Page 64 - Japan

S Korea, Japan hold first security talks since 2018 to thaw bilateral ties

During the session, the two sides are expected to share their assessment of the security situation in Northeast Asia and on the Korean Peninsula, and their respective defence and security policies

South Korea, US, Japan hold missile defence drills against N Korean threats

The exercise focused on practicing procedures to detect and track a computer-simulated ballistic missile target, and share related information

Locals who tackled suspect say lack of security for Japanese PM surprising

The fishermen who tackled the man suspected of the second attack on a Japanese politician in less than a year said Sunday that they were surprised by the lack of security for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Fisherman Tsutomu Konishi was watching Kishida at a campaign event at this fishing port when an object flew overhead and landed near the prime minister, Konishi said. A security officer covered the object with a bulletproof briefcase, said Konishi, 41. The fishermen swarmed the attacker. I never thought a crime like this would happen in my hometown, which is a rather small fishing area, Konishi, 41, said Sunday as he sipped a can of coffee at the port of Saikazaki. I'm still shocked and stunned." The prime minister was unhurt but like many others in Japan Konishi was mulling Sunday what the country should do to better protect public figures. At a time when Japan's serving prime minister was visiting, perhaps we may have needed a metal detector, Konishi said. Masaki Nishide, a ...

G7 vows to phase out fossil fuels, sets no date for ending coal power use

The Ukraine crisis caused prices of oil and gas to soar and pushed some importers to shift to coal and natural gas, slowing efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions

LIVE: UP CM takes cognizance of Prayagraj case, calls high-level meeting

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Police conduct search at home of suspected bomber at PM Kishida's speech

The suspect has reportedly said that he will only submit to questioning in the presence of his lawyers

India condemns all acts of violence: Modi after Japanese PM escapes unhurt

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed relief after his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida escaped unharmed in an explosion during a campaign and asserted that India condemns all acts of violence. Modi tweeted, "Learnt of a violent incident at a public event at Wakayama in Japan where my friend PM @Kishida230 was present. Relieved that he is safe. Praying for his continued well-being and good health. India condemns all acts of violence." Kishida was evacuated unharmed Saturday after someone threw an explosive device at a campaign event in a western port city, officials said. Police wrestled a suspect to the ground as screaming bystanders scrambled to get away and smoke filled the air.

Japan to launch new visa system next week to attract foreign talents

Local analysts have been criticising Japan's current points-based system as too complex at a time as nations around the globe compete to woo skilled workers

Japan PM Kishida unhurt after smoke bomb thrown at him during event: Report

Kishida had been touring a fishing port in Wakayama, which is in central Japan near Osaka, and was set to give a speech, the reports said

India, Japan can work together for greater synergy between G7-G20: FM

India and Japan can work together to achieve greater coordination and synergy between G7 and G20 member countries, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said. India holds the annual revolving presidency of G20 countries and Japan is the current president of G7 countries. Sitharaman said Japan has invited her to the meeting of G7 finance ministers and central bank governors in May and she is considering attending it. We are certainly looking forward to having greater interaction with the Japanese government and because in its capacity as G7 president, we are exploring all the possible areas of cooperation and areas of mutual interest so that we are able to stand together and serve the global requirements as time demands, she said. Sitharaman said the two countries continue to have engagement in areas of food security, development finance, climate and energy, environment, digitalisation, disaster risk reduction and health. "These are topics on which we are specifically engag

Japan to offer military aid to like-minded countries to counter China

Japan has unveiled a new plan to provide "like-minded" countries especially in Asia with military aid as it looks to expand its influence in the Indo-Pacific region to counter China's aggressive push over Taiwan and the South China Sea issues. The guidelines announced by Tokyo early this month included a new programme to strengthen the militaries of like-minded countries by providing official security assistance - a move that breaks with its previous policy of avoiding the use of development aid for military purposes other than disaster relief, the Japan Times reported. Japanese Foreign Ministry officials said the Philippines will be one of the first beneficiaries of Overseas Security Assistance (OSA), with Malaysia, Bangladesh and Fiji also among those being considered, the report said. Japan, a member of the Quad alliance consisting of the US, India and Australia, is actively pursuing the Indo-Pacific strategy which China claims aimed at countering its rise. Tokyo's decision to u

Japan, France and India to launch platform to coordinate Sri Lanka debt

Sri Lanka last month secured a $2.9 billion programme from the International Monetary Fund to tackle its suffocating debt burden and its worst economic crisis in more than seven decades

N Korea fires missile toward East Sea, Japan says taking all precautions

As Pyongyang fired an unspecified ballistic missile towards the Sea of Japan on Thursday, the Prime Minister's Office of Japan issued a warning of 'taking all the necessary precautions' at this crucial time.Japan has issued a warning that a North Korean missile may have landed in Hokkaido Prefecture or neighbouring waterways.Taking to Twitter, the Japan PMO wrote, "Dedicate maximum effort to gather & analyze information, & provide the public speedy & adequate information. Ensure the safety of aircraft, vessels, & other assets."As the missile is seen as to have possibly landed in Japan's waters, the Prime Minister's Office has urged to take all possible measures for precaution, including readiness for contingencies as well.North Korea on Thursday fired an unspecified ballistic missile towards the East Sea of Japan on Thursday, Yonhap News Agency said citing the South Korean military.According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, they discovered the launch. However, ...

Bank of Japan's new head says banks stable, rules out major policy shift

The new governor of Japan's central bank signalled on Monday that he plans no drastic changes in its ultra-low interest rate policy, sticking to earlier messaging on the topic. Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda said Japan's financial institutions are not facing the sorts of turmoil seen recently with bank failures in the US and Europe. He pledged to do his utmost to maintain stability in both prices and financial systems in the world's third-largest economy. Markets have calmed and, as far as the impact on the Japanese system, we have maintained the easy monetary policy, and there is ample capital and fluidity, Ueda said. Japan's central bank is seeing its first leadership change in a decade, at a time when inflationary pressures around the world remain a risk and central banks are fighting back with big interest rate increases meant to slow economic activity. Ueda is taking over what many see as the unfinished work of his predecessor, Haruhiko Kuroda, whose second five-year term ende

Japan books $16.6 bn current account surplus for 2nd consecutive month

Japan logged a current account surplus of $16.6 billion in February, the Finance Ministry said in a report on Monday

OpenAI CEO plans expansion in Japan after meeting PM Fumio Kishida

Altman said that he discussed the technology's potential with Kishida, and how to mitigate the downsides

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik conducts virtual cabinet meeting from Japan

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday conducted a cabinet meeting online from Japan. This was his first cabinet meeting held from a foreign location. Patnaik, who is on a visit to the East Asian nation to attract investments to Odisha, presided over the cabinet meeting through the virtual mode from Kyoto, around 6,000 km from state capital Bhubaneswar. His cabinet colleagues also took part in the meeting separately through virtual mode. They held threadbare discussions and files were processed and documents signed online through the Odisha State Wide Area Network (OSWAN), a CMO statement said. "We have been a pioneer in leveraging the latest technology as part of our 5T charter to improve the effectiveness of the governance systems and delivery of public services. Technology has served as an enabling tool in transforming the delivery of good governance and public goods and services," Patnaik was quoted as saying in the statement. This digital cabinet pushes the boundary o

Japan to lead G-7 talks on climate, decarbonisation, energy stability

Japan hopes to lead discussions among the Group of Seven climate, energy and environment ministers as G-7 president

Japanese IT major, Fuji Soft group to open centre of excellence in Odisha

Japanese IT major Fuji Soft Group has proposed to open a centre of excellence (CoE) in Bhubaneswar, an official statement said. The proposal was made during the Odisha business delegation's visit to Japan, where Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik led discussions with major players in the Japanese IT and IT-enabled services sector. The CoE would add to the burgeoning field in Bhubaneswar, which is already a happy hunting ground for marquee labels, the statement said. NITKAL (Nihon-UTKAL) has also tied up with Odisha University of Technology and Research to set up a dedicated skill development centre to cater to the huge demand for trained workforce in Japan. NITKAL is undertaking a dialogue with IIIT, Bhubaneswar for establishing a dedicated Japan-centric centre for skill development, it said. NYK Lines (Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha) evinced keen interest in setting up dedicated shipping lanes from Paradeep, Gopalpur or Dhamra port to transport green ammonia to Southeast Asia and ...

Bank of Japan's Haruhiko Kuroda bows out after decade of shock and awe

"Japan's 15 years of deflation has created a strong perception among the public that prices and wages won't rise," Kuroda, 78, told a news conference