News Headlines - 28 April 2020

▽European doctors warn rare kids' syndrome may have virus tie

Doctors in Britain, Italy, and Spain have been warned to look out for a rare inflammatory condition in children that is possibly linked to the new coronavirus... The cases were also reported to have features of toxic shock syndrome or Kawasaki disease, a rare blood vessel disorder. Only some of the children tested positive for COVID-19, so scientists are unsure if these rare symptoms are caused by the new coronavirus or by something else... Kawasaki symptoms include a high temperature that lasts for 5 days or more, a rash and swollen glands in the neck, according to Britain’s National Health Service.

▽Dutch court approves euthanasia in advanced dementia cases - The Mainichi

The Netherlands' highest court ruled Tuesday that doctors can carry out euthanasia in patients with advanced dementia if the patient has earlier made a written directive.
The Supreme Court ruling solidifies in law a practice that already was being carried out on rare occasions in the Netherlands.

▽Abducted Hong Kong bookseller Lam Wing-kee opens Taiwan shop | The Guardian

The part-owner of a Hong Kong bookstore specialising in texts critical of China’s leaders has reopened his shop in Taiwan after fleeing Hong Kong because of legal troubles.
The opening and accompanying news conference came days after a masked man threw red paint at Lam Wing-kee while he sat alone at a coffee shop in Taiwan. Lam suffered no physical injuries and showed little sign of the attack other than a red tint to his hair.

▽Nissan warns of nearly $900m loss as sales collapse | Financial Times

In a statement on Tuesday, Nissan said it likely suffered a net loss of as much as ￥95bn ($891m) for the fiscal year that ended in March, reversing its earlier forecast for a net profit of ￥65bn.
The company blamed the loss on a decline in vehicle and components sales as well as reserves it had set aside for its finance and leasing arm, which analysts said would be hit hard if the outbreak led to a further decline in used car prices in the US.
With cities across the world in lockdowns, Nissan saw its year-on-year March sales in the US, Europe and China fall 48 per cent, 51 per cent and 45 per cent, respectively.

▽Next year's Olympics will be cancelled if pandemic not over: Games chief | AFP.com

The comments, in an interview with a Japanese sports daily published Tuesday, come as medical experts doubted whether the pandemic can be sufficiently contained by next year to hold an event drawing participants and spectators from around the world.
The pandemic has already forced a year-long delay of the Games, which are now scheduled to open on July 23, 2021.
But Tokyo 2020 president Yoshiro Mori was categorical when asked by the Nikkan Sports daily whether the Games could be delayed until 2022 if the pandemic remains a threat next year, replying: "No."