ljubljana against the Slovenian government after allegations of corruption in purchasing face masks and ventilators. The government denies the allegations.

• Spain has unveiled a four-phase lockdown exit plan, beginning with the limited-capacity reopening of small businesses and restaurants as soon as Monday. However, the plan is assessed regionally and restrictions will not yet be loosened in Madrid and Catalonia. Spain's daily death toll fell to 179 on Saturday, down from 229 on Friday, for a total of 26,478.

• **Polish opposition parliamentarians called for the dismissal of a government minister **organizing Sunday's presidential election, after the ruling coalition unexpectedly said the vote could not take place due to the coronavirus pandemic.

• For the first day since 10 March, Slovakia has recorded no new cases of coronavirus. The country of 5.5 million has had 1,455 cases and just 26 deaths, and started reopening on Wednesday.

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ACROSS EUROPE

Nawied Jabarkhyl in London

Airlines in the UK say the government will bring in a 14-day quarantine period for anyone travelling to the country from anywhere in the world except for the Republic of Ireland. If confirmed, the move will be a bold one and signals the government's intent to try and avoid a second spike in COVID-19 cases.

According to the reports, people arriving in the UK will have to provide an address and would need to self-isolate in a private home. The measures are expected to come into effect at the end of the month. The move could be a blow to the aviation industry, which has been hammered worldwide as a result of the coronavirus.