The new president of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee stopped short of saying there would be no foreign fans at this year’s games, but she certainly hinted at it Wednesday after online talks with IOC President Thomas Bach and others. The Japanese newspaper Mainichi reported Wednesday that the decision had …
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Myanmar security forces shoot and kill at least 34 pro-democracy demonstrators
Myanmar security forces dramatically escalated their crackdown on protests against last month’s coup, killing at least 34 protesters Wednesday in several cities, according to accounts on social media and local news reports compiled by a data analyst. That is the highest daily death toll since the Feb. 1 takeover, exceeding …
Read More »Maezawa wants to take you to the moon: Japanese billionaire seeks passengers for 2023 SpaceX trip
Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa on Wednesday launched a search for eight people to join him as the first private passengers on a trip around the moon with Elon Musk’s SpaceX. He had originally planned to invite artists for the week-long voyage slated for 2023. The rejigged project will “give more …
Read More »N.Y. governor Andrew Cuomo acknowledges he ‘made people uncomfortable’ but will not resign
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday he intends to remain in office in the face of sexual harassment allegations that have weakened his support and led to calls for his resignation, even among some fellow Democrats. The governor, speaking in his first public appearance since three women accused him …
Read More »U.S., EU announce sanctions on Russian officials in poisoning, jailing of Alexei Navalny
U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration announced sanctions on Russian officials and businesses Tuesday for a nearly fatal nerve-agent attack against opposition leader Alexei Navalny and his subsequent jailing. The U.S. co-ordinated the penalties with the European Union, which already had imposed sanctions against a small number of Russian officials in …
Read More »Texas ends pandemic mask mandate, despite warnings from medical experts
Texas is lifting its mask mandate, Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday, making it the largest U.S. state to end an order intended to prevent the spread of COVID-19 — which has killed more than 42,000 Texans. The Republican governor has faced sharp criticism from his party over the mandate, which …
Read More »Coronavirus: What’s happening in Canada and around the world on March 2
The latest: AstraZeneca doses set to arrive tomorrow — but questions remain about who gets them first. B.C.’s decision to delay 2nd doses based on ‘science and data’, top health official says. Last year was the worst year on record for Canada’s economy. Why Canada’s pandemic experience has been easier …
Read More »Foreign correspondents in China say harassment, intimidation by authorities ramping up
Unwanted attention of authorities and obstruction on the job is just part of the territory for many foreign correspondents working in China. Steven Lee Myers, Beijing bureau chief for the New York Times, wrote about one such experience when he was detained for 17 hours in Sichuan province, along with …
Read More »Former FC Barcelona officials detained after raid on soccer club, Spanish media report
Catalan police detained several people after raiding Barcelona’s stadium on Monday in a search and seize operation, adding to the club’s turmoil less than a week before it elects a new president. The operation was related to last year’s “Barcagate,” in which club officials were accused of launching a smear …
Read More »Defying deadly crackdown in Myanmar, crowds return to streets to protest coup
Police in Myanmar’s biggest city fired tear gas Monday at defiant crowds who returned to the streets to protest last month’s coup, despite reports that security forces had killed at least 18 people a day earlier. The protesters in Yangon were chased as they tried to gather at their usual …
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