TOP HEADLINES 

• People vaccinated against COVID-19 are exempt from many restrictions in Germany from Sunday after the government passed new legislation to restore some freedoms. Curfews and limits on social contacts no longer apply to those fully vaccinated - more than seven million people - or recovered from a Covid infection under the new rules.

• Ursula von der Leyen, the  President of the European Commission,  said on Saturday that leaders of the EU countries understand that there are "more pressing issues" than patent waiver on vaccines. Von der Leyen said the topic "is important" but will be discussed "in the long term, not in the short or medium term."

• Russia commemorates Victory Day on May 9, celebrating its defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. Due to the pandemic, authorities decided to postpone the march of the "immortal regiment" where people walk along with veterans with portraits of WW2 fighters - until June.

• Hundreds of vaccination doses were given to Romanians at the Bran Castle - commonly known as Dracula's Castle - in central Romania. Some believe the area and castle to have inspired Bram Stoker's book 'Dracula', although scholars have challenged this. 

• A group of 20 French doctors and researchers have accused their government of "passive management of the epidemic" and demanded "a new national protocol with fixed targets."

• Vietnam, often praised for its handling of the pandemic, has reported over 100 new infections. The country's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said the surging virus now threatens Vietnam's political stability. 

AROUND EUROPE 

Nawied Jabarkhyl in London,

UK prime minister Boris Johnson has called for a summit with the leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, asking them to show "unity and cooperation" in the fight against COVID-19.

The Scottish National Party has won a fourth term in local elections, promising a second referendum on Scotland's independence. The move could lead to a political showdown with Westminster, with Johnson ruling out any vote in the "current context as reckless," referring to the ongoing pandemic.

Meanwhile, cases in the UK remain relatively low, with just over 2,000 cases reported on Saturday and five deaths within 28 days of a positive test.

Rahul Pathak in Madrid 

Spaniards partied like it was New Year's Eve last night as the six-month-long state of alarm came to an end at midnight.

In Madrid, there was an impromptu street party in Puerta del Sol in the center of the city, with thousands of people celebrating into the early hours. There were similar scenes in Barcelona where huge unofficial beach parties took place to mark the end of the state of alarm.

The legislation was brought in last October to help combat the pandemic's second wave. It gave regional governments the power to impose measures like night-time curfews and placing limits on social gatherings. From Sunday, if authorities feel they need to extend those measures, they will have to apply through the courts.

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