CHINA – At least 55 people were confirmed dead and 279 others were unaccounted for after a massive fire broke out in Tai Po housing estate, spreading to at least 7 building blocks on Wednesday. Dozens suffered injuries, with 16 being in critical condition. Flames quickly spread across bamboo scaffolding at the estate in the […]
Tag: Japan
Japanese Seafood Imports to China Suspended After Diplomatic Rift
CHINA – Amid diplomatic tensions triggered by the Japanese prime minister’s remarks on Taiwan, China on Wednesday announced the suspension of Japanese seafood imports. “Japan previously promised to deliver the responsibility of the aquatic products to China,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a news conference in Beijing. “This is the precondition for the export […]
Light Aircraft Crash in Japan Kills 3
JAPAN – 3 people were killed in a light aircraft crash in Japan’s Fukuoka province according to police reports on Tuesday. The crash was reported in a mountainous area, and the wreckage had no original shape, with no wings, while its parts had turned into ash, Kyodo News reported. Authorities launched a search following an […]
Sakurajima Volcano in Japan Erupts
JAPAN – The Sakurajima volcano which is located in Kagoshima prefecture in Japan erupted early Sunday, sending ash and smoke as high as 4,400 meters (14,436 feet) according to local reports. The eruption continued after the initial blast, leading the local weather agency to issue an ashfall forecast for the Kagoshima, Kumamoto and Miyazaki prefectures. […]
Japanese Seafood Exports to China Resume
JAPAN – After a blanket ban in 2023 over the release of treated radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, Japan have resumed seafood exports to China. Farm Minister Norikazu Suzuki said Friday that six tons of frozen scallops from Hokkaido were shipped to China on Wednesday, with sea cucumbers from Aomori Prefecture set […]
Xi Jinping and Sanae Takaichi Summit; What We Know
SOUTH KOREA – Chinese president Xi Jinping and Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held their first meeting in South Korea’s Gyeongju city at the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit on Friday, seeking mutually beneficial bilateral ties. The meeting lasted about 30 minutes, and according to details shared by the Tokyo-based Kyodo News, Takaichi […]
Sanae Takaichi Poised to Become Japan’s First Female Prime Minister
JAPAN – The former Internal Affairs Minister Sanae Takaichi is poised to become the first female to be Japan’s Prime Minister after winning the first round and run-off on Saturday in the Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) leadership race. Takaichi’s competitors included Farm Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, whom she faced in the second round, as […]
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba Steps Down
JAPAN – The Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has resigned after his ruling coalition lost the upper house election according to local reports on Sunday. This comes just under an year since he became the PM. Ishiba has faced criticism from within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) following its defeat in the Upper House […]
5.6 Magnitude Earthquake Hit Tonga Island
TONGA ISLAND – A 5.6 magnitude earthquake hit Tonga Island on Thursday, with the German Research Center for Geosciences (GEOFON) saying that no immediate reports of a tsunami warning. The quake hit the Tonga Islands region at 5.38 pm (0438GMT), GEOFON added. Earlier, the center had said the magnitude of the tremor was recorded as […]
Stop Threatening North Korea and Russia; Moscow to US and Allies
NORTH KOREA – Moscow have warned the US, South Korea and Japan against using their relations to threaten the security of North Korea and Russia. This was said by the Russian Foreign Minister while in North Korea. “We warn against exploiting these ties to build alliances directed against anyone, including North Korea and of course, […]
China Seafood Import from Japan Resumes
CHINA – China seafood import from Japan have resumed with immediate effect, after years-long ban on Japanese seafood imports have been partially lifted. The General Administration of Customs of China in a statement said the decision was made after no abnormalities were detected following long-term international and independent Chinese sampling and monitoring of discharged wastewater. […]
Japan Hit by a 6.3 Magnitude Earthquake Today
JAPAN – Japan was hit by a 6.3 magnitude earthquake early Monday morning at 3.52 a.m. local time at a shallow depth, measuring 4 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 in areas like Taiki and Urahoro, public broadcaster NHK reported, citing the Japan Meteorological Agency. The earthquake struck off the east coast of […]
Seafood Import from Japan to Resume in China
CHINA – China have agreed to resume seafood import from Japan after the two nations agreed on the technical requirements, according to a Japanese official on Friday. China is also expected to issue a notice easing the blanket ban, which has been in place since 2023. China imposed a complete ban on Japanese seafood imports […]