News Headlines - 28 October 2020

▽Juvenile suicide rate in Japan hit record high in 2019 | The Japan Times

The number of people who died by suicide per population of 100,000 came to 3.1 for those under 20 in Japan in 2019, rising 0.3 percentage point from the previous year to hit a record high, a government white paper showed on Tuesday.
The suicide rate for all age groups, meanwhile, decreased for the 10th consecutive year to stand at 16.0, the lowest level on record dating back to 1978, according to the white paper approved at a Cabinet meeting on the day.
The total number of people who took their own lives in the country in 2019 dropped 671, or 3.2%, to a record low of 20,169, also down for the 10th straight year.
Still, the overall suicide rate stayed relatively high in Japan, compared with other advanced economies.

▽Japan expects record low number of newborn babies for 2020 | The Japan Times

The number of babies born in Japan in 2020 is expected to drop to around 845,000, hitting another record low, government sources said Saturday.
The figure is well below the 865,239 for 2019, currently the lowest since comparable data became available 120 years ago.
The government will release an initial estimate in December before finalizing the figure next year but it is likely to strike a record low for the fifth consecutive year.

▽‘Boycott French products’ launched over Macron’s Islam comments | Al Jazeera

Several Arab trade associations have announced a boycott of French products, in response to recent comments made by President Emmanuel Macron on Islam.
Earlier this month, Macron pledged to fight “Islamist separatism”, which he said was threatening to take control in some Muslim communities around France.
He also described Islam as a religion “in crisis” worldwide and said the government would present a bill in December to strengthen a 1905 law that officially separated church and state in France.
His comments, in addition to his backing of satirical outlets publishing caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad, has led to a social media campaign calling for the boycott of French products from supermarkets in Arab countries and Turkey.

▽Libya’s Two Main Factions Agree to a Cease-Fire - The New York Times

Libya’s two main warring factions agreed to a cease-fire on Friday, raising hopes for an end to years of bloody turmoil that have drawn in military forces from Russia, Turkey and other regional powers.
The two sides signed the agreement at the United Nations in Geneva at the end of a weeklong meeting of delegates from the internationally recognized Government of National Accord, which is based in the capital Tripoli, and the self-styled Libyan National Army led by Khalifa Hifter and based in the country’s east.
The two sides agreed to a complete, countrywide and permanent agreement with immediate effect, said Stephanie Williams, the United Nations acting special envoy who was chairwoman of the most recent talks.

▽'Bohemian Rhapsody' Voted UK's Favourite Song - QueenOnline.com

A poll completed by 2,000 Brits to mark the launch of the new Sony Walkman player found Queen's 1975 No.1 hit single, 'Bohemian Rhapsody' to be the nation's favourite song by 43%, followed closely behind in second place by their 1978 hit 'Don't Stop Me Now'.
Britain's Top 25 Songs Of All Time Are...(according to the Sony Walkman research.)