News Headlines - 24 April 2020

▽Pro-China Kiribati president loses majority over switch from Taiwan | The Guardian

China’s diplomatic ambitions in the Pacific suffered a setback on Wednesday when the party that switched recognition from Taiwan to China last year lost its majority in parliament over its handling of the move.
In the second round of parliamentary elections, the governing party and allies won 22 seats out of 45, dealing a blow to President Taneti Maamau, who previously enjoyed a comfortable majority of 31.
The rest of the seats were won by members or allies of two other parties: one of which has pledged to switch back to Taiwan, and another made up of MPs who left the governing party to create a new opposition party last fall over Maamau’s handling of the switch.

▽5 teens arrested for allegedly murdering, assaulting homeless man in central Japan - The Mainichi

Five 19-year-olds suspected of murdering and assaulting an elderly homeless man who was found collapsed on a street in the central Japan city of Gifu in late March were arrested on April 23, police said.

▽Osaka mayor draws criticism after saying women are slow shoppers - Reuters

In Osaka, Mayor Ichiro Matsui has been appealing to people to take steps to reduce the risk of virus infections, but his remarks over gender shopping behaviour stirred controversy.
“When a woman goes... it will take time,” Matsui said when asked by a male reporter about possibly reducing shoppers’ entry to supermarkets to lower the risk of coronavirus infections.
“If it was you, if you were told to get this or that, then you would go directly... and go home,” he said. “It’s also fine for men to go shopping while avoiding contact.”
Matsui, who also said married couples should avoid going shopping together, drew criticism on Japanese Twitter over his remarks, with users saying they were sexist.

▽Man waiting to be hospitalized for virus dies | NHK WORLD

A man has died in Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo, while waiting to be hospitalized for the coronavirus.
Prefectural officials say the company employee in his 50s had been recuperating at home because he had mild symptoms. He lived alone.
But he reportedly told a public health nurse over the phone on Monday that his condition had worsened and that he had a fever.
He died on Tuesday, when he was due to be hospitalized.

▽Actress Okae Kumiko dies from coronavirus | NHK WORLD

Another Japanese celebrity fell victim to the coronavirus on Thursday. Actress Okae Kumiko died of pneumonia caused by COVID-19 at a hospital in Tokyo. She was 63.
Okae was born in Tokyo and made her debut in a TV drama in 1975. She appeared in many dramas and variety shows, gaining popularity from a wide range of age groups.
Her agency said she developed a fever on April 3. She was hospitalized three days later as her condition deteriorated suddenly. A subsequent test confirmed she was infected with the coronavirus.