Japanese police step up cyberpatrols to counter growing amount on online info urging suicide

Police are stepping up cyberpatrols in cooperation with companies and nonprofit organizations to crack down on the increasing amount of information online that encourages people to kill themselves.

In 2017, the dismembered bodies of one man and eight women, aged between 15 and 26, were found in an apartment in Zama, Kanagawa Prefecture. A 27-year-old man, who was arrested and later confessed to the killings, used multiple Twitter accounts to contact people who had expressed suicidal wishes, offering to help them die.

The case prompted the National Police Agency to commission private monitoring companies in January 2018 to conduct cyberpatrols, telling them to report to the Internet Hotline Center when they discover worrisome phrases, such as “Let’s die together.” The IHC, when necessary, asks internet service providers and site operators to delete such information.

The IHC received 1,329 such reports in the first six months of 2018 and asked for the deletion of information in 1,255 of them, of which 842 were erased within 14 days of the requests.

In emergency cases where suicidal attempts are determined to be imminent, monitoring companies directly report to prefectural police departments. In cooperation with internet service providers, the police then find the people expressing such thoughts and try to prevent them from taking their own lives.

Of the 204 people who declared their intentions to die by suicide in 2017, 74 were saved after police either persuaded them not to do so or asked their families to keep watch on them, according to a government report.

Jiro Ito, a 34-year-old chief representative of OVA, a Tokyo-based nonprofit organization established to prevent suicide, is promoting a system that creates pop-up notices leading to a consultation website if people search the internet using phrases such as “I want to die” or “how to commit suicide.”

On the website, clinical psychotherapists and other experts listen to visitors and help them get treatment at hospitals or receive advice from local governments. When necessary, OVA staff write reports on problems on behalf of those people or accompany them to hospitals or local governments.

In fiscal 2018, 283 people received advice from OVA on a continuing basis. One of them was a woman in her 20s who shut herself off from society after failing to find a job. She made an internet search with the words “I want to die.”

As she showed signs of depression, OVA helped her find a psychosomatic medicine hospital and begin receiving treatment there. She eventually recovered and landed a full-time job, according to the group.

“As people who seek means of suicide on the internet are considered highly likely to attempt it, the elimination of suicide-inducing information is not enough,” said Hajime Sueki, associate professor of clinical psychology at Wako University, who serves as adviser to OVA.

“It is important to create environments that enable people with suicidal wishes to readily gain information on how and where they can get support,” Sueki said.

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Japanese education ministry official arrested over drug possession

A career bureaucrat in the education ministry was arrested Tuesday for allegedly possessing a stimulant drug and marijuana, drug regulatory authorities said.

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Mitsuhiro Fukuzawa, 44, assistant director to the counselor for the elementary and secondary education bureau of the ministry, has admitted to possessing a stimulant drug for personal use, in violation of the stimulant drug control law, according to the health ministry’s narcotics control unit.

Syringes were confiscated after the unit raided his home and office at the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry.

Earlier this year, a bureaucrat of the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry was arrested for allegedly attempting to smuggle a stimulant drug from the United States.

A senior education ministry official said the case could again damage the reputation of the ministry, which was rattled by a corruption scandal last year, with two senior officials being arrested on graft charges involving Tokyo Medical University.

Father arrested in Japan for using shock collar to discipline children

A 45-year-old man was arrested Wednesday for the alleged use of a shock collar to discipline his three children, police said, the latest in a series of child abuse cases that have prompted legislators to seek a ban on corporal punishment.

Takahiro Goto in the city of Kitakyushu told police he used a shock collar on his two daughters, aged 17 and 13, and 12-year-old son “when they didn’t follow the rules,” police said.

Police officials said the suspect ordered his children to place a shock collar, used to train pets, on their bodies and controlled it remotely.

The boy suffered a minor burn on his arm and there were no visible injuries on the girls, a police official said.

The case surfaced after the elder daughter told her vocational school teacher in February that she has been abused by her father via a shock collar, according to police. The school then reported the statement to a child consultation center and the center took the children under its protection.

A series of high-profile child abuse cases in recent years has shaken Japan, including the death last year of a 5-year-old girl, Yua Funato, whose father allegedly beat and starved her in the name of discipline.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said at the time her death was “soul crushing” and he promised steps to prevent more deaths.

Legislators in the Lower House on Tuesday unanimously approved a plan to ban corporal punishment of children by their parents, paving the way for passage of a revised law during the current session.

More than 50 countries — mostly in Europe — have laws prohibiting corporal punishment of children in the home, which some researchers say is an ineffective form of discipline.

Japan would be the third country in Asia to institute such a ban after Mongolia in 2016 and Nepal two years later.

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Sissoko: ‘I’m not scared of Liverpool or any team’

Midfielder Moussa Sissoko says Tottenham are up for the challenge the Champions League final holds against Liverpool on Saturday.

The France international says the spirit in the squad has helped them fight back numerous times this season, including their semi-final second-leg comeback from three goals down to beat Ajax.

In Monday’s pre-match press conference, he said: “The spirit is fantastic.

“Every time we were close to be out but we showed a lot of character to win the game.

“We know we can challenge against every team.”

Spurs lost 2-1 against Liverpool in their home Premier League clash back in September, and by the same scoreline in the reverse fixture two months ago.

But Sissoko remains confident ahead of the showpiece final, adding: “I am not scared of Liverpool or any team.

“We all need to challenge and we have to give our best and if we do it we can beat any team. In the past we have showed it.”

Meanwhile, Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino is currently enjoying his best spell in charge since taking up the position at White Hart Lane in May 2014.

Since then, the club’s new stadium has been completed and Christened on top of their successful run to the Champions League final this season.

He said: “I think this is my best period after five years.

“Today is five years of working here, I was signing a contract here, it is an amazing period.

“We have worked so hard the last three weeks, but we are excited.”

Pochettino is looking forward to “one of the biggest games in the world” ahead of the final in Madrid but he knows Spurs need to remain focused on themselves.

He added: “Along with the World Cup final, the final of the Champions League is one of the biggest games in the world.

“It is going to be a different game, we cannot prepare for a final of the Champions League on what happened a few months ago.

“The circumstances are completely different, the circumstances are the circumstances.

“It is going to be different, that is why our focus is on ourselves.”

Pochettino described Harry Kane’s fitness as a “very positive situation for him”.

The England captain has returned to full training with the group on the way back from an ankle problem.

He said: “Harry Kane, in the last week, Friday and Saturday, started to be involved in the group.

“It’s a very positive situation for him. We will wait and see how he is progressing in his problem.”

Pochettino was also positive that Harry Winks, Jan Vertonghen and Davinson Sanchez would be fit for Saturday’s clash with the Reds.

The Spurs boss added: “The four players started (training) on Friday and Saturday to be involved in the group, which is very positive to be available at the weekend and that is very good news for us.

“Tottenham deserve that we are all 100 per cent focused on the game.

“We can make history, we can provide our fans the best happiness in football.”

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Pochettino dismisses his terrible record v Klopp

Mauricio Pochettino says it would be a “massive mistake” to linger on his terrible record against Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

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The pair have been in opposing dug-outs on nine occasions but Pochettino has only triumphed once – in October 2017 when two goals from Harry Kane earned them a 4-1 win at White Hart Lane.

This season Liverpool have won both games 2-1 and go into Saturday’s Champions League final as clear favourites.

Liverpool’s points-per-game record in the Premier League puts them second across Europe’s top five leagues.

“It is going to be a completely different game,” insists Pochettino. “We cannot prepare for the Champions League final looking back at months ago. It’s a situation in a competition where we’ve never faced each other before.

“We’ve prepared ourselves to be ready. We know each other very well but we haven’t prepared thinking about the games at Wembley or Anfield. That would be a massive mistake in these different circumstances.

“This isn’t going to be Pochettino vs Klopp, or a tactical battle, it will be about the emotion.”

‘Man Utd suspicious over reported De Ligt interest’

Manchester United suspect that they are being used to ‘frame’ a Barcelona victory in the transfer market, according to the Manchester Evening News.

Quite why Barcelona would consider it a coup to beat United in the transfer market is not clear but the MEN seem certain that the Old Trafford club do not consider Ajax defender Matthijs De Ligt a possibility this summer.

The Dutchmman is expected to join Barcelona but has also been linked with a £12.3m-a-year contract at United.

“I have read the reports about Manchester United,” said De Ligt. “I have seen the salary I would get, too. Would you take it? People should take these reports with a grain of salt. The stories are funny though.

“Everyone has been talking about my future for a year now. One day I will go there, and the next day I will go somewhere else. I have made quite a tour through Europe haven’t I?”

The MEN claim that ‘United sources’ have told them ‘they do not expect to sign De Ligt amid reports in Spain they are the frontrunners to buy the coveted central defender. The suspicion among the United hierarchy is the story is being framed so Barcelona can eventually claim they beat United to De Ligt’s signature.’

United are in the market for a central defender but it seems that central defender will not be De Ligt.

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There is ‘not enough pressure’ to win at Arsenal – Cech

Petr Cech has criticised the mentality at Arsenal as he believes there isn’t enough pressure on players to succeed.

The former Chelsea goalkeeper has only won an FA Cup with the Gunners after picking up four Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups, a Champions League and a Europa League during his time at Stamford Bridge.

Cech will have an opportunity to add to that on Wednesday when Arsenal face Chelsea in the Europa League final.

“It will sound strange but I think generally at Arsenal there is not enough pressure,” Cech told Standard Sport.

“Arsene is a real gentleman. As much as he hates losing, he stays a gentleman. If you lose, you win, you lose, you win, he kind of carries on. That’s something I’ve never experienced before.

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“At Chelsea, at the times when we drew, it felt like a funeral in the dressing room. It was so bad.

“If we drew against a big team at home, it was like, ‘Oh no, it is impossible we didn’t win at home’.

“It came from everywhere: the players, the coach. Since the start when I was there, the pressure was there every game.”

 

Abraham believes he is ready to lead Chelsea’s attack

Tammy Abraham believes he is ready to lead the Chelsea attack next season after his successful loan spell at Aston Villa.

The 21-year-old scored 26 goals on loan at Aston Villa this season, helping them reach the play-off final where they clinched promotion against Derby at Wembley.

Villa would like to keep hold of the England Under-21 striker but Chelsea may also need his services due to their transfer ban, and Abraham insists he is up to the job.

“The aim is to be at the highest level and playing the best football, and if Chelsea say they need me there I will put 100 per cent in,” he said.

“Every player wants to start. Obviously if it is at Chelsea, a team like Chelsea is always difficult because they have got world-class players.

“It is always going to be difficult to bring in youngsters and bring in people like myself – it is a big role.

“But for me, it is about believing in myself and just keep doing what I do.”

Abraham looks certain to be playing Premier League football next season, either with his parent club or possibly with another loan stint at Villa.

He added: “First of all I just need to enjoy myself with the boys before I think about the future.

“I have got the Euro Under-21s coming up as well so I have to focus on that. You can never say never. You never know what could happen.

“I have developed a lot as a player. Coming here it was always tough, there was always a lot of pressure.

“People were questioning if I could score the same amount of goals as I did last time. I just believed in myself.

“I give credit to the boys, they created a lot of chances for me this year. I’ve scored a lot of goals and we’ve got promoted.”

 

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Kane: Ankle issue down to bad luck not joint weakness

Tottenham striker Harry Kane insists his string of ankle injuries have been down to bad luck and not because a weakness in his joint.

Kane has declared himself fit for the Champions League final on Saturday after a fifth significant ligament problem in three years.

The latest came in the quarter-final first leg against Manchester City – which would have ended his campaign had Spurs not made the final – and saw leading ankle specialists recommend surgery to strengthen his joint.

The England captain believes the injuries he has suffered would have happened to anyone and he is not more susceptible because of his previous history.

“For me, the most risk of it is when you’re shooting and your landing foot when you’re coming down from a shot, defenders are sliding in or keepers are coming out so that’s when you’re most susceptible to it,” Kane said.

“Talking to the physios about it, the last injury especially with the way I slipped when the tackle came in, if that happens to any other player, most are getting injured anyway.”

“It’s not like I’m just running and rolling. In that case I’d feel like I’d need to do something about it.

“So far, every time I’ve come back I’ve felt strong. Hopefully I can be a bit more lucky and it won’t happen again.”

Kane has an impressive recovery rate, always returning ahead of schedule, but his rehabilitation this time has been helped by the three-week gap between the end of the Premier League season and Saturday’s showpiece in Madrid.

He insists that this has not been a rush job and he is fully fit for the Champions League final and the two games for England in the Nations League next week.

“This one, we’ve had a bit more time,” he added.

“From when it happened, we weren’t in the Champions League final at the time, but it was, ‘OK, let’s prepare for if we do get to the Champions League’.

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“The end of the (Premier League) season was going to be too soon to come back and we knew there was a three-week gap after that to give it more time.

“We didn’t do things as quick, took a bit of extra time before we went outside, just to let it heal a bit more, and since then most of things have been the same.

“The ankle feels good now, it feels strong. The tackle that made it get injured again probably would have injured it even if it was 100 per cent.

“For me, it’s three games, the game on Saturday and then the England games, I’m ready and fully fit for.

“Again in the off season to really kind of work on rehab and strengthen it as much as possible.

“Like anything in football, an injury, sometimes you can be unlucky and if I get another tackle like I did the other day I’ll probably get injured again. But that’s just part of football.

“It’s about doing the best I can and what will be will be.”

 

Bielsa to remain as Leeds boss for another season

Leeds have announced manager Marcelo Bielsa will remain at the club for another season.

Bielsa, 63, who guided Leeds to the play-offs in his first season, has agreed to stay at Elland Road after the Sky Bet Championship club activated their option to extend his deal for another 12 months.

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“Leeds are delighted to confirm that chairman Andrea Radrizzani has officially exercised the option to extend Marcelo Bielsa’s contract for a second season,” read a statement on Leeds’ official website.

“Marcelo has met with the board of directors on a number of occasions over the past few days and has confirmed his intention to continue on in his role of head coach.”

Leeds fans had feared the former Chile and Argentina boss could leave the club following their defeat to Derby in the play-off semi-finals.

Bielsa said he would consider an offer to extend his stay immediately after his side’s 4-3 aggregate defeat, but gave no guarantees over his future.

Leeds added: “Bielsa penned a two-year deal with the Whites in June 2018 with the club maintaining the right to extend or terminate the deal at the end of year one.

“During Marcelo’s debut season in English football, the team amassed a total of 83 points – the highest points total since promotion from League One during the 2009-10 season, playing an attractive brand of football which has helped Bielsa to become a popular figure among supporters.”