Key words : world health novavax
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211218_11/
The World Health Organization has added a coronavirus vaccine developed by US pharmaceutical company Novavax to its emergency use listing.
The WHO listed Covovax on Friday after confirming its safety and efficacy. The vaccine is produced by the Serum Institute of India under license from Novavax. It is considered suitable for rollout in developing countries as it can be stored in normal refrigerators.
The WHO says another COVID-19 vaccine produced by Novavax is currently under assessment.
Covovax was developed with support from the COVAX Facility, a WHO-led framework for the creation and distribution of coronavirus vaccines. The framework was expected to distribute 2 billion vaccine doses within this year. But only about 700 million doses have been provided so far as vaccine donations from wealthier countries have stalled.
Other vaccines on the WHO emergency use list are those developed by Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, two Chinese pharmaceutical companies, and an Indian firm.
Key words : britain 93
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211218_05/
Britain confirmed 93,045 coronavirus cases on Friday, a record high for the third consecutive day. The figure is up more than 4,600 on Thursday's tally.
Officials say more than 14,900 people have been infected with the Omicron variant. In London, they estimate that it accounts for about 80 percent of all infections.
The resurgence of the virus is hurting public services. Officials say nearly a third of the capital's fire engines were out of action over the past week due to personnel shortages. There are concerns hospitals could face the same problem.
Pubs and restaurants, which were expecting demand to increase during the holiday season, are now being hit hard by cancellations.
Authorities plan to speed up the rollout of booster vaccines, which have so far been given to more than 25.6 million people, or about 38 percent of the population.
Key words : US facing highest
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211218_N02/
People in the U.S. are facing the prospect of another winter lost to the coronavirus. They are seeing infections in many states surge to the highest levels in nearly a year. Most of the cases involve the Delta variant, but authorities say the Omicron strain has spread to 39 states.
Around 120,000 new cases are being reported around the country each day. Business and education leaders are starting to take action. Some tech firms are delaying when they'll bring employees back to the office. And some universities are switching to all-remote final exams, in addition to cancelling year-end events.
Sports leagues are struggling to control outbreaks. The National Football League says nearly 100 players may have to sit out due to virus protocols. A handful of professional hockey and basketball games have been postponed.
New York was one of the hardest-hit cities at the beginning of the pandemic -- and then came roaring back. However, the outbreak has forced Broadway producers to cancel several performances after cast or crewmembers tested positive for the virus. And New Yorkers are crowding into testing sites ahead of the holiday season.
One woman who went for a test said a few people that she knows tested positive, so she just wants to make sure and stay safe.
White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Jeff Zients said unvaccinated people are looking at a winter of severe illness and death for themselves, their families, and the hospitals they may soon overwhelm.
Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say Omicron is likely to become the dominant strain in the US in the coming weeks.
Key words : 61-year-old
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211218_03/
Investigative sources in Japan suspect a 61-year-old man of starting a fire that killed 24 people on Friday in the western city of Osaka. They are treating the incident as a possible case of murder and arson.
The blaze started at about 10:20 a.m. in a clinic that the man had been visiting on the fourth floor of an eight-story building.
Twenty-eight people were taken to hospital. Fourteen men and 10 women believed to be in their 20s to 60s were later pronounced dead.
The victims were all reportedly at the clinic, which specializes in psychosomatic medicine and psychiatry.
Police say witnesses saw the man place a paper bag containing liquid near a heater in the waiting room. The witnesses say he then kicked it, and the liquid caught fire.
Sources say the man is in critical condition and being treated in hospital.
About 30 minutes earlier, a small fire broke out at the man's home 3 kilometers away. Police suspect it was also the result of arson.
Key words : iizuka died action
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211218_10/
The families of Japanese people abducted by North Korea have made one appeal after another to see their loved one again. Now, they have lost one of their biggest allies.
Iizuka Shigeo spent years spearheading campaigns for the return of the missing. He died of illness at the age of 83.
Iizuka had been in poor health since 2017, and was hospitalized in mid-November.
North Korea carried out the abductions in the 1970s and 80s. Iizuka headed a group of the victims' relatives.
He met seven Japanese prime ministers over the course of his work, and urged them all to do more on the issue.
The younger brother of abductee Yokota Megumi has expressed his grief at Iizuka's passing. Yokota Takuya took Iizuka's place earlier this month as head of the abductee action group.
Yokota said, "I am devastated by this sudden news. Mr Iizuka had been fighting on the front line to rescue abductees, but in the end, he was unable to meet his abducted sister. It really hurts my heart to think about this."
A Japanese government spokesperson said the abduction issue is one of the most important challenges facing the government. The spokesperson said every effort will be made to realize the return of all abductees as soon as possible.
Key words : kishida condolence
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211218_13/
Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu has reiterated the government's determination to go all out to resolve the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea. He also serves as the minister in charge of the abduction issue.
Matsuno was speaking at a gathering on the issue in Kobe City on Saturday. His remarks followed the death of Iizuka Shigeo earlier in the day.
Iizuka, the elder brother of abductee Taguchi Yaeko, had headed a group of relatives of abduction victims for 14 years until just last week.
Matsuno said Iizuka had devoted himself to spearheading the campaign to rescue the missing. He said he would like to express his respect for Iizuka once again and pray that he may rest in peace.
The top government spokesperson said that the victims' relatives have recently been passing away one after another and the government is keenly aware that there is no time to waste.
Matsuno pledged that the government will stand by the families, seize every opportunity and do all it can to realize the return of all the abductees as early as possible.
Meanwhile, Japan's Prime Minister Kishida Fumio offered his condolences to Iizuka's family.
Kishida said when he met Iizuka shortly after assuming the premiership, he was impressed with his firm resolve never to give up.
Kishida said he is filled with remorse for having been unable to have him reunite with his sister.
He said he is well aware that the family members are aging and no time should be lost in resolving the abduction issue.
Kishida said he is reminding himself that every opportunity must not be lost and vowed to firmly tackle the issue.
Key words : afghanistan envoy resign
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211218_07/
The Afghan ambassador to the United Nations has resigned, following moves by the Taliban to replace him. Ghulam Isaczai was appointed by the previous Afghan government. He opposed the Taliban on issues including human rights.
Deputy UN spokesperson Farhan Haq said he received a letter on Thursday from Afghanistan's UN mission, informing him of Isaczai's resignation.
The mission says Minister Counsellor Naseer Ahmad Faiq will serve as the country's acting envoy to the UN.
Isaczai had remained in his post even after the Taliban retook control of Afghanistan in August. He criticized the Islamic group's policies on women's rights and other issues.
The Taliban notified the UN in September it had nominated Suhail Shaheen, a senior official of the group, as the country's ambassador to the UN.
But on December 1, the UN Credentials Committee postponed a decision on who should speak for Afghanistan at the world body. This meant Isaczai was likely to remain in his post for the time being.
Shaheen sent out a tweet saying he should represent his country. He said he requests the UN to "prove its neutrality by giving the seat of Afghanistan at UN to the current government in Afghanistan which has sovereignty and writ all over the country."
Key words : myanmar kyi
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211218_06/
Myanmar's ousted de-facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi reportedly appeared in a court in the capital Naypyitaw on Friday wearing a prison uniform.
A local media outlet, The Irrawaddy, quoted sources as saying that she was dressed in a white top and a brown wraparound sarong, the typical prison outfit in Myanmar.
It said Aung San Suu Kyi was "reportedly calm and brave" during the hearing.
She was sentenced earlier this month to four years in jail for incitement and other charges. Her jail sentence was later halved in a pardon by the head of the State Administration Council, which is the top decision-making body set up by the military.
She will stay in the location where she is currently being detained to serve her sentence, instead of going to a prison.
The ousted de-facto leader is still on trial for at least 10 other charges, including corruption.
Analysts say the decision to make her attend court in a prison uniform appears to be a ploy by the military to undermine her authority.
Key words : eisai
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211218_01/
The European Union's drug regulator says it cannot recommend approval of an Alzheimer's drug developed by US company Biogen and Japanese firm Eisai.
The European Medicines Agency made the announcement to the European Commission on Friday.
Aducanumab reduces a protein called amyloid beta, which forms plaques in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease. The drug is believed to prevent brain cells from being destroyed by the protein, and ultimately slow the progression of the illness.
The EMA said that although the medication does reduce amyloid beta in the brain, there is no established link with clinical improvement.
It also said results from the main studies were conflicting, and did not show overall that the drug was effective.
Eisai said Biogen plans to seek a re-examination of the EMA's rejection. It added that they will continue to work with EU authorities to get the drug approved.
The US Food and Drug Administration gave conditional approval to Aducanumab in June this year. Japan's health ministry is scheduled to discuss whether to approve it next Wednesday.
0 件のコメント:
コメントを投稿