Japan aims to fast-track review of anti-viral drug remdesivir
Japan will fast-track a review of Gilead Sciences Inc’s antiviral drug remdesivir so that it can hopefully be approved for domestic COVID-19 patients a week after the U.S. firm’s filing for such approval, the health minister said on Saturday.
Iran coronavirus deaths rise by 65 to 6,156 as contamination slows
Iran’s death toll from new coronavirus increased by 65 over the previous 24 hours to reach 6,156 on Saturday, Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur said in a statement on state TV.
Afghan rivals say they’re close to ending leadership feud
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and rival Abdullah Abdullah are close to resolving a standoff over last year’s disputed presidential election that has threatened a U.S.-brokered peace process, both sides said on Saturday.
Daughter of former Kazakh leader leaves key Senate post
The daughter of Kazakhstan’s powerful former president has left her position as speaker of the Senate, a role that led some observers to tip her as a possible candidate for the presidency.
Dutch coronavirus cases pass 40,000
The number of confirmed coronavirus infections in the Netherlands has increased by 445 to 40,236, Dutch health authorities said on Saturday.
Japan’s PM to hold news conference on Monday about coronavirus
Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will hold a news conference on Monday at 0900 GMT about the coronavirus, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Saturday.
Malaysia defends easing of coronavirus curbs as new infections jump
Malaysian authorities on Saturday defended plans to ease coronavirus lockdown measures next week even as the number of new infections jumped to a two-week high.
COVID-19 shines a light on inequality, Britain’s elite Eton College says
The coronavirus outbreak will usher in profound change akin to the societal transformation that followed the two World Wars because of mounting anger about inequality, said the head of Eton, Britain’s most elite fee-paying school.
More people hit China roads in first major holiday since coronavirus easing
China’s most populous cities saw a spike in outbound travellers, tourists and day-trippers on May 1, first day of a long holiday weekend, led by Wuhan, epicentre of the coronavirus epidemic that first struck the country late last year.
The art of re-emergence: North Korea leader Kim appears after long gap
When North Korea broke a three-week silence on leader Kim Jong Un’s public activity on Saturday, it offered no clue where he has been during a period of intense global speculation about his health and whereabouts, or why he was hidden from the public f…
