Tokyo, 9 February, /AJMEDIA/
U.S. trade deficit in 2021 hits record $859 billion
WASHINGTON – The U.S. trade deficit in goods and services in 2021 marked the highest on record, with the trade gap widening 27 percent from the previous year to $859.13 billion, government data showed Tuesday.
Exports increased 18.5 percent to $2.53 trillion on the back of recovery from the economic downturn triggered by the coronavirus pandemic. But imports also grew 20.5 percent to a record-high $3.39 trillion.
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Philippines kicks off campaign for May 9 presidential election
MANILA – Campaigning for the May 9 Philippine presidential election kicked off Tuesday with candidates competing to succeed President Rodrigo Duterte, who has yet to officially endorse any hopeful up to this point.
Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the 64-year-old son and namesake of the late dictator, is leading in opinion polls in a strong alliance with Sara Duterte-Carpio, daughter of Duterte, as a candidate for vice president, a separately elected post.
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Nissan to end development of gasoline engines for European market
TOKYO – Nissan Motor Co. said Tuesday it will end the development of gasoline engines for the European market in consideration of stricter emissions standards as the auto industry rapidly shifts toward electrified vehicles.
Nissan Chief Operating Officer Ashwani Gupta said the Japanese automaker reached the decision as it will likely be cheaper for European consumers to buy electrified vehicles under the tougher regulations due to take effect in 2025.
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Olympics: Japan’s women edge Czechs to top ice hockey Group B
BEIJING – Japan progressed to the women’s ice hockey quarterfinals as Group B winner on Tuesday at the Beijing Olympics, beating the Czech Republic 3-2 after a penalty-shot shootout.
Haruka Toko scored both goals for Japan during power plays in regular time but the Czechs twice tied it at Wukesong Sports Centre. Both teams were already through but desperate for a win, with a more favorable draw in the last eight going to the group winner.
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Tokyo, others ask to extend COVID quasi-emergency as Omicron rages
TOKYO – Tokyo and 12 other prefectures currently under a COVID-19 quasi-state of emergency have requested an extension to the measure set to end this weekend, the prefectural governments said Tuesday.
Japan has been struggling to stem a new wave of infections spurred by the highly transmissible Omicron variant of the virus.
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Princess hospitalized in 1st COVID case for Japan imperial family
TOKYO – The Japanese imperial family confirmed its first case of coronavirus infection Tuesday, with a 38-year-old princess hospitalized.
Princess Yoko, the younger daughter of the late Prince Tomohito of Mikasa, a cousin of former Emperor Akihito, complained of a sore throat Monday and tested positive for the virus on Tuesday, the Imperial Household Agency said. She was admitted to a hospital inside the Imperial Palace.
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Biden’s visit to Japan eyed in latter half of May: source
TOKYO – The U.S. government has proposed the latter half of May as the timing for President Joe Biden’s visit to Japan to attend the “Quad” summit that will also involve the leaders of Australia and India, according to a diplomatic source.
Arrangements have been under way for Biden’s first visit to Japan since becoming president in 2021. Last month, he signaled to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during a virtual meeting that he intends to travel to the Asian country in late spring for the Quad meeting.
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N. Korea marks founding of army amid tough stance on U.S.
BEIJING – North Korea marked on Tuesday the 74th anniversary of the founding of its army, as the nuclear-armed nation steps up its provocations against the United States amid a severe economic downturn triggered by the novel coronavirus pandemic and sanctions.
The anniversary comes with North Korea having fired projectiles seven times this year. It has also hinted at restarting nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests to counter the United States, while calling on Washington to drop its “hostile policy.”
