News Headlines - 15 June 2020

▽Yamamoto, head of Reiwa party, enters Tokyo governor’s race : The Asahi Shimbun

Taro Yamamoto, head of the Reiwa Shinsengumi political party, announced his candidacy for the Tokyo governor’s election on June 15, drawing groans from opposition parties seeking to unseat the incumbent... Yamamoto also said he will address the issue of what to do with the postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, as well as promote his pet project, reducing the consumption tax rate, during the campaign.

▽48 new COVID-19 cases in Tokyo, topping 40 for 2nd straight day : The Asahi Shimbun

New cases of COVID-19 infection continued to rise in Tokyo with 48 confirmed reports on June 15, up from 47 the day before and fueling further criticism that authorities in the capital prematurely lifted an alert for continued vigilance.
Of the 48 new infections, 22 were linked to a night club and similar venues, including 20 at an establishment where a cluster infection was reported earlier, health officials said.
The metropolitan government issued a “Tokyo alert” June 2 for residents to remain vigilant against the pandemic following the lifting of the state of emergency for the capital on May 25.

▽Uniqlo rolls out reusable mask line as retailers adapt to virus | The Japan Times

Fast Retailing Co., operator of the clothing stores, will begin selling reusable face masks in Japan on Friday, the company said in a statement Monday. The masks, which will be sold in sets of three and retail for ￥990 ($9), aim for both performance and comfort, according to the company.
Uniqlo joins a constellation of businesses seeking to offer new products and services as the coronavirus pandemic upends lifestyles around the globe, changing how people work, dress and eat. Companies are racing to adapt to that change; Fast Retailing said the decision to make and sell masks was due to customer demand.

▽Fears for Philippines press freedom as court finds Maria Ressa guilty of libel - Reuters

Veteran Philippine journalist Maria Ressa, whose website has put President Rodrigo Duterte under tough scrutiny, was convicted of libel on Monday and faces up to six years in jail, in a ruling widely seen as a blow to media freedom.
Ressa, chief executive of Rappler (www.rappler.com) and a former CNN journalist, was charged with “cyber libel” over a 2012 article that linked a businessman to illegal activities.
After the verdict, Ressa vowed not be silenced and accused the judiciary of becoming complicit in a campaign to stifle press freedom in the Southeast Asian nation.

▽Syria's Idlib adopts Turkish lira in place of plummeting pound - France 24

Local authorities in northwest Syria are replacing the plummeting Syrian pound with the Turkish lira to shield their opposition-held region from economic collapse, an official said Monday.
The Salvation Government -- an administrative body linked to the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham jihadist group which dominates the Idlib region -- already started paying wages and salaries in Turkish lira last month, said Bassel Abdul Aziz, who heads its economy department.