FACTBOX-Latest on the worldwide spread of coronavirus

With new infections hitting about 100,000 daily, Europe has by a wide margin overtaken the United States. DEATHS AND INFECTIONS * For an interactive graphic tracking the global spread of COVID-19, open https://graphics.reuters.com/world-coronavirus-tracker-and-maps/ in an external browser. * Eikon users, see MacroVitals for a case tracker and summary of news.

Tighter controls could save hundreds of thousands of lives across Europe before February, the World Health Organization said, as the continent battles an exponential surge in COVID-19 cases. With new infections hitting about 100,000 daily, Europe has by a wide margin overtaken the United States.

DEATHS AND INFECTIONS * For an interactive graphic tracking the global spread of COVID-19, open https://graphics.reuters.com/world-coronavirus-tracker-and-maps/ in an external browser.

* Eikon users, see MacroVitals for a case tracker and summary of news. EUROPE

* The European Commission urged member nations to step up preparations and recommended common measures to roll out vaccines should they become available. * Police raided the homes and offices of France's health minister and its public health director in a probe into the authorities' COVID-19 response.

* The Czech Republic is planning its first field hospital as the country grapples with the fastest rate of infections in Europe, putting healthcare under severe strain. * Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia reported record figures of daily infections.

AMERICAS * President Donald Trump cited what he said was his son's mild bout of the virus as a reason why American schools should reopen as soon as possible.

* Mexico's death tally is nearing 85,000, including 1,744 health workers, while business tycoon and billionaire Ricardo Salinas said he had contracted COVID-19. * Central America's complex migration machinery is reactivating, smugglers, experts and migrants say, as the collapse of regional economies pushes families deeper into poverty.

* Argentina's football league will restart on Oct. 30 after a seven-month hiatus. ASIA-PACIFIC

* On track to overtake the United States with the world's most infections, India is bracing for a surge in coming weeks as it heads into its main holiday season with an economy freed of restrictions. * A U.N. human rights official called for an urgent easing of sanctions on North Korea, which may be worsening problems from its coronavirus lockdown.

* Hong Kong and Singapore will set up a travel bubble as they moved to re-establish overseas travel links. MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA

* An extra 10,000 children per month may die this year from malnutrition due to the crisis, the head of the WHO warned, with sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia worst-hit. * South Africa will extend a special COVID-19 grant by a further three months, its president said, while unveiling an economic recovery plan.

MEDICAL DEVELOPMENTS * WHO has so far left the question of financial claims from unexpected vaccine side-effects unresolved as it seeks to ensure shots are fairly distributed worldwide.

* Sanofi and Translate Bio's clinical vaccine trials could begin before the year's end after positive results from animal tests * Germany signed fast test supply deals with Abbot, Roche and Healthineers.

* Oxford scientists have developed 5-minute COVID-19 antigen test, which they say could be used in mass testing at airports and businesses. ECONOMIC IMPACT

* Wall Street was set to follow a tumbling Europe lower on Thursday, as reassuring earnings from bank heavyweight Morgan Stanley were overshadowed by the failure of U.S. policymakers to agree a fiscal boost to counter fallout from COVID-19. * The U.S. treasury secretary urged the IMF and World Bank to work judiciously within their existing resources to fight COVID-19 and urged G20 countries to endorse a proposed debt restructuring framework.

* Spain said it would issue debt to compensate for any delay in the approval and disbursement of EU rescue funds. * Italy will spend 10 billion euros on furlough schemes and tax breaks in the south, government sources said.

* Kenya's economy saw its first quarterly contraction since 2008. (Compiled by Sarah Morland; Editing by Alex Richardson)