Tokyo, 28 February, /AJMEDIA/
World Bank staffer, surgeon picked as Japan astronaut candidates
TOKYO – Japan’s space agency said Tuesday that it has selected a World Bank employee and a surgeon as astronaut candidates in its first recruitment drive in more than 13 years, with expectations high that they may have the chance to join an international mission to the Moon.
Makoto Suwa, 46, a disaster prevention specialist at the World Bank, and Ayu Yoneda, one of the youngest ever candidates at age 28 and a surgeon at the Japanese Red Cross Medical Center, will join the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency for two years of training.
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Japan births hit all-time low in 2022, below 800,000 for 1st time
TOKYO – The number of babies born in Japan in 2022 fell to a new record low for the seventh consecutive year, dropping below 800,000 for the first time since records began in 1899, government data showed Tuesday.
The total number of births was down 5.1 percent to 799,728, according to preliminary data released by the health ministry. The drop comes much earlier than a 2017 government forecast that said births would fall below 800,000 in 2033.
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Japanese chipmaker Rapidus to build advanced chip plant in Hokkaido
TOKYO – State-backed chipmaker Rapidus Corp. said Tuesday it will build a plant in Hokkaido, northern Japan, as it seeks to begin mass-production of chips with state-of-the-art 2-nanometer technology in five years.
The new plant will be a chip-production hub in Japan, as the country aims to rejuvenate its semiconductor sector through government initiatives.
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Japan adds 143 targets to sanction list over Russia’s war in Ukraine
TOKYO – Japan decided Tuesday to add 143 individuals and organizations linked to Russia to its list of sanctions over the country’s invasion of Ukraine, after the Group of Seven leaders pledged to levy further punishments on Moscow last week.
The sanctions, including asset freezes and bans on exports by Japanese firms, target politicians, military officers, businesspeople and companies in Russia, among others.
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Ad agency Dentsu, others indicted over Tokyo Olympics bid rigging
TOKYO – Japanese advertising giant Dentsu Group Inc., a former Olympic organizing committee executive and others were indicted Tuesday over alleged bid rigging in connection with the 2021 Tokyo Games.
Prosecutors took the decision after receiving complaints from the Japan Fair Trade Commission, indicting six companies, including Dentsu’s rival Hakuhodo Inc., as well as six individuals from the companies and Yasuo Mori, former operations executive on the Tokyo Olympics organizing committee.
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Japan Cabinet OKs bills to extend nuclear reactor life beyond 60 yrs
TOKYO – The Cabinet on Tuesday approved bills that will allow nuclear reactors in Japan to be operated beyond the current limit of 60 years, as part of efforts to cut carbon emissions while ensuring adequate national energy supply.
Following the 2011 Fukushima disaster, Japan introduced stricter safety standards under a reactor regulation law that limits the operation of nuclear reactors to 40 years in principle and up to 60 years if safety upgrades are made.
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Full-scale Cobra Gold multilateral military drill starts in Thailand
RAYONG, Thailand – One of the Asia-Pacific region’s largest multinational military exercises, Cobra Gold, kicked off Tuesday in Thailand in full scale after being scaled down in the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 42nd annual drill, co-hosted by Thailand and the United States, is being held through May 10 with around 10,000 personnel from 30 countries participating under the aim of enhancing regional interoperability. It includes for the first time a space exercise, which covers response to potential attacks on satellites.
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Japan lower house OKs record 114 tril. yen budget for FY 2023
TOKYO – Japan’s House of Representatives on Tuesday approved a record 114.38 trillion yen ($840 billion) budget for fiscal 2023, making its enactment certain before the new fiscal year starts in April as the nation faces a cost of living crisis and security threats from its neighbors.
The state budget includes 6.82 trillion yen in defense spending to bolster its defenses against threats posed by China, North Korea and Russia and 36.89 trillion yen in social security costs, the largest ever, amid the rapid graying of Japan’s population.
