Sport

Japan to expand state of emergency as COVID-19 surge evokes doubts over Olympics

Editorial Bureau July 30, 2021

TOKYO (JAPAN) -Japan on Friday was set to impose states of emergency through August 31 in three prefectures near Olympic host Tokyo and the western prefecture of Osaka. COVID-19 cases spike in the capital and around the country, casting shadow over the Summer Games. Tokyo on Friday announced

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Olympics-US first lady Jill Biden arrives in Japan for Games

Editorial Bureau July 23, 2021

Sport

Tokyo says no to public viewing sites, some to be vaccination centres

Editorial Bureau June 19, 2021

TOKYO (JAPAN) – Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike on Saturday cancelled all public viewing sites for the summer Olympics. Some venues have been diverted to be used as COVID-19 vaccinations centres instead. Foreign spectators are banned from attended the Games, delayed by a year due to the pandemic, but the government and Tokyo 2020 organisers have […]

Asia

One million COVID-19 vaccines to be shipped by Japan to Vietnam on Wednesday

Editorial Bureau June 15, 2021

TOKYO (JAPAN) -Japan will send a million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Vietnam, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said on Tuesday, as the southeast Asian nation steps up vaccine procurement to fight a more stubborn wave of infections. With a population of about 98 million, Vietnam’s tally of infections stands at 10,241, and only 58 deaths, […]

Asia

Japan: State of emergency set to widen, More COVID-19 vaccines approved

Editorial Bureau May 21, 2021

TOKYO (JAPAN): Just as the country approved two more novel coronavirus vaccines to speed up its lagging inoculation campaign, Japan is set to expand a state of emergency to cover the southern island of Okinawa on Friday. After health regulators’ green light a day earlier, the government said it approved vaccines developed by Moderna Inc […]

Asia

Deaths at home spike amid 4th COVID-19 wave in Japan

Editorial Bureau May 11, 2021

TOKYO (JAPAN) – Osaka Prefecture has reported deaths of eighteen people due to COVID-19 related respiratory disease outside of hospitals. These reports come amid calls for tougher restrictions on movement to curb a fourth wave of infections ahead of the Olympics. All but one of the deaths occurred since March 1 as highly infectious strains […]

Asia

Japan prolongs coronavirus emergency in Tokyo, other areas

Editorial Bureau May 7, 2021

TOKYO (JAPAN) -Japan’s premier extended on Friday a state of emergency in Tokyo and three other areas until the end of May to contain a surge in novel coronavirus cases triggered by the spread of virus variants just months before the Tokyo Olympics. The government had hoped a “short and powerful” state of emergency would […]

Asia

Japan gears up to extend state of emergency to May 31

Editorial Bureau May 7, 2021

TOKYO (JAPAN) -Japan’s government is getting ready to extend on Friday a state of emergency in Tokyo and three other areas by about three weeks until the end of May to contain a surge in novel coronavirus cases just months before the start of the Tokyo Olympics. The government had hoped a “short and powerful” […]

Asia

Japan’s gaming company forecasts 11.5% decline in Switch console sales

Editorial Bureau May 6, 2021

TOKYO (JAPAN) – In what would be the first decline for the five-year-old company after riding a pandemic-induced boom in home gaming, Japan’s Nintendo Co Ltd forecast annual Switch console sales to fall 11.5%. The Kyoto-based firm expects to sell 25.5 million units in the business year that started April 1. That would compare with […]

Asia

Japan’s Osaka confirms record 1,099 COVID-19 cases as 4th wave becomes intense

Editorial Bureau April 13, 2021

TOKYO (JAPAN) -Japan’s western region of Osaka confirmed a record number of infections of COVID-19 on Tuesday as a mutant strain of the virus spiralled a rebound in cases. Osaka prefecture reported 1,099 daily infections, found to be the most in the course of the pandemic. Domestic media earlier reported that the figure would exceed […]