News Headlines - 03 February 2021
▽PM Suga's son allegedly entertained officials | NHK WORLD
Four senior officials of Japan's communications ministry were reportedly treated to meals by the eldest son of Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide in a possible violation of the law.
"Bunshun Online," an online platform run by publisher Bungeishunju, reported that the officials were repeatedly entertained last year by the son, who works for a company involved in satellite broadcasting.
▽Lawmaker Anri Kawai resigns over 2019 vote-buying scandal
Upper house member Anri Kawai, who was found guilty last month of vote buying in the 2019 election, resigned as a lawmaker on Wednesday, dealing a further blow to Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's administration already suffering from falling approval ratings.
Kawai, who left the ruling Liberal Democratic Party due to the allegation, chose to quit before the two-week period allowed to file an appeal in her case ends Thursday. She would have been removed as a lawmaker automatically if and when the court ruling is finalized.
▽Tokyo Olympics Chief's Comments Draw Social Media Backlash - The New York Times
Organizers of the Tokyo Olympics, already facing rising costs and significant public opposition to this summer’s Games, faced a new furor on Wednesday after the president of the Tokyo organizing committee suggested women talk too much in meetings.
The president, Yoshiro Mori, stoked a social media backlash after news reports emerged of his comments demeaning women during an executive meeting of the Japanese Olympic Committee that was held online... On social media, amid the calls for Mr. Mori’s resignation, others expressed dismay not only with his comments but that no one in the meeting had objected in the moment.
▽WHO team probing COVID-19 visits Wuhan lab, meets 'Bat Woman' | Reuters
The experts spent about 3-1/2 hours at the heavily-guarded Wuhan Institute of Virology, which has been at the centre of some conspiracy theories that claim a laboratory leak caused the city’s first coronavirus outbreak at the end of 2019.
“Extremely important meeting today with staff at WIV including Dr Shi Zhengli. Frank, open discussion. Key questions asked & answered,” team member Peter Daszak said on Twitter.
Shi, a well-known virus hunter who has long focused on bat coronaviruses - earning her the nickname “Bat Woman” - was among the first last year to isolate the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
Iran has agreed to allow sailors of a South Korean vessel it seized last month to leave the country on humanitarian grounds... The legal case against the vessel and its captain continues though... Despite that claim, it was alleged that the South Korean-flagged MT Hankuk Chemi's seizure was an attempt by the Iran to increase its leverage over Seoul.
The arrest came ahead of negotiations over billions of dollars in Iranian assets frozen in South Korean banks, amid a US pressure campaign targeting Iran.
