Chinese defense chief close to Xi to attend key Asia security forum next month

Abstract: China’s Defense Minister will deliver a “highly anticipated” speech at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue next month — the first time in eight years that Beijing has sent such a high-level official to the annual security gathering, which will include a speech by the acting U.S. defense secretary. The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) think tank said in a statement late Monday that Chinese defense chief Gen. Wei Fenghe, who also serves as State Councillor and is close to Chinese President Xi Jinping, will deliver the speech June 2. Wei will speak on China’s place in the Indo-Pacific region and will take questions directly following his address, which is expected to be a prelude to the country’s new defense white paper due out later this year. IISS Director-General John Chipman said Wei will be leading the Chinese People’s Liberation Army delegation, a shift from prior summits which saw Beijing dispatch only lower level officials. “In a highly anticipated speech, Gen. Wei Fenghe will speak on China’s role in the Indo-Pacific at a pivotal time for the region,” Chipman said in the statement. “His presence at the dialogue provides a unique opportunity for those in attendance to engage with a leading figure within the PLA.” In 2012, Wei was the first officer formally elevated to the highest rank by Xi in the president’s new role as military chief. Japanese Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya could also hold his first meeting with his South Korea counterpart on the sidelines of the security forum, Kyodo News reported earlier this month, citing a senior Japanese official. Bilateral tensions have been running high since a South Korean destroyer allegedly locked its fire-control radar on a Japanese patrol plane last December, in addition to friction over long-standing wartime issues. The Shangri-La Dialogue is billed as “Asia’s premier defense summit,” where top officials, military chiefs and leaders from across the region and beyond “engage in open debate and bilateral talks aimed at enhancing their collaboration in response to the Indo-Pacific’s diverse security problems.” The security forum will run from May 31 to June 2 at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore. Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is scheduled to open the event with a keynote speech on May 31 and U.S. Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan will deliver a speech. The announcement of Wei’s attendance comes amid Beijing’s protracted trade war with the United States, as well as military tensions with the U.S. in the contested South China Sea. On Sunday, the U.S. Navy sailed a warship near the disputed Scarborough Shoal, a strategic flash point in the South China Sea claimed by Beijing, Taipei and Manila, and located just 230 km (140 miles) off the Philippine coast. That operation, which the U.S. said was part of “freedom of navigation operations” that “challenge excessive maritime claims and preserve access” to international waterways, was the second FONOP in the South China Sea this month. Experts say it is unusual for the U.S. to conduct more than one such operation in a single month, let alone in roughly the same area. Washington has lambasted Beijing for its moves in the South China Sea, including the construction of man-made islands, some of which are home to military-grade airfields and advanced weaponry. The U.S. fears the outposts could be used to restrict free movement in the waterway — which includes vital sea lanes through which about $3 trillion in global trade passes each year — and regularly conducts FONOPs in the area.

china
military
south china sea
pla
xi jinping
wei fenghe


Convicted French drug smuggler sentenced to firing squad in Indonesia

Abstract: WEST NUSA TENGGARA, INDONESIA - Indonesia on Monday sentenced a French drug smuggler to death by firing squad, in a shock verdict after prosecutors had asked for a long prison term. The three-judge panel in Lombok handed a capital sentence to Felix Dorfin, 35, who was arrested in September at the airport on the holiday island next to Bali, where foreigners are routinely charged with drug offenses. Indonesia has some of the world’s strictest drug laws — including death for some traffickers. It has executed foreigners in the past, including the masterminds of Australia’s Bali Nine heroin gang. While Dorfin was eligible for the death penalty, prosecutors instead asked for a 20-year jail term plus another year unless he paid a huge fine equivalent to about $700,000. But Indonesian courts have been known to issue harsher-than-demanded punishments. Dorfin was carrying a suitcase filled with about 3 kg (6.6 pounds) of drugs, including ecstasy and amphetamines, when he was arrested. “After finding Felix Dorfin legally and convincingly guilty of importing narcotics … (he) is sentenced to the death penalty,” presiding Judge Isnurul Syamsul Arif told the court. The judge cited Dorfin’s involvement in an international drug syndicate and the amount of drugs in his possession as aggravating factors. “The defendant’s actions could potentially do damage to the younger generation,” Arif added. The Frenchman made headlines in January when he escaped from a police detention center and spent nearly two weeks on the run before he was captured. A female police officer was arrested for allegedly helping Dorfin escape from jail in exchange for money. It was not clear if the jailbreak played any role in Monday’s stiffer-than-expected sentence. Wearing a red prison vest, Dorfin, who is from Bethune in northern France, sat impassively through much of the hearing, as a translator scribbled notes beside him. After the sentencing, he said little as he walked past reporters to a holding cell. “Dorfin was shocked,” said the Frenchman’s lawyer, Deny Nur Indra. “He didn’t expect this at all because prosecutors only asked for 20 years.” The lawyer said he would appeal against the sentence, describing his client as a “victim” who did not know the exact contents of what he was carrying in the suitcase. “If he had known, he wouldn’t have brought it here,” Indra added. In Paris, the French foreign ministry said it was “concerned” by the sentence and reiterated France’s opposition to the death penalty. “We will remain attentive to his situation,” the statement said, adding that seven French people faced the death penalty worldwide. In 2015, Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran — the accused ringleaders of the Bali Nine — were executed by firing squad in Indonesia. The Bali Nine gang’s only female member was released from jail last year, while some others remain in prison. The highly publicized case sparked diplomatic outrage and a call to abolish the death penalty. “The death penalty verdict marks another setback for human rights in Indonesia,” Human Rights Watch campaigner Andreas Harsono said Monday. “The Indonesian government’s many pledges about moving toward abolishing the death penalty clearly meant nothing in Lombok.” There are scores of foreigners on death row in Indonesia, including cocaine-smuggling British grandmother, Lindsay Sandiford, and Serge Atlaoui, a Frenchman who has been on death row since 2007. Last year, eight Taiwanese drug smugglers were sentenced to death by an Indonesian court after being caught with around a ton of crystal methamphetamine.

france
drugs
indonesia
death penalty
bali nine
lombok
felix dorfin


Man accused of murder in Christchurch mosque shootings also charged with terrorism

Abstract: WELLINGTON - New Zealand police have charged the man accused of murder in shootings at two Christchurch mosques in March with engaging in a terrorist act, they said Tuesday. In an attack broadcast live on Facebook, a lone gunman armed with semi-automatic weapons targeted Muslims attending Friday prayers, killing 51 worshippers and wounding dozens of people. Tuesday’s charge under terrorism suppression legislation was filed against Brenton Tarrant, police said. “The charge will allege that a terrorist act was carried out in Christchurch on 15 March 2019,” Commissioner of Police Mike Bush said in a statement. An additional charge of murder and two more charges of attempted murder have also been filed against Tarrant, so that the suspected white supremacist faces a total of 51 charges of murder and 40 of attempted murder. Tarrant’s lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Tarrant is next due to appear in court on June 14, after being remanded in custody in April and ordered to undergo psychiatric assessment to determine if he was fit to stand trial. Police notified roughly 200 family members of attack victims and survivors about the additional charges at a meeting on Tuesday, the statement added.

murder
terrorism
new zealand
christchurch
mass shootings
brenton tarrant


Tepco cautioned about employing foreign workers at Fukushima nuclear plant under new visa system

Abstract: The government on Tuesday urged the operator of the disaster-stricken Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant to carefully examine the firm’s plan to have non-Japanese work at the complex under a new visa program, citing difficulties in managing long-term health risks. “It is necessary to give very deliberate consideration” to whether non-Japanese who arrive under the new visa program should engage in decommissioning work at the plant, labor minister Takumi Nemoto told reporters. Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. said last month it plans to accept foreign workers at the facility, which was hit by the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami disasters in 2011. The minister expressed concern about the ability to conduct long-term health management for foreign workers after they return to their home countries upon expiration of their visas. “It is necessary to establish a safety and health management procedure that is equivalent or more advanced than that for Japanese workers,” Nemoto said. The new visa program, launched this April, is intended to bring in mainly blue-collar foreign workers to 14 labor-hungry sectors including construction, farming and nursing care in aging Japan. Tepco has confirmed with the Justice Ministry that holders of visas under the program are eligible to work at the Fukushima plant. In a set of requests to Tepco, the government has urged the company to take measures to manage the amount of radiation to which workers engaged in decommissioning tasks are exposed. It also requested that the utility study whether it can use native languages for workers who lack general proficiency in the Japanese language and familiarity with the country’s customs during safety training and when issuing safety warnings at workplaces. The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has demanded Tepco report back to the ministry on the outcome of its deliberations, although it did not set a deadline. Tepco said it has told dozens of its subcontractors that non-Japanese arriving under the new visa program are able to not only engage in decommissioning work at the plant but also work in building cleaning roles and the provision of food services. To prevent unsafe levels of radiation exposure, Tepco has said foreign workers must have Japanese language abilities that enable them to accurately understand the risks and to follow procedures and orders communicated to them in Japanese. In radiation-controlled areas, workers need to carry dosimeters. On average, approximately 4,000 people work for Tepco subcontractors at the Fukushima No. 1 plant each day. To address exploitation fears under the new visa system, the Justice Ministry has issued an ordinance requiring employers to pay wages equivalent to or higher than those of Japanese nationals.

fukushima
fukushima no . 1
radiation
tepco
nuclear energy
foreign workers
mhlw


Japan foreign minister puzzles followers with bizarre 'bacon' tweet

Abstract: Bemused followers of Foreign Minister Taro Kono were left scratching their heads Tuesday after a bizarre tweet about bacon, sparking tongue-in-cheek speculation he could be tweeting classified information in code. “Ah, bacon is in fact ^%£$+*.!%….” Kono tweeted in Japanese from his verified account to his 513,000 followers, prompting confusion and many times the number of retweets and ‘likes’ he usually gets from more orthodox tweets about diplomatic meetings. ああ、ベーコンは、結局、^%£$+*•!%🌀✔✖🎶💱 — 河野太郎 (@konotarogomame) May 21, 2019 On Sunday, he tweeted his son had greeted him by “screaming bacon with all his might” when he returned home in the early hours. “What does he want to do?” he tweeted, uploading an image of a sheet of paper on which someone had handwritten the word “bacon” in Japanese. By late Tuesday, his account had reverted to the more mundane, with the minister announcing his attendance at a meeting of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris. There was no further comment on the bacon affair and ministry officials were tight-lipped on the issue. “We are not in a position to say as it’s his own Twitter account,” a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said. The mysterious tweet lit up Japanese social media, with a rash of users guessing at a “secret diplomatic meaning.” One thought it might be a reference to trade, with U.S. President Donald Trump due to arrive later this week for talks. Others were concerned for the minister’s well-being, with one user saying he had “a breakdown because he’s overworked” and another wondering whether he had been affected by the weather, as heavy winds and rain lashed the Japanese capital. Trump, a prolific Twitter user, baffled his millions of followers just months after taking office when he mysteriously tweeted: “Despite the constant negative press covfefe,” sparking speculation as to what “covfefe” meant. He later deleted the tweet, replacing it with: “Who can figure out the true meaning of ‘covfefe’ ??? Enjoy!”

internet
social media
twitter
offbeat
taro kono


Women pass scandal-hit Tokyo Medical University's entrance exam at higher rate than men

Abstract: This year’s pass ratio of female applicants for admission to the scandal-tainted Tokyo Medical University, which had discriminated against women for more than a decade, was slightly higher than that of male applicants, figures released by the university have shown. The pass ratio for women was 20.2 percent, 0.4 percentage point higher than that of men. Last year, the successful ratio for women was only 2.9 percent, while that of men was 9 percent. The surge in the pass rate for both sexes was apparently the result of entrance examination reform. Last year the university admitted it had systematically manipulated scores of female applicants so that it would admit far fewer women than men. Yukiko Hayashi, who in the wake of the scandal became the school’s first female president, had pledged to conduct a “fair and impartial” entrance exam this year. “We usually release such figures around July, but considering the scandal we decided to release the figure early this year for the sake of transparency,” said a university spokesman. According to the figures released Monday, the total number of applicants to the university plunged by over 60 percent, with 470 women and 771 men applying for admission, in what was likely a result of the fallout from the scandal. The medical college started the discriminatory practice based on the belief that women tend to resign or take leaves of absence after getting married or giving birth. The move was said to be aimed at preventing a shortage of doctors at affiliated hospitals. The revelation of the scandal was followed by reports of rampant discrimination against women at many other medical colleges, leading to public outcry. On Tuesday, Tokyo Medical University also said it has issued acceptance letters to 44 applicants who had taken exams within the past two years but were denied entry because of the school’s discriminatory practices. In all, 24 of those receiving the letter have decided to enroll at the university, 16 of whom are women. Under the discriminatory system, female applicants were only able to receive a maximum of 80 points out of 100 even if they answered all questions correctly. Male applicants who had already taken the exam four times or more were also subjected to the discriminatory practice. The medical school reportedly disliked accepting male applicants who had failed a number of times because they also tend to fail the national exam for medical practitioners, which would bring down the university’s ratio of successful applicants and hurt its reputation. A group of lawyers who conducted an internal investigation concluded that the computerized score-deduction system had been effectively in use since at least 2006 and that it had been kept hidden from the applicants.

medicine
gender
women
universities
discrimination
tokyo medical university


Foreign ministers of South Korea and Japan to meet in Paris on OECD sidelines

Abstract: SEOUL - The foreign ministers of South Korea and Japan are scheduled to hold talks in Paris this week on the sidelines of a gathering of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the South Korean Foreign Ministry said Tuesday. The talks between Kang Kyung-wha and Taro Kono, slated to coincide with an OECD ministerial council meeting to be held Wednesday and Thursday, come as the two countries remain at odds over wartime labor issues. On Monday, Japan asked South Korea that a third-party arbitration panel be established over South Korean court orders against Japanese firms to compensate laborers made to work during Japan’s colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. The South Korean government said it will “carefully review” the request, based on a 1965 bilateral accord that addressed issues of property and claims between the two nations. It remains unclear, however, whether Seoul would agree to Japan’s arbitration request. In Tokyo on Tuesday, Kono told a news conference that he hopes to discuss the wartime labor issue with Kang, saying, “I don’t think South Korea wants relations with Japan to further worsen. “They have to accept our request for arbitration. If necessary, we are prepared to dispute the issue under international law.” Last October, South Korea’s top court ordered Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corp. to compensate former Korean laborers for forced work. Since then, similar rulings have been passed against other Japanese companies. Japan has called on South Korea to resolve the matter internally in such a way that would not hurt the interests of its firms operating there. South Korea, in contrast, has taken the stance that it is difficult for the government to intervene in judicial decisions due to a separation of powers. The two foreign ministers last held talks in mid-February in Germany.

south korea
oecd
wartime labor
south korea-japan relations
taro kono
kang kyung-wha


In joint resolution, LDP and Komeito rebuke lawmaker Hodaka Maruyama over 'war' comment

Abstract: The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner Komeito on Tuesday jointly submitted to the Diet a resolution rebuking an opposition lawmaker who recently came under fire for suggesting Japan wage war with Russia to regain control over a group of disputed islands. In the resolution, the ruling coalition said the comment made by former Nippon Ishin no Kai lawmaker Hodaka Maruyama “runs counter to pacifism” and “significantly undermines Japan’s national interest,” describing it as “absolutely intolerable.” The pair closed their resolution by urging him to “reflect seriously on” what he said. Tuesday’s move by the ruling bloc followed a sterner measure taken last week by six opposition parties, including Nippon Ishin and the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, which went as far as to demand he resign as a lawmaker. In their resolution, the LDP and Komeito suggested Maruyama’s remark, although “unjustifiable,” doesn’t warrant a move by the opposition bloc calling for his resignation. “Past resolutions urging a lawmaker’s resignation have all been submitted in response to cases of unequivocal, grave malpractices, and there has been no instance where such a resolution was driven by problematic remarks,” the ruling bloc stated in the resolution. LDP Secretary-General Toshihiro Nikai told a news conference Tuesday that “we should be careful in taking away a (Diet member’s) status in a single sweep,” according to Kyodo News. Coming at a time when the LDP itself is grappling with a series of blunders made by its lawmakers, part of the reason for the party’s reluctance to follow in the footsteps of the opposition is its apparent fear that things will “spiral out of control” if a precedent is set for the submission of such severe resolutions over gaffes, said Kazuhisa Kawakami, a professor of political science at the International University of Health and Welfare. The LDP recently had to create a code of conduct in terms of how to avoid making headlines over verbal flubs. Kawakami also said the fact the ruling and opposition blocs didn’t unanimously pursue a resolution seeking Maruyama’s resignation possibly avoided giving Russia a diplomatic advantage. “If Japanese lawmakers made the gesture of an all-out apology by unanimously submitting a motion demanding the resignation of a lawmaker who said something provocative about Russia, that may have created a precedent that could be (taken advantage of) by Russia,” he said. Maruyama, a House of Representatives lawmaker, has been roundly chastised for a remark he made earlier this month as he accompanied former Japanese residents of the disputed islands off Hokkaido on a visa-free trip to one of them. In his conversation with the residents, a reportedly drunk Maruyama at one point provocatively asked, “Do you think there is any alternative to war (to recover the islands)?” His gaffe was quick to trigger a barrage of public criticism, with Nippon Ishin swiftly moving toward stripping him of his party membership. Maruyama, for his part, has so far remained defiant, rejecting any calls to resign.

conflict
russia
ldp
diet
gaffes
ruling bloc
hodaka maruyama


Cherry blossom-seekers spur Japan tourism in April to record high

Abstract: The number of foreign visitors to Japan in April rose 0.9 percent from a year earlier to 2,926,700, marking a record high for any month, government data showed Tuesday. The increase was partly due to European, American and Australian tourists who took advantage of the Easter vacation, which started in April this year, as well as the result of effective promotion of the country’s cherry blossoms by the tourism industry, explained the Japan Tourism Agency. But growth in the number of Asian visitors was dented by concerns over the surging cost of airplane tickets and over congestion in tourist spots by domestic travelers caused by the 10-day Golden Week vacation beginning in late April. Golden Week was extended this year because of Emperor Naruhito’s ascension to the throne. The total number of foreign travelers in the January to April period reached 10,980,500, up 4.4 percent from the same period a year earlier, according to the Japan Tourism Agency. By country and region, the highest number of tourists came from China at 2,895,400, up 10.2 percent, on the back of the easing of visa restrictions in January. The number of visitors from South Korea declined by 4.4 percent to 2,647,400, as did those from Taiwan by 1.0 percent to 1,593,200. There was substantial growth in the number of visitors from Vietnam and Thailand, with rises of 30.3 percent and 19.4 percent, respectively. The government has set a target of attracting 40 million foreign visitors in a year by 2020, when Japan hosts the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. In order to achieve this goal the Japan Tourism Agency will “seriously analyze each market,” Hiroshi Tabata, commissioner of the agency, said at a news conference.

tourism
japan tourism agency
inbound tourism
visitors


Emperor Naruhito takes part in rice planting ceremony at Imperial Palace in Tokyo

Abstract: Emperor Naruhito on Monday conducted the first rice planting at the Imperial Palace since he assumed the throne on May 1. Rice farming at the palace in Tokyo was initiated by Emperor Hirohito — posthumously known as Emperor Showa — who was the grandfather of the present emperor. The practice was passed on to Emperor Akihito, the father of the current emperor, who now holds the title of emperor emeritus, and has now been inherited by Emperor Naruhito. The emperor carefully planted rice seedlings so that they will not be blown over by the wind. The rice planting took place in a paddy field near a biology laboratory at the palace. The emperor planted the mangetsumochi glutinous rice variety and nihomasari , a nonglutinous type. The seedlings were grown from unhulled rice seeds planted by the emperor emeritus last month, before his abdication on April 30. Emperor Naruhito will continue rice farming activities, including seeding, planting and harvesting like his father did, sources familiar with the matter said.

rice
imperial family
imperial palace
emperor naruhito


Japan shifts toward digital storage of records after Moritomo, SDF and other scandals

Abstract: The government plans to shift toward digital management of most public records by the time the new National Archives of Japan building opens in fiscal 2026, aiming to prevent the record management scandals that have plagued the Abe government. Such scandals include the Finance Ministry’s manipulation of documents related to school operator Moritomo Gakuen, which was able to buy a plot of public land at a steep discount, and the Defense Ministry’s cover-up of daily activity reports written by Ground Self-Defense Force officers during overseas peacekeeping operations. The government adopted a set of measures last July that included severe penalties for manipulating or hiding public records, as well as creating a system to digitally manage documents. “Although regaining lost trust is extremely difficult, we must do it,” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told his Cabinet. In a decision March 25, the government stipulated that administrative records should be “systematically managed, with electronic forms used as their originals and authentic copies.” The government is to establish a system that automatically records when documents are stored, the names of the writers, dates of preparation, categorization and other information, and which repeats the process every time a record is modified. As of fiscal 2016, there were an estimated 18.4 million national administrative records, 93.6 percent of which were kept on paper and 6.1 percent electronically. At present, email messages are automatically deleted at some ministries and agencies after a set period of time to secure server capacity. The government will not adopt such a system for managing digital records, to avoid the risk of losing important information on the decision-making process. The paper-based storage of records that are legally required or deemed essential in order to maintain value, such as documents signed and sealed by emperors and Cabinet meeting documents signed by ministers, will remain in place. Continuing advances in electronic technology make it essential for the government to consider how best to store records on a long-term basis, officials said. “Records written on washi (traditional handmade paper) can be stored for 1,000 years,” an official at the Cabinet Office said. “But for electronic (storage), it’s impossible to maintain the same format for 1,000 years.” The government decision thus calls for studies to “realize the long-term stable use” of records. The government will amend its guidelines and rules for record management by the end of fiscal 2019 to facilitate computerized management of administrative records, officials said.

shinzo abe
computers
scandals
moritomo gakuen
national archives


Shizuoka city advises some residents to evacuate as torrential downpours hit parts of Japan's main island

Abstract: Heavy rain lashed Japan’s main island of Honshu on Tuesday, disrupting rush-hour transport and prompting one city to advise residents to evacuate. The western city of Wakayama was deluged by 55.5 millimeters of rain per hour during the early morning — a record for May — while central Tokyo and central Nagoya recorded 13.5 mm per hour and 23 mm per hour, respectively. The city of Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture urged some residents to evacuate as river levels rose. The prefectural government issued a mudslide warning for a wider area including Fujinomiya, Shimada, Kakegawa and Fujieda. The Meteorological Agency said a cold front passing Honshu and the inflow of a warm and humid air mass brought the heavy rain. It also warned of high waves, strong winds, lightning and tornadoes along the Pacific coast of eastern Japan. Trains in the Kanto region covering the Tokyo metropolitan area were delayed or suspended, and a ferry service in Tokyo Bay was canceled. The agency expects 180 mm of rain in the 24 hours through 6 a.m. Wednesday in parts of Kanto, the Izu island chain south of Tokyo, and the Tokai region that includes Shizuoka Prefecture.

weather hamamatsu shizuoka rain wakayama


Japan's weather agency to extend range of temperature forecasts from seven days to 12

Abstract: To allow people to better prepare for upcoming weather, the Meteorological Agency will next month begin offering temperature forecasts for 12 days instead of the current seven. The forecasts will be published on the agency’s official website every day at around 2:30 p.m. starting June 19. The change is aimed at allowing people to brace earlier for the possibility of heatstroke or heat exhaustion, and to assist in planning for farming and travel. Longer-range weather forecasts will be made possible with the use of supercomputers introduced last year. New temperature forecast data will be available for roughly 70 locations across Japan. In addition to the highest and lowest temperatures for the past seven days and upcoming seven days, new information will include such temperatures for eight to 12 days ahead projected on the basis of the average temperatures observed over the previous five days. The use of colors will make it easy to tell when preparation is needed. Days with maximum and minimum temperatures significantly higher than usual will be shown in red, with those slightly higher in orange, those slightly lower in light blue, and those significantly lower in dark blue.

weather
temperature
meteorological agency


Five injured, including three pedestrians, after five-car crash in central Tokyo

Abstract: Five people were injured in a car crash involving five vehicles Tuesday morning in central Tokyo, but none were in a serious condition, local police said. A truck rammed into three pedestrians and hit four vehicles when it entered a crossroad in the capital’s Shinbashi business district at about 9:45 a.m., they said. The male truck driver in his 30s, the male driver of a passenger vehicle in his 40s and three pedestrians in their 20s to 50s were injured, the police said. Investigators suspect the truck ignored a red light and collided into the pedestrians. The truck later hit a car and a bus as well as a truck and a tour bus waiting in the opposite lane. The tour bus was carrying about 40 children from a preschool who were out on a trip. None of them were injured.


New real-time flood projection system developed by joint Waseda and University of Tokyo team to be tested in Tokyo

Abstract: A team led by Waseda University and University of Tokyo researchers has developed a flood projection computer system that they claim is able to provide more accurate real-time estimates than existing ones. The new system will initially be launched for Tokyo’s 23 wards on a trial basis, and the team hopes full-fledged prediction service will start by the beginning of the Tokyo Olympics next year. The new system would help ease flood damage, the team said. Risks of heavy rain on an unprecedented scale have grown recently due to global climate change, the team said. The system, called S-uiPS (Sekine’s urban inundation Prediction System), predicts floods based on detailed urban infrastructure data, including how the sewage system and streets are structured and connected to rivers. Additionally, it uses rainfall monitoring and projection data from the transport ministry and the Meteorological Agency to predict floods in real time, the team said. The new projection system, which shows constantly updated flood map on the screen, can help municipalities and people make critical decisions, the team said. The map shows the result of a simulation with five different colors indicating the projected level of flooding. “I can only think of two places where flooding might kill people: underground spaces and underpasses,” said Masato Sekine, professor at Waseda University and an expert in hydraulics and river engineering. Sekine developed the core components of the program. When it rains heavily, underground spaces have a high risk of being inundated, and drivers can become stuck in flooded railroad or highway underpasses. Thus, judging when the appropriate time to seal underground spaces with watertight doors and to block such underpasses is important, Sekine said. Because S-uiPS maps out a detailed prediction for 30 minutes into the future, it will provide crucial information for the decision-making process, said Sekine. It takes 10 minutes for the program to reflect the necessary calculations, so people will see a simulation of the situation 20 minutes ahead of time. There have been other flood prediction programs, but those programs lack comprehensive inputs regarding how rainwater flow would be affected by urban infrastructure and rivers. They also often apply simplified calculation models. But in order to achieve greater accuracy, the S-uiPS does not simplify calculations, said Sekine, adding that researchers from the University of Tokyo have helped realize the fast processing needed for the real-time projections. Sekine said a massive flood disaster in 2000 that hit the Tokai region, which includes the city of Nagoya, prompted him to pursue the project. “If the same kind of disaster happens in Tokyo, it will be problematic. … I started this because I wanted to somehow contribute to” lessening the risks, said Sekine. The trial of S-uiPS in Tokyo will kick off by the end of June. If local urban infrastructure data is available, the new method can be applied to other cities, the team said.

disasters
university of tokyo
floods
waseda university


10-year-old Japanese go professional debuts on international stage

Abstract: BEIJING - Japan’s youngest professional go player, 10-year-old Sumire Nakamura, debuted in an international match in Beijing on Tuesday in a game that was closely watched in China. Nakamura, who officially entered the lowest professional rank of shodan in April, competed against 27-year-old Wang Chenxing, a Chinese fifth-degree go player. Nakamura, who was beaten by Wang, has drawn a lot of attention in China as a new Japanese star, a woman in her 30s said in Beijing. Nakamura’s game was broadcast live online. China is one of the world’s greatest go nations, along with South Korea. The Tokyo-born Nakamura started playing the board game at the age of 3. She took part in Japan’s national tournament for boys and girls when she was in the second grade. After honing her skills in South Korea in recent years, she is now living in Japan and attending elementary school in Osaka. Nakamura has pledged to make efforts to become a go player who can compete on the world stage. Her 46-year-old father, Shinya Nakamura, is a ninth-degree professional go player.


Man arrested for allegedly threatening to kill member of AKB48 spin-off group

Abstract: NIIGATA - A 24-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of threatening to kill a member of a sister group of the popular AKB48 girl band, police said. Kazuki Domoto was arrested Monday for threatening Yuka Ogino, a member of NGT48 based in the city of Niigata, by faxing a letter to a news organization May 9 suggesting he would kill her, according to the police. Last December, two people were arrested for allegedly assaulting another NGT48 member, Maho Yamaguchi, who left the group Saturday. AKS Co., the management company for NGT48, came under criticism for its handling of Yamaguchi’s case as it did not reveal the incident until she referred to it in a Twitter post. The Niigata Prefectural Police said Domoto, who lives in Kyoto Prefecture, has admitted to sending the fax but denied any intention of killing Ogino. The police said a record of the letter’s transmission from a convenience store in Kyoto and security camera footage led to Domoto’s arrest. In addition to several other AKB48 spin-off groups in Japan, there are overseas sister units such as JKT48 in Indonesia, BNK48 in Thailand and MNL48 in the Philippines.


Japanese director of hot-spring consultancy handed 15-year prison sentence in China for spying

Abstract: BEIJING - A Japanese man convicted of spying by a Chinese court was sentenced to 15 years in prison Monday, Sino-Japanese sources revealed the same day. The man, in his 50s, was also fined 100,000 yuan (about ¥1.6 million) by the court in Hainan Province for having illegally obtained state secrets, analyzed them and disseminated them abroad, they said. Since 2015, at least nine Japanese people have been indicted in China for alleged involvement in spying activities, and this marks the seventh time for a court to render a verdict. The man, a director of a hot spring development consultancy company in the city of Dalian in northeastern Liaoning Province, was detained in 2017 along with five other Japanese while assisting in geological assessments of potential sites in Hainan and Shandong provinces. Two of the six were formally arrested later that year for having violated anti-espionage and national security laws, local media reported previously, while the other four were allowed to return to Japan. The authorities had reportedly retrieved a large amount of classified information, including nearly 80 copies of maps, from the pair’s computers and other electronic devices. Of the two who were arrested, the other man, in his 70s, was sentenced last Friday to a prison term of five years and six months by a court in Shandong. The issue of the Japanese detainees in China was raised at the summit level when Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Beijing in October 2017 and stated that the Japanese government is not engaged in spying activities in the country.

china courts espionage onsen hainan liaoning shandong


Third of Japan's lay judges say experience was stressful, but system viewed positively overall

Abstract: One in three citizen judges recently surveyed by Kyodo News said passing judgment on their fellow peers in court was stressful, but a large majority still reflected on their experience as being positive. Of the 342 respondents in the survey conducted ahead of the lay judge system’s 10-year anniversary on Tuesday, 31 percent said they were “stressed to some extent,” and 3 percent felt a “high degree of stress” from the experience. The lay judge system was introduced on May 21, 2009, in order to reflect the opinions of ordinary people. One of the main difficulties cited by respondents was the necessity of seeing photos of dead bodies and other disturbing types of evidence. Some also said it was difficult to take part in court proceedings that would ultimately decide on whether to put a guilty person to death. Of those who said they experienced a “high degree of stress,” one respondent said she felt ill and everything she ate at the time tasted bad. But the survey found that 51 percent still believe citizen judges should be involved in decisions involving possible capital punishment, while 22 percent disagreed and 27 percent said they have no opinion. Approximately a quarter of respondents said their experience of the citizen judge system was not stressful. The survey, conducted by mail or email from March involving people that Kyodo News has come into contact with in its reporting, found 87 percent believe their experiences were “very good” and 11 percent think they were “good to some extent.” It showed 92 percent view the lay judge system as having helped reflect the common sense of ordinary people in rulings, and 84 percent supported the system’s continued use. Only 3 percent said it should be abolished. According to a Supreme Court report released last week, from the system’s initial implementation in 2009 through March this year, about 91,000 people have served as citizen judges, overseeing around 12,000 cases. More than 10 percent of rulings handed down by lay judges were overturned by high courts, the report showed. Asked about how they feel when a ruling made in a citizen judge case is overturned, 40 percent said it is acceptable, while 19 percent said it is not, and 41 percent said they are not sure. Under the system, citizens chosen at random become eligible to act as lay judges. Those selected can refuse to accept a request if court officials deem their reasons sufficient. In principle, six lay judges chosen from among the candidates in a lottery plus three professional judges are on the bench in district court trials for serious crimes such as murder, robbery, arson and rape. If no consensus is reached, a simple majority is required for a defendant to be found guilty, however, at least one professional judge must support the verdict for it to be accepted.


Ex-Ritsumeikan teacher, a suspect in 2016 Dhaka terror attack fatal to 22, held in Iraq

Abstract: DHAKA - A Bangladeshi academic believed to have played a role in planning a July 2016 terror attack in Dhaka that killed 22 people, including seven Japanese, is being detained in northern Iraq, a Bangladesh intelligence official said Monday. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said information received through informal channels suggests that Mohammad Saifullah Ozaki, who once taught at Japan’s Ritsumeikan University, is being held in the Kurdish city of Sulaymaniyah. Ozaki, alias Sujit Debnath, was among 10 Bangladeshi militants who surrendered to the Kurds in the former Islamic State stronghold of Baghouz, Syria, after it fell to the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces on March 15, according to the information. Aside from the Dhaka attack, he also is believed to have played a role in recruiting Bangladeshi youths to fight for Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. On the night of July 1, 2016, five militants stormed the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka’s posh Gulshan area and took several dozen people, including 18 foreigners, hostage. Twenty hostages, including seven Japanese and nine Italians, were killed as the terrorists sprayed them with bullets indiscriminately and slit their throats. Two policemen were also killed in the incident, as were all the militants.

terrorism
syria
bangladesh
kurds
islamic state
ritsumeikan university
dhaka attack
mohammad saifullah ozaki
baghouz


After fatal accidents, Abe orders measures to tighten safety for young pedestrians and elderly drivers

Abstract: Following a recent spate of accidents in which children have been killed, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday instructed ministers to ensure road safety for preschoolers. Abe also called for measures featuring advanced technology such as automatic braking systems to enhance the safety of vehicles driven by the elderly, amid concern over the number of accidents caused by senior citizens behind the wheel. “In order to protect the lives of children who will be responsible for the next generation, I’d like you to swiftly compile measures ensuring the safety of routes that groups (of children) take on a daily basis,” the prime minister told a meeting involving the heads of education and welfare ministries and police. Earlier this month, a vehicle involved in a collision with another vehicle rammed into toddlers who were walking with their teachers along a road in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, killing two 2-year-olds and injuring 14 others. Last month, a car driven by an 87-year-old driver struck pedestrians and people on bicycles at several crosswalks in Tokyo’s Ikebukuro district, resulting in the deaths of a 3-year-old girl and her mother, as well as injuries to eight others. “Heartbreaking accidents have continued to occur although measures have been taken,” Abe said, referring to cognitive function tests conducted for elderly drivers under the revised road traffic law. After the meeting, Mitsuhiro Miyakoshi, minister in charge of traffic safety, told a news conference that he will launch a working group to tackle the issues based on Abe’s instructions. Shortly after the accident in Otsu, the transport ministry started nationwide safety checks on roads used by young children to go to and from their kindergartens and schools.

shinzo abe
children
elderly
traffic accidents
mext
mhlw


Former U.S. defense chiefs and Ethiopian ex-leader to be decorated in Japan

Abstract: Former U.S. defense secretaries Chuck Hagel and Ashton Carter, as well as former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, will be among 142 foreign nationals recognized in this year’s spring awards for notable contributions to relations between Japan and their countries, the government said Tuesday. The list of recipients for the annual decorations was announced a month later than usual to allow for Emperor Naruhito’s ascension to the throne early this month. The 142 foreign recipients come from 61 countries and regions. Hagel, 72, and Carter, 64, who served in former U.S. President Barack Obama’s administration, and Hailemariam, 53, will receive the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun. Of the 4,225 Japanese recipients of decorations, 401 are women and 1,984 are from the private sector, both the highest numbers since the honors system was reformed in 2003. Itsuro Terada, 71, a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, will be bestowed with the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers, which is the highest decoration to be given at the ceremony. Jazz trumpeter Terumasa Hino, 76, will receive the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette. Former financial services minister Shizuka Kamei, 82, and the chairman of the Nippon Foundation, Yohei Sasakawa, 80, are among those who will receive the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun. The award ceremony will be held at the Imperial Palace on Thursday, with the emperor and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in attendance.

awards
u.s .
chuck hagel
ashton carter
ethiopia
u.s.-japan relations
ethiopia-japan relations
hailemariam desalegn


Who should pay for higher education in Japan? The public, parents or students themselves?

Abstract: The powers that be have enacted legislation that will expand support for higher education, including grants and scholarships for college and trade school students from low-income households. Education experts are suggesting it’s time once again to consider who should shoulder the costs. The law coming into force next April will ensure that tuition fees for eligible students at universities, two-year colleges, specialized training schools and professional training schools will be waived or reduced, and scholarships and grants to cover their living expenses will also be provided. “We are aiming for a society where people can seize the future by their passion and effort regardless of their households’ financial situation,” education minister Masahiko Shibayama said as the Diet deliberated the bill. The government plans to pay for this by tapping revenue from the consumption tax hike planned for this October. But considering that people have a stronger desire to see public support for early childhood education than tertiary education, Masayuki Kobayashi, a professor at the University of Tokyo’s Center for Research and Development of Higher Education, suggests that the general public needs to be reminded of the socio-economic benefits of higher education. Speaking before the Lower House Commission on the Constitution and elsewhere, Kobayashi insists that higher education will correct economic and educational disparities beyond generations through increases in income and economic growth based on improved skills and knowledge brought by education. Japan has some of the highest tuition fees for tertiary education among OECD member countries, with costs rising in the past decade, according to the OECD study Education at a Glance 2018. Government spending on tertiary education in Japan accounts for 1.7 percent of public spending, barely better than half the average of 3 percent for OECD countries. Tertiary educational institutions in Japan rely heavily on private funding, as 68 percent of expenditures is privately funded, more than twice the OECD average of 30 percent. Kobayashi classifies educational institutions in various countries by tuition and student aid policies. Japan’s public universities are classified as “low tuition, low aid,” while its private universities are categorized as “high tuition, low aid.” U.S. public universities and community colleges are classified as “low tuition, low aid,” while U.S. private universities are labeled as “high tuition, high aid.” Sweden is classified in the “low tuition, high aid” category. Kobayashi also presents three models and background beliefs for education in terms of cost-sharing for higher education. According to these models, parents sustain higher education based on a paternalistic view in Japanese society, as opposed to the public sustaining higher education in welfare states like Sweden, or students themselves in countries with individualistic societies such as the United States. According to a survey by the Japan Student Services Organization, the amount of financial support provided by families as a percentage of the income of university students has declined — from 76 percent in fiscal 1996 to 66 percent in fiscal 2008, and to 60 percent in fiscal 2016, while the percentage of student loans increased from 6 percent to 15 percent to 20 percent in those years. Meanwhile, the number of students who rely on student loans has been rising. The student service organization, an independent institution affiliated with the education ministry, provided a total of around ¥1.02 trillion to more than 1.29 million university and other students in fiscal 2017, a significant surge from roughly ¥200 billion in fiscal 1994 and about ¥500 billion in fiscal 2002. Since fiscal 2010, the amount loaned to students has exceeded ¥1 trillion each year, according to the organization. While student loans were the primary form of student aid, the organization started providing scholarships and grants with no obligation for repayment in fiscal 2017 to meet increasing demand for such assistance, joining efforts by local governments and the private sector. There is concern that a heavy reliance on student loans can be burdensome for individuals in their post-school years. The organization is expected to give out scholarships to some 20,000 students in the current fiscal year through March 2020. Starting in April 2020, about ¥350,000 will be provided on an annual basis to students at national or other public higher education institutions who commute from their family home, and about ¥800,000 for students who live away from home. About ¥460,000 and around ¥910,000, respectively, will be provided to students of private schools. About ¥540,000, the standard tuition fee at national and other public universities, will be waived and private school tuition fees will be reduced by up to ¥700,000. The annual income of eligible households has been set at less than ¥2.7 million for a family of four, while students from families with an annual income of below ¥3.8 million are eligible to receive a partial scholarship. Some national universities have already raised tuition fees prior to the anticipated tax hike. Opposition lawmakers and critics have denounced the aid plan, claiming the scope of recipients needs to be expanded as middle-class families are expected to face a more substantial financial burden in the future. School payment gaps between public and private school students could also widen. “The legislation will cover only limited targets, and needs to be revised,” said Shizuka Iwasaki, a student at the University of Tokyo and the head of a student advocacy group. “I hope (the government) will lower tuition and expand scholarship programs toward free education in a true sense.”

u.s .
sweden
taxes
education
universities
students
student loans


Facebook removes more pages tied to Russian operators

Abstract: LOS ANGELES - Facebook on Monday said it removed more pages, groups and accounts that originated in Russia and were being deceptive about who was behind them and what they were up to. The takedown at Facebook and its image-centric social network Instagram was described as part of an ongoing battle against “coordinated inauthentic behavior” that has blocked numerous fake accounts from around the world. “We found two separate, unconnected operations that originated in Russia and used similar tactics, creating networks of accounts to mislead others about who they were and what they were doing,” Facebook head of cybersecurity policy Nathaniel Gleicher said in a blog post. He added that the takedowns were based on the deceptive behavior of those behind the accounts, and not the content posted. Ukraine was the focus of 97 Facebook accounts, pages, or groups removed from the social network, according to Gleicher. Fake accounts were used to operate pages and groups, spread their content and ramp up engagement, as well as to get people to visit an outside website. Posts by the account typically involved local and political news; topics including military conflict in eastern Ukraine, civil war in Syria, and Russian politics. Facebook did not disclose identities of those behind the accounts. Pages involved had about 34,000 followers each, and about 86,000 Facebook users had joined at least one of the groups. Only a single dollar was spent on a Facebook ad, which ran more than a year ago. “We identified some of these accounts and Pages through follow-on investigations of the accounts and Pages we removed earlier this year ahead of the elections in Ukraine,” Gleicher said. “We have shared information about our analysis with law enforcement, policymakers and industry partners.” An additional 21 Facebook and Instagram accounts or pages removed focused on Austria, the Baltic states, Germany, Spain, Ukraine and the United Kingdom, according to the California-based internet titan. Those accounts posted content related to political issues such as immigration, as well as religion and NATO, Facebook said. The campaign used fake accounts, impersonating other users, and amplified “allegations about a public figure working on behalf of intelligence services,” Gleicher said.

russia
cybersecurity
facebook
instagram
fake news
nathaniel gleicher


No rush to cut agriculture tariffs in Japan-U.S. trade talks, top negotiator Motegi says

Abstract: Japan’s top trade negotiator said Tuesday there are no plans to cut tariffs on U.S. farm products ahead of a wider bilateral trade deal. “As a rule in trade negotiations, there won’t be an agreement in any particular category before the others,” Toshimitsu Motegi, minister for economic and fiscal policy, told reporters. He made the remark in reference to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue’s comments last week seeking to prioritize an agreement on farm products to improve the competitiveness of U.S. produce against that of Pacific trade pact members who export to Japan at lower tariff rates. The United States is not part of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership whose members include major agricultural producers such as Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Tokyo and Washington began trade negotiations in mid-April as part of U.S. President Donald Trump’s push to reduce his country’s large trade deficit and increase jobs. Motegi and his counterpart in the talks, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, have agreed to include agriculture and industrial goods as well as digital trade such as e-commerce and music streaming services, a point Motegi said the two recently re-affirmed. While Japan remains wary of granting the United States greater access to its agriculture market without securing lower tariffs for one of its main exports, automobiles, Trump has expressed hope that a deal on farm products will be reached before he visits from May 25 to 28 to meet with Emperor Naruhito.

u.s .
agriculture
trade
carmakers
tariffs
u.s.-japan relations


Toyota President Akio Toyoda to get honorary doctorate from U.S. college

Abstract: NEW YORK - Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda will receive an honorary degree from Babson College in Massachusetts, his alma mater. The honorary degree will be presented May 18 when Toyoda, 63, will give a speech at a graduation ceremony at the U.S. private university, , informed sources said Monday. In June, Toyoda will also mark his 10th year since taking over as president of the major automaker. After graduating from Keio University in Tokyo in 1979, Toyoda obtained his master’s degree in business administration at Babson College in 1982. He entered Toyota in 1984 after working at a U.S. investment bank. Babson College is marking its 100th anniversary this year. Other Japanese alumni of the college’s MBA program, which is focused on entrepreneurship education, include Motoya Katsuya, president of major retailer Aeon Co.

awards
u.s .
toyota
carmakers
akio toyoda


'Management by terror': France Telecom ex-bosses go on trial over 2008-2009 suicide wave

Abstract: PARIS - The former chief executive of France Telecom and other ex-bosses went on trial Monday facing unprecedented charges of moral harassment that allegedly prompted 35 employees to take their own lives a decade ago. The wave of suicides, which shocked France at the time, took place from 2008 to 2009 and raised questions about the workplace culture at the former state telecom giant. The company is now known as Orange after being renamed in 2013. Former chief executive Didier Lombard, who helmed the company from 2005 to 2010, several other bosses and also Orange itself are on trial for allegedly overseeing institutionalized harassment at the company. The trial opened at the Paris criminal court nearly seven years after Lombard and France Telecom itself were charged with “moral harassment,” which is defined as “frequently repeated acts whose aim or effect is the degradation of working conditions. “For six months I was given nothing to do,” Yves Minguy, a former IT specialist who joined the company in 1973, told AFP before the trial. “They were putting pressure on us to quit.” He was eventually reassigned to another job, “But one morning, without warning, I was told: ‘Put away your things, you’re going to answer phones at a call center,'” he said. The hearing at the packed courthouse included civil plaintiffs who are relatives of former France Telecom staff who killed themselves. “I was told to get people to leave by any means necessary,” a 59-year-old former manager who gave his named as Claude told AFP, referring to his team of 120 workers. Alongside Lombard, also in the dock on the same charge were the company’s former number two, Louis-Pierre Wenes, and the former head of human resources, Olivier Barberot. Four others face charges of complicity in a trial set to be closely followed by businesses, unions and workforce experts. If convicted, they could face a year behind bars and a €15,000 ($16,800) fine. The trial could last until July 12. Orange itself could be slapped with a €75,000 sanction if found guilty. Despite France’s labor laws, which are some of the strongest in the world, there have been increasing concerns about the consequences of pressure in the workplace, including depression, long-term illness, professional burnout and even suicide. Unions and management accept that 35 France Telecom employees took their own lives between 2008 and 2009. Lombard stepped down as a result of the deaths. Formerly a public company, France Telecom was privatized in 2004, a move that led to major restructuring and job losses. During the investigation, magistrates focused on the cases of 39 employees, 19 of whom killed themselves, 12 who tried to, and eight who suffered from acute depression or were signed off sick as a result of it. In July 2008, a 51-year-old technician from Marseille killed himself, leaving a letter accusing the bosses of “management by terror.” Two months later, a 32-year-old woman jumped out of the window of her Paris office as horrified colleagues looked on. Lombard, who served as chairman and chief executive from 2005 to 2010, also inflamed the situation with remarks that were condemned for being callous. He admitted he had committed “an enormous gaffe” by speaking of a “suicide fad” at the company. And in 2006, Lombard had told staff in now notorious comments: “I’ll get people to leave one way or another, either through the window or the door.” He resigned in March 2010. The investigating magistrates’ summary of charges, a copy of which was seen by AFP, accuses Lombard of putting in place “a corporate policy aimed at undermining the employees … by creating a professional climate which provoked anxiety. Hundreds of people protested outside the courthouse ahead of the trial opening, urging that justice be served for the former executives. “My life today is ruined,” said former France Telecom employee Beatrice Pannier, 56, who joined the company in 1982 and has been on sick leave since she tried to kill herself in 2011. “The moment of truth has arrived.” Patrick Ackermann of the SUD union said he expected that the “former executives are convicted … that they express remorse and they recognize they crossed the line.” The trial marks the first time that representatives from a blue-chip company in France’s CAC-40 stock index have gone on trial for moral harassment.


Japan stocks take hit as Trump officials say more China tariffs to come this week

Abstract: WASHINGTON - Top U.S. trade officials claimed Monday that China has backtracked on substantial commitments during trade talks with the United States, prompting President Donald Trump to impose additional tariffs on Chinese goods that will go into effect Friday. The swift deterioration in negotiations between the world’s two largest economies hit global financial markets as investors faced the prospect of an escalation rather than an end to a 10-month-old trade war. Trump tweeted Sunday that he would raise tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods to 25 percent from 10 percent by the end of the week, and would “soon” target the remaining Chinese imports with tariffs. The declaration sent stocks and oil prices lower on Monday. The Nikkei 225 stock average shed 1.51 percent Tuesday to mark the first closing below 22,000 in nearly a month, taking a delayed hit after Japan’s financial markets opened following a 10-day market break to mark the ascension of the new emperor to the throne. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, who has been an advocate for tough structural changes in China, said Beijing reneged on commitments it made previously that would have changed the agreement substantially. “Over the course of the last week or so we have seen … an erosion in commitments by China,” Lighthizer told reporters. “That in our view is unacceptable.” Chinese Vice Premier Liu He is expected to be in Washington this Thursday and Friday for further talks. “We’re not breaking off talks at this point. But for now … come Friday there will be tariffs in place,” Lighthizer said. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, considered to be less hawkish toward Beijing, said China’s backtracking became clear with “new information” over the weekend. He declined to give specifics and said the U.S. side had originally hoped to conclude a deal one way or the other this week. “They were trying to go back on language that had been previously negotiated, very clear language, that had the potential of changing the deal dramatically,” Mnuchin said. “The entire economic team … are completely unified and recommended to the president to move forward with tariffs if we are not able to conclude a deal by the end of the week.” A spokesman at the Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to queries about the U.S. claims. “We are also in the process of understanding the relevant situation,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said earlier in Beijing. “What I can tell you is that China’s team is preparing to go to the United States for the discussions. “We still hope the United States can work hard with China to meet each other halfway, and strive to reach a mutually beneficial, win-win agreement on the basis of mutual respect.” China has repeatedly said it will make changes to open its economy according to its own timeline, not in response to trade disputes. But recently it has enacted new laws and amended others, moves some see as efforts to address concerns shared by the U.S. and other foreign investors — including those from China’s largest trading partner, the European Union. In March, China fast-tracked the approval of a new Foreign Investment Law and passed it at the annual meeting of the country’s parliament, with Premier Li Keqiang pledging that the government would follow through and enforce the legislation giving protection to foreign firms. Last month, the parliament’s standing committee also amended three existing laws to strengthen trade secrets protections, take further measures to stop forced technology transfers and increase trademark infringement punishments. Trump’s announcement Sunday abruptly ended a five-month truce in a trade war that has cost the two countries billions of dollars, slowed global growth and disrupted manufacturing supply chains and U.S. farm exports. Businesses, while largely supportive of Trump’s tough stance on China, want the tariffs to be lifted. Mnuchin said Monday that the stock market reaction was not affecting U.S. decisions on the trade talks. A person familiar with the negotiations said the latest dispute came after the Chinese side sought to deal with policy changes through administrative and regulatory actions, not through changes to Chinese law as had previously been agreed. “It undermines the core architecture of the deal,” the person said, adding that not codifying the concessions would make it difficult to verify and enforce China’s compliance. While it is unclear which changes to law the United States has demanded, critics argue that even though such amendments are welcomed, they do not provide guarantees because Chinese courts are tightly controlled by the ruling Communist Party. U.S. officials have acknowledged this, and insist that only tariffs can provide leverage to enforce an agreement. The United States is demanding sweeping changes to China’s economic policies. They include better protection of U.S. intellectual property and an end to forced technology transfers from U.S. companies and cybertheft of American trade secrets. Washington also wants more access to China’s vast markets for U.S. businesses, curbs on industrial subsidies and increased purchases of American products. Another source familiar with the situation said Trump had reiterated to advisers in recent days that he would walk away from a trade deal with China if it was not strong enough. The United States imported about $539.5 billion in goods from China in 2018 and exported $120.3 billion for a record trade deficit of $419.2 billion, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. On Monday, Trump lashed out over the U.S. trade deficit with China. “With China we lose 500 Billion Dollars. Sorry, we’re not going to be doing that anymore!” he tweeted. Trump has said that China was paying existing U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports into the United States, but in reality it is mostly U.S. companies importing the goods that pay the tariffs. The United States currently has 25 percent tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese machinery and technology goods and 10 percent tariffs on $200 billion worth of products ranging from computer modems and routers to furniture, lighting and building materials. Negotiations on removing punitive U.S. tariffs has been one of the remaining sticking points. China wants the tariffs to be removed, while U.S. officials want to keep some, if not all, as part of any final deal, to ensure China lives up to its commitments. Mnuchin, who originally had called the talks in Beijing “productive,” said Washington had been in the process of planning a summit between Trump and President Xi Jinping for a successful deal.

china
u.s .
trade
economy
eu
tariffs
trade war


Trump may redefine poverty, cutting Americans from welfare rolls

Abstract: The Trump administration may alter the way it determines the national poverty threshold, putting Americans living on the margins at risk of losing access to welfare programs. The possible move would involve changing how inflation is calculated in the “official poverty measure,” the White House Office of Management and Budget said in a regulatory filing on Monday. The formula has been used for decades to determine whether people qualify for certain federal programs and benefits. The measure, first set in the 1960s, is calculated at three times the cost of a minimum food diet and adjusted every year as prices rise. In 2018, a family of four making no more than $25,900 was considered impoverished. The figure determines eligibility for a wide swath of federal, state, and non-profit programs, including Medicaid and food stamps. By changing the index the government uses to calculate how much the cost of living rises or falls, the poverty level could rise at a slower rate. One proposal the Office of Management and Budget suggested in the filing is to shift to so-called chained CPI, which regularly shows a slower pace of price gains than traditional measures. Chained CPI shows slower inflation growth because it assumes consumers will substitute less expensive items when prices for specific individual goods increase significantly. “Because of this, changes to the poverty thresholds, including how they are updated for inflation over time, may affect eligibility for programs that use the poverty guidelines,” OMB said in a notice published to the federal register. An administration official said the inflation measure was worth re-evaluating because it has remained unchanged for 40 years, and knowledge of how cost-of-living increases are calculated has increased substantially in that time. The official requested anonymity to describe the internal evaluation at OMB. The possible change appears to be the latest effort by the Trump administration to make it harder to access welfare programs. Last year, President Donald Trump signed an executive order calling on federal agencies to more strictly enforce current work requirements for welfare recipients, and propose additional, more stringent requirements that could further reduce eligibility. “Millions of able-bodied, working-age adults continue to collect food stamps without working or even looking for work,” Trump said in December. “Our goal is to move these Americans from dependence to independence, and into a good-paying job and rewarding career.” This isn’t the first time a White House has considered using chained CPI to bring down the cost of government programs. President Barack Obama in 2014 proposed switching cost-of-living adjustments in Social Security and other retirement programs to the index. Congressional Democrats responded with an uproar, causing Obama to abandon the proposal in later budgets.

u.s .
welfare
poverty
jobs
medicaid
donald trump
omb
food stamps
chained cpi


Japan kicks off Reiwa Era's first energy-saving Cool Biz casual wear campaign

Abstract: The government began the annual Cool Biz campaign on Tuesday to promote workplace energy conservation by dressing more casually. After the 10-day holiday period through Monday to celebrate Emperor Naruhito’s ascension to the throne and commemorate the era change from Heisei to Reiwa, many employees at ministries and agencies arrived without ties or wearing kariyushi traditional shirts from Okinawa. The campaign is aimed at combating global warming. Office workers are encouraged to wear light clothes while the air conditioning is set at 28 degrees to reduce electricity use. Cool Biz runs until the end of September. Many central government officials work without jackets and ties, instead wearing polo shirts, sneakers and even Hawaiian aloha shirts. The Environment Ministry introduced the initiative in 2005 and is likewise promoting a Cool Share campaign aimed at getting people together in air-conditioned common spaces, including commercial facilities and cafes. It is also encouraging people to cultivate “green curtains” by growing shade-producing plants. “Although it is not compulsory, if we reduce the use of air conditioning we will be able to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emissions,” said Shinji Isobe, head of the Environment Ministry’s lifestyle policy office, who came to work without wearing a tie. Cool Biz has caught on, he said, and he hopes the success will continue. Private companies such as supermarkets and department stores have joined the initiative, with some planning to offer new fashion styles to help people spend the summer more comfortably. Temperatures of 40 or higher were recorded in wide areas of Japan last summer. The ministry is calling on companies to allow workers to continue to dress lightly on warm days in October after the official end of the Cool Biz campaign.

climate change
environment ministry
cool biz


Tokyo stocks tumble on trade war worries

Abstract: Stocks suffered a sell-off Tuesday, the first of trading in the new Reiwa Era and after an unprecedented 10-day break, with sentiment battered by rekindled fears of a U.S.-China trade war. The Nikkei 225 average closed at 21,923.72, down 335.01 points, or 1.51 percent, from April 26, the final trading day before the start of Golden Week. On April 26, the Nikkei fell 48.85 points. The Topix, which covers all first-section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, finished 18.09 points, or 1.12 percent, lower at 1,599.84 after losing 2.35 points April 26. The market met with risk-averse selling from the outset Tuesday, following an overnight tumble on Wall Street stemming from U.S. President Donald Trump’s tweets threatening to raise tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods from 10 percent to 25 percent, brokers said. Both the Nikkei and Topix showed some resilience late in the morning, helped by a rally in Shanghai stocks. But they went south in the afternoon, weighed by drops in U.S. stock index futures in off-hours trading. Hit by a Chinese media report that Beijing may suspend trade talks with Washington, the market saw its loss expand in late afternoon trading, brokers said. Besides the negative surprise by Trump, weaker than expected earnings announced by Japanese firms before the long holiday contributed to the dive, said Yoshihiko Tabei, chief analyst at Naito Securities Co. The yen’s appreciation against the dollar also dampened export-oriented stocks, brokers said. “The market’s direction would be determined by developments related to U.S.-China trade negotiations,” said Tomoaki Fujii, head of the investment research division at Akatsuki Securities Inc. China and the U.S. are scheduled to start ministerial-level talks in Washington on Wednesday. Falling issues outnumbered rising ones 1,457 to 623 in the first section, while 60 issues were unchanged. Volume increased to 1.564 billion shares, from 1.318 billion April 26. China-linked shares were shunned, including electronic parts supplier Murata Manufacturing, construction machinery maker Komatsu and industrial robot producer Fanuc. Chipmaking gear manufacturer Tokyo Electron and wafer maker Shin-Etsu Chemical fell for failing to meet market consensuses on their respective operating profit projections for the year through next March. Among other losers were clothing store chain Fast Retailing and automaker Toyota. Meanwhile, defensives attracted purchases amid a heightened risk-off mood. They included cosmetics maker Shiseido, pharmaceutical firm Daiichi Sankyo and daily goods producer Kao. Airline JAL rose after announcing a share buyback plan. Also on the sunny side were mobile phone carrier KDDI and technology giant Sony.


Dollar drops to around ¥110.65 in Tokyo

Abstract: The dollar fell to levels around ¥110.65 on Tuesday, battered by enhanced selling amid heightened concerns over the U.S.-China trade dispute. At 5 p.m., the dollar stood at ¥110.65-65, down sharply from ¥111.67-67 at the same time April 26, the final trading day before the start of the extended Golden Week holiday period. The euro was at $1.1195-1195, up from $1.1140-1140, and at ¥123.88-88, down from ¥124.48-52. In overseas trading Monday, the dollar fell below ¥111 following U.S. President Donald Trump’s tweets threatening to raise tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods from 10 percent to 25 percent. In Tokyo, dollar scaled above ¥110.85 in early morning trading but eased later on selling prompted by the Nikkei 225 stock average’s steep fall. After returning to a ¥110.80 range thanks to purchases by European players in the afternoon, the greenback came under renewed selling pressure. A Chinese media report suggesting a possible suspension in U.S.-China trade negotiations put a damper on the dollar, a fund manager said. The United States and China are scheduled to start ministerial-level talks in Washington on Wednesday. “Even if the Trump administration refrains from carrying out the tariff increase, U.S.-China tensions will be left intact until the trade row is fully resolved,” said an official at a bank-affiliated securities firm. “Investors cannot trade the dollar-yen pair actively” as long as the situation surrounding the trade talks remains opaque, an official at a foreign exchange margin trading service firm said.


Tokyo stocks drop on renewed U.S.-China trade jitters

Abstract: Tokyo stocks sank Tuesday after an extended Golden Week, with China-linked shares sold amid renewed U.S.-China trade tensions. The Nikkei 225 average ended down 335.01 points, or 1.51 percent, from April 26 at 21,923.72. The market had been closed during the unprecedented 10-day holiday through Monday that was extended to celebrate new Emperor Naruhito’s enthronement. The broader Topix finished 18.09 points, or 1.12 percent, lower at 1,599.84. Decliners were led by mining, machinery, and glass and ceramics product issues. Shares were weak throughout the first trading day of the Reiwa Era as risk aversion prevailed following an announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump that tariffs would be raised on Chinese imports, brokers said. The Nikkei ended below the 22,000 line for the first time in nearly a month. Trump said Washington would raise duties on $200 billion of Chinese goods to 25 percent from 10 percent on Friday, accusing Beijing of reneging on commitments it had agreed to in trade deal negotiations. “It’s a negative surprise. If not for trade jitters, the Nikkei would have risen amid a festive mood on the first trading day of the new era,” said Yutaka Miura, senior technical analyst at Mizuho Securities Co. “Investors were concerned that the tariff hike will hit the Chinese economy once again, after it had shown signs of bottoming out recently, and if that happens it will trigger a slowdown in global growth,” Miura added. Although Tokyo stock declines were limited in morning trading, losses widened in the afternoon after Chinese shares turned negative on reports by some Chinese media that Beijing is prepared to temporarily suspend trade talks with Washington. “The risk aversion is expected to continue throughout the week and shares will fluctuate depending on developments in the U.S.-China trade talks” later this week, said Masahiro Ichikawa, senior strategist at Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Co. U.S. media reported the world’s two largest economies are still set to hold talks in Washington on Thursday and Friday aimed at ending their tit-for-tat tariff war. On the first section, declining issues outnumbered advancers 1,457 to 623, while 60 ended unchanged. Companies with heavy exposure to China drew selling, with industrial robot maker Fanuc dropping ¥670, or 3.2 percent, to ¥20,105 and Hitachi Construction sagging ¥180, or 6.1 percent, to ¥2,770. Semiconductor issues dropped amid worries about global growth triggered by the renewed trade tensions, with Sumco falling ¥58, or 4.0 percent, to ¥1,402 and Screen Holdings diving ¥240, or 4.5 percent, to ¥5,100. Trading volume on the main section rose to 1.56 billion shares from 1.32 billion shares on April 26.

china
tse
tariffs
donald trump
trade war


Japan store operator Cainz to set up fund to invest in AI tech in Silicon Valley

Abstract: Do-it-yourself store operator Cainz Corp. will set up a fund in Silicon Valley to invest in startups with artificial intelligence and other technologies, according to President Masayuki Takaya. “We’ll create a foothold in the U.S. West Coast to tap technologies of local startups,” Takaya said in a recent interview. Cainz will launch the $10 million fund later this month, hoping to gain access to sophisticated technologies in a bid to develop smartphone-based services and rationalize its store operations. It is unusual for a Japanese retailer to create an investment fund for such purposes abroad. Cainz will select businesses it will invest in by teaming up with a U.S. investment company that has a deep knowledge of startups with advanced technologies good for use in retailing, Takaya said. Over the coming three years, Cainz will invest ¥10 billion, or about a half of its total investments planned for the period, in technology-related fields, according to Takaya. He also said the company will start a service this year allowing shoppers to easily find products and check stocks at retail outlets through a smartphone app. Takaya is the first Cainz president from outside the founding family. Before he took up the post in March, he served as president of machinery parts trader Misumi Group Inc.


Naomi Osaka's Mastercard deal underscores Japanese star's magnetic brand appeal

Abstract: Naomi Osaka has added Mastercard Inc. to her endorsement contracts, as the No. 1 ranked tennis player continues to attract sponsors following her wins at the U.S. Open and Australian Open. Osaka, who wore the Mastercard logo on her visor during her first match at the Madrid Open this week, tweeted about the deal, which was confirmed by her talent agency IMG in an emailed statement. It was the tennis star’s seventh corporate endorsement since she won the U.S. Open in September. The Mastercard deal comes a month after Osaka surprised industry watchers by signing up with Nike Inc., switching from the U.S. sports brand’s biggest rival, Adidas AG. Nike has traditionally prohibited tennis stars it sponsors from displaying other brands or logos on its clothing, a barrier IMG broke through with a deal to allow shoulder patches for Chinese tennis star Li Na in 2009. Mastercard will gain valuable real estate on Osaka’s outfit, joining patches on her shirt from instant noodle maker Nissin Foods Holdings Co. and airline ANA Holdings Inc. International brands from Nissan Motor Co. to Shiseido Co. have signed Osaka with an eye toward building their brand globally. Osaka’s mother is Japanese and her father is Haitian American. IMG declined to disclose the terms of Osaka’s Mastercard agreement. Mastercard didn’t immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. Osaka has won the last two Grand Slams. She became the first Japanese singles player to win one of the four majors when she overcame Serena Williams at the U.S. Open. Her ascent to the top of the women’s game has made her a hot commodity for the world’s top brands. She also has deals with watch company Citizen.

tennis
ana
nissan
shiseido
mastercard
nike
adidas
naomi osaka
nissin


Japan's Chiyoda Corp. reportedly to get ¥150 billion bailout from Mitsubishi and MUFG Bank

Abstract: Embattled plant engineering firm Chiyoda Corp. is expected to receive financial aid valued at up to about ¥150 billion from its top shareholder, Mitsubishi Corp., together with MUFG Bank, it was learned Tuesday. The aid will potentially include loans and a capital increase through third-party allotment of preferred shares, according to sources. Chiyoda plans to accelerate efforts to improve its financial standing after losses from a liquefied natural gas plant project in Louisiana forced the company to lower its consolidated net loss estimate for fiscal 2018, which ended in March, to over ¥200 billion. The LNG plant losses came after the company faced difficulties securing workers for the project as workers were hard to find during a rebuilding boom following a hurricane. A large portion of the aid will be provided through the issuance of preferred shares without voting rights to Mitsubishi, which owns an equity stake of more than 30 percent in Chiyoda, the sources said. Chiyoda is expected to remain listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Chiyoda said Tuesday its group net loss for the year ended in March is projected to have doubled to ¥215 billion from its earlier forecast, prompting it to seek financial support. The company had projected a fiscal 2018 group net loss of ¥105 billion last October. Chiyoda attributed the downward revision to additional costs for the LNG project in Louisiana. It also expects its group operating loss to have expanded to ¥200 billion, from an earlier projected ¥86.5 billion, on revenues of ¥340 billion, down from an earlier forecast of ¥400 billion. The firm was scheduled to announce its fiscal 2018 earnings Thursday. A Mitsubishi official declined to comment on the details “because the matter is under discussion.” The trading firm has helped the engineering company when it faced difficulties in the past, saying it believes Chiyoda has technological prowess in building LNG plants. Chiyoda had said it would compile a restructuring plan by the end of March but postponed the release, saying it was “continuing talks with the main stakeholders and are in the stage of making arrangements.”

mitsubishi
lng
mufg
louisiana
chiyoda corp .


Nearly 40% of companies see low retention rate for midcareer hires: survey

Abstract: Close to 40 percent of employers feel they have low retention rates for regular employees hired in the middle of their careers, according to a survey. The survey was conducted online by recruitment agency En-Japan Inc. between late January and late February on companies that have hired midcareer employees over the past three years. Valid responses were received from 693 firms. Of the respondents, 6.9 percent said their retention rate for midcareer employees was “very low” and 29.8 percent answered “low.” On the other hand, the ratios of respondents answering “high” and “very high” were 21.6 percent and 10.4 percent, respectively. Companies that said midcareer hires were likely to quit between six months and a year after being hired accounted for 19.2 percent, while 5.8 percent said such employees tend to leave in less than a month. One in three firms said a midcareer hire was prone to quitting in less than six months. The percentage of respondent companies saying they plan to actively work on retaining midcareer hires stood at 62.5 percent, while 20.4 percent said they will do so for some of their overall employees. When asked to give reasons for working on raising the retention rates for midcareer hires, with multiple answers allowed, 70.6 percent said they do not want to let go of personnel trained by them, 59.5 percent cited difficulties in recruiting new employees and 46.8 percent said they want to avoid lowering workplace morale. Observers say retaining midcareer hires is crucial for many companies, especially in the midst of Japan’s severe labor shortage.


Tough online competition forces Isetan Mitsukoshi to shutter one of its Singapore outlets

Abstract: SINGAPORE - Leading department store operator Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd. will shut one of its five outlets in Singapore due to tough competition from online retailers. Its local subsidiary, Isetan (Singapore) Ltd., said Monday it will not renew its lease with JB Trustee Pte., landlord of the Isetan Jurong East store in the western part of the city-state. The decision is “part of the company’s ongoing exercise of continuous assessment, realignment and consolidation of its operations to enable better deployment of existing resources among its other business units,” Isetan said in a statement. The lease agreement with the landlord runs through Dec. 22, but the closing date is not confirmed, a local unit spokesman told NNA. Isetan Mitsukoshi’s Singaporean arm operates four other stores in the country — Scotts in the central district, Tampines and Katong in the east and Serangoon Central in the northeast. It said in a financial statement that sales have declined in recent years, recording 121 million Singapore dollars ($88.8 million) in 2018, only about a third of 2014 sales, and booking a net loss of $SG13.7 million. “We recognize that the changing retail landscape and disruptions caused by e-commerce will erode our competitiveness,” Isetan (Singapore) Chairman Toshihiko Nakagome said in a statement in March. The local arm said in April it plans to invest SG$12 million to renovate Isetan Scotts, its flagship outlet, from around the middle of this year for scheduled completion in 2020, converting it into “a lifestyle destination store” as part of a long-term turnaround plan. Isetan (Singapore) also said it refurbished its Tampines and Katong outlets from 2017 through 2018.

singapore
e-commerce
retailers
isetan mitsukoshi holdings


Fighting kills 26 in Syria's northwest, monitor says

Abstract: BEIRUT - Clashes between Syrian regime forces and jihadis Monday killed more than 26 fighters in the country’s northwest, which has seen an escalation in shelling and airstrikes, a monitor said. Eleven pro-government fighters were among those killed in fierce fighting in the northern countryside of Hama province, said the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Fifteen jihadis, including members of al-Qaida’s former Syrian branch, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), and its ally, the Turkistan Islamic Party, were also killed, the war monitor said. The fighting came as regime forces advanced on two villages and a strategic hilltop in the region, it said. State news agency SANA said Syrian troops launched “intensive operations,” targeting supply lines and areas where armed groups operate in northern Hama and neighboring Idlib. The region held by HTS has faced intensifying bombardment in the past month, prompting a new wave of displacement. On Monday, four civilians were killed in shelling and airstrikes on Idlib and neighboring areas by the Syrian government and its ally Russia, said the Observatory. An AFP photographer in Idlib saw several houses completely destroyed by recent attacks. One man who lost his wife, his daughter-in-law, and his two grandchildren during shelling overnight prepared a pickup truck to relocate surviving members of his family. “I don’t know where I’m going,” he told AFP. More than 140,000 civilians have been forced to flee attacks since February, Refugees International said on Monday. “It is difficult to overstate the urgency of this looming humanitarian disaster if nothing is done to protect these people,” the non-governmental organization said in a statement. Escalated attacks have hit schools and medical facilities, according to the UN. Since 28 April, at least seven health care facilities have reportedly been struck, including four in Hama and three in Idlib, said David Swanson of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Russia and rebel-backer Turkey in September inked a buffer zone deal to prevent a massive regime offensive on the Idlib region, near the Turkish border. But the region of some three million people has come under increasing bombardment since HTS took full control of it in January. The civil war in Syria has killed more than 370,000 people and displaced millions since it began with the bloody repression of anti-government protests in 2011.

conflict
russia
syria
u.n .
al-qaida
bashar assad
idlib


Scientists in U.S. develop device that can detect bacteria in minutes instead of days

Abstract: WASHINGTON - The era of doctors prescribing patients powerful antibiotics while they wait for lab reports could soon be numbered, with a new device returning results within minutes instead of days. It was invented by a team at Penn State University, and described in a paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on Monday. Co-developed by Pak Kin Wong, a professor of biomedical engineering and mechanical engineering, the device uses microtechnology to trap single bacteria cells that can then be viewed under an electron microscope. The approach allows clinicians to determine in as little as 30 minutes whether bacteria is present and its susceptibility to drug treatment — as opposed to the three-to-five days such lab work currently takes. “We currently prescribe antibiotics even when there is no bacteria present,” Wong said. “That is over-prescription. That is one of things we tried to express. Can we quickly determine the existence of bacterial infection?” The researchers’ paper said that in addition to being able to detect whether bacteria is present, the device can begin to classify the type — by determining whether the cells are spherical, rod-shaped, or spiral. “This device determines existence but not what type of bacteria it is,” said Wong. “What we’re working on is a complementary molecular approach such that we can ID the species.” After finding bacteria present, the sample can be exposed to antibiotics to determine whether the strain is resistant, in which case antibiotic intervention would prove ineffective. “Urinary tract infections are the most common bacterial infections,” said Wong. “However, over 75 percent of urine specimens sent to a clinical microbiology laboratory are negative. Rapidly ruling out or confirming the presence of bacteria at a clinically relevant concentration will dramatically enhance patient care.” He added that the team had applied for a provisional patent and could bring their device, which they hope to scale down in size so that it can be used in hospitals and doctors’ offices, to market in three years’ time.

medicine health science bacteria antibiotics


High levels of sunscreen ingredients end up in bloodstream, FDA researchers say

Abstract: BANGALORE, INDIA - The active ingredients of commonly used sunscreens end up in the bloodstream at much higher levels than current U.S. guidelines from health regulators and warrant further safety studies, according to a small study conducted by U.S. Food and Drug Administration researchers and published on Monday. The over-the-counter products originally marketed to prevent sunburn with little regulation are widely used to block radiation from the sun that can cause skin cancer, the most common malignancy in the United States. The study of 23 volunteers tested four sunscreens, including sprays, lotion and cream, applied to 75 percent of the body four times a day over four days, with blood tests to determine the maximum levels of certain chemicals absorbed into the bloodstream conducted over seven days. The study found maximum plasma levels of the chemicals it tested for — avobenzone, oxybenzone, octocrylene and in one sunscreen ecamsule — to be well above the level of 0.5 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) at which FDA guidelines call for further safety testing. For example, the maximum concentration of avobenzone was found to be 4 ng/mL and 3.4 ng/mL for two different sprays, 4.3 ng/mL for a lotion and 1.8 ng/mL for the cream. Researchers did not name the products used in the study. The effects of plasma concentrations exceeding the FDA’s limit is not known and needs to be further studied, the research team wrote in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). The results in no way suggest that people should stop using sunscreen to protect against the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays, researchers said. “The demonstration of systemic absorption well above the FDA guideline does not mean these ingredients are unsafe,” Dr. Robert Califf and Dr. Kanade Shinkai said in an editorial that accompanied the study in JAMA. “The study findings raise many important questions about sunscreen and the process by which the sunscreen industry, clinicians, specialty organizations, and regulatory agencies evaluate the benefits and risks of this topical OTC medication,” they added. David Andrews, a senior scientist at the nonprofit health and environmental advocacy group Environmental Working Group, called for thorough testing of sunscreen ingredients. “For years the sunscreen chemical manufactures have resisted common sense safety testing for their ingredients and now FDA is proposing that these common ingredients must undergo additional testing to stay on the market,” Andrews said. However, the Personal Care Products Council trade association pointed out limitations of the study and expressed concern that it may confuse consumers. Sunscreens in the study were used at “twice the amount that would be applied in what the scientific community considers real-world conditions,” said Alexandra Kowcz, the group’s chief scientist.