Japan

[ad_1] Amid an international space race, anticipation is building as the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s lunar lander gears up for Saturday’s touchdown on the moon’s surface, putting the agency's pinpoint landing technology to the test in a mission that could accelerate international space exploration.Nicknamed “Moon Sniper,” JAXA’s Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) is on its way to the lunar surface, having successfully entered lunar orbit in late December and […]

[ad_1] In a move that stunned observers, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Thursday that he is considering abolishing his faction in a bid to restore public trust toward politics amid a series of political funds scandals.“I am considering abolishing Kochikai,” Kishida told reporters Thursday evening, referring to his former faction. “If it benefits restoring trust toward politics, I need to consider it.”Kishida stepped down from his position as faction chief […]

[ad_1] Sudan is on the verge of a famine in parts of the capital city Khartoum and the central Darfur region due to the conflict between two rival military factions, the World Food Programme said.Millions of people are at risk of starvation amid the worst conditions since at least 2003. A nine-month war between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has cut off huge swaths of the North […]

[ad_1] Japan signed a deal with its ally the United States on Thursday to buy 400 long-range Tomahawk missiles as it ramps up its military capacity to counter regional security threats. Faced with growing Chinese military clout and a nuclear-armed North Korea, the Japanese government plans to double its defense spending to the NATO standard of 2% of GDP by 2027. A sale of up to $2.35 billion (¥348 billion) […]

[ad_1] Rank-and-file wrestler Gonoyama caused Thursday's biggest upset as he handed ozeki Hoshoryu his first loss of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.The result left promotion-chasing sekiwake Kotonowaka and No. 7 maegashira Asanoyama as the only unbeaten wrestlers through Day 5 of the 15-day tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan.The sport's lone yokozuna, Terunofuji, and the man currently bidding to join him at the top rank, ozeki Kirishima, both racked up victories […]

[ad_1] Join us for the first episode of 2024 as we recap the massive New Year’s Day earthquake and its impact on the people of Ishikawa Prefecture. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez. On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | X Dave Cortez: Articles | X Jordan Allen: Articles Karin Kaneko: Articles | X Alex K.T. Martin: Articles | X Read more: “Noto is kind, right […]

[ad_1] Your shrimp cocktail comes with a side of carbon dioxide, according to scientists who have for the first time quantified greenhouse emissions caused by a destructive fishing technique known as bottom trawling. Bottom-trawling ships deploy huge weighted nets — up to half a mile (0.8 kilometers) in length — that scour the ocean floor to scoop up shrimp, crab, cod, halibut and other fish. Scientists and environmentalists have long […]

[ad_1] Former major league pitcher Hiroki Kuroda was announced as one of the newest members of the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame on Thursday, along with catcher Motonobu Tanishige and late umpire Tomoichi Tanimura. Kuroda won a total of 203 games in a career split between Japan and the majors from 1997 to 2016. The right-hander won 124 for the Hiroshima Carp, 41 for the Los Angeles Dodgers and 38 […]

[ad_1] U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel has vowed to continue calling out Beijing for what he described as “hypocrisy" and lack of transparency, rebutting criticism that he may be stepping out of bounds following a series of tweets that have angered China.“When it comes to tweets, maybe it stings when you call out the truth,” Emanuel said Thursday following a speech in Tokyo about Japan’s recent achievements in defense […]