Tokyo, 5 May, /AJMEDIA/
Japan, U.S. to deepen ties to deter status quo change in Indo-Pacific
WASHINGTON – The defense chiefs of Japan and the United States on Wednesday agreed to align the two countries’ security strategies and strengthen cooperation to deter any attempt to change the status quo by force in the Indo-Pacific amid China’s growing assertiveness.
The meeting in the Pentagon took place as Japan plans to update its National Security Strategy by the end of this year, with Russia’s war in Ukraine generating renewed initiative in Tokyo to beef up its own defense and deter potential military aggression in its backyard.
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Fed decides on biggest rate hike in over 20 years to tackle inflation
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised key interest rates by half a percentage point, the biggest rate hike in over 20 years as it rushes to address high inflation stemming from Russia’s war in Ukraine and coronavirus pandemic-linked supply chain disruptions.
Upon concluding a two-day meeting of the policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee, the central bank moved as widely expected in deciding to lift its target range for the federal funds rate to 0.75 to 1.00 percent, noting that it is “highly attentive to inflation risks.”
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Russia bans entry of Japan PM, ministers
TOKYO – Russia said Wednesday it will ban the entry of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and many of his Cabinet members as part of Moscow’s punitive measures against Tokyo’s response to the war in Ukraine.
The entry ban, announced by Russia’s Foreign Ministry, targets 63 Japanese citizens, also including Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi and Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno.
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Kishida, Pope Francis agree to aim for abolishment of nuclear arms
ROME – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Pope Francis agreed Wednesday to aim for a world free of nuclear weapons as Russia’s war against Ukraine poses a serious threat to global security.
The visit to the Vatican by the leader of the only country to suffer the devastation of atomic bombings came as Russian President Vladimir Putin has raised fears he may use nuclear weapons as the war drags on.
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N. Korea fires ballistic missile toward Sea of Japan
TOKYO – North Korea fired a ballistic missile eastward on Wednesday, the Japanese government said, with the missile falling into the Sea of Japan off the North’s eastern coast.
The missile, fired at around 12:02 p.m. from near North Korea’s western coast, is believed to have traveled to an altitude of around 800 kilometers and covered a distance of around 500 km before falling into waters outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone, senior vice defense minister Makoto Oniki told reporters.
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S. Korea president-elect eyes Yun Duk Min as envoy to Japan: source
SEOUL – South Korean President-elect Yoon Suk Yeol plans to appoint Yun Duk Min, a former head of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy who is known for his knowledge of Japan, as new ambassador to the country, a source close to the matter said Wednesday.
The 62-year-old obtained a doctoral degree at Japan’s Keio University and is proficient in Japanese. He is also an expert on diplomatic and security affairs, including North Korea.
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Japan’s child population falls for 41st yr, record low amid pandemic
TOKYO – Japan’s estimated child population fell for the 41st straight year to a record low, government data showed Wednesday, as women are believed to have refrained from having children due to the expanding coronavirus pandemic.
The number of children aged 14 or younger, including foreigners, stood at 14.65 million as of April 1, down about 250,000 from a year earlier and the lowest figure since 1950 when comparable data became available, according to the data released by the internal affairs ministry.
