Tokyo, 9 October, /AJMEDIA/
N. Korea fires 2 ballistic missiles
TOKYO – North Korea fired two ballistic missiles early Sunday, the Japanese and South Korean governments said, days after Pyongyang launched a ballistic missile over the Japanese archipelago for the first time in five years.
Both missiles are believed to have fallen outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone in the Sea of Japan after traveling 350 kilometers at a maximum altitude of 100 km, Japanese Senior Vice Defense Minister Toshiro Ino told reporters.
———-
No imminent signs of Russia nuke use after Biden warns of Armageddon
WASHINGTON – The United States has not seen any indications that Russia is preparing to imminently use nuclear weapons, government officials said Friday, after President Joe Biden warned of the potential risk of “Armageddon” as Moscow continues its nuclear-saber rattling amid its war in Ukraine.
Asked if new intelligence had prompted the president to deliver the stark warning, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters, “No.”
———-
Japan says Britain may join trans-Pacific free trade pact this year
SINGAPORE – Members of a trans-Pacific free trade pact could agree in principle to allow Britain to join as a new member this year, using the European country’s case as a model for future aspirants, Japan’s economic minister Daishiro Yamagiwa said Saturday.
Yamagiwa said at a joint press conference, following a ministerial meeting in Singapore of the regional trade deal, he believes that based on the views of some members, there could be a basic agreement “perhaps within this year.”
———-
Table tennis: Japan loses to China in women’s final at team worlds
CHENGDU, China – Japan settled for silver with a 3-0 loss to China in the women’s final of the World Team Table Tennis Championships on Saturday.
In the men’s semifinals, Japan also lost to China, but forced the table tennis superpower to a full five matches in the Chinese city of Chengdu.
———-
Woman pays for “Russian astronaut” to return to Earth in alleged scam
OTSU, Japan – Police are investigating whether a woman in central Japan was scammed into sending around 4.4 million yen ($30,000) to a person who claimed to be a Russian astronaut working at the International Space Station and needing money to return to Earth to marry her.
The 65-year-old woman in Shiga Prefecture, became acquainted with the person on a social networking site in June before they communicated through the Line messaging app. The person repeatedly told her they loved her and proposed marriage, the police said.
———-
U.S. tightens export controls on high-end chips to China
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Commerce Department said Friday it is tightening export controls to restrict China’s ability to access certain high-end chips that could be used by Beijing to produce advanced military systems.
The move is part of efforts to protect the United States’ national security and foreign policy interests, the department said in a press release, underscoring the intensifying competition between the world’s two largest economies over technology.
———-
Tennis: Fritz sets up all-American Tokyo final vs Tiafoe
TOKYO – Taylor Fritz defeated Denis Shapovalov 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3 on Saturday to set up an all-American final with Frances Tiafoe at the Rakuten Japan Open.
The third-seeded Fritz trailed 3-1 in the final set but roared back to win the next five games, wrapping up victory with his sixth ace of the match against his Canadian opponent at Tokyo’s Ariake Colosseum.
———-
Japan, Singapore to pace up talks on defense equipment pact
SINGAPORE – The foreign ministers of Japan and Singapore agreed Saturday to seek an early conclusion of bilateral deal on defense equipment and technology transfer, as Tokyo aims to counter China’s maritime assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.
Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and his Singaporean counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan also agreed to coordinate on responses to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and North Korea’s repeated ballistic missile launches, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.