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JAPAN

JAPAN
Feb 8, 2019
Japan's opposition parties lay into ministry officials for extensive role in wage scandal probe
Lawmakers question the neutrality of the government's special “independent” probe into the wage data scandal after learning that bureaucrats, not outside experts, interviewed 25 of the 37 officials involved.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Feb 8, 2019
Mirror test in Japanese study suggests self-awareness in fish, raising questions about animal intelligence
Small tropical reef fish were able to recognize themselves in a mirror, scientists said Thursday, in a finding that raises provocative questions about assessing self-awareness and cognitive abilities in animals.
JAPAN
Feb 8, 2019
Majority of women to buy Valentine's chocolates for themselves, averaging ¥4,200, Japan survey shows
Over 60 percent of women who plan to buy chocolates for Valentine's Day are considering treating themselves and buying chocolates for their own enjoyment, a survey by Matsuya Co.'s Ginza department store in Tokyo has shown.
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 8, 2019
LDP to propose allowing lawmakers to vote online during maternity-related absences
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party plans to propose allowing House of Representatives members to vote online if they are absent due to pregnancy or childbirth, LDP officials said Thursday.

ASIA PACIFIC

Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Feb 8, 2019
Princess vs. coup leader in Thai poll as king's sister declared PM candidate for Thaksin's party in shock move
Thailand's royalty made an unprecedented move into politics Friday when the sister of King Maha Vajiralongkorn was declared a prime ministerial candidate in a March 24 general election, registration papers showed.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS
Feb 8, 2019
North Korea could emulate Vietnam-style reforms if Kim Jong Un chooses to follow Hanoi
Nestled in a leafy park between a rusting Soviet fighter jet and the old East German Embassy, a lonely statue of Lenin stands in the center of Hanoi as a symbol of the Russian revolutionary's inspiration to communist-ruled Vietnam.
Japan Times
Startup's 'water from air' project aims to turn back Thailand's tide of plastic
Staying at a hotel on the Thai island of Koh Samui in 2015, Meghan Kerrigan noticed the four bottles of water she was given every day were clogging her trash can with plastic. Outside her door, Chaweng Beach was smothered in rubbish.
ASIA PACIFIC
Feb 8, 2019
MPs told to reset passwords as Australia investigates attempted hack of national parliament
Australian authorities are investigating an attempt to hack into the national parliament's computer network, two senior lawmakers said Friday, but there is no evidence yet that any data has been accessed or stolen.

WORLD

WORLD / Crime & Legal
Feb 8, 2019
Arizona health care facility to shut down after disabled woman's rape that resulted in birth
An Arizona long-term health care facility will shut down after a severely disabled patient was raped, a crime that only came to light after she gave birth.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Feb 8, 2019
Longest-serving member of U.S. Congress, gruff Michigan Democrat John Dingell, dead at 92
John Dingell, a gruff Michigan Democrat who entered the U.S. House of Representatives in 1955 to finish his late father's term and became a legislative heavyweight and longest-serving member of Congress, died on Thursday. He was 92.
WORLD / Society
Feb 8, 2019
U.S. Supreme Court blocks restrictive Louisiana abortion law while litigation continues
A divided U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday stopped a Louisiana law imposing strict regulations on abortion clinics from going into effect in its first major test on abortion since the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy last summer.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Feb 8, 2019
Virginia Democrats hunker down amid blackface and sex assault scandals involving top trio
Virginia's highest-ranking Republican said on Thursday that he had never worn blackface, as the state's Democratic governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general grappled with career-threatening race or sexual assault scandals.

BUSINESS

Japan Times
BUSINESS / Markets
Feb 8, 2019
Dovish Bank of England has economists scaling back on hike views
The Bank of England's pessimistic view of the U.K. has left economists scrambling to rewrite their expectations for future action.
BUSINESS / Economy
Feb 8, 2019
Kansai execs have big dreams of transport projects ahead of G20, Osaka Expo and possible casino
With the 2025 World Expo secured for Yumeshima district in Osaka Bay and growing confidence the man-made island will also host one of Japan's first casino resorts, Kansai's business leaders are stepping up efforts to win local approval and central government funding for major transportation infrastructure...
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Feb 8, 2019
Africa sees nuclear power as answer to continent-wide electrification goal
In a damp office at Addis Ababa University, doctoral student Hailu Geremew fantasizes about working on the nuclear reactor his country is now pondering building.
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Feb 8, 2019
Examining the high price of Japan's water systems
When we were negotiating for the purchase of a piece of land, the realtor told us that the lot we were interested in had no access to public waterworks, which meant we would have to dig a well. At first, this aspect seemed like a demerit, since hiring a company to dig the well would cost more than ¥400,000...
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Markets
Feb 8, 2019
Record $135 billion loss by Japan's pension fund shows shifting from bonds to stocks has a cost
A record quarterly loss at the world's largest pension fund is prompting a debate on whether its shift to stocks from bonds was excessive.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Feb 8, 2019
Booming Edinburgh will be first U.K. city to introduce tourist tax of £2 per room
Scotland's capital, Edinburgh, is to become the first British city to introduce a tourist tax to try to better manage the impact of swelling visitor numbers and booming hotel occupancy, its council said on Thursday.

Opinion

EDITORIALS
Feb 8, 2019
U.S. and South Korea strike a deal on troops
Japan must be ready for U.S. demands to increase host-nation support when Tokyo commences its own negotiations with Washington next year.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Feb 8, 2019
Setsubun: Killing two birds with one bean
Changing food consumption patterns takes time, and weighing the significance of Setsubun can trigger the first step forward.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 8, 2019
The best diet for the planet isn't the best for humans
If you listened to Mother Earth, you'd probably eat more corn and soy than nutritionists suggest.

Sports

Japan Times
SOCCER
Feb 8, 2019
Fire at Flamengo training center in Rio kills 10
A fire at the training center of soccer club Flamengo killed 10 people and injured at least three others on Friday, firefighters said.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / MLB
Feb 8, 2019
Hall of Famer, pioneer and first African-American MLB manager, Frank Robinson dead at 83
Hall of Famer and trailblazing baseball legend Frank Robinson passed away Thursday at the age of 83.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Feb 8, 2019
Phil Mickelson hits every fairway for first time in 21 years
Phil Mickelson on Thursday did something he had not managed in more than two decades when he hit every fairway in the first round at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

CULTURE

CULTURE / Music
Feb 8, 2019
Rapper Chanmina is blurring the lines of genre and nationality
Everyone has moments where they have to choose between two paths that will lead to drastically different lives. For Mina Otomonai, it came during her second year of high school when she strongly considered moving to South Korea to pursue a career in music. Her friends convinced her to stay in Japan....
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Feb 8, 2019
Chemical Brothers, The Cure and Sia among first batch of acts for Fuji Rock Festival '19
Also appearing on the bill are Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke, James Blake, Mitski and Janelle Monae, with many more still to be announced.

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji