TOKYO -- Tokyo 2020 Olympics chief Yoshiro Mori is expected to resign on Friday over sexist comments he made early this month, with the mayor of the Olympic village, Saburo Kawabuchi, saying Mori had asked him to take over. Kawabuchi said he was in tears before a meeting where he accepted Mori’s request on Thursday. “Mr. Mori was straightforward saying ‘I want you to take over now this happened’,” Kawabuchi, 84, told reporters late on Thursday. “I thought how hard it must be for him and I couldn’t stop crying,” said Kawabuchi. The 83-year-old Mori, a former Japanese prime minister, sparked a global outcry with sexist comments that women talk too much, which he made during an Olympic committee meeting. Mori has apologised for his comments but has so far not resigned despite growing calls for him to step down. His resignation less than six months before the Summer Olympics are scheduled to begin are likely to raise new doubts over the viability of holding the postponed Games this year. Games officials are already struggling with how to hold a safe Olympics, with tens of thousands of athletes and possibly spectators, during the coronavirus pandemic. Kawabuchi, who has represented Japan in football at the 1964 Olympics and is a former Japan Football Association president, said he wants Mori to play a consulting role in the Games to help make the event a success. The choice of Kawabuchi prompted questions on social media about whether there was no better alternative than an older, male figure. Later on Friday, the Tokyo Olympics organising committee, which has not officially commented on Mori’s resignation, plans to hold a meeting of its council and executive board, followed by a press conference. Mori will explain his position at Friday’s meeting, Japanese Olympics Minister Seiko Hashimoto told parliament, referring to a phone call with Mori. Hashimoto said the government would continue to work with other parties including the International …
Seiko marinemaster 300m
Japan Olympics Minister Hashimoto to accept role as head of Tokyo 2020: Kyodo
TOKYO -- Japanese Olympics Minister Seiko Hashimoto intends to accept the job of head of Tokyo 2020, the organising committee for the games in Japan, Kyodo news agency said on Thursday, replacing Yoshiro Mori, who resigned after making sexist remarks. Mori resigned as president of the committee last week after saying women talk too much, a fresh blow to the Olympic Games, already marred by an unprecedented delay of a year due to the coronavirus pandemic, and strong public opposition. A selection committee began meeting on Tuesday to choose Mori’s successor, with criteria that included a deep understanding of gender equality and diversity, and the ability to attain those values during the Games, organisers have said. Born days before Japan hosted the 1964 summer Games, Hashimoto took part in four Winter Olympics as a speed skater and three Summer Olympics as a cyclist. A lawmaker in Japan’s ruling party, Hashimoto, 56, has served as the Olympics minister, doubling as minister for women’s empowerment, since 2019. Hashimoto told reporters late on Wednesday she had nothing to say. Hashimoto may be replaced as Olympics minister by Tamayo Marukawa, 50, a former television announcer who was elected to the upper house of parliament as a member of the ruling party in 2007 and previously served as Olympics minister for about a year, the Mainichi daily said. Mori, 83 and a former prime minister, resigned last Friday after causing an outcry by saying during an Olympic committee meeting that women talk too much. He initially defied calls to step down. The International Olympic Committee said at the time it was as dedicated as ever to holding the Games and would work hand-in-hand with Mori’s successor. The Games are set to begin on July 23 despite repeated opinion polls showing that most citizens are opposed to holding them this year due to the pandemic. …
[Read more...] about Japan Olympics Minister Hashimoto to accept role as head of Tokyo 2020: Kyodo
Coal companies report rises in revenues but declining profits
Mong Duong Coal (MDC) achieved profit of VND79 billion in 2010, but by the end of 2020, this enterprise only reported profit of VND27.8 billion. — Photo monduongcoal.vn As mining activities are seasonal and affected by the weather, revenue and profit of coal mining businesses have fluctuated continuously over the past 10 years. Vinacomin - Northern Coal Trading Joint Stock Company (TMB) saw an average growth rate of 9 per cent in revenue every year during the 2010-2020 period. Vinacomin - Coal Import Export Joint Stock Company (CLM) has reported a 17 per cent rise in revenue during the past 10 years, from VND1.6 trillion (US$69.4 million) to VND7.5 trillion. Ha Lam Coal (HLC), Vang Danh Coal (TVD), Ha Tu Coal (THT) and Mong Duong Coal (MDC) witnessed the same average revenue growth in the 2010-2020 period of 6-7 per cent. Low profits Despite earning trillions of dong in revenue, coal companies only achieved tens of billions of dong a year in profit, with some even suffering losses. Compared to 2010, the profits of coal companies were almost unchanged. Mong Duong Coal (MDC) had a profit of VND79 billion in 2010 – the highest in the group mentioned above. But by the end of 2020, this enterprise only reported VND27.8 billion in profit. Coc Sau Coal (TC6) witnessed profit fall from VND67 billion in 2010 to only VND5.6 billion in 2020, the lowest level among the group, although its yearly average revenue is much higher than many other businesses in the industry. The merger between Cao Son Coal (TCS) and Tay Nam Da Mai Coal (TND) also did not help Cao Son Coal improve its profit in 2020, hovering at more than VND54 billion. Viet Bac Mining (MVB), which started the equitisation process in 2015, made a breakthrough in profit growth with VND55 billion in 2015, soaring to VND270 billion in 2020, a jump of 37 per cent. Businesses in the coal mining industry have to confront specific risks such as the reserve of open-pit mines gradually drying up. …
[Read more...] about Coal companies report rises in revenues but declining profits
