More than 8,65,970 cases

The worldwide number of officially confirmed fatalities from the novel coronavirus rose to 43,082 yesterday, according to a tally compiled by AFP from official sources. More than 865,970 declared cases have been registered in 186 countries and territories. Italy has recorded 105,792 infections, while Spain 9,053 fatalities and 102,136 infections. China -- excluding Hong Kong and Macau -- has to date declared 3,312 deaths and 81,554 cases.

Japan's Fujifilm starts Avigan trial to treat virus

Japan's Fujifilm has begun clinical trials to test the effectiveness of its anti-flu drug Avigan in treating patients with the new coronavirus, after reports of promising results in China. Trials in China have suggested Avigan could play a role in shortening the recovery time for patients infected with coronavirus. "The trial will be conducted on 100 patients," a company spokesman said yesterday.

Aussie papers stop printing

Rupert Murdoch's Australian flagship media group News Corp announced yesterday it will stop printing around 60 regional newspapers, as the troubled sector received a fresh blow from a Covid-19 advertising downturn. News Corp said papers in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia would cease printing and move online.

30 scientists find a home in deep sea

Nearly 100 crew members, including 30 scientists, who have been on scientific missions on board ocean research vessels have decided to stay put till the 21-day lockdown in India ends. They are on board four ships belonging to the Chennai-based National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) which set sail more than three weeks ago to map the seabed on the east and west coasts.

Putin working remotely

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has decided to handle his duties remotely, the Kremlin said yesterday, after the head of the country's main coronavirus hospital tested positive following a meeting with the president. Denis Protsenko, who met with Putin last week as the Russian leader visited the Kommunarka hospital in Moscow, said Tuesday he had been infected with the coronavirus but was feeling well.

World faces food crisis: UN, WTO

The heads of three global agencies yesterday warned of the risk of a worldwide "food shortage" if authorities fail to manage the ongoing coronavirus crisis properly. Many governments around the world have put their populations on lockdown causing severe slow-downs in international trade and food supply chains.

Virus could spread faster in camps than on ships: NGO

The coronavirus could spread faster in overcrowded refugee and displaced persons camps than it has anywhere else so far, including on cruise ships, an aid group warned yesterday. The International Rescue Committee said its analysis showed that transmission rates in some of the worst camps on the globes could outpace that witnessed during the quarantine of the Diamond Princess cruise ship off Japan.

SOURCE: AFP, TOI, REUTERS