TOKYO – Japan’s quasi-emergency measures placed for Tokyo, Kyoto and Okinawa went into effect on Monday that will allow governors to order bars and restaurants to shutter by 8 p.m. and impose up to 200,000 yen in administrative fines on noncompliant establishments, among others.

TOKYO – The Japanese government on Monday began implementing pre-emergency measures in Osaka, Hyogo and Miyagi in response to the sharp resurgence of COVID-19 cases in the three prefectures.

MANILA – The Japanese government has pledged PHP190 million to strengthen UNICEF’s support to the Philippines’ COVID-19 vaccination efforts.

MANILA – The Philippines on Monday received the first tranche of one million doses of Sinovac vaccines out of the 25 million shots purchased by the national government from China.