Asia

Gin is In: Japanese Gin Makers Introduce Regional Botanicals into Flourishing New Domestic Market

Custom-blended regionally-sourced botanicals are introducing a fresh local approach to a traditional craft. Hiroiki Hashimoto reports: While gin is widely used at bars in cocktails in Japan, sipping the tipple only at counters would not lead to an [...]

New Wave of Infections Threatens to Collapse Japan Hospitals

TOKYO (AP) — Hospitals in Japan are increasingly turning away sick people as the country struggles with surging coronavirus infections and its emergency medical system collapses. In one recent case, an ambulance carrying a man with a fever and [...]

Are Japan’s Hospitals and Health Care System Ready for a COVID-19 Storm?

Ryusei Takahashi reports: With the number of COVID-19 cases in Tokyo having nearly quadrupled in 10 days, it seems no longer a question of whether Japan will declare a national emergency, but when and how. Officials and experts fear the capital [...]

As Virus Cases Surge, Tokyo Governor says Lockdown May Be Only Way to Stem Rise

Ryusei Takahashi reports: Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike said Monday that a citywide lockdown may become “the only option left” if various measures fail to prevent an explosive rise in the novel coronavirus in the capital. “Cities around the world [...]

Abe ‘Willing to Accept’ Postponement of Tokyo Games if Virus Keeps Spreading

Yomiuri Shinbun reports: Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Monday he is willing to accept the need to postpone the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics if the new coronavirus continues to spread. “The judgment of the IOC is in line with my decision to [...]

A Coronavirus Explosion Was Expected In Japan, But Where It?

TOKYO (BLOOMBERG) – Japan was one of first countries outside of China hit by the coronavirus and now, it is one of the least-affected among developed nations. That’s puzzling health experts. Unlike China’s draconian isolation [...]

China Coronavirus is at Center of Hong Kong Protests

Mary Hui reports: Hong Kong’s leader has given another reason for people to be angry. As the coronavirus outbreak continues to spread across China and worldwide, with the number of confirmed cases growing at a rapid rate, Hong Kong is bracing [...]

Beijing is Manufacturing the Circumstances to Justify Brutal Intervention in Hong Kong

Michael Shoebridge reports: Scenes of protesters with sticks chasing police through Hong Kong streets and police officers pulling out their guns and pointing them at protesters show that the Hong Kong authorities are losing control of the city. [...]

Worried Hong Kong Residents Are Moving Money Out as Protests Escalate

The local currency has weakened rapidly since early July, a move analysts attribute partly to outflows. Steven Russolillo, Joanne Chiu and Eli Binder report: Money is leaking out of Hong Kong as months of protests raise concerns about the [...]

Hong Kong protests: Chaos as Activists Occupy Terminal

Another day of pro-democracy protests has been held at Hong Kong International Airport, leading to flight disruptions and violent clashes between demonstrators and police. Travellers arriving at the airport – one of the world’s busiest [...]

‘Prepared to Die’: Hong Kong Protesters Embrace Hard-Core Tactics, Challenge Beijing

The resistance, which has mainstream support, is the biggest rebellion against China’s government since President Xi took power. Natasha Khan and Wenxin Fan report: This summer, the civil servant, who is in her 20s, has zip tied metal barriers [...]

CNN Parent Company Sued for $50 Million By Chinese Billionaire Claiming Defamation

Ashley Cullins reports: A Chinese billionaire and Mar-a-Lago member is suing WarnerMedia over a CNN segment that he claims falsely implies he committed espionage and was on the verge of being deported. Guo Wengui, who’s known as Miles Kwok in [...]

Death Toll in Kyoto Animation Studio Climbs to 33, Suspect to Police: Company Stole my Idea for Novel

KYOTO — The Yomiuri Shimbun reports: The death toll from an apparently deliberate fire at a studio of animation production company Kyoto Animation Co. in Kyoto has climbed to 33, while 35 people were injured and at least four among the injured [...]

Coming events give Japan chance to shine as travel destination — if it can rise to the occasion, says tourism chief

TOMOHIRO OSAKI reports: Once a tourism underachiever, Japan is riding high like never before. Last year, the nation attracted a record 31 million foreign tourists, topping 30 million for the first time and pulling off nearly a fourfold jump from [...]

A Woman Chugged an Entire Bottle of Cognac Rather than Give It to Airport Security

Miss Zhao, International Folk Hero Alex Swerdloff reports: This Chinese woman was stopped in Beijing for having a bottle of Cognac in her carry-on. What else could she do but pound the entire bottle on the spot? But then, of course, she [...]

Japan and China Agree on Mechanism to Avoid Armed Skirmishes

‘Sea of peace’ at hand but Japanese defense officials have doubts over agreement TOKYO — Oki Nagai and Masaya Kato report: In a move aimed at preventing accidental military clashes, Japan and China have agreed to implement a [...]

Relations Thaw, But Questions Remain on Denuclearization Goals After Korea Summit

Analysts on Friday welcomed a joint agreement by the leaders of North and South Korea to denuclearize the Korean peninsula, but said the wording of the pledge remains vague and warned that achieving a result that satisfies both parties, and the [...]

Last Known Person Born in the 19th Century Dies in Japan at Age of 117

The world’s oldest person, a 117-year-old Japanese woman, has died. Nabi Tajima died of old age in a hospital Saturday evening in the town of Kikai in southern Japan, town official Susumu Yoshiyuki confirmed. She had been hospitalized since [...]

Photos of Kim Jong Un’s mother from 1973 Japan visit discovered

TOKYO — Photos of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s mother, Ko Yong Hui, taken when she visited Japan in 1973, have been found. A figure who interacted with Ko at the time has retained the photos taken when Ko visited Japan from July to [...]

China’s Xi Renews Vow to Open Economy, Cut Tariffs as U.S. Trade Row Deepens

BOAO/BEIJING, China (Reuters) – Kevin Yao reports: Chinese President Xi Jinping promised on Tuesday to open the country’s economy further and lower import tariffs on products like cars, in a speech seen as an attempt to defuse an [...]

China Bans Exports to North Korea of Weapons-Related Goods

BEIJING – China has banned exports to North Korea of electronics and other goods that can be used in making weapons, tightening U.N. sanctions imposed over Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile development. The ban covers “dual use” industrial [...]

Damage Control: Sumo Association to Thank Women for Providing First Aid on Dohyo

The Japan Sumo Association has announced that its chairman Hakkaku intends to thank the women who provided first aid to a city mayor who collapsed on the dohyo during a Grand Sumo spring regional tour. He will also apologize for an inappropriate [...]

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