Japan PM aide apologizes for 'shameful' act of having hands in pockets on US trip
As Kishida spoke to the media, Kihara was captured in the background with his hands inside his pants pockets. Many in Japan believe that such an action portrays a dismissive attitude and is considered inappropriate in formal scenarios. When footage of Kishida’s interview emerged on Japanese media, viewers criticized Kihara as “shameful,” “disrespectful” and “arrogant.”
news.yahoo.comThe Latest: California to require masks at schools in fall
California will require that masks be worn at schools when classrooms open this fall, despite new guidance issued Friday from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that says vaccinated teachers and students don’t need to wear face coverings inside school buildings.
Third Olympian tests positive for COVID-19 in Tokyo
One of Serbia’s five-member rowing team tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival in Japan, an official said Sunday. This is the third visiting Olympian to test positive for the virus ahead of the games, which are set to begin later this month. Why it matters: Japan's government has faced heavy criticism for deciding to host the Olympic Games in spite of rising cases. Get market news worthy of your time with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free.A member of Uganda's Olympic team tested positive on a
news.yahoo.comTokyo elects assembly amid pandemic fears over Olympics
Voters in Japan’s capital are electing the Tokyo city assembly amid worries about health risks during the Olympics, opening in three weeks, as coronavirus cases continue to rise. In Sunday’s balloting, 271 candidates are vying for 127 seats. Exit polls by public broadcaster NHK TV showed a tight race between Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike's Tomin First party and the ruling Liberal Democrats, the party of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.
news.yahoo.comTokyo Olympic head says Bach visit to Japan could be 'tough'
The president of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee says it would be “quite tough” for IOC President Thomas Bach to make a planned visit this month to Japan with a state of emergency order being extended by the government to Tokyo and other areas until May 31.
Torch relay for Tokyo Olympics kicks off its 121-day journey
The torch relay for the postponed Tokyo Olympics began its 121-day journey across Japan on Thursday and is headed toward the opening ceremony in Tokyo on July 23. (Philip Fong/Pool Photo via AP)TOKYO – The torch relay for the postponed Tokyo Olympics began its 121-day journey across Japan on Thursday and is headed toward the opening ceremony in Tokyo on July 23. "When you become my age, this is the last Tokyo Olympics and it’s here. "The Olympic torch relay starting from today is a valuable opportunity for the people to get a real sense of the Olympics and Paralympics that are approaching,” Suga told reporters. Local organizers and the International Olympic Committee hope the relay will turn public opinion in Japan in favor of the Olympics.
Spectators from abroad to be barred from Tokyo Olympics
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach, on a screen, delivers an opening speech while Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee President Seiko Hashimoto listens at a five-party meeting of Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games with International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Andrew Parsons, Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike and Japanese Olympic Minister Tamayo Marukawa in Tokyo Saturday, March 20, 2021. (Yoshikazu Tsuno/Pool Photo via AP)TOKYO – At last it’s official after countless unsourced news reports and rumors: spectators from abroad will be barred from the postponed Tokyo Olympics when they open in four months. The decision was announced Saturday after an online meeting of the International Olympic Committee, the Japanese government, the Tokyo government, the International Paralympic Committee, and local organizers. Several surveys have shown that up to 80% oppose holding the Olympics, and a similar percentage opposed fans from overseas attending.
The Latest: UNLV now plans in-person spring graduation
(AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)LAS VEGAS — The University of Nevada, Las Vegas is changing course and now plans in-person spring graduation ceremonies in May as the coronavirus outbreak slows. UNLV President Keith Whitfield on Friday announced the change from plans announced in February to hold graduation virtually. ___LONDON — The U.K. says half of the country’s adults have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. AdThe government on Saturday reported cases topping the previous record in June. AdJust one third of Italy’s 7.3 million vaccine doses administered so far have gone to people in that age group.
Tokyo Olympics: Yet another scandal over sexist comments
Tokyo Olympics creative director Hiroshi Sasaki is resigning after making demeaning the comments. (Kazuhiro Nogi/Pool Photo via AP)TOKYO – In yet another setback for the postponed Tokyo Olympics — and another involving comments about women — games' creative director Hiroshi Sasaki resigned on Thursday after making demeaning comments about a well-known female celebrity in Japan. The Tokyo Olympics are scheduled to open in just over four months, dogged by the coronavirus pandemic, record costs, and numerous scandals. When the International Olympic Committee awarded Japan the games 7 1/2 years ago, Tokyo billed itself as “a safe pair of hands.” It has evolved into anything but that. Two years ago, the head of the Japanese Olympic Committee Tsunekazu Takeda was also forced to step dow n in a bribery scandal connected to vote-buying involving IOC members.
Torch relay among final hurdles for postponed Tokyo Olympics
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike spoke Thursday after the World Health Organization labeled the spreading virus a "pandemic," a decision almost certain to affect the Tokyo Olympics. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)TOKYO – The Olympic torch relay is yet another hurdle for the postponed Tokyo Games. Olympic organizers are asking for restraint along the four-month route that will touch all 47 prefectures and involve 10,000 runners. The start of the torch relay on March 25 is also likely to be held without fans, according to local reports. The Olympic relay dates back to the 1936 Berlin Games.
Fans from abroad unlikely for postponed Tokyo Olympics
This photo shows the opening remark session of a five-party meeting held by the Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Tokyo 2020) at the Tokyo 2020 headquarters in Tokyo on Wednesday, March 3, 2021. The organizing committee has budgeted income of $800 million from ticket sales. The Tokyo Games have been haunted by problems. A bribery scandal tied to the bid in 2013 forced the resignation two years ago of Japanese Olympic Committee President Tsunekazu Takeda. Last month, former organizing committee president Yoshiro Mori was forced to resign after making sexist comments about women.
The Latest: SKorean economy shrinks for 1st time in 22 years
It marked the first annual contraction for the country’s economy since 1998, when it was in the midst of a crippling financial crisis. In comparison, the federal government previously said 38% of people would receive two doses by the end of June. Still, that’s 700,000 doses on hand, when the state is getting 200,000 doses this week, rising to 223,000 next week. AdBharat Biotech has already signed an agreement with Brazil to supply 20 million doses of the vaccine by September. ___COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio’s mask mandate will continue until a “critical mass” has been reached of people who have received the coronavirus vaccine, a spokesperson for Ohio Gov.
Tokyo Olympics add 12 women to executive board to reach 42%
TOKYO – The Tokyo Olympics made a symbolic gesture toward gender equality on Tuesday by appointing 12 women to the body’s executive board. The move was announced by CEO Toshiro Muto after an executive board meeting. AdHashimoto, a former Olympic bronze-medal winner in speedskating, promised when she took over to increase female participation in the body's executive board. The Tokyo Olympic organizing committee employs about 3,500 people but will be dissolved after the postponed Olympics take place. Hashimoto is scheduled to meet on Wednesday in a “five-party meeting” with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike and Olympic minister Tamayo Marukawa.
Reports: Mori to resign Tokyo Olympics over sexist remarks
She said she will skip an Olympic meeting next week with IOC President Thomas Bach, Mori and the national government. Most of its statement about Mori focused on how it says it has improved gender-equality in the Olympics over the last 25 years. Ad___MIZUHO FUKUSHIMA, head of the Social Democratic PartyOpposition leaders have been pressuring Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to convince Mori to step down. There are some unconfirmed reports in Japan that former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe could replace Mori. Mori got his job in 2014, when Abe was prime minister.
Asian shares mostly lower as virus, China-US tensions weigh
Asian shares were mostly lower Wednesday as surging virus counts and China-U.S. tensions weighed on sentiment. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)TOKYO – Asian shares were mostly lower Wednesday as surging virus counts and China-U.S. tensions weighed on sentiment. A move by the Trump administration to further sanction Chinese companies fueled unease over tensions between the two biggest economies. In U.S. trading, China Telecom gained 8.8% on Tuesday but lost 2.1% in after hours trading. The majority of big stocks in the S&P 500 notched gains, with oil producers leading the way as crude prices strengthened.
Tick-Tock: The Tokyo Olympics hit the 200-days-to-go mark
A man looks at a countdown calendar showing 200 day to start Tokyo 2020 Olympics Monday, Jan. 4, 2021, in Tokyo. The countdown clock for the postponed Tokyo Olympics hit 200 days to go on Monday. The countdown clock for the postponed Tokyo Olympics hit 200 days to go on Monday. A poll last month by national broadcaster NHK show 63% want the Olympics postponed or canceled. The official budget for the Tokyo Olympics was increased last month to $15.4 billion, an increase of $2.8 billion because of the delay.
Asia Today: Thailand confirms 745 new coronavirus cases
(AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)BANGKOK – Thailand has registered 745 new coronavirus cases, with a new death reported in Bangkok, where a semi-lockdown went into effect. The government has been considering tougher measures if the spread of the virus does not slow down around the country. The state on Monday reported its first 24-hour period without a new coronavirus infection being detected since Dec. 15. — Sri Lankan authorities say schools will partially reopen next week after being shut for nearly three months because of the coronavirus. It has reported 44,774 cases as of Sunday, including 213 fatalities.
The Latest: Japan's prime minister weighs state of emergency
Yuriko Koike is asking the national government to declare a “state of emergency” to curtail surging coronavirus infections. State health officials reported 12,563 COVID-19 patients in Texas hospitals on Sunday, an increase of more than 240 from Saturday. It was the sixth time in seven days that the state reported record-breaking hospitalizations. Intensive care units in several parts of the state were full or nearly full Sunday, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. Andrew Cuomo says the state has recorded more than 1 million confirmed COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began.
The Latest: Ariz. gov. rejects call for online learning
The U.K. has reached a record of more than 57,000 daily coronavirus cases. The state reported 9,527 confirmed cases on New Year’s Day. Andrew Cuomo says the state has recorded more than 1 million confirmed COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began. California started the new year on Friday with a record 585 coronavirus deaths in a single day. ___WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — The Navajo Nation has reported 266 confirmed coronavirus cases and seven more deaths.
U.S. warns Americans to leave Japan amid "significant increase" in COVID-19 cases
Tokyo The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo has warned Americans of a "significant increase" in the number of coronavirus infections in Japan, and urged them to leave the country now unless they plan to stay indefinitely. People wearing face masks wait to cross a road on April 3, 2020 in Tokyo, Japan. GettyThe U.S. State Department's current advisory for Japan stands at "Level 2," which calls on Americans to "exercise increased caution." Japan reported more than 650 new COVID-19 infections over the past three days, with the country's biggest jump happening April 2. Unless control measures are stepped-up, his modelling predicts new cases in Tokyo will peak at 6,000 per day.
cbsnews.comJapan 'on the brink' as it struggles to hold back coronavirus
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan will ban entry to foreigners from 73 countries and ask everyone arriving from abroad to quarantine themselves for two weeks as it struggles to contain the coronavirus, with a senior minister warning the country had been pushed to the brink. Fundamental responses should be made as early as today or tomorrow, Shigeru Omi, head of the Japan Community Healthcare Organisation, said. We are barely holding the line and remain at a critical point where virus cases could surge if we let down our guard, Abe told a parliamentary committee. Omi said that while Japan was not seeing an uncontrolled spike in cases now, more clusters of infections were being reported. A Bank of Japan poll showed the mood of industrial manufacturers at its most pessimistic for seven years.
feeds.reuters.comCherry blossoms must wait, Tokyo governor says, amid supply queues in coronavirus battle
If convenience stores and supermarkets stay open, people will stay calm, said Yuri Inoue, a 31-year-old graphic designer, who admitted to being a panic buyer. Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike appealed for calm, while repeating her request to avoid public gatherings at the weekend. But I am saying you can go to supermarkets to buy food or medicines or go to hospitals, she told a city government meeting. Retail giants Takashimaya (8233.T) and Matsuya (8237.T) said they would shut department stores in the city on the weekend. The governor of Japans Osaka prefecture, Hirofumi Yoshimura, asked residents on Friday to refrain from making non-essential outings this weekend, Kyodo news reported, joining Tokyo.
feeds.reuters.comSudden spike in new Tokyo virus cases brings dire warning for Japan
Tokyo The Japanese capital registered 47 new coronavirus cases Thursday, its biggest single-day rise, as the metropolis of 13.9 million people prepares for a weekend indoors. The region is home to about 40 million people about a third of Japan's total population. People, some wearing face masks, walk through a park as they enjoy cherry blossom season on March 26, 2020 in Tokyo, Japan. Compared to Manhattan, Milan or other big cities grappling with tens of thousands of cases, Japan's total of 2,000-plus infections about a third of them from the outbreak on the Diamond Princess cruise ship might seem insignificant. Commuters make their way to work on March 26, 2020 in Tokyo, Japan.
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