News Headlines - 04 May 2020
▽Internal Chinese report warns Beijing faces Tiananmen-like global backlash over virus - Reuters
An internal Chinese report warns that Beijing faces a rising wave of hostility in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak that could tip relations with the United States into confrontation, people familiar with the paper told Reuters.
The report, presented early last month by the Ministry of State Security to top Beijing leaders including President Xi Jinping, concluded that global anti-China sentiment is at its highest since the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, the sources said.
As a result, Beijing faces a wave of anti-China sentiment led by the United States in the aftermath of the pandemic and needs to be prepared in a worst-case scenario for armed confrontation between the two global powers, according to people familiar with the report’s content, who declined to be identified given the sensitivity of the matter.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday evening justified extending the state of emergency nationwide until May 31 but vowed to gradually relax some restrictions to resuscitate the economy.
Abe, holding a news conference, showed a dose of cautious optimism that the number of coronavirus patients is on a downward slope as he claimed the emergency declaration has been effective and thanked the public for cooperating.
At the same time, he said the situation remains grim, pointing out that the number of patients in critical condition requiring a ventilator has tripled in the last month and nearly 10,000 patients are still undergoing treatment, including hospitalization.
▽Japan's traditional work culture takes precedence over physical distancing in Tokyo | CBC News
An online survey of 20,000 people by Japan's Persol Research Institute released March 23 found that only 13 per cent of Japanese employees were working from home, with almost 40 per cent reporting that the company "does not allow" teleworking. A further 41 per cent said the technology for working outside the office simply doesn't exist.
By comparison, Statistics Canada reported that almost 40 per cent of Canadians were working from home during the week of March 22.
While Japan may have a reputation for high-tech prowess - fast internet connections and robots that serve meals in restaurants or take care of seniors - many business practices are stuck in the last century.
Greta Thunberg has donated $100,000 in prize money to the United Nations children's fund to help its coronavirus support campaign.
The teenage environmental activist described the coronavirus pandemic as "a child-rights crisis" and compared its seriousness to climate change.
The money was originally given to Ms Thunberg by Danish charity Human Act as a prize for her work.
Ms Thunberg gave the money to UNICEF, while Human Act gave the children's fund $100,000 more.
▽Trudeau announces ban on 1,500 types of 'assault-style' firearms - effective immediately | CBC News
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today announced a ban on some 1,500 makes and models of military-grade "assault-style" weapons in Canada, effective immediately.
Starting today, licensed gun owners will no longer be allowed to sell, transport, import or use these sorts of weapons in this country... Trudeau said there will be a two-year amnesty period to allow people who already own these firearms to comply with the ban. Trudeau promised to pass legislation in the coming months to provide "fair compensation" to people who own these firearms.
