Briefly

JAPAN

Tokyo Olympics to open on July 23, 2021

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which were postponed last week over novel coronavirus concerns, will be held from July 23 to Aug 8 next year, local media reported on Monday. Several officials from the Tokyo metropolitan government told public broadcaster NHK that the Tokyo Olympics will open on July 23, 2021, while the Paralympic Games will open on Aug 24 of the same year. Last week, the International Olympic Committee and Japanese organizers postponed the Olympics until 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Govt holds firm on emissions target

Japan has maintained its carbon emissions reduction target in an updated emissions plan submitted to the United Nations as part of an international process to address climate change. The government stuck to its 2030 target of cutting emissions by 26 percent from 2013 levels in submitting its Nationally Determined Contribution to the UN. The country "will pursue further efforts both in the medium-term and long-term, to reduce... emissions beyond this level," a statement from the government said on Monday. While Britain and much of Europe aim to cut carbon emissions to net zero by 2050, Japan is the only G7 nation still building coal-fired power plants, one of the main sources of climate-warming emissions.

UNITED STATES

Royal exiles on their own for security

US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the United States would not pay security costs for Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, appearing to confirm that the royal couple have moved to live in California. They reportedly flew by private jet from Canada to Los Angeles before the border between the two countries closed because of the deadly coronavirus outbreak. The couple, who had been living in Canada for several months, rocked the royal family earlier this year with their decision to no longer represent the British monarchy and to pursue a new, independent life.

POLAND

Presidential challenger urges vote boycott

The main Polish opposition candidate running for president has called for a boycott of the country's May election due to the coronavirus outbreak and completely suspended her campaign, adding to doubts about whether the vote will go ahead as planned. The ruling nationalist Law and Justice party has so far defied calls to postpone the May 10 election, infuriating the opposition by introducing postal voting rules less than six months before the vote in a move branded as unconstitutional by critics. "Let's boycott these elections. Poles stay home, your life is the most important thing," said Malgorzata Kidawa-Blonska, the presidential candidate of the center-right Civic Platform party.

Agencies - Xinhua