Japan to expand virus emergency ahead of Tokyo Olympics
TOKYO — Japan is set to further expand a coronavirus state of emergency, currently in Tokyo and five other prefectures, to nine areas as...
Turkish tourism video taken down after online outcry
ISTANBUL — A video promoting tourism in Turkey amid the pandemic has caused an uproar on social media for showing tourism employees wearing masks...
Petition with 350,000 signatures wants Tokyo Games canceled
TOKYO — An online petition with more than 350,000 signatures calling for the Tokyo Games to be canceled was submitted Friday to local organizers,...
Gucci marks 100 years with exhibit on Michele code-breaking
FLORENCE, Italy — Alessandro Michele has radically shifted Gucci codes and challenged fashion norms in his 6½ years as creative director of the brand...
Nepal’s ousted prime minister to head minority government
KATHMANDU, Nepal — Nepal’s ousted prime minister, who lost a vote of confidence in Parliament earlier this week, will stay in office as the...
EXPLAINER: Why Japan has been slow to roll out vaccinations
TOKYO — Japan's rollout of COVID-19 vaccines began belatedly in mid-February, months behind the United States and many other countries. Officials blamed a shortage...
Virus stifles Muslims’ Eid al-Fitr celebrations for 2nd year
JAKARTA, Indonesia — Muslims celebrated Eid al-Fitr in a subdued mood for a second year Thursday as the COVID-19 pandemic again forced mosque closings...
Wealthy nations once lauded as successes lag in vaccinations
WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Some wealthy nations that were most praised last year for controlling the coronavirus are now lagging far behind in getting...
On Eid, Xinjiang imams defend China against US criticism
BEIJING — Muslim leaders from the Xinjiang region rejected Western allegations that China is suppressing religious freedom, speaking at a reception Thursday for foreign...
China says Xiaomi removal from U.S. blacklist “beneficial”
HONG KONG — China’s commerce ministry on Thursday welcomed the removal of Xiaomi Corp. from a U.S. government blacklist, a day after the U.S....
