News Headlines - 18 September 2020

▽Bill Gates: 'Next big question' is how to distribute coronavirus vaccines

Bill Gates expressed confidence that a coronavirus vaccine will be available by 2021. But he remains concerned that doses won’t be made available to lower-income groups, particularly in less developed countries.
On a conference call, Gates told reporters that the “next big question” his foundation is thinking through is how to manufacture and distribute the vaccines to those most in need. “It shouldn’t just be the rich countries winning a bidding war,” he said. “Misallocating the vaccine would cause dramatic additional deaths.”
Wealthy countries, including the United States, Japan and the United Kingdom, have pre-ordered more than 2 billion doses of coronavirus vaccines, which could leave limited supplies in the coming year. But international efforts are underway to ensure that poorer countries still have access to the vaccine, spearheaded by groups such as the World Health Organization.

▽Facebook working on smart glasses with Ray-Ban, code-named Orion

Facebook has been working to develop augmented reality glasses out of its Facebook Reality Labs in Redmond, Washington, for the past couple of years, but struggles with the development of the project have led the company to seek help. Now, Facebook is hoping a partnership with Ray-Ban parent company Luxottica will get them completed and ready for consumers between 2023 and 2025, according to people familiar.
The glasses are internally codenamed Orion, and they are designed to replace smartphones, the people said. The glasses would allow users to take calls, show information to users in a small display and live-stream their vantage point to their social media friends and followers.

▽Police arrest former Japan Life chairman | NHK WORLD

Tokyo police have arrested the former chairman of a failed health equipment dealer on suspicion of fraudulent business practices. The company allegedly solicited clients by showing them an invitation to a state-funded party that bore the name of then Prime Minister Abe Shinzo.
Police suspect Yamaguchi Takayoshi, the 78-year-old former chairman of Japan Life, and 13 others associated with the company of fraud and other infractions.

▽AUM founder's 2nd daughter to receive his remains, Tokyo court rules

A Tokyo court ruled Thursday that the 39-year-old second daughter of executed AUM Shinrikyo cult founder Shoko Asahara can take possession of his cremated remains, sources familiar with the matter said, in the latest development in a long-running family row over his ashes.
Asahara's ashes have been stored in a detention house in the Japanese capital since he was hanged in July 2018 along with 12 other members of the doomsday cult for crimes including the 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway, which left 14 people dead and more than 6,000 others injured.
The decision made by the Tokyo Family Court is likely to exacerbate the rift within Asahara's family over who will gain possession of his ashes, with his fourth daughter, 31, planning to lodge an appeal with the Tokyo High Court.

▽Shiro Kishibe, Former Member of Band The Tigers, Dies - JIJI PRESS

Shiro Kishibe, a former member of "group sounds" band The Tigers, has died of acute heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy, it was learned Tuesday. He was 71... He joined his elder brother Ittoku in The Tigers in 1969 as a guitarist and tambourine player. He became an actor after the band disbanded, playing supporting roles in movies and TV dramas such as Nippon Television Network Corp.'s 1978 drama "Saiyuki."