Coronavirus: Latest global developments

PARIS, (AFP) - Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:

WHO worries: The World Health Organization's (WHO) regional director for Europe Hans Kluge says that one of his main worries is the increased contagiousness of new variants and deplores that the vaccine rollout in Europe is still “too slow”.

Pfizer for kids: The European Union's drug watchdog approves the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus jab for 12- to 15-year- olds, the first vaccine to get the green light for children in the bloc.

India's 'very slow' easing: Indian authorities announce a “very very slow” easing of the lockdown in the capital New Delhi as infections fall but with an official daily death toll still above 3,600.

Tokyo emergency extended: Japan extends a virus state of emergency in Tokyo and other parts of the country until June 20, just over a month before the Olympics.

Malaysia locks down: Malaysia announced a “total lockdown” as it battles a rapidly escalating coronavirus outbreak that has strained the healthcare system.

Vaccines in Africa: French President Emmanuel Macron vows during a visit to South Africa to help push for the production of vaccines in Africa, saying intellectual property rights should not hinder the necessary technology transfer.

J&J gets UK thumbs up: Britain approves the single- shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine. 3.5 million dead: The pandemic has killed at least 3,513,088 people worldwide since the virus first emerged in December 2019. The US is the worst-affected country with 593,288 deaths, followed by Brazil with 456,674, India with 318,895, Mexico with 222,657 and Britain with 127,758.

The WHO says up to three times more people have died directly or indirectly due to the pandemic than official figures suggest.