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TOP HEADLINES

• Up to three times more people may have died due to the pandemic than indicated by the officially reported deaths, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced,

putting the likely death figure at up to 8 million

from the current official toll of 3.4m. The change is based on excess deaths in 2020 and includes people who died without being tested, and also who died because COVID-19 harmed health services or as a result of lockdown measures.

• The UK will work with the WHO to develop a "pandemic radar" system to identify new coronavirus variants quickly and track emerging diseases globally to ensure the world is never "caught unawares again."

• Business activity in the eurozone is growing at its fastest rate in three years , a survey said on Friday, as Europe's economy steadily reopens from months of restrictions.

• Nearly 70 percent of Japanese firms want the ** Tokyo Olympics either cancelled or postponed** , a Reuters survey found, underscoring concerns that the Games will increase infections at a time when the medical system is under heavy strain.

• The Italian government approved a $48.9 billion relief package to support the country's businesses and workers affected by the restrictions.

• **Cyprus has added the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine **to the list of approved vaccines accepted for inoculated people to gain free entry into the country.

• The mayor of Moscow decried those in the Russian capital refusing the vaccine. "**People continue to get sick, people continue to die **and they do not want to be vaccinated," exclaimed Sergei Sobyanin, in a meeting broadcast on his site on Friday.

Shoppers fill the streets of Bordeaux, France. /AFP/Philippe LOPEZ

ACROSS EUROPE

Rahul Pathak in Madrid

Spain will allow travelers from the UK into the country from Monday without having to quarantine on arrival.

Spain remains on Britain's amber list, a category of countries the UK deems it legal to travel to but strongly advises against visiting. It also means anyone returning to Britain from Spain will have to self isolate for 10 days.

Despite the warning, up to 16,000 Britons have reportedly booked flights to Spain this weekend.

Reports continue to emerge that the UK will delay some of its reopening measures as the variant first discovered in India continues to surge. A total of 3,424 cases of the variant were recorded in Britain on Thursday. Early data show the B1617.2 variant is more transmissible than the Kent variant that had become dominant in Britain.

Penelope Liersch in Budapest

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced that many of the remaining restrictions would be lifted if the country reaches 5m vaccinations over the weekend. If it hits the target, the changes could come into force on Tuesday.

Changes will include; no more masks in public places, abolishing the curfew, sports of all levels can resume, family events and weddings of up to 200 people can happen. Outdoor events will allow up to 500 people, but music and dance events will require immunity certificates.

Hungary is the only county that didn't participate in a new EU contract to secure an additional 1.8 billion Pfizer vaccines by 2023. Orban confirmed the country would have enough vaccines for this year and 2022, even if a third vaccination is required.

The country's vaccine production capabilities are to be significantly boosted by a new vaccine factory in Debrecen, which will produce vaccines developed in Hungary and will be operating by the end of 2022.

Employees work on an amusement ride at Germany's largest theme park, Europa-Park in Rust. /AFP/PATRICK HERTZOG

Ryan Thompson in Frankfurt

Friday is the first day in more than six months that Berlin's restaurants, bars and cafes can be partially opened again.

Coronavirus cases have fallen for five consecutive days and the incidence rate (the metric Germany uses to enact its federal restrictions) is now significantly below 100 cases per 100,000 people.

Despite attendees being required to present a negative test, owners say they have been inundated with table reservations. The need for a negative test can be eliminated, at the earliest, after five days if the incidence rate falls below 50.

Those who are fully vaccinated are not required to show a test and are also exempt from many of Germany's other restrictions. So far, 12 percent of Germany's population are deemed to be fully vaccinated against the virus, and nearly 40 percent have had at least one jab.

Andrew Wilson in Oxford

The UK economy showed signs of strength as retail sales rebounded in April, up more than 10 percent on pre-pandemic levels. The figures are seemingly part of an early post-lockdown surge as non-essential shops started to open. A reduction in online sales complemented the statistics.

A lack of tourism might hamper any economic boost to the country. The European Union has put off its decision to put the UK on a safe travel list of countries that can visit the bloc this summer due to concerns about the prevalence of the variant first discovered in India.

Scotland will review its COVID-19 protection levels on Friday, which is expected to affect local restrictions across the country. Infections are accelerating in some parts of the country, including Glasgow, but are slowing in other areas.

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