Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Friday expressed his intention to resign as mounting public criticism over his response to the COVID-19 pandemic and growing doubts among ruling Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers about his leadership have diminished his chances of winning a second term. With Suga’s decision not to run in the Sept. 29 LDP presidentialContinue reading “Japan PM Suga to resign as public, party support erodes over COVID response”
Tag Archives: Yoshihide Suga
Japan Keeps Intercepting China Military Drones and Spy Planes
Japan says it has scrambled fighter aircraft to intercept Chinese military drones and accompanying surveillance aircraft on three consecutive days this week as its defense forces took part in a series of readiness exercises with regional allies. Thursday marked the third straight day of Chinese unmanned aerial vehicle sightings reported by the Japanese Defense Ministry’s Joint Staff Office.Continue reading “Japan Keeps Intercepting China Military Drones and Spy Planes”
Japan: ‘Unprecedented’ rains trigger evacuation in Hiroshima
Japanese officials warned that a “grave disaster” may occur as heavy downpour continues. Nearly 70,000 people were asked to evacuate in the Hiroshima prefecture. At least one person died and tens of thousands of people were told to evacuate as “unprecedented” levels of torrential rain hit western Japan on Friday, authorities said. “There is a possibility that a graveContinue reading “Japan: ‘Unprecedented’ rains trigger evacuation in Hiroshima”
Tokyo new virus cases near 2,000 a day before Olympics open
Tokyo hit another six-month high in new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, one day before the Olympics begin, as worries grow of a worsening of infections during the Games. Thursday’s 1,979 new cases are the highest since 2,044 were recorded on Jan. 15. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, who is determined to hold the Olympics, placed TokyoContinue reading “Tokyo new virus cases near 2,000 a day before Olympics open”
COVID cases found at Olympic hotel in Japan as IOC hails ‘historic’ Games
New COVID-19 cases at Olympic delegation’s hotel IOC’s Bach praises Japanese effort, sees “historic” Games Host city records most daily infections in nearly six months A coronavirus cluster at a Japanese hotel where dozens of Brazilian Olympic team members are staying has raised new concern about infections at what the world’s top Olympics official promisedContinue reading “COVID cases found at Olympic hotel in Japan as IOC hails ‘historic’ Games”
Olympics bans spectators after Tokyo declares COVID-19 emergency
Foreign spectators already excluded from delayed Games Organisers to meet Thursday evening on domestic spectators Virus restrictions, public sentiment to affect decision Tokyo mustn’t be springboard for new COVID wave – PM The Tokyo Olympics will take place without spectators, organisers said on Thursday, as a resurgent pandemic forced Japan to declare a coronavirus state of emergencyContinue reading “Olympics bans spectators after Tokyo declares COVID-19 emergency”
Japan’s No. 2 raises possibility of joining US in defending Taiwan
Taro Aso calls island contingency a potential ‘threat to survival’ If China invades Taiwan, Tokyo may interpret the move as a “threat to Japan’s survival” and deploy the Self-Defense Forces to exercise collective self-defense, Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso said Monday. “If a major incident happened [in Taiwan], it would not be strange at allContinue reading “Japan’s No. 2 raises possibility of joining US in defending Taiwan”
Myanmar army officers broke into Japanese diplomat’s home
Just a few months after Myanmar’s army seized power through a coup in February, military officers forced their way into the homes of a Japanese diplomat and a Japanese aid agency official, sources said. In mid-April, the army searched the residences of a local Japanese embassy official and an official of the Japan International CooperationContinue reading “Myanmar army officers broke into Japanese diplomat’s home”
2 dead, some 20 missing in large mudslide southwest of Tokyo
Two people died and about 20 others remained missing Saturday after torrential rain triggered a large mudslide southwest of Tokyo, destroying more than 10 houses, local authorities said. A video posted on Twitter showed dark water mixed with soil and sand flowing rapidly from the top of a mountain at about 10:30 a.m. in Atami,Continue reading “2 dead, some 20 missing in large mudslide southwest of Tokyo”
Japan’s emperor ‘extremely worried’ about Olympics amid pandemic
Japan’s Emperor Naruhito is “extremely worried” that the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics could accelerate the spread of the coronavirus, the head of the Imperial Palace said Thursday with the Games opening in one month. The Games will bring thousands of foreign athletes, officials, sponsors and journalists to Japan during a pandemic, despite caution raised byContinue reading “Japan’s emperor ‘extremely worried’ about Olympics amid pandemic”
Among the Fray 