Tokyo, 13 June, /AJMEDIA/
Japan defense chief conveys concern to China over flight with Russia
SINGAPORE – Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi conveyed to his Chinese counterpart on Sunday concern over a recent joint flight by Chinese and Russian bombers near Japan as a “show of force” against his nation.
Kishi told reporters after a meeting with Defense Minister Wei Fenghe in Singapore that he called for China’s “self-restraint” in the East China and South China seas, airing strong concern over Beijing’s ongoing “unilateral attempts to alter the status quo by force.”
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Residents of Fukushima village allowed to move back in after 11 years
FUKUSHIMA, Japan – Residents from part of Katsurao village in Fukushima Prefecture can move back into their homes again more than a decade on from the March 2011 nuclear disaster, after evacuation orders were lifted Sunday morning.
It is the first time restrictions have been removed to allow residents to live again in part of the “difficult-to-return” zone once expected to stay closed far into the future due to high radiation exposure.
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FOCUS: Travel firms thrown in confusion as Japan reopens to foreign tourists
TOKYO – As Japan resumed visa procedures to accept foreign tourists last week, travel companies have been thrown into confusion over the lack of communication regarding entry procedures and last-minute COVID-19 guidelines.
The government’s sudden moves have generated discontent among many in the travel industry, with some domestic companies pulling out of operating tours for inbound tourists amid the prolonged coronavirus pandemic.
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Tunnel drilling for Manila’s 1st subway set to begin with Japanese aid
MANILA – The Philippines unveiled Sunday a tunnel drilling machine to start the underground construction of the country’s first-ever subway being undertaken with Japanese financial support to ease road congestion in overcrowded Manila.
President Rodrigo Duterte, who is stepping down June 30 after a single six-year term as president, led the event that coincided with the Philippines’ 124th commemoration of declaring independence from Spain.
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FEATURE: Opponents of SDF base on Japan islet fret as it puts down roots
YONAGUNI, Japan – When a unit of the Ground Self-Defense Force was deployed to Japan’s westernmost island of Yonaguni for the first time six years ago, it felt like a boon to the remote community, which had long been suffering from a falling population and a weak economy.
The arrival of the troops, many together with their families, has invigorated the sleepy island in many ways: They brought more children to schools, while bars and restaurants boomed and local festivals leaped back to life with more participants.
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FOCUS: Spotlight on climate impact in Africa ahead of Japan-led confab
TOKYO – The impact of climate change in Africa is drawing attention leading up to an international conference led by the Japanese government, as part of multiple crises the continent is facing along with the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Scientists have warned that Africa is likely to be hit the hardest by the catastrophic effects of climate change, such as droughts and floods, although the continent contributes less than 4 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the United Nations.