TOP HEADLINES

The World Health Organization has warned that the global death toll from COVID-19 could more than double to two million before a vaccine is available.

The number of coronavirus cases in France has passed 500,000, authorities said on Friday after recording a near-record daily jump in infections. The total number stood at 513,034, health ministry data showed, taking France into a group of just 11 countries with more than half a million cases. 

Slovakia is facing a record surge of infections with the number of new confirmed cases surpassing 500 in one day for the first time, Friday.

Singer Van Morrison performed in London, Friday. The songwriter has recently courted controversy over his anti-mask views detailed in his forthcoming song "No More Lockdown." The concert, postponed from March, was one of the few shows by a major act that have taken place in London since the pandemic shut down much of the city's nightlife.

The number of confirmed cases in Poland stands at 85,980, a daily increase of 1,584, the ministry of health reported. The new figure is only slightly below the record daily rise of 1,587 announced Friday.

Russian news agency Tass reported that the country recorded 7,523 new cases, the biggest daily increase since 22 June.

Czechia has reported 2,946 new cases, its second highest rise since the start of the outbreak.

Cities around the U.K. imposed new coronavirus restrictions Friday as they raced to slow the spread of COVID-19 - with London at risk of following soon. Leeds, Wigan, Stockport and Blackpool, cities in northern England, all faced new restrictions, including barring residents from meeting with members of other households either indoors or in private backyards. 

Restaurant and bar owners demonstrated in Marseille, Friday, to challenge a French government order to close all public venues as of Saturday to battle resurgent virus infections.

AROUND EUROPE

Nawied Jabarkhyl in London

Up to 1,700 university students in the English city of Manchester have been told to self-isolate for two weeks after 99 people tested positive for the virus at one of its two main universities.

Across the UK, concern is growing that universities could emerge as a potential hotspot for COVID-19, with hundreds of other students infected in Glasgow and Edinburgh, amongst other cities.

Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will address the U.N. General Assembly on Saturday where he'll pledge a 30 percent increase in funding for the World Health Organisation, totaling more than $430 million over a four-year period. He'll also call for reforms of the body in order to deal better with future pandemics, including setting up international research hubs and vaccine development projects.

Rahul Pathak in Madrid

Spain's Health Minister has told Madrid's regional government to reimpose a full lockdown in the capital. Salvador Illa's comments came as the Madrid authorities extended lockdown style measures to eight new areas. 

It means there are now 45 mainly poor neighbourhoods in and around the city that are under some form of restriction. The contagion rate in these areas is above 1,000 cases per 100,000 people.

Illa has called for any Spanish city including Madrid to shut down if they had a rate of 500 cases per 100,000 or higher. The city of Madrid currently has a contagion rate of over 700.

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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.