2022-03-16 / 最終更新日 : 2022-09-13 渡邊聡子 スポーツ

IOCの要請でロシア選手を除外【Russian athletes banned from competing after IOC appeal】

After the International Olympic Committee called on international sports federations to keep Russia out of events in response to the invasion of Ukraine, Russian teams and athletes in most major sports were banned from competitions under their country’s name or flag. Belarus was also singled out due to its participation in the Ukraine conflict. The Russian Deputy Prime Minister asserted that sports and politics should be separate, but much of the world appears united behind this new addition to the growing list of sanctions.
2022-03-09 / 最終更新日 : 2022-09-13 渡邊聡子 事件事故

プーチンがウクライナ侵攻を弁明【Putin gives muddled reasons for Ukraine invasion】

Russian President Vladimir Putin gave a speech after Russian troops advanced toward the capital of neighboring Ukraine, citing several reasons that made little sense. He made puzzling references to prevention of genocide and removal of Nazis from the country, and spoke of Russia and Ukraine as being “one nation.” Another major goal seems to be preventing Ukraine from joining NATO, which Putin views as an existential threat.
2022-03-02 / 最終更新日 : 2022-09-13 渡邊聡子 政治

経済的・政治的不安の中、日本が水際対策を緩和へ【Japan to relax border controls amid economic and political concerns】

Japan lags behind other countries in easing curbs on arrivals from overseas, and many politicians and business leaders say this amounts to a “seclusion policy” that is damaging the nation’s economy and international image. With Omicron variant infections appearing to have peaked, the government now plans to scale back restrictions, boosting the quota on daily arrivals from 3,500 to 5,000 and shortening quarantines from a week to three days.
2022-02-23 / 最終更新日 : 2022-09-13 渡邊聡子 事件事故

女性がテクノロジー駆使のカンニングで逮捕【Woman’s tech-assisted test cheating leads to arrests】

A 19-year-old woman and a system engineer who aided her were arrested after she allegedly cheated on a university entrance exam using a smartphone and the Skype app. The engineer forwarded stills from her video footage of test questions to a university student, who gave answers without being aware of the cheating. The accused woman said she hoped to enter a prestigious university but wasn’t confident in her ability to pass the test.
2022-02-16 / 最終更新日 : 2022-09-13 渡邊聡子 スポーツ

日本のスポンサー企業、五輪中は控えめな態度【Japanese sponsors keep a low profile during Olympics】

Several Japanese companies are sponsoring the Beijing Winter Games, including three – Toyota Motors, Bridgestone, and Panasonic – that are top-level sponsors known as Worldwide Olympic Partners. However, while the companies are supplying goods to venues and athletes, they are refraining from running Olympic-themed ads due to condemnation of China’s human rights practices, particularly in the U.S. and Europe.
2022-02-09 / 最終更新日 : 2022-09-13 渡邊聡子 科学技術

3Dプリント食が世界の食料需要を満たすのに役立つ可能性【3D printed food could help meet world’s food needs】

A Japanese company has announced plans to open a high-tech restaurant that not only collects data from sushi and replicates it with 3D printers, but also tailors meals to customers’ nutritional needs. If the technology catches on, it could “teleport” food to far-flung places, promote health, and reduce food waste and environmental impact. However, it is still quite costly, and the flavors are far from the real thing. 
2022-02-02 / 最終更新日 : 2022-09-13 渡邊聡子 政治

新駐日米国大使が長らく空席の職に着任【New US ambassador to Japan fills long-vacant post】

Rahm Emanuel, whose former positions include US Congressman, Obama White House Chief of Staff, and Chicago mayor, made his first visit to Japan as US ambassador. The post has been unoccupied for over two years. Known for his aggressive demeanor, Emanuel seems to be an appropriate choice as the US and Japan strengthen military and other ties amid China’s growing presence in the Asia-Pacific region.
2022-01-26 / 最終更新日 : 2022-09-13 渡邊聡子 ビジネス

ヤフージャパンが非常に柔軟な勤務方針を発表【Yahoo Japan announces highly flexible work policies】

Yahoo Japan is a rare Japanese company in that it embraces remote work and flexible schedules, and it is about to loosen its policies further. From April its employees, 90% of whom work remotely, will get more generous commuting allowances for when they need to come to the office –– even when that requires flying. The company’s goal is to diversify its workforce in terms of both location and lifestyle.
2022-01-19 / 最終更新日 : 2022-09-13 渡邊聡子 スポーツ

ジョコビッチが国外退去訴訟で勝訴、しかし全豪オープン出場は不透明【Djokovic wins on deportation but Australian Open participation uncertain】

Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic has been released from immigration detention in Australia, where he was held following the loss of his visa due to not being vaccinated against COVID-19. While the visa cancellation was overturned as legally invalid, whether he will play at the Australian Open remains up in the air, and the government may exercise powers that will keep him out of the country for three years.
2022-01-12 / 最終更新日 : 2022-09-13 渡邊聡子 政治

岸田首相と自民党が現金給付方針を変更【Kishida, LDP waffle on cash handout policy】

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and the Liberal Democratic Party have agreed to allow distribution of a one-time benefit to child-rearing households entirely in cash, after earlier insisting that half of it be put in the form of vouchers. While apparently caving in to opposition pressure, the ruling party maintains that its policy remains unchanged, and it still hopes to stimulate the economy through vouchers, which encourage people to make purchases.
2022-01-05 / 最終更新日 : 2022-09-13 渡邊聡子 歴史文化

作家ハラリ氏からの警鐘：パンデミックの対処法が極めて重要【A warning from author Harari : handling of pandemic crucial】

Speaking to a 2020 interview, historian and bestselling author Yuval Noah Harari warned of dire consequences if the COVID-19 pandemic is not contained, particularly in developing countries. He said the virus is a threat not only to public health but also to peace and stability, as it could undermine democracies and contribute to authoritarianism.
2021-12-16 / 最終更新日 : 2022-09-13 渡邊聡子 スポーツ

中国のテニス大会が権力乱用の訴えで中止に【China tennis tournaments halted over abuse allegation】

The Women’s Tennis Association has suspended tournaments in China, after one of the country’s top female players accused a former high-ranking politician of forcing her into a sexual relationship and she subsequently disappeared from public view for several weeks. Many national tennis federations have expressed support for the decision.