Europe’s top rice producer Italy has seen consumption of the staple rise throughout the coronavirus pandemic, putting even pasta in the shade. It’s not just popular at home either — China itself has even signed a deal to import Italian rice. The Chinese have their eyes on varieties used to make typical risotto dishes. Spread over 220,000 hectares (545,000 acres) and cultivated by 4,200 producers in all, Italian rice production totals an annual 1.5 million tonnes.
An Iranian warship was accidentally hit by a missile during exercises in the Gulf of Oman, killing 19 sailors, amid tensions with the US in the waterway. The friendly fire incident involving the Konarak vessel occurred on Sunday afternoon near Bandar-e Jask, off the southern coast of the Islamic republic. One report said the vessel had sunk after being hit by a missile fired by another Iranian warship.
India’s top medical research body has turned down a proposal by the Modi government to test water from the Ganges river as a cure for coronavirus. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) turned down the request as it is focusing on the Covid-19 battle and does not want to waste time on other research. ICMR’s head of the Department of Research Management, said that the matter is at a very preliminary stage.
A research team at Arizona State University (US) has detected a unique mutation in the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that could make the virus weaker. The scientists found that in one of the samples they were examining part of the genome of the virus had been permanently deleted. The genome of a virus is its genetic code which determines how the virus multiplies and attacks host cells.
Europe prepared for a further cautious easing of coronavirus restrictions following signs the pandemic may be slowing. Italy followed by Spain will allow people outside. More than 243,000 people have been killed and 3.4 million infected worldwide by the virus which has left humanity in lockdown. With signs that the spread of the contagion has been brought under control, parts of Europe, Asia and the United States have begun to lift restrictions.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved on Friday an experimental antiviral drug, Remdesivir, for emergency use in COVID-19 patients. The drug can now be given to patients who are hospitalised with severe symptoms and need supplemental oxygen therapy or a ventilator. Emergency use authorisation means that unapproved drugs that might help treat a life-threatening disease can be used when no approved alternatives are available.
South Korea has reported zero new local coornavirus cases and four imported cases of the coronavirus over the past 24 hours. It is the first time that its daily jump has marked below five in about two months. The Koreas Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement on April 30 country’s total is 10,765 with 247 deaths.
A US government panel called for India to be put on a religious freedom blacklist. The panel called for it over a “drastic” downturn under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, triggering a sharp rebuttal from New Delhi. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom recommends but does not set policy, and there is virtually no chance the State Department will follow its lead on India, an increasingly close US ally.
India has cancelled orders to import coronavirus rapid testing kits from China after finding them to be “faulty”. The country had placed an order for about half a million kits from two Chinese firms: Wondfo Biotech and Livzon Diagnostic. States in India had refused to use the rapid testing kits, claiming they were only 5% accurate.
A human trial of a potential coronavirus vaccine is being launched by Oxford University with the aim of making it available to the public. In its first phase, half of 1,112 volunteers will receive the potential vaccine against COVID-19, the other half a control vaccine to test its safety and efficacy. The volunteers are aged between 18 and 55, are in good health.