Japan

Japan's defense minister apologizes for new mistakes in Aegis Ashore materials

TOKYO, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya apologized yet again on Tuesday that new mistakes were found in explanation materials to Akita Prefecture, which is a candidate site for the land-based interceptor missile system Aegis Ashore.

Iwaya said at a press conference after the Cabinet meeting that transcription errors were found in the material that investigated the influence of the radar signal on the surrounding environment.

Nikkei: Japan plans lifting ban on Russian chicken imports after Putin-Abe meeting

TOKYO, June 24. /TASS/: Japan intends to allow imports of fresh chicken from Russia as part of earlier reached agreements on the expansion of bilateral trade as well as to help to meet the growing domestic demand for the product, Nikkei Asian Review daily reported on Monday.

According to the daily, a relevant agreement is expected to be signed following a meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Osaka on June 28-29.

G20 leaders to discuss trade, environment protection at summit in Osaka — source

TOKYO, June 21. /TASS/: The situation in the global economy and trade and environment-related issues will be key topics of the forthcoming summit of the Group of Twenty (G20) in Osaka from June 28 to 29, a source in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan said on Friday.

"The global economy, trade and investments, innovations, climatic changes and ecology should be among planned topics for discussion," the source said. G20 leaders intend to confirm significance of supporting global economic growth and fair and free trade in respect of the economy.

No plan to dissolve parliament's lower house for snap election: Japanese PM

TOKYO, June 19 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Wednesday that he is not considering dissolving the lower house of parliament and calling a snap election.

Speculation had been growing that Abe might dissolve the lower chamber and call a snap election to coincide with this summer's upper house election.

In response to an opposition lawmaker who posed the question to Abe in parliament, the Japanese leader replied "It's not at all in my mind."

Russian bomber 'violates' Japanese airspace, defense ministry claims

TOKYO, June 20. /TASS/. Russian bomber violated Japan’s airspace near the southern Okinawa Prefecture and Hachijo Island in the Philippine Sea on Thursday, Kyodo news agency reported citing Japan’s Defense Ministry.

The Japanese Air Force’s fighter jets were scrambled to intercept the bomber, the ministry said, noting that there was no dangerous situation.

At least 21 people injured in Japan's earthquake

TOKYO, June 19. /TASS/: At least 21 were injured in the earthquake of 6.7 magnitude that rocked Japan's Yamagata prefecture late Tuesday, NHK TV channel reported on Wednesday.

Earlier reports said that 15 people were injured in the earthquake.

The epicenter of the Tuesday's earthquake lay at the depth of around 14 km under the seabed off the coast of the Yamagata prefecture. The magnitude was initially estimated at 6.8 but later lowered to 6.7. Ten aftershocks of up to 4.1 magnitude followed after the earthquake. A tsunami alert was issued but was later recalled.

Asian shares up on trade optimism as Trump hints of Xi talks

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares were mostly higher Wednesday on optimism about trade after President Donald Trump said he will talk with the Chinese leader later this month in Japan.

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 added 1.7% to 21,321.17 in early trading. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 1.0% to 6,637.70. South Korea’s Kospi was also up 1.0% at 2,119.80. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 2.4% to 28,158.85, while the Shanghai Composite added 1.2% to 2,925.68.

Japan will not send military to Gulf of Oman after attack on tankers — defense minister

TOKYO, June 18. /TASS/: Japan will not send military forces to the Gulf of Oman after last week's attack on the two tankers there, Japanese Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya said on Tuesday.

"It is not clear who is behind the attack, and there were no Japanese citizens onboard [the tankers]. Attacks did not continue, and there is no need to send Japan's Defense Forces there," Iwaya said.

He added that Tokyo closely follows the developments in the region after an escalation in the relations between the United States and Iran.

Global shares mixed as investors look ahead to Fed rates

TOKYO (AP) — Global shares were mixed Monday amid a wait-and-see attitude about the direction of interest rates and the trade dispute between the U.S. and China.

France’s CAC 40 added nearly 0.2% in early trading to 5,376.03. Germany’s DAX fell less than 0.1% to 12,089.45. Britain’s FTSE 100 rose nearly 0.2% to 7,356.56.

U.S. shares were set to drift higher with Dow futures up 0.1% to 26,162. S&P 500 futures were also up 0.1% at 2,898.50.

G20 energy and environment ministers gather in Japan’s Karuizawa

TOKYO, June 15. /TASS/: G20 energy and environment ministers met on Saturday in the Japanese resort city of Karuizawa for a two-day meeting to discuss energy security and efficient use of natural resources.

The G20 Ministerial Meeting on Energy Transitions and Global Environment for Sustainable Growth is held as part of preparations for the G20 summit to be held in the Japanese city of Osaka on June 28-29.

The Russian delegation is led by Natural Resources and Environemnt Minsiter Dmitry Kobylkin and Deputy Energy Minister Anton Inyutsyn.

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