WEATHER ALERT
Prince Hisahito becomes the first royal male in Japan to reach adulthood in 4 decades.
Read full article: Prince Hisahito becomes the first royal male in Japan to reach adulthood in 4 decades.In a big milestone for Japan’s royal family, Prince Hisahito has turned 18, becoming the first male royal family member to reach adulthood in almost four decades.
King Charles III to visit Australia and Samoa as he recovers from cancer
Read full article: King Charles III to visit Australia and Samoa as he recovers from cancerKing Charles III is preparing to visit Australia and Samoa in October, an itinerary that will span 12 time zones and test the monarch’s stamina as he recovers from cancer treatment.
Japanese emperor reconnects with the River Thames in state visit meant to bolster ties with UK
Read full article: Japanese emperor reconnects with the River Thames in state visit meant to bolster ties with UKBefore Emperor Naruhito of Japan hopped into a horse-drawn carriage with King Charles III, laid a wreath at Westminster Abbey or toured one of Britain’s premier biomedical research institutes, he kicked off his trip to the U.K. by visiting a site that has special meaning for him: The Thames Barrier.
Emperor and Empress of Japan arrive in the UK ahead of a long-awaited state visit
Read full article: Emperor and Empress of Japan arrive in the UK ahead of a long-awaited state visitEmperor Naruhito of Japan and his wife Empress Masako have arrived in the U.K. ahead of their long-awaited official state visit.
Japan's royal family makes formal debut on Instagram as world's oldest monarchy tries to draw youth
Read full article: Japan's royal family makes formal debut on Instagram as world's oldest monarchy tries to draw youthJapan’s imperial family has made an Instagram debut with a barrage of posts, hoping to shake off their reclusive image and reach out to younger people on social media.
Protesters demand that Japan save 1000s of trees by revising a design plan for a popular Tokyo park
Read full article: Protesters demand that Japan save 1000s of trees by revising a design plan for a popular Tokyo parkDozens of demonstrators against a divisive plan to redevelop a beloved Tokyo park are forming a human chain outside the Japanese Education Ministry to demand a revision.
Queen's 8 grandchildren hold silent vigil beside her coffin
Read full article: Queen's 8 grandchildren hold silent vigil beside her coffinAll eight of Queen Elizabeth II’s grandchildren have stood in silent vigil beside her coffin, capping another huge day in which thousands came to pay their respects to the monarch.
Live updates: Beatrice, Eugenie praise queen for her support
Read full article: Live updates: Beatrice, Eugenie praise queen for her supportPrince Andrew's daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, have issued a touching statement mourning the loss of their grandmother and praising her for the support and guidance she gave them.
Japan marks WWII's end, Kishida doesn't mention aggression
Read full article: Japan marks WWII's end, Kishida doesn't mention aggressionPrime Minister Fumio Kishida has renewed Japan’s no-war pledge at a somber ceremony marking the 77th anniversary of the country's World War II defeat, but he did not mention Japanese wartime aggression.
Biden launches Indo-Pacific trade deal, warns over inflation
Read full article: Biden launches Indo-Pacific trade deal, warns over inflationPresident Joe Biden has launched a new trade deal with 12 Indo-Pacific nations aimed at strengthening their economies as he warns Americans worried about high inflation that it is “going to be a haul” before they feel relief.
Okinawa marks 50 years of end to US rule amid protests
Read full article: Okinawa marks 50 years of end to US rule amid protestsOkinawa Governor Denny Tamaki has urged Japan’s central government to do more to reduce the U.S. military presence in the southern island group as it marked the 50th anniversary of its return to Japanese rule.
Live updates: France demands masks for 11- to 6-year-olds
Read full article: Live updates: France demands masks for 11- to 6-year-oldsFrench authorities have announced that children six and older will have to wear masks in indoor places open to the public as new cases of the highly contagious omicron variant surge past 200.000 for the fourth consecutive day.
Japan’s former princess leaves for US with commoner husband
Read full article: Japan’s former princess leaves for US with commoner husbandA Japanese princess who gave up her royal status to marry her commoner college sweetheart has arrived in New York as the couple left behind a nation that has criticized their romance.
Japan’s Princess Mako marries commoner, loses royal status
Read full article: Japan’s Princess Mako marries commoner, loses royal statusJapanese Princess Mako says she will “walk together” in a new life with her husband after they married without a celebration in a union that has split public opinion.
Paralympic closing marks end of Tokyo's 8-year Olympic saga
Read full article: Paralympic closing marks end of Tokyo's 8-year Olympic sagaThe Tokyo Paralympics have closed to end a saga that began eight years ago when the Japanese capital was named the host city by the International Olympic Committee.
Palace: Japan emperor 'worried' about Olympics amid pandemic
Read full article: Palace: Japan emperor 'worried' about Olympics amid pandemicThe head of the Imperial Palace in Japan says Emperor Naruhito is “extremely worried” that the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics could accelerate the spread of the coronavirus.
Still recovering, Japan marks 10 years since tsunami hit
Read full article: Still recovering, Japan marks 10 years since tsunami hitJapan on Thursday marked the 10th anniversary of the massive earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster that struck Japan's northeastern coast. Emperor Naruhito and Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga were among those observing a moment of silence at a memorial in Tokyo. More than 18,000 people died, mostly in the tsunami, and nearly half a million people were displaced. The government recognizes another 3,700 — mostly from Fukushima prefecture — who died of causes linked to the disaster, such as stress. Thursday's ceremony comes just two weeks before the Olympic torch relay begins from Fukushima for the delayed Tokyo Summer Games in July.
Asia Today: Bangkok shuts schools, entertainment venues
Read full article: Asia Today: Bangkok shuts schools, entertainment venuesBEIJING – Thailand's capital is shutting down venues including schools and entertainment areas as coronavirus cases continue to spread. Seven provinces including Bangkok have been designated red zones where places including entertainment venues, boxing rings, gyms and flea markets are ordered closed. Bangkok reported 180 cases in the last 24 hours. The requirements by the Shenyang and Dalian airports come amid a small but persistent growth in cases in the two cities located in Liaoning province just north of the capital Beijing. China on Friday reported a total of 19 new virus cases, including 10 that were brought from outside the country.
New Year's revelries muted by virus as curtain draws on 2020
Read full article: New Year's revelries muted by virus as curtain draws on 2020Fireworks and drones illuminate the night sky over London as they form a light display as London's normal New Year's Eve fireworks display was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic Thursday Dec. 31, 2020. As midnight rolled from Asia to the Middle East, Europe, Africa and the Americas, the New Year’s experience mirrored national responses to the virus itself. Some countries and cities canceled or scaled back their festivities, while others without active outbreaks carried on like any other year. In Chinese societies, the virus ensured more muted celebrations of the solar New Year, which is less widely observed than the Lunar New Year that in 2021 will fall in February. Initial reports about a mystery respiratory illness sickening people in the Chinese city of Wuhan emerged exactly a year ago.
The Latest: Illinois surpasses 12,000 deaths from COVID-19
Read full article: The Latest: Illinois surpasses 12,000 deaths from COVID-19(AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois has risen above 12,000 deaths from COVID-19, while also surpassing the 700,000 mark for confirmed coronavirus infections. The Health Department said the situation constituted an “alert,” and said that nationwide, infections had risen by over 8% last week. Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech have asked the FDA to allow emergency use of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate. The state health department reported 5,704 new cases on Friday, putting the state at 3,476 deaths and 295,001 cases since March. ___TORONTO — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he expects more than half of Canadians to receive a COVID-19 vaccine by next September.
Asia Today: South Korea cases stay above 500 for 2nd day
Read full article: Asia Today: South Korea cases stay above 500 for 2nd daySouth Korea on Thursday registered 583 new cases, the first time its daily tally had exceeded 500 since March. But they say South Korea is expected to report 400-600 new cases every day until early December before the distancing restrictions could show effects. He says the number of virus cases in South Korea has increased after weekends over the past two weeks. Experts have urged the government to reduce social and business activity before the holiday season because of a rise in serious coronavirus cases. Friday’s infections were the highest daily number of cases reported since Aug. 6.
The Latest: Emperor's New Year greeting cancelled in Japan
Read full article: The Latest: Emperor's New Year greeting cancelled in JapanExperts have urged the government to reduce social and business activity before the holiday season because of a rise in serious coronavirus cases. The 583 new cases reported Thursday was the first time that South Korea’s daily tally had exceeded 500 since March. KCCI reports that the Iowa Department of Public Health reported 3,331 new positive COVID-19 cases as of 10 a.m. to bring the total to 222,278. The 14-day cumulative number of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 of population, a recognized measure of the pandemic’s spread, also fell Thursday, to 325. The Reno-Sparks area has recorded 59 COVID-19 deaths the last 30 days — half of those this past week.
Japan emperor's brother proclaimed 1st in line to throne
Read full article: Japan emperor's brother proclaimed 1st in line to throneJapanese Crown Prince Fumihito, better known as Prince Akishino, leaves the Imperial Palace after being formally declared first in line to succeed the Chrysanthemum Throne during a ceremony Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020 in Tokyo, Japan. “I hereby declare in and outside of the country that prince Fumihito is now the crown prince,” said Naruhito, in his reddish brown robe and a headdress. Sunday's proclamation for the crown prince paves the way for the government to start discussing what to do with the dire shortage of heirs. Naruhito's succession left only two younger men in line for the throne — Fumihito and his 14-year-old son, Hisahito. Suga recently said his government will begin studying ways to secure a stable imperial succession after the crown prince's proclamation.
Japan's new PM Yoshihide Suga, self-made and strong-willed
Read full article: Japan's new PM Yoshihide Suga, self-made and strong-willedFormer Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga walks at the prime minister's office after a cabinet meeting Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020, in Tokyo. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Cabinet resigned, clearing the way for his successor Suga to take over after parliamentary confirmation later in the day. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)TOKYO – Before he got Japan's top government job officially, Yoshihide Suga was known as a “shadow" prime minister and the right-hand man for his long-serving predecessor. The self-made politician was elected by Parliament on Wednesday as Japan's new prime minister, two days after he succeeded Abe as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Suga was a loyal supporter of Abe since Abe's first stint as prime minister from 2006 to 2007, and he helped Abe return to power in 2012 and become Japan's longest-serving prime minister.
Who's next? Abe's party maneuvers to pick Japan's next PM
Read full article: Who's next? Abe's party maneuvers to pick Japan's next PMExecutives of Abes ruling Liberal Democratic Party met Tuesday and decided that the Sept. 14 vote for party leader and with it almost assuredly prime minister will be limited to lawmakers and not broader members of the party. ___FUMIO KISHIDA: Abe's foreign minister from 2012-2017, the 63-year-old Kishida had once been considered the party's preferred choice to become the next prime minister. ___SHIGERU ISHIBA: A former defense minister seen as Abes archrival within the party, the 63-year-old Ishiba is the publics favorite for the next prime minister in media surveys. Ishiba's vocal criticism of Abe, however, has hurt his popularity among ruling party lawmakers. In addition to defense minister, Ishiba has also held top ministry posts in agriculture and local revitalization.
Japan marks 75th anniversary of war end with no Abe apology
Read full article: Japan marks 75th anniversary of war end with no Abe apologyWorshippers queue to pay respects to the war dead at Yasukuni Shrine Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020, in Tokyo. Japan marked the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. There was no word of apology from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who gave thanks for the sacrifices of the Japanese war dead but had nothing to say about the suffering of Japans neighbors. He pledged that Japan will reflect on lessons from history and will not repeat the war devastation. Abe stayed away from a Tokyo shrine that honors convicted war criminals among the war dead.