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Worldwide COVID-19 death toll surpasses 3 million
The global death toll from the coronavirus topped a staggering 3 million people Saturday amid repeated setbacks in the worldwide vaccination campaign and a deepening crisis in places such as Brazil, India and France. The number of lives lost, as compiled by Johns Hopkins University, is about equal to the… Read
Koike says Tokyo Olympics will rekindle hope like 1920 Games after war, Spanish flu
The Tokyo Olympics will give hope to humanity in its battle against COVID-19 just as the 1920 Antwerp Games brought people together in the aftermath of World War One and the Spanish flu pandemic, Tokyo's governor Yuriko Koike says. Tokyo is hosting the July 23-Aug 8 Games after they were… Read
IOC chief Bach to visit Japan in May for relay ceremony, Suga meeting
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach plans to visit Japan in May to attend a Tokyo Olympics torch relay ceremony and meet with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, sources close to the matter said Friday. Bach will attend the relay event on May 17 in the city of Hiroshima, which… Read
Tokyo reports 759 coronavirus cases; 1,161 in Osaka
The Tokyo metropolitan government on Saturday reported 759 new cases of the coronavirus, up 92 from Friday. Osaka once again topped the nation's count, with 1,161, surpassing 1,000 for the 5th consecutive day. In Tokyo, the number (434 men and 325 women) is the result of 9,648 tests conducted on… Read
Diet begins examining bill to release asylum seekers
The Diet started deliberations Friday on a bill to resolve the long-term detention of foreign nationals facing deportation orders that would allow asylum seekers to be released and protect those who do not qualify for refugee status under the country's strict standards. The proposed amendment comes amid growing criticism that… Read
Myanmar's junta releases 23,000 prisoners in New Year's amnesty
The junta is planning to release more than 23,000 prisoners nationwide, an official said Saturday, even as the military continues to detain and issue arrest warrants for anti-coup dissidents. Myanmar typically grants an annual amnesty to thousands of prisoners to mark its traditional Buddhist New Year holiday -- which in… Read
Australia to continue review of COVID vaccinations
Australia will continue its review of coronavirus vaccines after a 48-year-old woman's death was likely linked to the inoculation, Health Minister Greg Hunt said on Saturday. On Friday, Australia reported its first fatality from blood clots in a recipient of AstraZeneca's (AZN.L) COVID-19 shot. It was the third case of… Read
Disabled train passengers left disconnected in age of digital smart card use
For most, the convenience of riding trains with the swipe of a smart card is taken for granted but for disabled people in the Tokyo metropolitan region, that change has yet to come. Japan's disabled, as well as accompanying caregivers, are eligible for 50 percent discounts on train fares, but… Read
Man arrested on suspicion of assaulting singer Tomomi Kahara
Police in Tokyo have arrested a 32-year-old man on suspicion of assaulting singer Tomomi Kahara by forcibly pulling her by the arm and shoving her shoulder while in a taxi. According to police, the incident occurred at around 10:30 a.m. Friday in Shinagawa Ward, Fuji TV reported. Police said Kahara,… Read
Kauai police chief suspended without pay for mocking Asians
The police commission on the Hawaii island of Kauai has suspended the police chief without pay for five days for making discriminatory comments after an investigation found he mocked people of Asian descent. The Kauai Police Department said in a statement Friday that Chief Todd Raybuck will be suspended from… Read
