月: 2021年2月

1. Japan’s health ministry is expected to approve a coronavirus vaccine developed by U.S. firm Pfizer as early as Sunday.
2. The Chinese government says it has banned BBC World News from broadcasting in China.
3.  The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden has announced sanctions against 10 individuals and three companies over the military coup in Myanmar.

1. Sources say the head of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics organizing committee Mori Yoshiro has decided to step down after his comments about women were widely criticized. Former Prime Minister Mori said on February 3 that board meetings attended y women take too much time. He late apologized and rescinded the comment. However, the remarks drew a barrage of criticism, resulting in hundreds of volunteers for the Tokyo games quitting.
2. A former chairman of Japan’s professional soccer league, Kawabuchi Saburo, will likely replace Mori Yoshiro as president of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games organizing committee.
3.  The World Health Organization says three types of coronavirus variant are spreading around the world, and an “escape mutation” that may make vaccines less effective against the virus has been identified.

1.The U.S. Senate has started the impeachment trial against former President Donald Trump for allegedly inciting an insurrection at the Capitol last month.

2.The United Nations has expressed concern about the response of authorities in Myanmar to widespread protests in the country, saying “the use of disproportionate force against demonstrators is unacceptable.”

3.The Japanese government is leaning toward the view that it will be difficult to lift the state of emergency for the Tokyo metropolitan area and the Kansai region for the time being. This is in light of the coronavirus infection situation and governors’ opinions.

1. An opinion poll conducted by NHK shows nearly 80 percent of respondents are expecting vaccines to help contain the coronavirus.
2. U.S. President Joe Biden says whether or not to stage the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics as planned has to be decided based on science.
3. Myanmar’s military rulers have banned gatherings of five or more people as protests continue against the coup.

1. People across Myanmar are taking to the streets in growing numbers a week after the military seized power. The demonstrators are demanding the reinstatement of the elected government.
2. The latest NHK opinion poll suggests that the disapproval rate for the Cabinet of Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide exceeded the approval rate for a second straight month.
3. A Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force submarine and a commercial vessel have collided off the coast of southwestern Japan.  Three crewmembers of the submarine suffered minor injuries.

1. The U.N. Security Council has called for the immediate release of all people detained in Monday’s coup in Myanmar, including Aung San Suu Kyi.
2. British people have given a nationwide applause to the late World War Two veteran Captain Tom Moore, who raised more than 32-million pounds or about 41-million dollars online for medical workers battling the coronavirus.
3. U.S. President Joe Biden has stressed that he will strengthen ties with allies amid the growing influence of China and Russia.  He stressed the need to engage with the world once again to meet today’s challenges.  He cited, “advancing authoritarianism, including growing ambitions of China to rival the United States and the determination of Russia to damage and disrupt our democracy.”

1. The head of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics organizing committee is apologizing for controversial comments that ignited social media backlash and caught international attention. Earlier this week, Mori said board meetings with women take too long because they talk too much.
2. A Tokyo Metropolitan Government panel of coronavirus experts say the thorough implementation of anti-virus measures is necessary, citing rising infections among the elderly. At its meeting on Thursday, the panel concluded that the highest alert levels for infections and medical care systems should be maintained.
3.  Japan and the United States have discussed Japan’s contribution to the cost of stationing U.S. forces in the country for the first time since President Joe Biden took office.

1. Myanmar’s military is rapidly setting up an administrative system to rule the country following Monday’s coup.
2. Japan’s Diet is expected to enact a plan to revise three laws to help Japan more effectively tackle the coronavirus pandemic. The three are the special anti-coronavirus law, the infectious disease control law and the quarantine law.
3. U.S. President Joe Biden has harshly criticized the military coup in Myanmar, hinting at imposing sanctions again on the country that had moved toward democracy.

1. Myanmar’s military is stepping up its moves to consolidate power after staging a coup on Monday and detaining the country’s civilian leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi. Commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing is now in charge. The ministers of defense, finance and a number of others have been replaced.
2. The United Nations Security Council is set to hold an emergency meeting on Tuesday to discuss a response to the military coup in Myanmar.
3.  Japan’s government is extending the coronavirus state of emergency for Tokyo, Osaka and eight other prefectures for a month, until March 7.

1. Myanmar’s military has detained the country’s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other senior members of the ruling party.                                                                                                                            2.China’s new law takes effect on Monday, authorizing its coast guard to forcibly remove foreign ships that illegally enter the country’s waters, and to use weapons against them if they do not comply with certain orders.                                                                                                                                                            3.The Japanese government will likely extend its state of emergency declaration for COVID-19 in the Tokyo and Osaka areas beyond February 7. It will make a decision after hearing experts’ views this week.