Japan is set to decide later Friday on expanding its COVID-19 state of emergency to Osaka and three prefectures near Tokyo as a recent surge in coronavirus cases has raised fears of straining the country's medical system amid the Tokyo Olympics. Facing pressure to take stronger anti-virus measures, the government of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is expected to add Chiba, Kanagawa, Saitama and Osaka prefectures to areas under the emergency, which already covers Tokyo and Okinawa, from next Monday through Aug. 31. The COVID-19 emergency initially declared for Tokyo and Okinawa through Aug. 22 will also be extended ... (full story)