Tokyo, 30 May, /AJMEDIA/
Teachers given prison terms over 2017 Japan avalanche deaths
UTSUNOMIYA, Japan – Two high school teachers and a retired colleague were given prison terms Thursday over the deaths of eight people in an avalanche that struck during a mountaineering lesson north of Tokyo in 2017.
The Utsunomiya District Court sentenced the three defendants, who conducted the lesson, to prison terms of two years for professional negligence in the deaths of seven students and a teacher in the town of Nasu in Tochigi Prefecture on March 27, 2017.
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North Korea fires over 10 suspected short-range ballistic missiles
SEOUL/TOKYO – North Korea fired more than 10 suspected short-range ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan on Thursday, the South Korean military said, just days after a satellite rocket launch by Pyongyang ended in failure.
The Japanese Defense Ministry said the “multiple” ballistic missiles were fired in a northeasterly direction by North Korea around 6:13 a.m. from an inland location and all were believed to have fallen outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone, with no damage to aircraft or ships reported.
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SDF member dies after grenade thrown by another during training
TOKYO, Japan – A Japan Self-Defense Forces member died Thursday after he was hit by shrapnel from a hand grenade thrown by another SDF member during a training session at a facility west of Tokyo, the Ground SDF said.
Sgt. Taku Yamamiya, 29, of the GSDF’s 1st infantry regiment, was taking part in an exercise at an outdoor training area for grenade tossing, the GSDF said, adding an investigative panel has been set up to determine what happened.
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Apple to allow iPhones to function as “My Number” cards from spring
TOKYO – Holders of Japan’s “My Number” national identification card will be able to use their iPhone in place of the physical card from next spring, the government said Thursday, as authorities look to encourage the take up of the system that was introduced to streamline administrative procedures.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook confirmed the change during a teleconference Thursday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told the media.
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Barrier at viral Mt. Fuji photo spot to be replaced after holes found
KOFU, Japan – A black screen set up by a central Japan town to block a scenic view of Mt. Fuji following troublesome behavior by tourists will be replaced after multiple holes were found in it, the town’s mayor said Thursday.
The new screen will be made of stronger material and possibly changed to blue or green, as black “has a negative image,” Mayor Hideyuki Watanabe of Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture, said at a press conference.
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Argentina mulls withdrawal from 2025 World Expo in Japan
OSAKA – Argentina is considering withdrawing from the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka, sources close to the matter said Thursday, as the South American country is struggling to secure funding for the construction of its pavilion.
If Argentina withdraws, it will be the fourth country to do so after Mexico, Estonia, and Russia.
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Toyota global output falls 4.0% in April, hit by Prius recall
NAGOYA – Toyota Motor Corp. said Thursday its global production for April fell 4.0 percent from a year earlier to 756,254 vehicles, marking the third straight month of decline, as the automaker halted production of the Prius hybrid car due to a recall.
Domestic production dropped 7.9 percent to 251,485 units as Toyota announced production of the popular gasoline-electric vehicle will be halted until it can resolve a door handle issue.
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China lifts ban on five Australian beef exporters
SYDNEY – China has lifted its import bans on five major Australian beef producers with immediate effect, the Australian government said Thursday, amid improving ties between Canberra and Beijing.
Eight beef processing facilities have had suspensions on their exports to China lifted, while two facilities remain suspended, Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Trade Minister Don Farrell and Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said in a joint statement.
