Orangutan domesticated

TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga defended on Friday (Dec 4) a travel subsidy campaign that some medical groups and experts say has fuelled a third wave of COVID-19 cases, and said he would finalise the size of an economic stimulus package next week. Opinion polls show Suga's approval ratings have dipped, with many people unhappy with his handling of the pandemic since he became prime minister in September, after his predecessor, Shinzo Abe, stepped down because of ill health . Giving his first news conference since a surge in coronavirus cases last month, Suga said the "Go To Travel" campaign to revive domestic tourism was designed to help small businesses in the hospitality sector get through tough times. "The government moved to promote the domestic travel campaign, seeing that they would not be able to continue their businesses as things were," Suga said. READ: Commentary: Japan has taken care of two COVID-19 waves so how bad can this third one be? But … [Read more...] about Japan’s Suga defends boost for domestic tourism amid COVID-19

REUTERS: The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Thursday that 41 domestic women's cricketers had signed full-time professional contracts following a recruitment process in eight of its regions. Several uncontracted women cricketers had been denied what was to be their only source of income earlier this year after the launch of The Hundred competition was postponed to 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The ECB had said in June it would pay 25 domestic players a regional retainer as an interim solution. It added on Thursday that 16 players had been added to the list and they had all progressed on to full-time terms. "The introduction of these 41 professionals, in addition to our 17 centrally contracted England women's players is the most significant step forward for the women's game in recent years," ECB women's cricket director Clare Connor said in a statement … [Read more...] about ECB says 41 domestic women’s cricketers have turned professional

New US President Joseph R. Biden was sworn in with his wife Jill Biden by his side, photo: AFP Last Wednesday many Americans breathed a sigh of relief as Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th US President without any further incident from those who believe the election was “stolen” from former President Donald Trump. Instead of attending the ceremony as is tradition, Trump and his family took one last trip on Air Force One to Florida, where he will be based until the former reality TV star decides whether to run for president again in 2024 – or perhaps even endorse a family member for the post. Alongside Biden, Kamala Harris was sworn in as vice-president, becoming the first woman in American history – as well as the first woman of African-American and South Asian descent – to take on the role. “Few people in our nation’s history have been more challenged or found a time more difficult than the time we’re in now,” Biden said in his inauguration speech. He vowed to dedicate … [Read more...] about Domestic strife dampens US foreign policy

BEIJING: China has powered up its first domestically developed nuclear reactor - the Hualong One - a significant step in Beijing's attempts to become less dependent on Western allies for energy security and critical technology. The reactor, which was connected to the national grid on Friday (Nov 27), can generate 10 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity each year and cut carbon emissions by 8.16 million tons, according to China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC). "This marks China breaking the monopoly of foreign nuclear power technology and officially entering the technology's first batch of advanced countries," CNNC said in a statement. Nuclear plants supplied less than 5 per cent of China's annual electricity needs in 2019, according to the National Energy Administration, but this share is expected to grow as Beijing attempts to become carbon neutral by 2060. Reducing its dependence on Western allies in critical high-tech sectors such as power generation is a key goal in … [Read more...] about China’s first domestically made nuclear reactor goes online

CEBU CITY—Amid criticisms, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia stood pat on her decision to ease restrictions for domestic tourists who want to visit the province. In an interview, Garcia said she always made sure that her orders would not violate the guidelines of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). “Because the IATF guidelines recognize the fact that local governments have local autonomy and, therefore, local governments may issue reasonable regulations,” she added during the reopening of the Bamboo Forest attraction in the northern Medellin town in Cebu on Thursday. Joke only Interior Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III recently said Garcia might be punished if she proceeds with her plan to allow domestic tourists in Cebu even without a swab test. Densing eventually backpedaled, saying he was “misquoted” by the media. “I was just joking. I was asked a speculative … [Read more...] about Cebu governor firm: No swab tests for domestic tourists