- Dexamethasone is the first drug shown to be able to save lives among COVID-19 patients in what is being described as a 'major breakthrough.' Trial results announced on Tuesday, showed that the inexpensive and widely available drug reduced death rates by around a third among those most severely ill in hospital.

- Olena Zelenska, the wife of Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelensky, has been hospitalized after she tested positive for COVID-19. She is said to be in a stable condition.

- France has pledged $225 million to help domestic research and manufacturing of medicines. President Emmanuel Macron said the government would announce plans on Thursday to bring back some drug production facilities to France.

- The European Union has launched its 'Reopen EU' website giving information about its member states as they slowly come out of lockdown. Information includes travel, services and health and safety for people looking to enter the specified country. 

- UK deaths rose by 233 in the past 24 hours, bringing the cumulative total to 41,969, as it continues to be the worst-affected country in Europe. 

- Russia's daily cases rose by 8,248 in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 545,458. Deaths also rose, by 193 to 7,284. 

- Germany launched its COVID-19 track-and-trace app on Tuesday. The app is said to be so secure that even government ministers can use it. 

- Spain is considering the introduction of a quarantine period for people entering from the UK, its foreign minister, Arancha Gonzalez Laya admitted. 

- COVID-19 vaccine trials are set to begin in the UK this week. Researchers at London's Imperial College will begin the trials on 300 people, aged between 18 and 70, to determine whether the vaccine is effective. 

- Hungary's parliament passed a law on Tuesday to remove special powers granted to its prime minister, Viktor Orban. 

- German travel company TUI has restarted some holidays for its customers from Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland following months of lockdown across Europe. TUI added that it would be operating at about 30 percent of its capacity this summer. 

- The potential COVID-19 vaccine being tested by AstraZeneca is likely to provide protection against the coronavirus for about a year, according to its CEO Pascal Soriot.

- McDonald's global sales fell by 39 percent and 21 percent in April and May respectively as a result of having to close most of its stores. 

Andrew Wilson in the UK

The number of people on UK payrolls plummeted by more than 600,000 between March and May, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The ONS figures are the first wave of a 2020 jobs meltdown. The full picture will become clearer in October when the government's jobs support scheme is wound down.

Expect more pressure today to reduce the controversial two-meter social distancing rule.

A study by University College London shows two million children have done little or no school work since March.

In the House of Commons, the opposition will demand the government extends free school meal vouchers, the Prime Minister will make a statement about "Global Britain," and the business secretary Alok Sharma will take questions about the alarming economic figures today.

New Zealand's first coronavirus cases in 24 days were two women who flew in from the UK for a family funeral.

Toni Waterman in Brussels

The European Union

The coronavirus could prove the catalyst for deeper European integration and even the creation of a long-talked-about EU army. Germany and France are already on board with deeper economic integration, including joint debt, but now they are calling for increased joint-defense capabilities – that's according to Bloomberg.

The news site said it obtained a policy paper circulated among EU defense ministers ahead of a meeting on Tuesday, which calls for "fostering the EU's capacity to act as a security provider." 

The coronavirus has exposed a number of Europe's vulnerabilities – from supply chains to medications. Add to that a rocky relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump, and COVID-19 could be the impetus for closer coordination on the security front. 

Belgium

Two nursing federations in Belgium are taking legal action against the government and Health Minister Maggie De Block, claiming they acted negligently during the coronavirus crisis. The National Federation of Nurses of Belgium and the Federation of Independent Nurses of Belgium say their members' lives were put in danger because of the government's lack of foresight and preparedness. The federations said they tried on multiple occasions to alert the authorities about "difficult and dangerous situations" but the attempts were "unsuccessful." 

They also claim De Block gave no "consideration" to their requests for masks, protective equipment and psychological support. 

Fifty six nurses have joined the class-action lawsuit.

Ross Cullen in Paris

A commission of inquiry opens this Tuesday in France, with MPs beginning their assessment of the country's response to the pandemic. 

Issues that will be discussed include the management of face mask stocks, the dates that the government chose to bring in and then to ease lockdown, plus the problems surrounding cases and care in nursing homes. 

The commission in the National Assembly aims to identify "the major faults, flaws and dysfunctions" in the management of the coronavirus crisis. It comes after the president said he was "proud" of the way the government handled the outbreak in France.

Isobel Ewing in Budapest

Life continues to return to normal in Budapest, where weddings and funerals can now be held if the number of guests does not exceed 200. Public libraries have also reopened their doors.

There is also a gradual move back to normal functioning of hospitals, after the controversial order was made to free up thousands of beds for COVID-19 patients.

The government's coronavirus task force announced 80 percent of beds vacated for coronavirus patients have returned to being used for normal care.

In inpatient facilities, the visit ban is partially lifted and visitors must be healthy and wearing masks.

GPs and specialists are now permitted to receive more than four patients per hour.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban says the government is ready to give financial support to Audi to help its manufacturing plant in the country run at full capacity, but did not specify what that support would look like.

Ira Spitzer in Berlin

Germany has released its voluntary coronavirus tracing app, called the Corona-Warn app. The app uses bluetooth to tell users when they've been near another user who has had a coronavirus infection. Other European countries such as France and Switzerland have recently launched similar apps. German officials say they've addressed privacy concerns by not storing data on a centralized server.

In Berlin, a residential building with several hundred residents has been placed under quarantine after at least 54 cases were confirmed. From Monday to Tuesday, there were 378 new infections throughout the country.

FROM OUR GLOBAL COLLEAGUES

CGTN China: Beijing in critical situation with COVID-19 prevention

CGTN America: COVID-19 delaying lifesaving treatment for non COVID-19 patients

CGTN Africa: Zambia reports 182 more COVID-19 cases, total now at 1382

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CGTN Europe has been providing in-depth coverage of the novel coronavirus story as it has unfolded. Here you can read the essential information about the crisis.