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A subdued Olympic torch relay begins in Japan, EU leaders push back against bloc's plans to halt Covid vaccine exports and other pandemic-related news across the globe

A subdued, socially distanced Olympic torch relay begins in Japan

The much-awaited Olympic torch relay relay kicked off on Thursday in Fukushima, amid fierce debate over whether games should go on in the face of coronavirus and rising costs. More than three dozen people, including about 20 celebrities, have withdrawn from the relay so far. Japan is seeing the relay as triumphant moment, highliting the country's recovery from 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster that ravaged Fukushima and other parts of northeastern Japan. However, the celebrations were subdued, and were carried out under a number of restrictions.