Category: NYTimes

Johnny & Associates, one of Japan’s most influential entertainment production companies, has issued an apology over sexual assault claims leveled against its founder, Johnny Kitagawa. The company’s chief executive, Julie Keiko Fujishima, apologized in a written and video statement, saying she had not been aware of the accusations against Mr. Kitagawa. The accusations had been made decades ago, but the agency had faced little public scrutiny even after his death in 2019. Last month, Japanese Brazilian singer Kauan Okamoto came forward with his account of being repeatedly sexually abused by Mr. Kitagawa. The company has rejected calls for an independent investigation, instead offering “consultation services” where victims can speak to counselors, lawyers and doctors. The apology has been met with mixed reactions, with some questioning how Ms. Fujishima was not aware of the accusations made against Mr. Kitagawa.

Cyclone Mocha left a trail of destruction in Myanmar and Bangladesh over the weekend, leaving thousands homeless and in need of aid. In Myanmar, the storm caused damage mostly in Rakhine State, Chin State and other areas in the west. In Bangladesh, the Rohingya refugee camps on the coast were hit particularly hard, with 3,000 shelters damaged and 5,300 refugees relocated to more secure locations. The storm also caused landslides, damaged homes, and left many without food and shelter. The Rohingya refugees, who fled persecution in Myanmar, now inhabit the world’s largest encampment and are in desperate need of help. International aid organizations are working to provide relief to those affected, but more help is needed.

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has been promised billions of dollars in new military aid during a four-country tour of European allies. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of Britain pledged to provide a major package of air-defense missiles and attack drones, while Germany promised a nearly $3 billion package of weapons. France and Italy also made less concrete promises of additional weapons.

The show of support reflects a recognition that support for Ukraine in the United States is likely to come under pressure as the presidential election looms. Europe’s reinforcements make it highly likely that Ukrainian troops will soon strike back at Russian forces, setting off what could be one of the bloodiest stretches of the 15-month war.

Britain’s missiles and drones could be used to attack Russian bases in Crimea, while Germany’s commitment included 30 additional Leopard tanks, 20 armored fighting vehicles, 16 air-defense systems, more than 200 drones and a slew of other arms and ammunition.

The European pledges also reflect a growing confidence that Ukraine’s troops could make decisive breakthroughs with its counteroffensive, and increase Mr. Zelensky’s leverage in any negotiation with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia.

On Monday, the United Nations held its first official commemoration of the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in the war surrounding the creation of Israel 75 years ago. The event, known as the Nakba, or “catastrophe”, was attended by the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, and representatives of the African Union and the Arab League. The United States and Britain did not attend.

The event was the latest arena for a decades-long narrative battle between Israelis and Palestinians. To Israelis, the creation of their state was a heroic moment for a long-persecuted people that deserves celebration. But to Palestinians, it was a moment of profound national trauma.

Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, condemned the event as “shameful” and called for countries to boycott it. Mr. Abbas called for the suspension of Israel’s membership from the United Nations, saying that the Jewish state never “fulfilled nor respected its obligations and commitments” as a prerequisite to its membership, and had violated resolutions.

The event was organized by the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, a body made up of 25 member states. It was approved by the U.N. General Assembly in November and will continue on Monday evening with another event at the General Assembly hall.

Separately from the U.N. event, thousands of Palestinians across Gaza, Israel and the West Bank held rallies and protests to commemorate the Nakba. The International Commission to Support Palestinians’ Rights, a rights group based in Gaza, called it “a unique and unprecedented step” and said that it should be “translated into enabling the Palestinian people to exercise their right to independence and return.”

Yevgeny V. Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner private military group, has denied a report from The Washington Post that he had offered to share Russian Army positions with Ukraine in exchange for a withdrawal of Kyiv’s forces from the area. In an audio statement published on Monday, Prigozhin called the report “speculation” and a “hoax”.

Dmitri S. Peskov, the spokesman for Russian President Vladimir V. Putin, said that the report “looks like another hoax”. Andriy Yusov, a spokesman for Ukraine’s military intelligence service, said that Ukraine should “discuss such things when it is necessary and in line with Ukraine’s national interests”.

The Wagner group has been a driving force behind Russia’s monthslong battle to take Bakhmut, which has cost thousands of lives on both sides and reduced much of the city to rubble. Despite openly feuding with top Russian officials, Mr. Prigozhin has been careful not to criticize President Vladimir V. Putin.

The latest news from Asia Pacific and around the world shows the importance of staying informed. From Turkey’s election heading to a runoff, to Thailand’s opposition parties agreeing to form a coalition, to Chinese workers facing threats abroad, it is clear that the world is ever-changing. To stay up to date on the latest news, subscribe to The New York Times and receive 10 gift articles to share with friends each month. With The New York Times, you can stay informed and share the news with those around you.

Turkey’s presidential election has resulted in a runoff between incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu. Despite a struggling economy, the disastrous earthquakes in February, and Turkey’s drift toward one-man rule, Erdogan came out with a lead in the first round of voting. Erdogan’s opponents pulled together in an unprecedented coalition of six parties that backed Kilicdaroglu, promising to fix the economy, restore civil liberties and build a more inclusive society. However, Erdogan used his power to tilt the competition in his favor, and his often polarizing rhetoric, as well as his promises to build new homes in the quake zone, likely helped him to maintain a lead. The runoff election will take place on May 28th, and the outcome will determine the future of Turkey’s democracy.

Ambassador Jane D. Hartley is no stranger to the world of diplomacy. With a background as a television executive and a well-connected Democratic fund-raiser, she has served as the American ambassador to Britain since 2017. Recently, her job has become the object of fascination due to the hit Netflix series “The Diplomat”.

The show follows the fictional Ambassador Kate Wyler, played by Keri Russell, as she navigates a Tom Clancy-grade geopolitical crisis. While the show has been praised for its accurate details, it also takes creative license with the role of an ambassador. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan have both called Hartley to discuss the show’s implausibilities.

Hartley is sympathetic to the creative license that Hollywood often takes, and is set to meet with Russell and the show’s creator, Debora Cahn, to discuss how “The Diplomat” stands up against real diplomacy.

In the meantime, Hartley is focusing on apprenticeship and training programs for young Britons, and is looking to revive a project she began in Paris. She is also dealing with the tensions generated by Northern Ireland, and is working to ensure the “special relationship” between the US and Britain remains closely aligned.

Mexico’s presidential jet, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, has been sold to Tajikistan for $92 million. The plane, which was ordered by former President Felipe Calderón and used by his successor, Enrique Peña Nieto, was described by current President Andrés Manuel López Obrador as an “insult to the people”. After years of trying to find a buyer, the jet was finally sold to Tajikistan and took off from Benito Juarez International Airport in Mexico City. The plane was designed for long-haul flights and was not practical for domestic flights in Mexico. The money from the sale will be used to build two hospitals, one in the state of Guerrero and another in Oaxaca. The plane has been refurbished and now has “Tajikistan” written on the side and a tail painted to look like the Tajik flag. President López Obrador has promised to use commercial airlines when he travels, and the sale of the jet is a step towards fulfilling his campaign promise to do away with excess.

Executions around the world rose to the highest number recorded in five years in 2022, according to an annual report by Amnesty International. At least 883 executions were recorded globally last year, a 53-percent increase over 579 deaths in 2021. Egypt, Iran and Saudi Arabia carried out 90 percent of the executions recorded, with Iran and Saudi Arabia executing people for non-lethal crimes in violation of international law. The rise in executions coincided with a crackdown on dissent in the authoritarian kingdom. Meanwhile, four countries abolished the death penalty for all crimes, and the United States executed 18 people, the fewest since 1991. The report serves as a stark reminder of the need for governments to move away from the death penalty and uphold human rights.