The handouts of cloth masks across Japan as part of the government’s efforts to counter the virus pandemic started in Tokyo on Friday. However, the plan has been derided on social media as ineffective and insufficient.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declared a state of emergency on Tuesday in seven prefectures over a surge in coronavirus infections. But this is different from a stringent lockdown with fines and other penalties for non-compliance.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Friday that the government will provide 300,000 yen in cash to virus-hit households facing income drops as part of its emergency economic package.

Joe Biden became the overnight front-runner for the Democratic Presidential nomination by scoring sweeping victories on Super Tuesday. The contest is now a two-man race between the former vice president and Sen. Bernie Sanders.

The government’s abrupt request on Thursday for all schools to close over coronavirus concerns has caught people off-guard, sparking confusion across the country.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday denied allegations that his office covered part of the costs for a dinner party held on the eve of a state-funded cherry blossom-viewing event, a practice that would constitute a breach of the public offices election law.

The government decided on Friday to postpone the introduction of private-sector English tests as part of unified university entrance exams starting in fiscal 2020. The decision came after the education minister made a gaffe over students’ financial standing last month.

Japan’s consumption tax rate was raised to 10 percent from 8 percent on Tuesday as the government needs to cover ballooning social security costs. Consumers had rushed to buy luxury goods and daily necessities ahead of the hike.

Shinjiro Koizumi, a high-profile lawmaker touted as a future prime minister, assumed the post of environment minister in the latest Cabinet reshuffle. He grabbed headlines last month with a surprise announcement of his marriage to a well-known TV personality.

Japan’s upper house conducted renovation work last week to improve barrier-free access for two severely-disabled lawmakers. They won seats in the recent election as members of a new political party established by actor-turned-politician Taro Yamamoto.

Brexit hardliner Boris Johnson became Britain’s Prime Minister on Wednesday after winning the Conservative leadership race. He is an unconventional populist, who is often compared to US President Donald Trump.

Japan on Thursday tightened curbs on technology exports to South Korea amid a growing dispute over wartime forced labor. In response, Seoul said it plans to take countermeasures, including filing a complaint with the World Trade Organization.