JAPAN WELCOMES BRITAIN’S PLAN TO DISPATCH AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER STRIKE GROUP

Highlights –

• Japan welcomes Britain’s plan to dispatch an aircraft carrier strike group.
• Japan Defense Minister had a video conference call with British counterpart.
• The aircraft carrier strike group will be dispatched in the we...

S. KOREAN PM WARNED OF STRONG MEASURES THAT INTERFERE GOVT.’S ANTIVIRUS MEASURES

Highlights –

• S. Korean PM warned of strong measures that interfere govt.’s antivirus measures.
• A church facility in Sangju, 270 kilometers southeast of Seoul, has emerged as a new hotbed of infections.
• More than 3,000 people are...

JAPAN’S CONSUMER SPENDING IS EXPECTED TO FALL BY $19.3 BILLION

Highlights –

• Japan’s consumer spending is expected to fall by $19.3 billion.
• The loss would correspond to 0.40 percent of Japan's annual GDP in nominal terms.
• Japan's government has imposed a state of emergency in 11 pre...

JAPAN GOVT. SUSPENDS ENTRY OF ALL NONRESIDENT FOREIGN NATIONALS

Highlights –

• Japan govt. suspends entry of all non-resident foreign nationals.
• The measure has been taken in an effort to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.
• Japanese and resident foreigners will require signing a pledge upon ar...

S. KOREA REPORTS THE LARGEST JOB LOSS IN DECEMBER 2020 DUE TO PANDEMIC

Highlights –

• S. Korea reports the largest job loss in December 2020 due to pandemic.
• In December 2020, the jobless rate rose 0.7 percentage point on-year to 4.1 percent.
• The unemployment rate for young adults came to 8.1 percent in De...

S. KOREA TO PROVIDE $27.4 BILLION IN GREEN AND DIGITAL SECTOR EXPORTS

Highlights –

• S. Korea to provide $27.4 billion in green and digital sector exports.
• The country will provide low-interest loans to exporters in such fields through 2025.
• The country also plans to expand official development assistance...

CHINA’S COVID-19 CASES BREACH 100-MARK AHEAD OF WHO TEAM VISIT

• China's COVID-19 cases breached the 100-mark for the first time in recent months, ahead of Thursday's visit of the WHO team to Wuhan to investigate the nucleus of the coronavirus.
• The number of coronavirus cases in China jumped to 115 on Tuesday, the National Health Com...

7 ADDITIONAL PREFECTURES TO BE ADDED UNDER JAPAN’S STATE OF EMERGENCY ORDER

Highlights –

• 7 additional prefectures to be added under Japan’s state of emergency order.
• Tochigi, Gifu, Hyogo, Kyoto, Fukuoka, Osaka, and Aichi prefectures will be the newly added prefectures.
• Declaration of a state of emergenc...

JAPANESE VESSEL ASKED TO LEAVE S. KOREA’S EEZ BY THE COUNTRY’S FOREIGN MINISTRY

Highlights –

• Japanese vessel asked to leave S. Korea’s EEZ by the country’s Foreign Ministry.
• The South Korean Coast Guard made the request after spotting the Japanese vessel conducting research.
• The research by the Japane...

SEOUL CAFÉ AND GYM OWNERS FILE LAWSUITS AGAINST GOVT. OVER COVID-19

Highlights –

• Seoul café and gym owners file lawsuits against govt. over COVID-19.
• Around 230 gym owners filed a 5 million won lawsuit in Seoul Western District Court.
• South Korea has imposed Level 2.5 social distancing restrict...

JAPAN GOVT. TO GIVE CASH HANDOUTS TO SUPPORT SUPPLIERS OF RESTAURANTS

Highlights –

• Japan Govt. to give cash handouts to support suppliers of restaurants.
• The government plans to pay $3,800 to suppliers in Tokyo and its vicinity areas.
• The government is to pay 60,000 yen per day to restaurants and bars t...

JAPAN PM INFORMS THE RULING PARTY OF THE PLANS TO EXPAND THE STATE OF EMERGENCY

Highlights –

• Japan PM informs the ruling party of the plans to expand the state of emergency.
• Aichi and Gifu prefecture in central Japan seeks to be added to the state of an emergency measure.
• Suga is said to declare a state of emerge...

JAPAN’S CURRENT ACCOUNT SURPLUS IN NOVEMBER ROSE BY 29.0 PERCENT

Highlights –

• Japan’s current account surplus in November rose by 29.0 percent.
• The country’s current account balance registered a surplus of 1.88 trillion yen.
• Primary income marked a surplus of 1.72 trillion yen.
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MAHARASHTRA GOVT. REPORTS CULLING OF 8,000 BIRDS IN THE PARBHANI DISTRICT

Highlights –

• Maharashtra Govt. reports culling of 8,000 birds in the Parbhani district.
• Maharashtra confirmed bird flu outbreaks in Mumbai, Marathwada, and coastal Konkan belt.
• Around 800 hens were reported to die in Parbhani District...

KIRIN HOLDINGS CO. REPORTS RANKING ON TOP IN SALES OF BEER IN 2020

Highlights –

• Kirin Holdings Co. reports ranking on top in sales of Beer in 2020.
• The beer company overtook Asahi Group Holdings Ltd. in the number of sales.
• The Japanese government had reduced the country’s liquor tax on beer in...

JAPAN LIKELY TO DECLARE A STATE OF EMERGENCY IN OSAKA, KYOTO AND HYOGO PREFECTURE

Highlights –

• Japan likely to declare a state of emergency in Osaka, Kyoto, and Hyogo prefecture.
• The decision for the same will be made probably by this week.
• On Monday around 4,800 COVID-19 cases were reported in the country.
...

CHINA FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS CHINA-AFRICA FRIENDSHIP STRONG AND STABLE

Highlights –

• China Foreign Minister says China-Africa friendship strong and stable.
• Wang Yi concluded his visits to five African nations.
• The two sides both cherish the friendly tradition and are determined to carry it forward.
...

CHINA’S SMEs AND EER REPORTED BEING STABLE IN Q4 2020

Highlights –

• China’s SMEs and EER reported being stable in Q4 2020.
•  SMEs Development Index based on a survey was up 0.2 points in Q4.
• China’s real EER has climbed 3.79 percent to 126.13 from June to November 2020.

CHINA’S COMMUNIST PARTY ANNOUNCED ON BUILDING THE RULE OF LAW 2020-2025

Highlights –

• China’s communist party announced on building the rule of law 2020-2025.
• The rule of law lays out basic principles upholding the centralized and unified leadership of the CPC.
• The plan states the effective checks an...

JAPAN REPORTS 4 PEOPLE ARRIVING FROM BRAZIL INFECTED WITH NEW VARIANT OF COVID-19

Highlights –

• Japan reports 4 people arriving from Brazil infected with new variant of COVID-19.
• Japan PM to take a few days to decide whether to expand the state of emergency.
• Japan’s National Institute of Infectious Diseases di...