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Showing posts with label Japan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Japan. Show all posts

Japan ruling party elects Yoshihide Suga as PM successor

Japan ruling party elects Yoshihide Suga as PM successor

AFP Photo
(AFP) Japan's ruling party on Monday elected chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga as its new leader, making him all but certain to replace Shinzo Abe as the country's next prime minister.

Suga easily won the ballot, taking 377 of a total of 534 valid votes from Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers and regional representatives. His rivals, former defence minister Shigeru Ishiba and LDP policy chief Fumio Kishida, trailed far behind.

Given the LDP's legislative majority, Suga is expected to handily win a parliamentary vote Wednesday and become prime minister, taking over from Abe, who is resigning for health reasons.

A powerful government adviser and spokesman, 71-year-old Suga is seen as promising stability and a continuation of Abe's policies. He has specifically said his candidacy was motivated by a desire to continue the outgoing prime minister's programmes.

Ishiba, who is popular with the Japanese public but less so within his own party, won just 68 votes, with Kishida, who was once considered Abe's favoured successor, taking 89.

Abe, who smashed records as Japan's longest-serving prime minister before being forced to resign after a recurrence of ulcerative colitis, declined to publicly endorse any candidate.

The son of a strawberry farmer, Suga was raised in Japan's northern Akita region, and the issues of rural areas suffering depopulation are said to be among his top concerns.

But not much is known about his personal ideology, and he is generally viewed as an adherent of neither the LDP's most hawkish nor its more reformist wings.

As prime minister, he will face a series of tough challenges, including containing the coronavirus and righting the world's third-biggest economy, which was in recession even before the pandemic.

si-kh/sah/fox
AFP Photo
(AFP) Japan's ruling party on Monday elected chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga as its new leader, making him all but certain to replace Shinzo Abe as the country's next prime minister.

Suga easily won the ballot, taking 377 of a total of 534 valid votes from Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers and regional representatives. His rivals, former defence minister Shigeru Ishiba and LDP policy chief Fumio Kishida, trailed far behind.

Given the LDP's legislative majority, Suga is expected to handily win a parliamentary vote Wednesday and become prime minister, taking over from Abe, who is resigning for health reasons.

A powerful government adviser and spokesman, 71-year-old Suga is seen as promising stability and a continuation of Abe's policies. He has specifically said his candidacy was motivated by a desire to continue the outgoing prime minister's programmes.

Ishiba, who is popular with the Japanese public but less so within his own party, won just 68 votes, with Kishida, who was once considered Abe's favoured successor, taking 89.

Abe, who smashed records as Japan's longest-serving prime minister before being forced to resign after a recurrence of ulcerative colitis, declined to publicly endorse any candidate.

The son of a strawberry farmer, Suga was raised in Japan's northern Akita region, and the issues of rural areas suffering depopulation are said to be among his top concerns.

But not much is known about his personal ideology, and he is generally viewed as an adherent of neither the LDP's most hawkish nor its more reformist wings.

As prime minister, he will face a series of tough challenges, including containing the coronavirus and righting the world's third-biggest economy, which was in recession even before the pandemic.

si-kh/sah/fox

South Korea's delivery drivers pay price for online shopping spree

South Korea's delivery drivers pay price for online shopping spree

Seoul, South Korea - In the middle of last month, a delivery driver for Coupang, South Korea's biggest online marketplace, was found dead between the fourth and fifth floors of the apartment building where he was supposed to be delivering a package.

The man, known only as Mr Kim, was in his 40s and had only been doing the job for a month.

The official cause of death was heart disease, but the tragedy convinced Ha Woong, a 34-year-old delivery worker at the same company, to step up his campaign for better pay and shorter hours.

"I think he died from overwork and the pressure to deliver packages quickly," Ha said. "I think poor working conditions led to this ... I always knew something like this would happen."

South Koreans jokingly call their country "delivery nation" and its citizens "delivery minjok" - which translates roughly to "delivery race" or "delivery people".

Sometimes for no fee at all, South Koreans can get meals delivered to campsites, park grounds or their homes in less than an hour and with a minimum order as small as $8. Coupang's "Rocket Wow" delivery service promises customers their packages by dawn and people can often return items they bought by simply leaving them in front of their door.

"We get everything delivered as if we are Prime members," said Andrew Eungi Kim, a professor of sociology at Korea University, referring to the rapid delivery service offered by Amazon, the world's biggest online retailer. "Because everything gets delivered so fast and at such a cheap rate, I think we just love to order things online."

While the March death of the Coupang delivery man was all over the national news headlines, Kim is sceptical that the incident will lead to real change.

Coupang told South Korean reporters that the worker who died had half the customary workload because he was a new hire. At the same time, competition for jobs is growing - despite the conditions - because there are fewer opportunities elsewhere.
Work 'anyone can do'

"In the delivery service industry, I have never heard of a shortage of workers. It's the kind of work that anyone can do," Kim said. "As a sociologist, I've observed the kind of men and women who deliver things to my house, and it really ranges from a young person to someone who definitely looks like he's in his 60s, if not older."

With the outbreak of COVID-19 making people reluctant to go out, the outbreak has further fuelled demand for delivery services.

"I've heard that more and more South Koreans are ordering online because of coronavirus," Woo Ye-jin, a 25-year-old university student told Al Jazeera. "I was so surprised when I saw delivery services in other nations ... When I studied abroad in New Zealand, I was shocked that I had to wait 20 days for something I bought online and pay for shipping."

Coupang reported record-breaking numbers of orders at the beginning of the outbreak. On a single day in late January, Coupang said it received 3.3 million next-day delivery orders. That is a huge increase from the year before when Coupang broke its record of the time by delivering 1.7 million purchases to homes in a single day.

For Ha, this has meant a lot more work.

One year ago, he was delivering packages to about 80 households a day. Now, he visits between 130 and 150 homes, and he claims that some of his colleagues reach as many as 180.

Older apartment buildings often do not have elevators, so the delivery workers have to run up and down the stairs. It is often hard physical labour for Ha and his colleagues, on top of the long hours.

"If companies can't change this, I think they need to compensate accordingly for the amount of deliveries we do a day, and to also think about our safety and health," Ha said.

He added that many delivery workers are tracked by a GPS system and awarded a score based on how many packages they can deliver, as well as how quickly they drop them off. The higher the score, the better the pay.

"In some parts of the country, we have so much to deliver that we're forced to start work even earlier. That's the reality we irregular workers are forced to face," he said. "If I am fast and do my colleague's deliveries, that means I take a bowl of rice right from his hands."

Making a living is an increasingly hard slog for many of South Korea's working class. According to 2019 numbers, the average irregular worker made 1.72 million won (about $1,400) a month, which is far less than the 3.16 million won ($2,572) regular South Korean workers took home over the same period.
Talks on hold

The number of irregular workers in the country also rose from 6.61 million in August 2018 to 7.48 million in August 2019, according to Statistics Korea. It was the highest since the South Korean government began recording the number of gig workers some 17 years ago.

"In Korea, almost all delivery workers are not employees of the delivery services. They are self-employed individuals, and they get a share of money per delivery - that's it," Kim said. "And because they're not employees of these services, if they die while doing their work, the delivery service companies are not responsible."

The number of packages may soon rise again as the South Korean government resumes campaigns urging citizens to keep "social distancing" and stay home. The number of new confirmed COVID-19 cases have hovered about 100 per day, but experts have warned that a new outbreak could happen at any time

Coupang also recently announced that it will step up efforts to boost delivery workers' safety in the face of COVID-19 by providing regular health checkups to workers and remote health counselling services.

For now, Ha is doing what he can to keep up the hustle and continues to deliver packages at least five days a week.

But even as the coronavirus has highlighted the struggles of the country's army of delivery drivers, the outbreak has brought an end to discussions on improved conditions.

"We have long been negotiating with the company on reducing deliveries, changing how we are evaluated and overall system reform, which has forced us to work in an atmosphere of endless competition," he said. "But for the time being, negotiations are indefinitely suspended because of the COVID-19 outbreak."


Mitch S Shin contributed to this report.

Seoul, South Korea - In the middle of last month, a delivery driver for Coupang, South Korea's biggest online marketplace, was found dead between the fourth and fifth floors of the apartment building where he was supposed to be delivering a package.

The man, known only as Mr Kim, was in his 40s and had only been doing the job for a month.

The official cause of death was heart disease, but the tragedy convinced Ha Woong, a 34-year-old delivery worker at the same company, to step up his campaign for better pay and shorter hours.

"I think he died from overwork and the pressure to deliver packages quickly," Ha said. "I think poor working conditions led to this ... I always knew something like this would happen."

South Koreans jokingly call their country "delivery nation" and its citizens "delivery minjok" - which translates roughly to "delivery race" or "delivery people".

Sometimes for no fee at all, South Koreans can get meals delivered to campsites, park grounds or their homes in less than an hour and with a minimum order as small as $8. Coupang's "Rocket Wow" delivery service promises customers their packages by dawn and people can often return items they bought by simply leaving them in front of their door.

"We get everything delivered as if we are Prime members," said Andrew Eungi Kim, a professor of sociology at Korea University, referring to the rapid delivery service offered by Amazon, the world's biggest online retailer. "Because everything gets delivered so fast and at such a cheap rate, I think we just love to order things online."

While the March death of the Coupang delivery man was all over the national news headlines, Kim is sceptical that the incident will lead to real change.

Coupang told South Korean reporters that the worker who died had half the customary workload because he was a new hire. At the same time, competition for jobs is growing - despite the conditions - because there are fewer opportunities elsewhere.
Work 'anyone can do'

"In the delivery service industry, I have never heard of a shortage of workers. It's the kind of work that anyone can do," Kim said. "As a sociologist, I've observed the kind of men and women who deliver things to my house, and it really ranges from a young person to someone who definitely looks like he's in his 60s, if not older."

With the outbreak of COVID-19 making people reluctant to go out, the outbreak has further fuelled demand for delivery services.

"I've heard that more and more South Koreans are ordering online because of coronavirus," Woo Ye-jin, a 25-year-old university student told Al Jazeera. "I was so surprised when I saw delivery services in other nations ... When I studied abroad in New Zealand, I was shocked that I had to wait 20 days for something I bought online and pay for shipping."

Coupang reported record-breaking numbers of orders at the beginning of the outbreak. On a single day in late January, Coupang said it received 3.3 million next-day delivery orders. That is a huge increase from the year before when Coupang broke its record of the time by delivering 1.7 million purchases to homes in a single day.

For Ha, this has meant a lot more work.

One year ago, he was delivering packages to about 80 households a day. Now, he visits between 130 and 150 homes, and he claims that some of his colleagues reach as many as 180.

Older apartment buildings often do not have elevators, so the delivery workers have to run up and down the stairs. It is often hard physical labour for Ha and his colleagues, on top of the long hours.

"If companies can't change this, I think they need to compensate accordingly for the amount of deliveries we do a day, and to also think about our safety and health," Ha said.

He added that many delivery workers are tracked by a GPS system and awarded a score based on how many packages they can deliver, as well as how quickly they drop them off. The higher the score, the better the pay.

"In some parts of the country, we have so much to deliver that we're forced to start work even earlier. That's the reality we irregular workers are forced to face," he said. "If I am fast and do my colleague's deliveries, that means I take a bowl of rice right from his hands."

Making a living is an increasingly hard slog for many of South Korea's working class. According to 2019 numbers, the average irregular worker made 1.72 million won (about $1,400) a month, which is far less than the 3.16 million won ($2,572) regular South Korean workers took home over the same period.
Talks on hold

The number of irregular workers in the country also rose from 6.61 million in August 2018 to 7.48 million in August 2019, according to Statistics Korea. It was the highest since the South Korean government began recording the number of gig workers some 17 years ago.

"In Korea, almost all delivery workers are not employees of the delivery services. They are self-employed individuals, and they get a share of money per delivery - that's it," Kim said. "And because they're not employees of these services, if they die while doing their work, the delivery service companies are not responsible."

The number of packages may soon rise again as the South Korean government resumes campaigns urging citizens to keep "social distancing" and stay home. The number of new confirmed COVID-19 cases have hovered about 100 per day, but experts have warned that a new outbreak could happen at any time

Coupang also recently announced that it will step up efforts to boost delivery workers' safety in the face of COVID-19 by providing regular health checkups to workers and remote health counselling services.

For now, Ha is doing what he can to keep up the hustle and continues to deliver packages at least five days a week.

But even as the coronavirus has highlighted the struggles of the country's army of delivery drivers, the outbreak has brought an end to discussions on improved conditions.

"We have long been negotiating with the company on reducing deliveries, changing how we are evaluated and overall system reform, which has forced us to work in an atmosphere of endless competition," he said. "But for the time being, negotiations are indefinitely suspended because of the COVID-19 outbreak."


Mitch S Shin contributed to this report.

COVID-19: Japan ends Olympic flame display due to virus

COVID-19: Japan ends Olympic flame display due to virus

Tokyo (AFP) - The Olympic flame will be removed from display in Japan, officials said Tuesday, as the country braces for a state of emergency due to the coronavirus that also forced the historic postponement of Tokyo 2020. It had been on public display in the northeastern Fukushima region since last week, but Japanese Olympic organisers decided to shelve it as coronavirus cases climb in the country.

The ill-fated flame, lit in Greece, arrived in Japan on March 20 for a torch relay originally scheduled to start six days later and climax at the Olympics opening ceremony on July 24. But the raging pandemic prompted the first postponement of the Games in peace-time, with the opening ceremony now slated to take place on July 23, 2021.

To keep the Olympic spirit alive in Japan, local organisers decided to maintain the flame in a lantern and display it in Fukushima, where the torch relay was going to start. "Originally we wanted to hold the public display until the end of April. But considering recent developments, we decided to stop," said a Tokyo 2020 organising committee spokesman.

He declined to comment on where the flame will be stored, saying that organisers had no immediate plan to show it to the public and hoped to prevent people from congregating around the storage location.

The flame has had a troubled journey due to the coronavirus since being lit in ancient Olympia without spectators to avoid spreading the disease. The Greek leg of the torch relay was scrapped when large crowds mobbed Hollywood actor Gerard Butler as he lit a cauldron in the town of Sparta.

The flame arrived to a muted welcome in northern Japan in front of a few dozen officials and guests, after plans to invite 200 schoolchildren were abandoned. It then attracted large crowds in Japan despite calls from organisers to avoid mass gatherings because of the virus.


Tokyo (AFP) - The Olympic flame will be removed from display in Japan, officials said Tuesday, as the country braces for a state of emergency due to the coronavirus that also forced the historic postponement of Tokyo 2020. It had been on public display in the northeastern Fukushima region since last week, but Japanese Olympic organisers decided to shelve it as coronavirus cases climb in the country.

The ill-fated flame, lit in Greece, arrived in Japan on March 20 for a torch relay originally scheduled to start six days later and climax at the Olympics opening ceremony on July 24. But the raging pandemic prompted the first postponement of the Games in peace-time, with the opening ceremony now slated to take place on July 23, 2021.

To keep the Olympic spirit alive in Japan, local organisers decided to maintain the flame in a lantern and display it in Fukushima, where the torch relay was going to start. "Originally we wanted to hold the public display until the end of April. But considering recent developments, we decided to stop," said a Tokyo 2020 organising committee spokesman.

He declined to comment on where the flame will be stored, saying that organisers had no immediate plan to show it to the public and hoped to prevent people from congregating around the storage location.

The flame has had a troubled journey due to the coronavirus since being lit in ancient Olympia without spectators to avoid spreading the disease. The Greek leg of the torch relay was scrapped when large crowds mobbed Hollywood actor Gerard Butler as he lit a cauldron in the town of Sparta.

The flame arrived to a muted welcome in northern Japan in front of a few dozen officials and guests, after plans to invite 200 schoolchildren were abandoned. It then attracted large crowds in Japan despite calls from organisers to avoid mass gatherings because of the virus.


Japan PM Abe declares state of emergency over virus

Japan PM Abe declares state of emergency over virus

British PM had oxygen support, not on ventilator: minister

"As I decided that a situation feared to gravely affect people's lives and the economy has occurred... I am declaring a state of emergency," Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said while declaring a state emergency to curb the ravaging spread of the coronavirus in the Asian country.

Abe declared a month-long state of emergency in Tokyo and six other prefectures to ramp up defenses against the spread of the COVID-19.

The Japanese PM said there would be no European-style lockdowns. The state of emergency will empower Tokyo's Governor Yuriko Koike and heads of six other designated prefectures to urge people to stay inside and to call for businesses to close.

All of those measures will be requests that cannot be enforced with penalties for violations.
In Europe, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who spent the night in intensive care with a deteriorating case of coronavirus, has been given oxygen but is not on a ventilator, a minister said.

"The prime minister has received some oxygen support," senior cabinet minister Michael Gove told LBC radio, adding that "he has not been on a ventilator" but it was there if needed.

British Foreign secretary Dominic Raab will be leading the UK government response to the coronavirus while Johnson is in hospital.

Generally in Europe, there are indications that the pace of infections in hard-hit Spain and Italy is slowing, although the death toll continues to rise.

Globally, the number of people diagnosed with the virus now exceeds 1.3 million. More than 74,500 people have died while nearly 285,000 have recovered, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

British PM had oxygen support, not on ventilator: minister

"As I decided that a situation feared to gravely affect people's lives and the economy has occurred... I am declaring a state of emergency," Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said while declaring a state emergency to curb the ravaging spread of the coronavirus in the Asian country.

Abe declared a month-long state of emergency in Tokyo and six other prefectures to ramp up defenses against the spread of the COVID-19.

The Japanese PM said there would be no European-style lockdowns. The state of emergency will empower Tokyo's Governor Yuriko Koike and heads of six other designated prefectures to urge people to stay inside and to call for businesses to close.

All of those measures will be requests that cannot be enforced with penalties for violations.
In Europe, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who spent the night in intensive care with a deteriorating case of coronavirus, has been given oxygen but is not on a ventilator, a minister said.

"The prime minister has received some oxygen support," senior cabinet minister Michael Gove told LBC radio, adding that "he has not been on a ventilator" but it was there if needed.

British Foreign secretary Dominic Raab will be leading the UK government response to the coronavirus while Johnson is in hospital.

Generally in Europe, there are indications that the pace of infections in hard-hit Spain and Italy is slowing, although the death toll continues to rise.

Globally, the number of people diagnosed with the virus now exceeds 1.3 million. More than 74,500 people have died while nearly 285,000 have recovered, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

Bank of Japan unveils emergency easing measures

Bank of Japan unveils emergency easing measures

TOKYO, (AFP): The Bank of Japan on Monday unveiled a series of emergency monetary policy measures to shore up the world’s third-largest economy, as the coronavirus pandemic threatens a global recession.

In a meeting brought forward by two days, the BoJ said it would double its annual capacity to purchase exchange-traded funds and Japan real estate investment funds, the latest global central bank to take emergency action.

The moves sent Japanese markets whipsawing, with the Nikkei-225 initially surging two percent but then falling back rapidly as traders digested the statement.

The bank said it had decided unanimously to “actively” purchase ETFs (exchange-traded funds) and J-REITS (investment funds tied to Japanese real estate) with an annual upper limit of 12 trillion yen ($112 billion) and 180 billion yen respectively.

Seiichi Suzuki, senior market analyst at Tokai Tokyo Research Institute, said: “What’s big is 12 trillion yen of ETFs buying, which means one trillion yen each month. What investor could ignore this?”

“It was quite a drastic step,” Suzuki told AFP. “Those who wanted to buy jumped on the occasion.”
Previously, the bank was buying a maximum of six trillion yen of ETFs and 90 billion yen of J-REITs per year.

The BoJ said it would also introduce a new operation to provide loans against corporate debt and raised its annual limit for corporate bond purchases by one trillion yen to 4.2 trillion yen.

But it left its main interest rate unchanged at minus 0.1 percent and also kept its upper limit for purchasing government bonds at 80 trillion yen.

“There have been significant uncertainties over the consequences of the outbreak of COVID-19 and over the size and persistence of their impact on domestic and overseas economies,” said the bank in a statement.



AFP
TOKYO, (AFP): The Bank of Japan on Monday unveiled a series of emergency monetary policy measures to shore up the world’s third-largest economy, as the coronavirus pandemic threatens a global recession.

In a meeting brought forward by two days, the BoJ said it would double its annual capacity to purchase exchange-traded funds and Japan real estate investment funds, the latest global central bank to take emergency action.

The moves sent Japanese markets whipsawing, with the Nikkei-225 initially surging two percent but then falling back rapidly as traders digested the statement.

The bank said it had decided unanimously to “actively” purchase ETFs (exchange-traded funds) and J-REITS (investment funds tied to Japanese real estate) with an annual upper limit of 12 trillion yen ($112 billion) and 180 billion yen respectively.

Seiichi Suzuki, senior market analyst at Tokai Tokyo Research Institute, said: “What’s big is 12 trillion yen of ETFs buying, which means one trillion yen each month. What investor could ignore this?”

“It was quite a drastic step,” Suzuki told AFP. “Those who wanted to buy jumped on the occasion.”
Previously, the bank was buying a maximum of six trillion yen of ETFs and 90 billion yen of J-REITs per year.

The BoJ said it would also introduce a new operation to provide loans against corporate debt and raised its annual limit for corporate bond purchases by one trillion yen to 4.2 trillion yen.

But it left its main interest rate unchanged at minus 0.1 percent and also kept its upper limit for purchasing government bonds at 80 trillion yen.

“There have been significant uncertainties over the consequences of the outbreak of COVID-19 and over the size and persistence of their impact on domestic and overseas economies,” said the bank in a statement.



AFP

Japan court sentences man to death for murder of 19 at care home

Japan court sentences man to death for murder of 19 at care home

A court in Japan on Monday sentenced a man to death by hanging for the murder of 19 people at a care center for disabled people.

During the trial, Satoshi Uematsu did not deny carying out the killings and said he had "no regrets." His lawyers had entered a not guilty plea. They argued he was suffering from a "mental disorder" due to drug use.

Details of the verdict

"The grave consequence was incomparable to other incidents with 19 lives being taken," Presiding Judge Kiyoshi Aonuma of the court said in handing down the sentence.

Prosecutors had demanded the death penalty for Uematsu, while the defense team argued he was mentally incompetent and should not be held criminally responsible for his actions.However, presiding judge ruled the defendant was mentally competent and that there was "no room for leniency."

The defense said the defendant's personality has drastically changed since 2015 due to his use of marijuana, which it claimed triggered his mental disorder and the attack.

In demanding capital punishment, prosecutors cited the large number of victims and Uematsu's discriminatory remarks against people with disabilities.

"The lives of 19 people were taken away. This is profoundly grave," he told the court. "We considered the accused didn't have a previous record and we made a careful consideration, but we demand the death penalty."

Before the verdict, Uematsu had said he would not appeal.

What happened in the attack?

The 30 year-old once worked at a care center for people with mental disablities southwest of Tokyo.

Uematsu admitted stabbing to death 19 disabled people and injuring 24 others at the Yamayuri-en residential buildings in July 2016. Many of the victims were killed as they slept.

He reportedly told the court the victims were "a burden to society" and killing them would be good for society

The attack was one of the deadliest in Japan since World War II.

rt/cmb (AFP, AP, Reuters, KN)
A court in Japan on Monday sentenced a man to death by hanging for the murder of 19 people at a care center for disabled people.

During the trial, Satoshi Uematsu did not deny carying out the killings and said he had "no regrets." His lawyers had entered a not guilty plea. They argued he was suffering from a "mental disorder" due to drug use.

Details of the verdict

"The grave consequence was incomparable to other incidents with 19 lives being taken," Presiding Judge Kiyoshi Aonuma of the court said in handing down the sentence.

Prosecutors had demanded the death penalty for Uematsu, while the defense team argued he was mentally incompetent and should not be held criminally responsible for his actions.However, presiding judge ruled the defendant was mentally competent and that there was "no room for leniency."

The defense said the defendant's personality has drastically changed since 2015 due to his use of marijuana, which it claimed triggered his mental disorder and the attack.

In demanding capital punishment, prosecutors cited the large number of victims and Uematsu's discriminatory remarks against people with disabilities.

"The lives of 19 people were taken away. This is profoundly grave," he told the court. "We considered the accused didn't have a previous record and we made a careful consideration, but we demand the death penalty."

Before the verdict, Uematsu had said he would not appeal.

What happened in the attack?

The 30 year-old once worked at a care center for people with mental disablities southwest of Tokyo.

Uematsu admitted stabbing to death 19 disabled people and injuring 24 others at the Yamayuri-en residential buildings in July 2016. Many of the victims were killed as they slept.

He reportedly told the court the victims were "a burden to society" and killing them would be good for society

The attack was one of the deadliest in Japan since World War II.

rt/cmb (AFP, AP, Reuters, KN)

Japan unveils fresh economic package to offset virus damage

Japan unveils fresh economic package to offset virus damage

AFP: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday announced a second emergency package to tackle economic woes stemming from the coronavirus outbreak, including $15 billion in loan programmes to support small businesses.

The package came as the government ramps up its response to the virus, which has infected more than 500 people across the country and been linked to nine deaths.

It included plans to expand the government's low interest loan programmes to 1.6 trillion yen ($15 billion) from its original 500 billion yen announced last month in the first package.

"We shall issue a powerful capital assistance worth 1.6 trillion yen that will include offering loans effectively with no interest so that small businesses across Japan that are going through very difficult time can continue their operations," Abe told the government's special outbreak taskforce.

The latest assistance will be designed to ensure steady cashflow for small businesses feeling pressure from the virus's global spread.

The package will also include fiscal spending worth 430 billion yen for a variety of programmes, including boosting production of masks and helping nurseries and elderly care facilities to prevent outbreaks.

The spending programme will also cover financial help for working parents who had to miss work and stay home to care for their children after schools across the nation closed.

In mid-February the government set aside an initial 15.3 billion yen for the fight against the virus, including money to boost testing, strengthen inspections at borders and support manufacturers of face masks.

Abe also said, effective Wednesday, Japan would ban entries by foreigners from parts of Iran and hard-hit Italy, as well as San Marino.

The coronavirus has hit business in Japan hard


Source
AFP: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday announced a second emergency package to tackle economic woes stemming from the coronavirus outbreak, including $15 billion in loan programmes to support small businesses.

The package came as the government ramps up its response to the virus, which has infected more than 500 people across the country and been linked to nine deaths.

It included plans to expand the government's low interest loan programmes to 1.6 trillion yen ($15 billion) from its original 500 billion yen announced last month in the first package.

"We shall issue a powerful capital assistance worth 1.6 trillion yen that will include offering loans effectively with no interest so that small businesses across Japan that are going through very difficult time can continue their operations," Abe told the government's special outbreak taskforce.

The latest assistance will be designed to ensure steady cashflow for small businesses feeling pressure from the virus's global spread.

The package will also include fiscal spending worth 430 billion yen for a variety of programmes, including boosting production of masks and helping nurseries and elderly care facilities to prevent outbreaks.

The spending programme will also cover financial help for working parents who had to miss work and stay home to care for their children after schools across the nation closed.

In mid-February the government set aside an initial 15.3 billion yen for the fight against the virus, including money to boost testing, strengthen inspections at borders and support manufacturers of face masks.

Abe also said, effective Wednesday, Japan would ban entries by foreigners from parts of Iran and hard-hit Italy, as well as San Marino.

The coronavirus has hit business in Japan hard


Source

Tokyo's key Nikkei index down 3,0 percent in early trade

Tokyo's key Nikkei index down 3,0 percent in early trade

Oil and stocks rebound after 'Black Monday' rout


Tokyo's key Nikkei index dropped three percent in early trade on Tuesday following a blistering sell-off on Wall Street sparked by a crash in oil prices and fears over the coronavirus.  The benchmark Nikkei 225 index slipped after the opening bell, trading down 3.08 percent or 607.17 points at 19,091.59 about 10 minutes after trade began. 

Meanwhile, a bounce in the price of crude oil provided some support to under-pressure stocks in early Asian trade on Tuesday, a day after the London stock market crashed in what was labelled a “new Black Monday” by analysts.

The broader Topix was down 2.85 percent or 39.53 points at 1,349.44. "Japanese shares are seen falling sharply in reaction to the rout in the US market, and the Nikkei 225 may dip below the 19,000 level," Toshiyuki Kanayama, senior market analyst at Monex, said in a commentary.

The dollar fetched 102.89 yen in early Asian trade, against 102.42 yen in New York.

In Tokyo, shares were lower across the board, with Sony dropping 2.99 percent to 6,028 yen, game giant Nintendo trading down 3.95 percent to 34,510 yen, and the Uniqlo casual wear operator Fast Retailing off 3.52 percent at 51,250 yen. Among banks, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial was down 4.19 percent at 2,798.5 yen and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial was lower by 3.58 percent at 416.9 yen.

The blue-chip FTSE 100 index closed down 7.69pc, wiping more than £124bn off the value of London’s biggest listed companies.

In the US, major US indices plunged more than 7pc - with the Dow finishing more than 2,000 points lower in its worst session since 2008 - following a 15-minute halt to trading early in the session triggered by a seven percent drop.

Oil and stocks rebound after 'Black Monday' rout


Tokyo's key Nikkei index dropped three percent in early trade on Tuesday following a blistering sell-off on Wall Street sparked by a crash in oil prices and fears over the coronavirus.  The benchmark Nikkei 225 index slipped after the opening bell, trading down 3.08 percent or 607.17 points at 19,091.59 about 10 minutes after trade began. 

Meanwhile, a bounce in the price of crude oil provided some support to under-pressure stocks in early Asian trade on Tuesday, a day after the London stock market crashed in what was labelled a “new Black Monday” by analysts.

The broader Topix was down 2.85 percent or 39.53 points at 1,349.44. "Japanese shares are seen falling sharply in reaction to the rout in the US market, and the Nikkei 225 may dip below the 19,000 level," Toshiyuki Kanayama, senior market analyst at Monex, said in a commentary.

The dollar fetched 102.89 yen in early Asian trade, against 102.42 yen in New York.

In Tokyo, shares were lower across the board, with Sony dropping 2.99 percent to 6,028 yen, game giant Nintendo trading down 3.95 percent to 34,510 yen, and the Uniqlo casual wear operator Fast Retailing off 3.52 percent at 51,250 yen. Among banks, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial was down 4.19 percent at 2,798.5 yen and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial was lower by 3.58 percent at 416.9 yen.

The blue-chip FTSE 100 index closed down 7.69pc, wiping more than £124bn off the value of London’s biggest listed companies.

In the US, major US indices plunged more than 7pc - with the Dow finishing more than 2,000 points lower in its worst session since 2008 - following a 15-minute halt to trading early in the session triggered by a seven percent drop.

COVID-19: 2 Officials On Japan Ship Test Positive

COVID-19: 2 Officials On Japan Ship Test Positive

Two more officials sent to a cruise ship quarantined off Japan to help with on-board efforts to contain the deadly coronavirus contract the illness themselves.

Experts warn the next one to three weeks to be crucial in preventing widespread infections from the virus.
Two more officials sent to a cruise ship quarantined off Japan to help with on-board efforts to contain the deadly coronavirus contract the illness themselves.

Experts warn the next one to three weeks to be crucial in preventing widespread infections from the virus.

Tokyo criticises suggestion that London could host 2020 Olympics

Tokyo criticises suggestion that London could host 2020 Olympics

Japan to let off last healthy cruise travellers, isolate rest


Japan's health minister said the last cruise ship passengers who tested negative for a new virus will leave the Diamond Princess on Friday after a much-criticised quarantine of the vessel ended.

Health Minister Katsunobu Kato told a news conference the mass disembarkation into Japan of passengers from the ship is set to end on Friday, while dozens of foreign passengers are flying back to their home countries on flights chartered by their governments.

Most crew members and other passengers who have not completed their 14-day quarantines because they had more recent contact with infected people are staying on the ship for now, but they will be transported to a government facility to be quarantined in isolation.

Meanwile, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said it was inappropriate for candidates in London's mayoral election to propose their city host the 2020 Olympic Games if the coronavirus outbreak forces organisers to look for an alternative site.

Shaun Bailey, the Conservative Party candidate for mayor of the British capital, has said London would be ready to host the event if needed.

The International Olympic Committee has said the World Health Organization advised it that there was no case for contingency plans to cancel or relocate the Games from Tokyo.

Japan to let off last healthy cruise travellers, isolate rest


Japan's health minister said the last cruise ship passengers who tested negative for a new virus will leave the Diamond Princess on Friday after a much-criticised quarantine of the vessel ended.

Health Minister Katsunobu Kato told a news conference the mass disembarkation into Japan of passengers from the ship is set to end on Friday, while dozens of foreign passengers are flying back to their home countries on flights chartered by their governments.

Most crew members and other passengers who have not completed their 14-day quarantines because they had more recent contact with infected people are staying on the ship for now, but they will be transported to a government facility to be quarantined in isolation.

Meanwile, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said it was inappropriate for candidates in London's mayoral election to propose their city host the 2020 Olympic Games if the coronavirus outbreak forces organisers to look for an alternative site.

Shaun Bailey, the Conservative Party candidate for mayor of the British capital, has said London would be ready to host the event if needed.

The International Olympic Committee has said the World Health Organization advised it that there was no case for contingency plans to cancel or relocate the Games from Tokyo.

Japan reports 13 new cases of novel coronavirus, cases on cruise ship rise to 634: Ministry

Japan reports 13 new cases of novel coronavirus, cases on cruise ship rise to 634: Ministry

The total tally of confirmed coronavirus cases in Japan now stands at 78 on land and 634 on the Diamond Princess.

Another 13 people on board a cruise ship that was quarantined off the coast of Japan have been diagnosed with the new coronavirus, the country's health ministry said.

Confirmation of the new cases, from 52 additional test results, brought the total number of infections diagnosed on board the Diamond Princess so far to 634, the ministry said in a statement.

Source
The total tally of confirmed coronavirus cases in Japan now stands at 78 on land and 634 on the Diamond Princess.

Another 13 people on board a cruise ship that was quarantined off the coast of Japan have been diagnosed with the new coronavirus, the country's health ministry said.

Confirmation of the new cases, from 52 additional test results, brought the total number of infections diagnosed on board the Diamond Princess so far to 634, the ministry said in a statement.

Source

#COVID19: Two coronavirus patients from Japan cruise ship dead: media

#COVID19: Two coronavirus patients from Japan cruise ship dead: media

Two elderly former passengers from the coronavirus-wracked Diamond Princess died Thursday, Japanese authorities said, as fears mount for those who have left the ship after testing negative for the virus.

The man and woman, both Japanese and in their 80s, were taken off the cruise ship last week and died in hospital, the first fatalalities among the more than 600 passengers and crew who have tested positive for the virus.

The man had a pre-existing condition of bronchial asthma and a history of angina treatment, the health ministry said in a statement, but the woman had no known pre-existing conditions. The direct cause of her death was pneumonia.

"I pray for their souls and offer condolences to their bereaved families," Health Minister Katsunobu Kato told MPs.

"The two were sent to medical facilities when they showed symptoms. I believe that they received the best possible treatment," he said.

The huge vessel moored in Yokohama near Tokyo is easily the biggest coronavirus cluster outside the Chinese epicentre, with 621 positive cases confirmed among the passengers and crew.

On Wednesday, 443 passengers disembarked after testing negative for the COVID-19 virus and not showing symptoms during a 14-day quarantine period. The removal of all passengers was expected to take at least three days.

More passengers left the ship Thursday, packing into yellow buses and leaving for stations and airports to head home.

But questions are increasingly being asked as to why former Diamond Princess passengers are able to roam freely around Japan's famously crowded cities, even if they have tested negative.

"Is it really safe to get off?" screamed a headline in the Nikkan Sports tabloid.

The paper quoted one passenger who said he was tested on February 15, but only left four days later.

"I thought I could be infected during the four days. I thought 'Is it really OK'?"

- Quarantine 'improved' -

The Diamond Princess was quarantined on February 5 when a passenger who left in Hong Kong was found infected with the virus.

Passengers were confined to cabins except for brief trips on deck wearing masks and gloves, when they were told to keep their distance from others.

But a specialist in infectious diseases at Kobe University rocked the boat with a video slamming "completely chaotic" quarantine procedures onboard -- rare criticism from a Japanese official.

"The cruise ship was completely inadequate in terms of infection control," said Kentaro Iwata in videos he has since deleted, saying "there is no need to discuss this further".

The videos had been viewed more than a million times in Japanese and hundreds of thousands of times in English.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Iwata said he had heard from a colleague on board that quarantine procedures had improved.

"I think that because of the improvement, the risk of secondary infection has been reduced for the passengers. It remains for the crews," he said.

However, he recommended that all those disembarking the ship should be monitored for at least 14 days and should avoid contact with others.

- 'Working desperately hard' -

Japanese authorities have defended their procedures, stressing that risky and safe areas were strictly divided and there was a station installed for safely removing contaminated gear.

"We've been doing our best in the circumstances," Kato told MPs on Thursday morning.

"I want you to understand that not only our officials at the health ministry but also Self-Defense Forces officials and medical officials are working desperately hard," he added.

The government also released a document from the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), which pointed to "clear evidence that substantial transmission of COVID-19 had been occurring prior to implementation of quarantine on Diamond Princess."

"Quarantine intervention was effective in reducing transmission among passengers," the report concluded.

The NIID also noted the unique situation faced by Japanese authorities.

"Due to the nature of the ship, individual isolation of all those aboard was not possible. Sharing of cabins was necessary, and some crew had to continue to perform essential duties for the functioning of the vessel."

The 1,045 crew members on board are expected to endure a further 14-day quarantine after the last passenger has disembarked.

Several countries have evacuated their citizens from the ship and insisted they undergo a further 14-day quarantine when they arrive on home soil.

Outside the Diamond Princess, Japan has seen 84 cases.

Passengers from the Diamond Princess were taken by stations and airports to begin the journeys home

There are worries over allowing former Diamond Princess passengers to roam freely around Japan's notoriously crowded cities, even if they have tested negative for the coronavirus

Not everyone is lucky enough to be allowed to disembark
Two elderly former passengers from the coronavirus-wracked Diamond Princess died Thursday, Japanese authorities said, as fears mount for those who have left the ship after testing negative for the virus.

The man and woman, both Japanese and in their 80s, were taken off the cruise ship last week and died in hospital, the first fatalalities among the more than 600 passengers and crew who have tested positive for the virus.

The man had a pre-existing condition of bronchial asthma and a history of angina treatment, the health ministry said in a statement, but the woman had no known pre-existing conditions. The direct cause of her death was pneumonia.

"I pray for their souls and offer condolences to their bereaved families," Health Minister Katsunobu Kato told MPs.

"The two were sent to medical facilities when they showed symptoms. I believe that they received the best possible treatment," he said.

The huge vessel moored in Yokohama near Tokyo is easily the biggest coronavirus cluster outside the Chinese epicentre, with 621 positive cases confirmed among the passengers and crew.

On Wednesday, 443 passengers disembarked after testing negative for the COVID-19 virus and not showing symptoms during a 14-day quarantine period. The removal of all passengers was expected to take at least three days.

More passengers left the ship Thursday, packing into yellow buses and leaving for stations and airports to head home.

But questions are increasingly being asked as to why former Diamond Princess passengers are able to roam freely around Japan's famously crowded cities, even if they have tested negative.

"Is it really safe to get off?" screamed a headline in the Nikkan Sports tabloid.

The paper quoted one passenger who said he was tested on February 15, but only left four days later.

"I thought I could be infected during the four days. I thought 'Is it really OK'?"

- Quarantine 'improved' -

The Diamond Princess was quarantined on February 5 when a passenger who left in Hong Kong was found infected with the virus.

Passengers were confined to cabins except for brief trips on deck wearing masks and gloves, when they were told to keep their distance from others.

But a specialist in infectious diseases at Kobe University rocked the boat with a video slamming "completely chaotic" quarantine procedures onboard -- rare criticism from a Japanese official.

"The cruise ship was completely inadequate in terms of infection control," said Kentaro Iwata in videos he has since deleted, saying "there is no need to discuss this further".

The videos had been viewed more than a million times in Japanese and hundreds of thousands of times in English.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Iwata said he had heard from a colleague on board that quarantine procedures had improved.

"I think that because of the improvement, the risk of secondary infection has been reduced for the passengers. It remains for the crews," he said.

However, he recommended that all those disembarking the ship should be monitored for at least 14 days and should avoid contact with others.

- 'Working desperately hard' -

Japanese authorities have defended their procedures, stressing that risky and safe areas were strictly divided and there was a station installed for safely removing contaminated gear.

"We've been doing our best in the circumstances," Kato told MPs on Thursday morning.

"I want you to understand that not only our officials at the health ministry but also Self-Defense Forces officials and medical officials are working desperately hard," he added.

The government also released a document from the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), which pointed to "clear evidence that substantial transmission of COVID-19 had been occurring prior to implementation of quarantine on Diamond Princess."

"Quarantine intervention was effective in reducing transmission among passengers," the report concluded.

The NIID also noted the unique situation faced by Japanese authorities.

"Due to the nature of the ship, individual isolation of all those aboard was not possible. Sharing of cabins was necessary, and some crew had to continue to perform essential duties for the functioning of the vessel."

The 1,045 crew members on board are expected to endure a further 14-day quarantine after the last passenger has disembarked.

Several countries have evacuated their citizens from the ship and insisted they undergo a further 14-day quarantine when they arrive on home soil.

Outside the Diamond Princess, Japan has seen 84 cases.

Passengers from the Diamond Princess were taken by stations and airports to begin the journeys home

There are worries over allowing former Diamond Princess passengers to roam freely around Japan's notoriously crowded cities, even if they have tested negative for the coronavirus

Not everyone is lucky enough to be allowed to disembark

UPDATED: 79 more people test positive for #coronavirus on #DiamondPrincess cruise ship in Japan: ministry

UPDATED: 79 more people test positive for #coronavirus on #DiamondPrincess cruise ship in Japan: ministry

Day by day the domestic coronavirus outbreak in Japan continues to grow.

Five more cases emerged Wednesday — a 40-year-old Sapporo man and another man in Hokkaido, a man in Okinawa, and two elderly men sharing a hospital room in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture — bringing the total number of domestic cases, excluding those aboard the Diamond Princess, to 79.

Passengers disembarked  from a coronavirus-stricken cruise ship in Japan after being given the all-clear, but health officials said 79 new cases had been detected. According to an AFP reports.

With 621 positive cases the Diamond Princess is easily the biggest cluster of infected people outside China, and Japan has faced mounting criticism for its quarantine arrangements as passengers disperse across the world.

The disease has now claimed more than 2,000 lives in China and spread panic worldwide.

Those newly diagnosed with the virus will be taken off the ship to hospital, and after being treated will have to undergo another quarantine.

Earlier, those who had tested negative for the virus began leaving the ship.

"I'm relieved... I want to take a good rest," said a departing 77-year-old Japanese passenger, who declined to give his name. He said he would be boarding Japan's famously crowded railway system to head home.

A fleet of yellow-dotted city buses, plus a dozen or so taxis, whisked away the passengers, many of whom dragged their luggage behind them and waved to former ship-mates on balconies as they disembarked.

Latest figures from China showed the death toll surging beyond 2,000 with more than 74,000 infected, although the rate of new cases is slowing.

Hundreds more cases have been reported in two dozen countries, including 20 in South Korea -- a two-thirds rise -- with a cluster of at least 16 around the southern city of Daegu.

Hong Kong also reported its second death from the virus, which has proved extremely infectious.

For the 500 passengers leaving the Diamond Princess after testing negative, a difficult 14-day quarantine period has come to an end after their dream cruise turned into a nightmare of fear and boredom, confined in many cases to small windowless cabins.

"Our last deep gratitude to the crews and captain for such an amazing care... during the epic crisis... we can't wait to see you again soon on board again," tweeted passenger Yardley Wong, who left after 14 days cooped in a small cabin with her six-year-old son.

- 'Major failure' -

Many were left onboard with an anxious wait for test results that would allow them to disembark.

Asked how he felt seeing others disembark while remaining on the ship, American lawyer Matt Smith told AFP: "I need an emoji for envy."

Michael Ryan, head of the World Health Organization's emergencies programme, said the outbreak was "very serious" and could grow, but stressed that outside China's Hubei, it was "affecting a very, very tiny, tiny proportion of people".

But in Japan, some have raised concerns about allowing people from the cruise ship to board flights home or spread into the notoriously busy Japanese capital.

Kentaro Iwata, a professor at the infectious diseases division of Kobe University, blasted the on-ship quarantine as a "major failure, a mistake".

"It is highly likely secondary infections occurred," Iwata told AFP, saying scepticism from abroad of the quarantine was "only natural".

He later said in a video published online that he was self-quarantining after a brief visit to the ship, where he raised major concerns about the procedures on board.

"It was completely chaotic," he said.

- 'Hugs and flowers' -

Elated passengers also began disembarking from a second cruise ship that has been at the centre of coronavirus fear, the Westerdam, which made shore in Sihanoukville in Cambodia.

Hundreds were allowed off after basic health checks -- among them an 83-year-old American woman who was later diagnosed with the virus while in transit in Malaysia.

That raised fears many other Westerdam passengers could be spreading the virus as they scattered, although no other cases have been recorded.

American Christina Kirby, fretted about the stigma some Westerdam passengers could face once they return home.

"I want people to remember that... there's a human behind each of these stories and those who are ill deserve compassion," she told AFP.

Several countries appear to have lost patience with the quarantine on board the Diamond Princess and chartered planes to repatriate citizens.

In the first such evacuation Monday, more than 300 Americans flew home -- even though 14 had tested positive.

Britain, Hong Kong and Australia are among other countries that have vowed to repatriate people from the ship but will insist on a further 14-day quarantine on home soil.

Nathalie MacDermott, a medical expert at King's College London, recommended a further 14-day self-quarantine for those leaving.

"Given the circumstances on board the Diamond Princess, those passengers leaving the boat should be managed in a similar manner to those individuals departing a highly affected city or region," said MacDermott.

Disembarkation is expected to take around three days as more test results become available. The crew will begin a new quarantine when the last passenger has left.

People in Yokohama appeared supportive of the decision to allow the passengers out despite the virus fears.

"I am sure those people on board must be really worried. I hope they can go back to their normal life soon," said 51-year-old Isamu Habiro.

burs-ric/
Day by day the domestic coronavirus outbreak in Japan continues to grow.

Five more cases emerged Wednesday — a 40-year-old Sapporo man and another man in Hokkaido, a man in Okinawa, and two elderly men sharing a hospital room in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture — bringing the total number of domestic cases, excluding those aboard the Diamond Princess, to 79.

Passengers disembarked  from a coronavirus-stricken cruise ship in Japan after being given the all-clear, but health officials said 79 new cases had been detected. According to an AFP reports.

With 621 positive cases the Diamond Princess is easily the biggest cluster of infected people outside China, and Japan has faced mounting criticism for its quarantine arrangements as passengers disperse across the world.

The disease has now claimed more than 2,000 lives in China and spread panic worldwide.

Those newly diagnosed with the virus will be taken off the ship to hospital, and after being treated will have to undergo another quarantine.

Earlier, those who had tested negative for the virus began leaving the ship.

"I'm relieved... I want to take a good rest," said a departing 77-year-old Japanese passenger, who declined to give his name. He said he would be boarding Japan's famously crowded railway system to head home.

A fleet of yellow-dotted city buses, plus a dozen or so taxis, whisked away the passengers, many of whom dragged their luggage behind them and waved to former ship-mates on balconies as they disembarked.

Latest figures from China showed the death toll surging beyond 2,000 with more than 74,000 infected, although the rate of new cases is slowing.

Hundreds more cases have been reported in two dozen countries, including 20 in South Korea -- a two-thirds rise -- with a cluster of at least 16 around the southern city of Daegu.

Hong Kong also reported its second death from the virus, which has proved extremely infectious.

For the 500 passengers leaving the Diamond Princess after testing negative, a difficult 14-day quarantine period has come to an end after their dream cruise turned into a nightmare of fear and boredom, confined in many cases to small windowless cabins.

"Our last deep gratitude to the crews and captain for such an amazing care... during the epic crisis... we can't wait to see you again soon on board again," tweeted passenger Yardley Wong, who left after 14 days cooped in a small cabin with her six-year-old son.

- 'Major failure' -

Many were left onboard with an anxious wait for test results that would allow them to disembark.

Asked how he felt seeing others disembark while remaining on the ship, American lawyer Matt Smith told AFP: "I need an emoji for envy."

Michael Ryan, head of the World Health Organization's emergencies programme, said the outbreak was "very serious" and could grow, but stressed that outside China's Hubei, it was "affecting a very, very tiny, tiny proportion of people".

But in Japan, some have raised concerns about allowing people from the cruise ship to board flights home or spread into the notoriously busy Japanese capital.

Kentaro Iwata, a professor at the infectious diseases division of Kobe University, blasted the on-ship quarantine as a "major failure, a mistake".

"It is highly likely secondary infections occurred," Iwata told AFP, saying scepticism from abroad of the quarantine was "only natural".

He later said in a video published online that he was self-quarantining after a brief visit to the ship, where he raised major concerns about the procedures on board.

"It was completely chaotic," he said.

- 'Hugs and flowers' -

Elated passengers also began disembarking from a second cruise ship that has been at the centre of coronavirus fear, the Westerdam, which made shore in Sihanoukville in Cambodia.

Hundreds were allowed off after basic health checks -- among them an 83-year-old American woman who was later diagnosed with the virus while in transit in Malaysia.

That raised fears many other Westerdam passengers could be spreading the virus as they scattered, although no other cases have been recorded.

American Christina Kirby, fretted about the stigma some Westerdam passengers could face once they return home.

"I want people to remember that... there's a human behind each of these stories and those who are ill deserve compassion," she told AFP.

Several countries appear to have lost patience with the quarantine on board the Diamond Princess and chartered planes to repatriate citizens.

In the first such evacuation Monday, more than 300 Americans flew home -- even though 14 had tested positive.

Britain, Hong Kong and Australia are among other countries that have vowed to repatriate people from the ship but will insist on a further 14-day quarantine on home soil.

Nathalie MacDermott, a medical expert at King's College London, recommended a further 14-day self-quarantine for those leaving.

"Given the circumstances on board the Diamond Princess, those passengers leaving the boat should be managed in a similar manner to those individuals departing a highly affected city or region," said MacDermott.

Disembarkation is expected to take around three days as more test results become available. The crew will begin a new quarantine when the last passenger has left.

People in Yokohama appeared supportive of the decision to allow the passengers out despite the virus fears.

"I am sure those people on board must be really worried. I hope they can go back to their normal life soon," said 51-year-old Isamu Habiro.

burs-ric/

Passengers leave Japan virus ship after 14-day quarantine

Passengers leave Japan virus ship after 14-day quarantine

Hundreds of people on Wednesday left a coronavirus-stricken cruise ship off Japan's coast after testing negative for the virus and completing a 14-day quarantine on board.

The Diamond Princess arrived off Japan on February 3, after it emerged a former passenger had tested positive for the virus. Here is the cruise ship's story by the numbers:

-3,711-

There were 3,711 people on board the massive cruise ship when it arrived off Japan's coast and went into quarantine. Of those, 2,666 were guests and the remainder crew members. The number on board has shrunk day by day as those diagnosed with the virus are removed from the ship and taken to local hospitals.

-56-

Passengers and crew on board the ship hailed from 56 countries and territories, with about half of the passengers from Japan, according to operator Princess Cruises. Large contingents included hundreds of Filipinos among the crew, and hundreds of Americans, many of whom were evacuated from the ship days before the quarantine ended.

-14-

After the ship arrived, Japan's government announced it would be placed in quarantine for 14 days -- based on indications of the incubation period for the virus. Passengers on board were confined to their cabins, except for brief outings on open deck when they were required to wear gloves and masks and keep their distance from other passengers.

-542-

At least 542 people on board the ship had tested positive for novel coronavirus by Wednesday morning, when the quarantine came to an end. More than 2,000 people have been tested with those positive removed from the ship to local hospitals.

-11-

A little over half-way through the quarantine, Japan's government offered to allow passengers 80 or older with pre-existing health issues or staying in windowless interior cabins the chance to continue their quarantine on land if they tested negative.






In the event, just 11 people who qualified for the offer decided to take the chance to leave the boat, taking up residence in government-designated accommodation.




-328-

Days before the quarantine was due to end, Washington decided it would evacuate its citizens from the ship, requiring them to undergo another 14-day quarantine once they arrived in the US. In all, 328 Americans flew out on two planes, though some opted to stay on board. Countries including Australia, Canada and Britain have also said they want to repatriate citizens from the boat.

-500-

Around 500 people were expected to depart the Diamond Princess on Wednesday after testing negative for the virus and completing the quarantine. There will be no restrictions on their movement. The disembarkation is expected to continue for several days, as more people receive negative test results.

-1,045-

There were 1,045 crew on board the ship when it arrived off Japan, though some members have tested positive for the virus and been taken to local hospitals. Those who remain will have to undergo a new quarantine that will not begin until all the passengers have left the ship.


Hundreds of people on Wednesday left a coronavirus-stricken cruise ship off Japan's coast after testing negative for the virus and completing a 14-day quarantine on board.

The Diamond Princess arrived off Japan on February 3, after it emerged a former passenger had tested positive for the virus. Here is the cruise ship's story by the numbers:

-3,711-

There were 3,711 people on board the massive cruise ship when it arrived off Japan's coast and went into quarantine. Of those, 2,666 were guests and the remainder crew members. The number on board has shrunk day by day as those diagnosed with the virus are removed from the ship and taken to local hospitals.

-56-

Passengers and crew on board the ship hailed from 56 countries and territories, with about half of the passengers from Japan, according to operator Princess Cruises. Large contingents included hundreds of Filipinos among the crew, and hundreds of Americans, many of whom were evacuated from the ship days before the quarantine ended.

-14-

After the ship arrived, Japan's government announced it would be placed in quarantine for 14 days -- based on indications of the incubation period for the virus. Passengers on board were confined to their cabins, except for brief outings on open deck when they were required to wear gloves and masks and keep their distance from other passengers.

-542-

At least 542 people on board the ship had tested positive for novel coronavirus by Wednesday morning, when the quarantine came to an end. More than 2,000 people have been tested with those positive removed from the ship to local hospitals.

-11-

A little over half-way through the quarantine, Japan's government offered to allow passengers 80 or older with pre-existing health issues or staying in windowless interior cabins the chance to continue their quarantine on land if they tested negative.






In the event, just 11 people who qualified for the offer decided to take the chance to leave the boat, taking up residence in government-designated accommodation.




-328-

Days before the quarantine was due to end, Washington decided it would evacuate its citizens from the ship, requiring them to undergo another 14-day quarantine once they arrived in the US. In all, 328 Americans flew out on two planes, though some opted to stay on board. Countries including Australia, Canada and Britain have also said they want to repatriate citizens from the boat.

-500-

Around 500 people were expected to depart the Diamond Princess on Wednesday after testing negative for the virus and completing the quarantine. There will be no restrictions on their movement. The disembarkation is expected to continue for several days, as more people receive negative test results.

-1,045-

There were 1,045 crew on board the ship when it arrived off Japan, though some members have tested positive for the virus and been taken to local hospitals. Those who remain will have to undergo a new quarantine that will not begin until all the passengers have left the ship.


Around 500 to leave quarantined Japan cruise ship on Wednesday: official

Around 500 to leave quarantined Japan cruise ship on Wednesday: official

Around 500 passengers will leave a cruise ship quarantined off Japan on Wednesday after testing negative for the new coronavirus that has infected hundreds on board, according to a Japanese health ministry official.

“The number [who will leave Wednesday] is changing, largely because it is up to passengers [if they get off],” the official tells reporters. “But it will be around 500 people.”

— AFP
Around 500 passengers will leave a cruise ship quarantined off Japan on Wednesday after testing negative for the new coronavirus that has infected hundreds on board, according to a Japanese health ministry official.

“The number [who will leave Wednesday] is changing, largely because it is up to passengers [if they get off],” the official tells reporters. “But it will be around 500 people.”

— AFP

Coronavirus cases top 500 on cruise ship off Japan

Coronavirus cases top 500 on cruise ship off Japan

Another 88 people aboard a cruise ship off Japan have tested positive for the coronavirus, authorities said Tuesday, as those free of the disease hoped they were spending their last night on board before disembarking. AFP reports

The new cases take the total from the Diamond Princess to 542 -- easily the biggest cluster outside the epicentre in China -- as the cruise ship has proved an especially virulent breeding ground for the virus despite quarantine.

The new cases will be sent to specialised hospitals, the ministry said in a statement, without giving further details such as their nationalities.

Sixty-five of those who tested positive were not yet showing symptoms.

Britain became the latest country to offer its citizens a way off the boat, saying it was "working to organise a flight back to the UK" as doubts grow over the effectiveness of the quarantine measures with every spike in positive cases.

Canada, Australia, Hong Kong and South Korea have already said they will evacuate their citizens from the ship, following the lead from the United States, which flew home around 300 Americans on Monday -- including more than a dozen who had tested positive.

"We have done tests for everyone (on the ship)," Japanese Health Minister Katsunobu Kato told reporters.

"Some results have already come out... and for those whose test results are already clear, we are working to prepare disembarkation," he said.

In a letter sent to passengers, authorities explained that some test results would take time to process and that therefore "we plan the disembarkation to take place from 19 to 21 February".

"If you and your roommate are both negative and have no fever of respiratory symptoms, you will be able to prepare for disembarkation," the letter said.


But those who had close contact with anyone who tested positive will have their quarantine reset to the last date.

The crew, some of whom have complained about conditions on board, are also expected to remain to observe another quarantine period after the last passengers leave the ship.

Japan has been forced to defend its policy amid criticism for the way it handled the situation, with dozens of new infections detected almost daily since the ship arrived in early February.

- Tokyo Marathon affected-

The Americans already evacuated will have to undergo another 14-day quarantine in the United States.

Canada said Tuesday it had arranged a chartered flight to repatriate nationals from the Diamond Princess, but gave no details when it would take place.


There were 256 Canadians on board the ship, with 32 so far testing positive for the virus.

South Korea will send a presidential aircraft on Tuesday to fly back four nationals and one Japanese spouse, an official told reporters.

There are 14 South Koreans on board, but the other ten have declined to be evacuated because they live in Japan, the Yonhap news agency reported.

While foreign governments have couched their decision to remove citizens as an attempt to reduce the burden on Japanese authorities, many have interpreted the evacuations as tacit criticism of Tokyo's handling of the situation.

The US and Australia have told citizens that if they decline repatriation and an additional 14-day quarantine, they will not be allowed home for at least two weeks, suggesting they do not believe the ship-based quarantine worked.

Japan has also confirmed at least 74 cases domestically -- including many involving people with no history of recent travel to China.

Authorities say the virus is now being transmitted locally, and have asked citizens to avoid crowds and non-essential gatherings.

On Monday, the amateur portion of the Tokyo Marathon -- which had been expected to attract some 38,000 runners -- was cancelled. Only elite athletes will now take part.

The public celebration for Emperor Naruhito's birthday has also been scrapped.

bur-si-sah-ric/fox
Another 88 people aboard a cruise ship off Japan have tested positive for the coronavirus, authorities said Tuesday, as those free of the disease hoped they were spending their last night on board before disembarking. AFP reports

The new cases take the total from the Diamond Princess to 542 -- easily the biggest cluster outside the epicentre in China -- as the cruise ship has proved an especially virulent breeding ground for the virus despite quarantine.

The new cases will be sent to specialised hospitals, the ministry said in a statement, without giving further details such as their nationalities.

Sixty-five of those who tested positive were not yet showing symptoms.

Britain became the latest country to offer its citizens a way off the boat, saying it was "working to organise a flight back to the UK" as doubts grow over the effectiveness of the quarantine measures with every spike in positive cases.

Canada, Australia, Hong Kong and South Korea have already said they will evacuate their citizens from the ship, following the lead from the United States, which flew home around 300 Americans on Monday -- including more than a dozen who had tested positive.

"We have done tests for everyone (on the ship)," Japanese Health Minister Katsunobu Kato told reporters.

"Some results have already come out... and for those whose test results are already clear, we are working to prepare disembarkation," he said.

In a letter sent to passengers, authorities explained that some test results would take time to process and that therefore "we plan the disembarkation to take place from 19 to 21 February".

"If you and your roommate are both negative and have no fever of respiratory symptoms, you will be able to prepare for disembarkation," the letter said.


But those who had close contact with anyone who tested positive will have their quarantine reset to the last date.

The crew, some of whom have complained about conditions on board, are also expected to remain to observe another quarantine period after the last passengers leave the ship.

Japan has been forced to defend its policy amid criticism for the way it handled the situation, with dozens of new infections detected almost daily since the ship arrived in early February.

- Tokyo Marathon affected-

The Americans already evacuated will have to undergo another 14-day quarantine in the United States.

Canada said Tuesday it had arranged a chartered flight to repatriate nationals from the Diamond Princess, but gave no details when it would take place.


There were 256 Canadians on board the ship, with 32 so far testing positive for the virus.

South Korea will send a presidential aircraft on Tuesday to fly back four nationals and one Japanese spouse, an official told reporters.

There are 14 South Koreans on board, but the other ten have declined to be evacuated because they live in Japan, the Yonhap news agency reported.

While foreign governments have couched their decision to remove citizens as an attempt to reduce the burden on Japanese authorities, many have interpreted the evacuations as tacit criticism of Tokyo's handling of the situation.

The US and Australia have told citizens that if they decline repatriation and an additional 14-day quarantine, they will not be allowed home for at least two weeks, suggesting they do not believe the ship-based quarantine worked.

Japan has also confirmed at least 74 cases domestically -- including many involving people with no history of recent travel to China.

Authorities say the virus is now being transmitted locally, and have asked citizens to avoid crowds and non-essential gatherings.

On Monday, the amateur portion of the Tokyo Marathon -- which had been expected to attract some 38,000 runners -- was cancelled. Only elite athletes will now take part.

The public celebration for Emperor Naruhito's birthday has also been scrapped.

bur-si-sah-ric/fox

Organisers cancel Tokyo marathon for 38,000 amateur runners over coronavirus

Organisers cancel Tokyo marathon for 38,000 amateur runners over coronavirus

AFP, TOKYO - Organisers said Monday they are cancelling the amateur portion of the Tokyo marathon, affecting around 38,000 runners, on fears about the spread of the new coronavirus in Japan.

"We reached the conclusion that unfortunately, it is difficult to organise the event... after several cases (of the virus) were confirmed in Tokyo," the Tokyo Marathon Foundation said in a statement.

The decision will not affect elite runners, including elite wheelchair participants, the organisers said.

But they only account for around 200 of the tens of thousands of people who had registered for the 1 March race.

The cancellation comes after Japanese government officials warned the spread of the virus in the country entering "a new phase".

At least 65 cases have been diagnosed in Japan, excluding hundreds of infections aboard a cruise ship quarantined off the coast.

On Sunday, the health minister warned citizens to avoid large crowds and non-essential gatherings, sparking speculation that the marathon would be cancelled.

A public gathering for the birthday of Emperor Naruhito that was scheduled for 23 February has also been cancelled on virus fears.

Source
AFP, TOKYO - Organisers said Monday they are cancelling the amateur portion of the Tokyo marathon, affecting around 38,000 runners, on fears about the spread of the new coronavirus in Japan.

"We reached the conclusion that unfortunately, it is difficult to organise the event... after several cases (of the virus) were confirmed in Tokyo," the Tokyo Marathon Foundation said in a statement.

The decision will not affect elite runners, including elite wheelchair participants, the organisers said.

But they only account for around 200 of the tens of thousands of people who had registered for the 1 March race.

The cancellation comes after Japanese government officials warned the spread of the virus in the country entering "a new phase".

At least 65 cases have been diagnosed in Japan, excluding hundreds of infections aboard a cruise ship quarantined off the coast.

On Sunday, the health minister warned citizens to avoid large crowds and non-essential gatherings, sparking speculation that the marathon would be cancelled.

A public gathering for the birthday of Emperor Naruhito that was scheduled for 23 February has also been cancelled on virus fears.

Source

99 more coronavirus cases on Japan cruise ship: media

99 more coronavirus cases on Japan cruise ship: media

Japan has confirmed 99 more cases of people infected by new virus on quarantined ship Diamond Princess, bringing total to 454
Japan has confirmed 99 more cases of people infected by new virus on quarantined ship Diamond Princess, bringing total to 454

COVID-19: More than 40 Americans on cruise ship in Japan have been infected with coronavirus - official

COVID-19: More than 40 Americans on cruise ship in Japan have been infected with coronavirus - official

A top National Institutes of Health official said Sunday that more than 40 Americans on a quarantined cruise ship in Japan have been infected with the deadly coronavirus. Politico reported.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said in an interview with host Margaret Brennan on CBS’ “Face the Nation” that infected Americans aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship would be treated at hospitals in Japan.

The CDC confirmed on Saturday that 400 Americans were set to be evacuated from the cruise ship and flown back to the United States where, Fauci said, they would be subjected to a 14-day quarantine on military bases in California and Texas.

"The reason for that is that the degree of transmissibility on that cruise ship is essentially akin to being in a hot spot," Fauci added. "A lot of transmissibility on that cruise ship."

Fauci stated said that if passengers who have not yet shown any sign of the coronavirus start to develop symptoms while in the air, “they'll be segregated within the plane.”

The flight is due to depart from Japan later on Sunday.

The Diamond Princess has been quarantined in the Japanese port city of Yokohama since Feb. 3. At least 218 passengers, as of Saturday, have reportedly tested positive for the virus.

On Thursday that lawmakers, including Rep. Phil Roe (R-Tenn.), pressured the Trump administration for an evacuation after Roe received a firsthand account from his friend, a primary care doctor who was stranded on board.

The coronavirus, officially named COVID-19, has infected nearly 70,000 people worldwide, mostly in China. The death toll stands at more than 1,600.

Source
A top National Institutes of Health official said Sunday that more than 40 Americans on a quarantined cruise ship in Japan have been infected with the deadly coronavirus. Politico reported.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said in an interview with host Margaret Brennan on CBS’ “Face the Nation” that infected Americans aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship would be treated at hospitals in Japan.

The CDC confirmed on Saturday that 400 Americans were set to be evacuated from the cruise ship and flown back to the United States where, Fauci said, they would be subjected to a 14-day quarantine on military bases in California and Texas.

"The reason for that is that the degree of transmissibility on that cruise ship is essentially akin to being in a hot spot," Fauci added. "A lot of transmissibility on that cruise ship."

Fauci stated said that if passengers who have not yet shown any sign of the coronavirus start to develop symptoms while in the air, “they'll be segregated within the plane.”

The flight is due to depart from Japan later on Sunday.

The Diamond Princess has been quarantined in the Japanese port city of Yokohama since Feb. 3. At least 218 passengers, as of Saturday, have reportedly tested positive for the virus.

On Thursday that lawmakers, including Rep. Phil Roe (R-Tenn.), pressured the Trump administration for an evacuation after Roe received a firsthand account from his friend, a primary care doctor who was stranded on board.

The coronavirus, officially named COVID-19, has infected nearly 70,000 people worldwide, mostly in China. The death toll stands at more than 1,600.

Source

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