Japan government panel defends extension of emergency measures 

A Japanese government panel of medical experts agreed on extending Japan's state of emergency by another month to the end of May during a meeting on Friday, Kyodo news reported.

The current state of emergency in Japan is set to end on May 6.

Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo admitted on Thursday that he will extend the emergency declaration, saying it would be difficult for the country to return to normal life by May 7.

Broadcaster NHK reported that Japan will decide as early as May 4 on whether to extend its nationwide state of emergency.