月: 2023年11月

1. The body of a crewmember of a US military Osprey transport aircraft that crashed off the southern Japanese coast has been handed over the US side. Japan’s defense ministry says the Osprey requested an emergency landing at an airport on the island of Yakushima at around 2:35 p.m. on Wednesday, local time. The aircraft disappeared from Japan’s Self-Defense Forces’ radar screens near the island about five minutes later.
2. Delegates from more than 190 countries and regions are gathering in the United Arab Emirates for the UN climate change conference that opens on Thursday. COP 28 is scheduled to continue through December12. The conference in Dubai will provide the first opportunity for the delegates to assess the collective progress in the world’s response to the climate crisis. The assessment known as the “global stocktake” takes place every five years to find what each country or region needs to do to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement. 3. Former senior Japanese diplomat Tanaka Hitoshi, who had known Kissinger for decades, spoke to NHK on Thursday about their relationship. Tanka is known to have led secret negotiations with North Korea in the early 2000s, which led to a historic bilateral summit and the return of five abducted Japanese nationals. “He mentioned that he and I had a common interest in preserving secrecy…”

1. The release of captives by Israel and Hamas continued on Tuesday, as a pause in the fighting in the Gaza Strip between the two sides was extended for two more days until Wednesday. Attention is now focused on whether the two sides can agree to a further extension of the truce, as the United States and other parties are working to achieve this.
2. An Osprey transport aircraft belonging to the US military has reportedly crashed into waters off Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan. Japanese coast guard officials say they received information that the aircraft crashed off Yakushima Island at around 2:47 p.m. on Wednesday. They deployed patrol ships and aircraft to the site. The Osprey was reportedly carrying eight people, but no information is available about their safety. 3. A municipality in Miyagi Prefecture, northeast Japan, aims to become the first in the country to certify that its oyster farming helps make the planet cleaner, by contributing to what is known as the blue carbon ecosystem. The concept is attracting attention as the world strives to curb greenhouse gas emissions. Blue carbon refers to carbon dioxides which are trapped and stored by coastal and marine ecosystems, including seaweeds such as wakame and kombu kelp. The town of Minamisanriku, in a major oyster producing region, is seeking blue carbon status for the seaweeds attached to rafts used in oyster farming. The town has teamed up with Tohoku University for the project.

1. Qatar says Israel and Hamas have agreed to extend the current pause in fighting between the two sides for two more days until Wednesday. Attention is now focused on whether the move will lead to more hostages being released and improvements in the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. 2. The operator of the Line messaging app is reporting a massive breach of personal data. Line Yahoo, or LY Corporation, believes that about 440,000 items may have been leaked, apparently due to a cyberattack on an affiliate’s computer system.
3. The organizers of the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka, western Japan, have invited the media to the construction site of the Grand Roof, the symbol of the venue. The Grand Roof, also called the Ring, was unveiled to the media on Monday, showing the progress in its construction. Three consortiums have been commissioned to take part in the project.

1. North Korea has described its launch of a military spy satellite as an exercise of its right to self-defense. 2. Israel and Hamas have conducted their third hostage-prisoner exchange. US President Joe Biden has expressed hope that the two sides will extend their pause in fighting and release more captives. 3. Ozeki Kirishima says he feels great after winning his first grand sumo tournament title since assuming sumo’s second-highest rank.

1. Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu reiterated the government’s objections to a recent South Korean court ruling. The decision ordered Japan to pay damages to people referred to as wartime comfort women and their relatives. Matsuno also stressed the importance of cooperation between Japan and South Korea as tensions in the region rise. 2. A large-scale air show is underway in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong. A wide range of civilian aircraft are on display at Aero Asia 2023 in Zhuhai. More than 250 firms from China and around 20 other countries and regions are participating. Business jets that are seeing high demand among wealthy individuals and small propeller planes are among the exhibits. 3. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio stayed overnight at a hotel after facilities malfunctioned at his official residence. Government sources say repair work was necessary at the prime minister’s residence. They declined to give details, citing security reasons.

1. There has been no official announcement yet on the starting time of a temporary truce between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic group Hamas.
2. A high court in South Korea has ordered the Japanese government to pay damages after overturning a lower court’s dismissal of a lawsuit filed by a group of people referred to as wartime comfort women and their relatives.
3. A documentary film featuring Palestinian children detained by Israeli soldiers has won the top ranking Japan Prize for the year. The prizes are awarded to creators of outstanding educational materials. There were 391 entries from 55 countries and regions for the 50th round of the international contest sponsored by NHK. The awards ceremony was held on Thursday in Tokyo.

1. Hamas and Israel say they’ve agreed to a four-day pause in the fighting in exchange for hostages. Qatar, which mediated the deal, confirmed Wednesday the four-day pause was in exchange for 50 hostages. Hamas also said Israel will free around 150 jailed Palestinians. Both sides say they will release women and children.
2. US President Joe Biden has welcomed the agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic group Hamas on a pause in the fighting and the release of some hostages. In a statement issued on Tuesday, Biden thanked Qatar Amir Sheikh Tamin Bin Hamad Al Thani and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi for “their critical leadership and partnership in reaching this deal.” 3. The US Geological Survey says a magnitude 6.7 earthquake has occurred off the Vanuatu Islands. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center says small tsunami waves have been observed in the area. No tsunami warning has been issued.

1. Japan delivered landmine detectors and vehicles to Ukraine during a handover ceremony held in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on Monday. The Russian military placed landmines across Ukraine after it invaded the country.
2. Japanese beverage makers and retailers are looking to AI technology to help reduce food loss and waste. Under the new system, AI would check damaged cardboard boxes to determine if they need to be returned to manufacturers. Seven major firms are drawing up uniform criteria. They are using AI to analyze photos of boxes to determine the extent of any damage. Warehouse workers have been visually examining boxes to determine whether they should be returned. 3.Japanese government narcotics agents have inspected a factory in Osaka City, western Japan, over the production of gummy candies allegedly containing a substance with a toxicity similar to that of a designated drug like cannabis.

1. Argentina’s right-wing congressman and economist, Javier Milei, has won the country’s presidential runoff. The voting took place on Sunday amid economic turmoil in the country, including soaring inflation. The electoral authority says with 98 percent of the votes counted, Milei had 55.7 percent, while Economy Minister Sergio Massa from the ruling center-left part got 44.2 percent. 2. The operator of the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant says it finished the third round of the treated and diluted water discharge into the sea as planned.
3. The final large-scale work on Tokyo’s JR Shibuya Station is complete, amid the ongoing project to extensively redevelop the area. At dawn on Monday, workers for East Japan Railway finished lifting the Yamanote Line’s tracks by up to 20 centimeters. Train services returned to normal following a planned partial suspension of services over the weekend.

1. The leaders of Japan and China have reconfirmed their stance of promoting a mutually beneficial strategic relationship and maintaining communications for a new era of bilateral ties. Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and Chinese President Xi Jinping met for about one hour in San Francisco on Thursday. They held face-to-face talks for the first time since November last year. 2. Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and US President Joe Biden have agreed at their talks to work closely together in responding to China and other global issues. The two leaders held a summit for about 15 minutes on Thursday during Kishida’s visit to San Franciso for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
3. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol have confirmed that their countries and the US will work closely together against North Korea’s nuclear and missile development. The two leaders held talks for about 30 minutes on Thursday during their visit to San Francisco for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. It was the seventh summit between Kishida and Yoon this year.