Malaysia reports a record 126 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, which is the first time that daily deaths exceeded 100. This thereby brings the nationwide death toll to 2,993. (The Malaysian Reserve)
PresidentEmmanuel Macron announces that French teenagers aged 12 to 18 years old will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccine beginning from June 15 as the country reaches milestone of 50% of the adult population vaccinated with a first dose. (France 24)
The Spanishgovernment and regional authorities agree to allow bars and nightclubs to reopen for the first time in 10 months, with these establishments on regions with below 50 case rate per 100,000 population over 14 days can be open until 3:00 a.m. with 50% capacity. (Euronews)
According to a spokesperson for the independence movement, the leader of the Polisario Front, Brahim Ghali, arrived safely in Algiers, Algeria. Ghali, who was hospitalized due to COVID-19 in Spain, left the country after Spanish authorities refused to hold him in custody. The move angered Morocco due to Algeria's support of the Polisario Front. (Reuters)
CEOs of several South Korean companies ask PresidentMoon Jae-in to pardon Samsung's chairman Lee Jae-yong, who was sentenced to 30 months' imprisonment for bribery, embezzlement and other offences. Moon did not elaborate but had said in March that he would consider public opinion. Before taking office in 2017, Moon had said that he would not pardon those convicted of serious economic crimes. (Reuters)