News Headlines - 22 July 2018

▽Turkey, Netherlands agree to normalize ties | Reuters

Turkey and the Netherlands have agreed to normalize ties, Turkey’s foreign ministry said on Friday, restoring relations that have been strained since a 2017 diplomatic row.

▽21 killed in Vietnam floods - CNN

Extreme weather is striking parts of Asia with deadly flash-flooding in Vietnam, a tropical storm prompting evacuations and disrupting travel in China and an ongoing heat wave in Japan.
In Vietnam, 21 people have died and more people are missing after Tropical Depression Son Tinh triggered flash floods and landslides, submerging villages in the northern provinces of Thanh Hoa and Yen Bai, state-run Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported Sunday... Meantime, Tropical Storm Ampil is bearing down on eastern China -- impacting the area from Shanghai to Jiangsu Province.
More than 190,000 people have been evacuated to "safer" places in Shanghai as Ampil makes landfall, bringing with it heavy rain and strong winds, Chinese state media Xinhua reported on Sunday.

▽Tokyo 2020 introduces Olympic, Paralympic Games mascots - CNN

Japan has unveiled the names of its mascots for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Blue and white checked character "MIraitowa" (pronounced miray-towa)-- combining the two Japanese words of "Mirai"(future) and "towa" (eternity) -- will appear at the Olympic Games.
The Paralympics' pink and white "Someity" (pronounced soh-may-tee) is named after the cherry blossom variety "Someiyoshino," with Games organizers saying the name echoes "so mighty" in English.

▽Neymar breaks his silence on diving criticism | Metro News

Neymar has responded to the criticism directed towards him with regards to diving and believes people ‘will never understand’.
The Brazilian was under scrutiny at the World Cup for his over-the-top reactions to tackles with suggestions he was diving and faking pain rather than actually being fouled.
However, he’s fired back at critics and tried to explain why he’s often seen on the floor and on the receiving end of many fouls.

▽Iniesta, Torres on losing sides in J-League debuts - The Mainichi

Former Spain internationals Andres Iniesta and Fernando Torres were each on the losing side Sunday in their anticipated J-League debuts.
Iniesta received a hero's welcome from Vissel Kobe fans at Noevir Stadium, but Shonan Bellmare spoiled the party by running away 3-0 winners.
Torres, meanwhile, delighted traveling Sagan Tosu fans at Best Amenity Stadium but could not stop a 1-0 loss to Vegalta Sendai.