TOP STORIES

·  World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned "the virus is moving faster than... vaccines" around the world, in response to the G7 vaccine promise. "More than 10,000 people are dying every day … these communities need vaccines and they need them now, not next year," he said. 

·  The WHO said 11 billion doses are needed to vaccinate the world's population - but the G7 only promised 870 million and funding for a further 130 million doses.

·  The scientist in charge of the Wuhan Institute of Virology has denied a New York Times report the lab experimented to "enhance the virulence of viruses," or that COVID-19 originated at the institute. "How on Earth can I offer up evidence for something where there is no evidence?" Shi Zhengli wrote to the U.S. newspaper. 

·  Israel has ended its so-called mask mandate, saying people no longer need to wear face coverings indoors. Passengers on flights in to and out of Israel must still wear them, but it's one of the very few remaining restrictions. 

·  Some regions of Russia, including St Petersburg and Moscow, have tightened COVID-19 restrictions because cases are rising in a similar pattern to 2020. Hospitals are also working to increase capacity again. St Petersburg is due to host the Russia vs Finland match in the Euro 2020 soccer tournament on Wednesday. 

· Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a four-week delay to a final easing of the few remaining COVID-19 restrictions in England. He said the UK government is "confident" the July 19  date will remain – although Scotland and Wales will announce their own measures in due course. 

·  What, or who, is a "vaxinista?" The portmanteau joins "vaccinated" and "fashionista," which has sprung up to describe pharmaceutical-inspired clothing and mementos. Clothing advertising "vaccination status" has been seen around the world, often on social media, and AstraZeneca and Pfizer-branded items are hugely popular online. 

· Portugal football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has backed the decision to allow Budapest's Puskas Arena to host Euro 2020 games at its full capacity of 68,000. It is the only venue in the tournament able to do so under current COVID-19 restrictions and Ronaldo said: "I wish every single venue could host a full house."

· Japanese pharmaceutical firm Daiichi Sankyo said it has stopped the development of an existing drug for the treatment of COVID-19. The company said it started clinical trials of an anticoagulant called nafamostat mesylate in March, but today's statement said it had ended without an answer. Japanese daily Nikkei reported safety concerns.

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AROUND EUROPE 

Ryan Thompson in Frankfurt 

The number of new infections in Germany is now at the same level as last summer. Health officials reported 652 new cases on Tuesday morning, the lowest working day total since July 2020.

Many parts of the country are taking major steps to relax COVID-19 containment measures, including removing so-called mask mandates and allowing outdoor businesses to reopen to normal opening hours.

Nearly 50 percent of the nation's population has been offered at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. 

Ross Cullen in Paris

The COVID-19 vaccination campaign opens in France today for children aged 12 to 17. Some 3.5 million children in the country can now access a vaccine, under strict conditions. Jabs for adolescents will only be allowed with the child's consent, written consent from their parents, and in the presence of the parents. 

All children who do receive a dose will get the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The move comes after France passed the mark of 30 million first vaccinations. The country is progressively easing its social restrictions as it expands its vaccination campaign. Meanwhile, the ministry of health says it is still discussing easing the obligation to wear face masks outside in public in France.

Penelope Liersch in Budapest 

Hungary's foreign minister has announced the country will donate 80 respirators to five partners through the NATO COVID-19 support system. 30 will be sent to Bosnia and Herzegovina, 20 to Moldova and 10 each to Tunisia, Jordan, and Ukraine. 

In Czechia, restrictions continue to be lifted as COVID-19 data improve. As of Tuesday, schoolchildren in all regions are no longer required to wear masks in the classrooms. President Milos Zeman announced outdoor events can host 5,000 people and indoor event capacity will be doubled to 2,000 from July. It's hoped on July 1 general practitioners and pediatricians can start administering vaccines. More than 10,000 under-16's are waiting for a dose of Pfizer-BioNTech jabs. While 18 large employers have also signed up to have workers vaccinated onsite.

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CGTN Europe has been providing in-depth coverage of the novel coronavirus story as it has unfolded.