Tokyo, 28 April, /AJMEDIA
Russia to expel 8 Japan diplomats, likely in retaliation
TOKYO – Russia’s Foreign Ministry said Wednesday it will expel eight Japanese diplomats, likely in retaliation against an earlier decision by Tokyo to expel Russian diplomats.
The ministry demanded that the eight diplomats leave the country by May 10, saying the administration of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is spreading slander regarding Russia’s military operation in Ukraine and taking overtly hostile policy measures which hurt the two countries’ cooperative relationship built over the years.
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Japan should ease COVID border controls for foreigners: panel members
TOKYO – Japan should aim to normalize its coronavirus travel controls for foreigners as soon as possible, some members of a government panel said Wednesday, calling for a gradual reopening of its borders for tourists to boost the economy.
The government should relax its daily limit on foreign visitors and ease additional immigration procedures needed to enter Japan once such restrictions are confirmed less effective in curbing infection cases, private-sector members of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy said.
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Operator of missing Hokkaido boat apologizes for “wrong judgment”
SHARI, Japan – The operator of a tour boat that disappeared off Hokkaido last weekend with 26 people aboard publicly apologized Wednesday for causing the fatal accident, admitting its decision to give the green light to depart despite the chance of bad weather was inappropriate.
“I made the final decision to depart on the condition that the captain make the decision to turn back if the seas got rough,” Seiichi Katsurada, the president of Shiretoko Yuransen, said in his first press conference since the 19-ton Kazu I went missing Saturday. “In retrospect, my judgment was wrong.”
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BA.2 subvariant likely represents 90% of coronavirus cases in Japan
TOKYO – Omicron’s BA.2 subvariant has come to account for about 90 percent of new coronavirus cases in the country, an estimate by an experts panel at the health ministry showed Wednesday.
The panel is calling for antivirus measures to be taken thoroughly as a larger-than-usual number of people are expected to travel during the Golden Week holidays starting Friday.
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Osaka city to enact 3-month base water rates exemption as bills soar
OSAKA – Osaka city households are to be exempt from water service base rates for three months starting with July bills, the city government said Wednesday as part of financial support measures amid the prolonged coronavirus pandemic and soaring prices due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The system will not be means-tested for low earners, meaning it applies to all of Osaka’s around 1.69 million households receiving water services, the city government said. Base monthly rates for water and sewerage services are 935 yen ($7.3) and 605 yen respectively for 1,540 yen per month.
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China’s “zero-COVID” policy undermining public support for Xi
SHANGHAI – China’s radical “zero-COVID” policy is believed to be undermining public support for the leadership of President Xi Jinping, who is seeking to secure a controversial third term as the country’s leader later this year, critics say.
Confusion triggered by a monthlong lockdown in China’s financial and commercial hub of Shanghai has been sparking concerns among residents in Beijing that the Communist-led government may also seal the capital in the not-so-distant future.
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Japan’s ruling LDP asks gov’t to double defense budget
TOKYO – Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party on Wednesday asked Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to consider doubling the country’s defense budget to an amount on par with 2 percent or more of its gross domestic product, citing the region’s increasingly complex and severe security environment.
A set of proposals finalized by the ruling party last week, calling also for the development by the Self-Defense Forces of counterstrike abilities aimed at disabling enemy weapons, will serve as a basis for the government to update the National Security Strategy by the end of the year.
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Press “predator” Duterte declares Philippine Press Freedom Day
MANILA – The government of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said Wednesday he has approved a law designating Aug. 30 as National Press Freedom Day, a move seen as ironic as his crackdowns on the free press have drawn much criticism.
The day, which will not be a holiday, was created in honor of Marcelo del Pilar, a patriot writer during the Spanish occupation of the Philippines who was born on Aug. 30, 1850, and is regarded as the father of the country’s journalism.
