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U.S. Navy says personnel who refuse vaccine will be expelled
The U.S. Navy said Thursday that personnel who refuse to be vaccinated against COVID-19 will be expelled from the force, ahead of the November 28 deadline for the injection. "With COVID-19 vaccines now mandatory for all military members, the Navy has announced plans to start processing for discharge those who… Read
Kishida says only LDP capable of protecting Japan from security threats
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Thursday sought to depict his governing party as the only one capable of protecting Japan from the security threats in the region. Speaking with reporters after he dissolved the lower house of the Diet, paving the way for elections on Oct 31, Kishida said: "Opposition… Read
COVID-19 cases plummeting in Japan; doctors puzzled why
There’s an old saying that it’s always darkest before the dawn, and sure enough after Japan’s most infectious wave of COVID-19 infections by far, we’ve been given an unexpected respite. However, why this is and how long it will last remain to be seen. Around mid-to-late July cases began to skyrocket from about… Read
Biden says democracy survived Capitol riot because of police
Framed by the Capitol, President Joe Biden paid tribute Saturday to fallen law enforcement officers and honored those who fought off the Jan 6 insurrection at that very site by declaring “because of you, democracy survived.” Biden spoke at the 40th Annual National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service to remember the… Read
Kishida sends ritual offering to Yasukuni Shrine
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Sunday sent a ritual offering to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine that honors war dead and is seen by neighboring countries as a symbol of Tokyo's past militarism. Kishida sent the masakaki tree offering under his name as prime minister to celebrate the shrine's biannual festival… Read
Gov't to boost hospital capacity to treat more COVID patients
Japan's government said Friday it will boost the country's medical system to allow 20 percent more COVID-19 patients to be admitted to hospitals compared with this summer's fifth wave of infections when many people were forced to recuperate at home. In an outline of countermeasures presented at a panel meeting,… Read
Authorities call fatal stabbing of UK lawmaker terrorist act
A long-serving member of Parliament was stabbed to death Friday during a meeting with constituents at a church in England, in what police said was a terrorist incident. A 25-year-old man was arrested in connection with the attack, which united Britain's fractious politicians in shock and sorrow. Counterterrorism officers were… Read
2,500 cases reported of sexually exploitative photos of athletes
Around 2,500 cases of nonconsensual sexualized images objectifying athletes being taken or shared have been reported to a website set up by the Japanese Olympic Committee last November, Kyodo News learned Saturday. The figure stood at around 1,300 in early July but has nearly doubled in the past three months… Read
U.S. cities, police unions clash as vaccine mandates take effect
Police departments around the U.S. that are requiring officers to get vaccinated against COVID-19 are running up against pockets of resistance that some fear could leave law enforcement shorthanded and undermine public safety. Police unions and officers are pushing back by filing lawsuits to block the mandates. In Chicago, the… Read
Main opposition party pledges to achieve growth by reducing inequality, poverty
The main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan unveiled its campaign platform Wednesday for the general election this month, pledging to achieve economic growth by reducing inequality and poverty. Underscoring the need to distribute wealth, the CDPJ is aiming to allocate a substantial budget for medical care, education and other… Read
