Latest News
Hiroshima to conduct PCR tests for 800,000 to battle COVID-19
Hiroshima Prefecture said on Friday it will carry out large-scale polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing to curb the spread of coronavirus, a rarity in a nation that lags far behind many other countries in the number of tests conducted. The prefecture aims to conduct PCR tests for 800,000 people in… Read
Tokyo reports 2,001 new coronavirus cases; nationwide tally 7,085
The Tokyo metropolitan government on Friday reported 2,001 new cases of the coronavirus, up 499 from Thursday. The tally brought Tokyo's cumulative total to 82,069. The number is the result of 17,000 tests conducted on Jan 12. By age group, the most number of cases were people in their 20s… Read
5th anniversary of fatal bus crash in Nagano observed
Relatives of victims of a fatal bus crash on Friday marked the fifth anniversary of the accident that claimed the lives of 13 passengers and two drivers in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, on Jan 15, 2016. The group, which was fewer in number than recent years because of the coronavirus, also… Read
Saizeriya president calls requests not to eat out for lunch ‘nonsense’
The Japanese government declared a second state of emergency following a surge in coronavirus cases in Tokyo and three neighboring prefectures on Jan 7. Following prefectural governors' request, the central government extended this emergency declaration to 11 prefectures on Wednesday. Eating establishments have been asked to close by 8 p.m.… Read
N Korea holds huge military parade as Kim vows nuclear might
North Korea rolled out developmental ballistic missiles designed to be launched from submarines and other military hardware in a parade that punctuated leader Kim Jong Un's defiant calls to expand his nuclear weapons program. State media said Kim took center stage in Thursday night's parade celebrating a major ruling party… Read
China COVID-19 cases surge to over 10-month high
China reported the highest number of daily COVID-19 cases in more than 10 months, official data showed on Friday, due to a severe outbreak in the northeast that has put more than 28 million people under lockdown. A total of 144 new COVID-19 cases were reported on Jan 14, the… Read
Japan to bar entry of foreign athletes during state of emergency
Japan will temporarily suspend exemptions allowing foreign athletes to train in the country ahead of the Summer Olympics, Kyodo News reported, as it closes its borders to contain a surge in COVID-19 cases just six months before the Games. The suspension will last until Feb. 7, the scheduled end of… Read
U.S. capital locks down as security threats mount
The center of Washington was in lockdown Thursday as more than 20,000 armed National Guard troops were mobilized following the deadly assault on the Capitol and the threat of more violence at the presidential inauguration of Joe Biden. Police Chief Robert Contee said the U.S. capital was facing "a major… Read
Japan's 2nd state of emergency met with public indifference
Japan's expanded state of emergency went into effect Thursday as the government seeks to stop a surge of new coronavirus infections, though with the restrictions not binding many people appeared to be ignoring the requests to avoid nonessential travel. People were still commuting on crowded trains and buses in Osaka,… Read
Minister, expert suggest coronavirus emergency extension
Japan's coronavirus state of emergency could be extended, made stricter and cover more prefectures if the outbreak does not show signs of abating, a minister and a government panel chief suggested Thursday, after the country expanded the measure, now covering 11 prefectures in total. The state of emergency, under which… Read
