TOP HEADLINES
- COVID-19 restrictions in Hungary have been lifted - but only for people with government-issued immunity cards. So far, the cards are needed to access leisure businesses, including indoor restaurants, hotels, theatres, cinemas, spas, gyms, and more.
- The Gallery Weekend in Berlin is going ahead with pandemic restrictions in place, and despite having to make appointments and show recent negative test results art buyers in Berlin are taking advantage. The 50 galleries will keep collections open longer than just this weekend to give art lovers more chances to spend.
- In the UK, a government trial is hoping to prove that 10-day isolation for anyone who has "contact" with COVID-19 is not needed. It will give seven daily lateral flow tests – which must be passed – instead of the 10-day quarantine.
- Organizers of the French Open tennis tournament said they are "delighted" authorities and broadcasters have allowed them to postpone the tournament by a week to "optimize" its chances of admitting spectators. On June 9 France is scheduled to enter "Phase 3" – which would allow around 5,000 fans to watch the finals.
- Crowds will return to Madrid's Las Ventas bullring for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic for a charity bullfight to raise money for matadors left jobless by the pandemic.
- In Belgium, police have detained more than 100 people for a second "party" in the Bois de la Cambre park in the capital Brussels. Those breaking restrictions set bonfires, and clashed with police. For the second time in a month law enforcement used tear gas and water cannons to get the crowd to go home.
Defending champion Rafael Nadal will hope to play in front of fans at this year's French Open tennis competition. /Fancois Mori/AP
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AROUND EUROPE
Rahul Pathak in Spain
Madrid is set to host its first bullfighting event since the start of the pandemic over a year ago. The event will take place in front of fans at the famous Ventas arena in the centre of Madrid.
The pandemic forced the cancellation of the regular bullfighting season last year, and people who run the sport say it needs more financial help to survive. However animal rights groups claim bullfighting is barbaric and should be allowed to die.
The event has been organized by Madrid's regional government, despite opposition from Spain's Ministry of Health. Last month it appealed to Madrid authorities to abandon the plan to organize the event due to the high level of infections and the possibility of an escalation of the epidemic in the Spanish capital.
Andrew Wilson in UK
The government is trialling a new system involving seven straight days of lateral flow tests as an alternative to 10 days' self-isolation after someone reports contact with an infected person. So long as they test negative all week, they can carry on with their lives.
Health officials are considering offering the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to secondary school pupils from September. Provisional discussions involve a single dose to children over 12 at the start of the new school year.
Discussions are also starting over long-term behavior advice for the country after June 21 when lockdown restrictions are planned to end completely. Issues on the table include mask-wearing (likely to continue in some form), holidays, sporting events and close physical contact such as hugging between friends.
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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.