Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday replaced his defence minister in a cabinet reshuffle that otherwise left key government positions largely unchanged.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, who was reappointed, announced the lineup for the new cabinet, with key ministers including finance minister Taro Aso and foreign minister Taro Kono staying on.

"I conducted the cabinet reshuffle today in order to get off to a powerful start for the building of a new country," Abe told a televised news conference.

"I want to maintain the framework of my government management in a stable manner," he said.

But Itsunori Onodera, defence minister since August 2017, was replaced by Takeshi Iwaya, 61, a veteran politician who has had short stints in roles including vice minister for defence and foreign affairs.

The reshuffle follows Abe's reelection as leader of his Liberal Democratic Party last month, which puts him on track to become Japan's longest-serving prime minister.

"It was no surprise that Abe focused on stability rather than a challenge," said Tomoaki Iwai, professor of Japanese politics at Nihon University.

"Abe prioritised imminent tasks such as a fight against deflation so that he can consolidate his power before tackling a revision of the constitution," Iwai told AFP.

After winning a historic third term as LDP head last month, Abe vowed to press ahead with plans to revise Japan's pacifist constitution, which remains a controversial proposition.

During the news conference, Abe voiced hopes to submit a plan to parliament later this year but vowed to seek "wide support" as his junior coalition partner Komeito has insisted there is no need to be hasty.

Iwaya takes over as Japan continues to focus on the threat posed by North Korea despite easing tensions on the Korean peninsula and international negotiations on Pyongyang's denuclearisation.

In an annual defence review released in August, the defence ministry said North Korea remained a "serious and imminent threat".

Japan's 2018 defence white paper also took aim at China's rise as a military power, saying Beijing was sparking "strong security concerns in the region and international community, including Japan".

Abe described Iwaya as "an expert on security."

But Iwai said the new defence chief was something of an unknown quantity.

"Iwaya is not a novice on defence but is also not as experienced as Onodera," he said.

"His capability as defence chief remains unknown."

Newcomers to Abe's cabinet include Satsuki Katayama, the new minister for promoting local economies, who will be the sole female member of the cabinet.

Abe's previous cabinet had two female ministers.

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday replaced his defence minister in a cabinet reshuffle that otherwise left key government positions largely unchanged.

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday replaced his defence minister in a cabinet reshuffle that otherwise left key government positions largely unchanged. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, who was reappointed, announced the lineup for the new cabinet, with key ministers including finance minister Taro Aso and foreign minister Taro Kono staying on. "I conducted the cabinet reshuffle today in order to get off to a powerful start for the building of a new country," Abe told a televised news conference. "I want to maintain the framework of my government management in a stable manner," he said. But Itsunori Onodera, defence minister since August 2017, was replaced by Takeshi Iwaya, 61, a veteran politician who has had short stints in roles including vice minister for defence and foreign affairs. The reshuffle follows Abe's reelection as leader of his Liberal Democratic Party last month, which puts him on track to become Japan's longest-serving prime minister. "It was no surprise that Abe focused on stability rather than a challenge," said Tomoaki Iwai, professor of Japanese politics at Nihon University. "Abe prioritised imminent tasks such as a fight against deflation so that he can consolidate his power before tackling a revision of the constitution," Iwai told AFP. After winning a historic third term as LDP head last month, Abe vowed to press ahead with plans to revise Japan's pacifist constitution, which remains a controversial proposition. During the news conference, Abe voiced hopes to submit a plan to parliament later this year but vowed to seek "wide support" as his junior coalition partner Komeito has insisted there is no need to be hasty. Iwaya takes over as Japan continues to focus on the threat posed by North Korea despite easing tensions on the Korean peninsula and international negotiations on Pyongyang's denuclearisation. In an annual defence review released in August, the defence ministry said North Korea remained a "serious and imminent threat". Japan's 2018 defence white paper also took aim at China's rise as a military power, saying Beijing was sparking "strong security concerns in the region and international community, including Japan". Abe described Iwaya as "an expert on security." But Iwai said the new defence chief was something of an unknown quantity. "Iwaya is not a novice on defence but is also not as experienced as Onodera," he said. "His capability as defence chief remains unknown." Newcomers to Abe's cabinet include Satsuki Katayama, the new minister for promoting local economies, who will be the sole female member of the cabinet. Abe's previous cabinet had two female ministers.

Japan PM Abe names new defence minister in cabinet reshuffle

A powerful typhoon hurtled toward Japan's mainland Sunday after injuring dozens on southern islands, as weather officials warned that fierce winds and torrential rain could trigger landslides and floods.

Typhoon Trami has already sparked travel disruption in the world's third-biggest economy, with bullet train services in the west of Japan suspended and almost 1,000 flights cancelled due to the closure of a key airport hub.

Television footage showed cars in Okinawa island flipped over by the strength of the wind. Several houses were flooded or damaged and 38 people sustained minor injuries but no one was feared dead, local officials said.&nbsp;

Authorities issued evacuation advisories to some 349,000 residents, while electricity was cut to more than 300,000 houses, according to public broadcaster NHK.

Trami is the latest in a series of extreme natural events in Japan, which has suffered typhoons, flooding, earthquakes and heat waves in recent months, claiming scores of lives and causing extensive damage.

Packing maximum gusts of 216 kilometres (134 miles) per hour near its centre, Trami was forecast to hit the mainland later Sunday and travel over most of the archipelago, causing extreme weather into Monday, forecasters said.

Maintaining its "very strong force," the storm churned near Kagoshima on the western tip of Japan, causing seven minor injuries.

"We are strongly urging our residents to stay indoors because it is extremely dangerous to be outside now," Masaaki Tamaki, an official of Kagoshima's disaster management section, told AFP.

The Japanese meteorological agency issued a special warning of landslides and floods in Kagoshima and Chiba, while saying heavy rain seen once in half a century has been monitored in Yakushima island, southern Kagoshima.

Strong winds and downpours could trigger landslides and floods as well as lightning strikes and tornados across the nation, said the agency, warning that waves and wind could reach record levels.

Western regions are still recovering from the most powerful typhoon to strike the country in a quarter of a century in early September. Typhoon Jebi claimed 11 lives and shut down Kansai Airport, the main regional airport.

Deadly record rains also hit western Japan earlier this year and the country sweltered through one of the hottest summers on record.

Also in September, a magnitude 6.6 earthquake rocked the northern island of Hokkaido, sparking landslides and leaving more than 40 people dead.

A powerful typhoon hurtled toward Japan's mainland Sunday after injuring dozens on southern islands, as weather officials warned that fierce winds and torrential rain could trigger landslides and floods.

A powerful typhoon hurtled toward Japan's mainland Sunday after injuring dozens on southern islands, as weather officials warned that fierce winds and torrential rain could trigger landslides and floods. Typhoon Trami has already sparked travel disruption in the world's third-biggest economy, with bullet train services in the west of Japan suspended and almost 1,000 flights cancelled due to the closure of a key airport hub. Television footage showed cars in Okinawa island flipped over by the strength of the wind. Several houses were flooded or damaged and 38 people sustained minor injuries but no one was feared dead, local officials said. Authorities issued evacuation advisories to some 349,000 residents, while electricity was cut to more than 300,000 houses, according to public broadcaster NHK. Trami is the latest in a series of extreme natural events in Japan, which has suffered typhoons, flooding, earthquakes and heat waves in recent months, claiming scores of lives and causing extensive damage. Packing maximum gusts of 216 kilometres (134 miles) per hour near its centre, Trami was forecast to hit the mainland later Sunday and travel over most of the archipelago, causing extreme weather into Monday, forecasters said. Maintaining its "very strong force," the storm churned near Kagoshima on the western tip of Japan, causing seven minor injuries. "We are strongly urging our residents to stay indoors because it is extremely dangerous to be outside now," Masaaki Tamaki, an official of Kagoshima's disaster management section, told AFP. The Japanese meteorological agency issued a special warning of landslides and floods in Kagoshima and Chiba, while saying heavy rain seen once in half a century has been monitored in Yakushima island, southern Kagoshima. Strong winds and downpours could trigger landslides and floods as well as lightning strikes and tornados across the nation, said the agency, warning that waves and wind could reach record levels. Western regions are still recovering from the most powerful typhoon to strike the country in a quarter of a century in early September. Typhoon Jebi claimed 11 lives and shut down Kansai Airport, the main regional airport. Deadly record rains also hit western Japan earlier this year and the country sweltered through one of the hottest summers on record. Also in September, a magnitude 6.6 earthquake rocked the northern island of Hokkaido, sparking landslides and leaving more than 40 people dead.

Typhoon Trami injures 45, direct hit on Japan mainland expected

North Korea has accused Japan of trying to create tension on the Korean Peninsula and rebuilding its military.

Yonhap News Agency quoted local North Korean media as stating, "The maritime `Self-Defense Force` (MSDF) of Japan recently conducted a test-fire of the interceptor missile SM-3 Block 1B on an Aegis destroyer in waters off Hawaii of the US.It is reportedly the first time that the MSDF conducted an interceptor missile test-fire."

The local media further reported that Japan was trying to rebuild a military capable of waging war against others.

"The present reactionary regime of Japan seeks to put the Asia-Pacific region under control by turning Japan into a country capable of going to war," it added.

North Korea further claimed that Japan is seeking to disrupt the joint efforts of North and South Korea to establish and maintain peace on the Korean peninsula.

"No matter how desperately it (Japan) moves, it can never dampen the aspirations of all Koreans and the international community for peace and stability of the Korean peninsula and the region," North Korea asserted.

These allegations come after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed his hope to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during a bilateral summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.&nbsp;

North Korea has accused Japan of trying to create tension on the Korean Peninsula and rebuilding its military. Yonhap News Agency quoted local North Korean media as stating, "The maritime `Self-Defense Force` (MSDF) of Japan recently conducted a test-fire of the interceptor missile SM-3 Block 1B on an Aegis destroyer in waters off Hawaii of the US.

North Korea has accused Japan of trying to create tension on the Korean Peninsula and rebuilding its military. Yonhap News Agency quoted local North Korean media as stating, "The maritime `Self-Defense Force` (MSDF) of Japan recently conducted a test-fire of the interceptor missile SM-3 Block 1B on an Aegis destroyer in waters off Hawaii of the US.It is reportedly the first time that the MSDF conducted an interceptor missile test-fire." The local media further reported that Japan was trying to rebuild a military capable of waging war against others. "The present reactionary regime of Japan seeks to put the Asia-Pacific region under control by turning Japan into a country capable of going to war," it added. North Korea further claimed that Japan is seeking to disrupt the joint efforts of North and South Korea to establish and maintain peace on the Korean peninsula. "No matter how desperately it (Japan) moves, it can never dampen the aspirations of all Koreans and the international community for peace and stability of the Korean peninsula and the region," North Korea asserted. These allegations come after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed his hope to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during a bilateral summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

North Korea accuses Japan of rebuilding military on Korean Peninsula

A powerful typhoon hurtled toward Japan's mainland Sunday after injuring dozens on southern islands, as weather officials warned that fierce winds and torrential rain could trigger landslides and floods.

Typhoon Trami has already sparked travel disruption in the world's third-biggest economy, with bullet train services in the west of Japan suspended, more than 1,000 flights cancelled due to the closure of a key airport hub and Tokyo's evening train service scrapped.

The storm is forecast to smash into the mainland near Osaka at around 6pm local time (0900 GMT) and churn across the Japanese archipelago, likely hitting areas still recovering from a series of extreme weather events that have battered Japan in recent months.&nbsp;

Trami tore through the southern island of Okinawa on Saturday, bringing winds strong enough to flip over cars. Several houses were flooded or damaged and 56 people on the island sustained minor injuries but no one was feared dead, local officials said.

Nationwide, authorities issued non-compulsory evacuation advisories to 1.5 million residents, according to public broadcaster NHK. Nearly 500,000 households&nbsp;have lost power, according to public broadcaster NHK.

As the typhoon barrelled east, rail authorities took the highly unusual step of cancelling evening train services in Tokyo, one of the world's busiest networks, urging passengers to shelter indoors when the storm hits.

The typhoon is not expected to hit the capital head on but strong winds and heavy rain are still feared from later Sunday and some businesses were already putting up shutters and hunkering down.

Trami is the latest in a string of extreme natural events in Japan, which has suffered typhoons, flooding, earthquakes and heatwaves in recent months, claiming scores of lives and causing extensive damage.

Packing maximum gusts of 216 kilometres (134 miles) per hour, Trami was expected to travel over most of the archipelago, weakening slightly but causing extreme weather into Monday, forecasters said.

Still classed as a "very strong" typhoon, Trami pounded Kagoshima on the western tip of Japan early Sunday, causing 10 minor injuries -- for example, cuts from broken windows and people knocked over by gusts.

"We are strongly urging our residents to stay indoors because it is extremely dangerous to be outside now," Masaaki Tamaki, an official of Kagoshima's disaster management section, told AFP.

'Bang, bang'

The Japanese meteorological agency warned the typhoon would bring strong winds and downpours, which could trigger landslides and floods as well as lightning strikes and tornados across the nation.

Violent gusts swept away roof tiles on some houses in Kochi city in western Japan.

"There was a big 'bang, bang'. That woke me up," a local elderly man in Kochi told national broadcaster NHK.

Cities in the expected path of the typhoon were already taking measures to mitigate possible danger.

East Japan Railway announced that it would gradually suspend train services in and around Tokyo and end all trains around 8pm (1100 GMT), shortly before the typhoon was to draw near the Japanese capital.

"Shinkansen" bullet train services, particularly those in western areas, also reduced or cancelled their services.

Osaka's Kansai Airport, which is situated on reclaimed land offshore and suffered extensive damage in a storm earlier in September, closed two runways and officials piled up sandbags to avoid a repeat of flooding seen during the previous storm.

Some western regions are still recovering from the most powerful typhoon to strike the country in a quarter of a century in early September. Typhoon Jebi claimed 11 lives and shut down Kansai Airport, the main regional airport.

Deadly record rains also hit western Japan earlier this year and the country sweltered through one of the hottest summers on record.

Also in September, a magnitude-6.6 earthquake rocked the northern island of Hokkaido, sparking landslides and leaving more than 40 people dead.

A powerful typhoon hurtled toward Japan's mainland Sunday after injuring dozens on southern islands, as weather officials warned that fierce winds and torrential rain could trigger landslides and floods. Typhoon Trami has already sparked travel disruption in the world's third-biggest economy, with bullet train services in the west of Japan suspended, more than 1,000 flights cancelled due to the closure of a key airport hub and Tokyo's evening train service scrapped. The storm is forecast to smash into the mainland near Osaka at around 6pm local time (0900 GMT) and churn across the Japanese archipelago, likely hitting areas still recovering from a series of extreme weather events that have battered Japan in recent months. Trami tore through the southern island of Okinawa on Saturday, bringing winds strong enough to flip over cars. Several houses were flooded or damaged and 56 people on the island sustained minor injuries but no one was feared dead, local officials said. Nationwide, authorities issued non-compulsory evacuation advisories to 1.5 million residents, according to public broadcaster NHK. Nearly 500,000 households have lost power, according to public broadcaster NHK. As the typhoon barrelled east, rail authorities took the highly unusual step of cancelling evening train services in Tokyo, one of the world's busiest networks, urging passengers to shelter indoors when the storm hits. The typhoon is not expected to hit the capital head on but strong winds and heavy rain are still feared from later Sunday and some businesses were already putting up shutters and hunkering down. Trami is the latest in a string of extreme natural events in Japan, which has suffered typhoons, flooding, earthquakes and heatwaves in recent months, claiming scores of lives and causing extensive damage. Packing maximum gusts of 216 kilometres (134 miles) per hour, Trami was expected to travel over most of the archipelago, weakening slightly but causing extreme weather into Monday, forecasters said. Still classed as a "very strong" typhoon, Trami pounded Kagoshima on the western tip of Japan early Sunday, causing 10 minor injuries -- for example, cuts from broken windows and people knocked over by gusts. "We are strongly urging our residents to stay indoors because it is extremely dangerous to be outside now," Masaaki Tamaki, an official of Kagoshima's disaster management section, told AFP. 'Bang, bang' The Japanese meteorological agency warned the typhoon would bring strong winds and downpours, which could trigger landslides and floods as well as lightning strikes and tornados across the nation. Violent gusts swept away roof tiles on some houses in Kochi city in western Japan. "There was a big 'bang, bang'. That woke me up," a local elderly man in Kochi told national broadcaster NHK. Cities in the expected path of the typhoon were already taking measures to mitigate possible danger. East Japan Railway announced that it would gradually suspend train services in and around Tokyo and end all trains around 8pm (1100 GMT), shortly before the typhoon was to draw near the Japanese capital. "Shinkansen" bullet train services, particularly those in western areas, also reduced or cancelled their services. Osaka's Kansai Airport, which is situated on reclaimed land offshore and suffered extensive damage in a storm earlier in September, closed two runways and officials piled up sandbags to avoid a repeat of flooding seen during the previous storm. Some western regions are still recovering from the most powerful typhoon to strike the country in a quarter of a century in early September. Typhoon Jebi claimed 11 lives and shut down Kansai Airport, the main regional airport. Deadly record rains also hit western Japan earlier this year and the country sweltered through one of the hottest summers on record. Also in September, a magnitude-6.6 earthquake rocked the northern island of Hokkaido, sparking landslides and leaving more than 40 people dead.

Typhoon Trami injures 56, readies direct hit on Japan mainland

A powerful typhoon brought heavy rain and high winds as it approached southern Japan on Saturday, causing power outages in several cities and prompting Kansai International Airport near Osaka to plan a temporary closure of its runways from Sunday.

Typhoon Trami, rated category 2 by Tropical Storm Risk, with category 5 the highest, is the latest storm to threaten Japan in a year of weather-related woes, including punishing heat, heavy rains and landslides.

Outlying islands in the Okinawan chain, some 1,000 km southwest of Tokyo, were being pounded by heavy rain and high tides a day before an Okinawan gubernatorial election on Sunday.

Strong wind knocked down trees, blew off an outer wall from a building and left nine people injured in Okinawa. Trami also caused power outages in more than 30 towns, according to public broadcaster NHK.

Kansai International Airport in Osaka, western Japan, which was heavily flooded by a typhoon last month, announced that it would close its runways from 11 a.m. (0200 GMT) until 6 a.m. on Monday. The airport only fully reopened on Sept. 21.

NHK also said airlines had cancelled more than 390 flights, mainly those flying in and out of Okinawa. More flight cancellations were planned for Sunday.

Churning north across Okinawa on Saturday, Trami is predicted to move across the islands of Kyushu and the main island of Honshu on Sunday, a path similar to that taken by typhoon Jebi early in September.

Bullet trains running between the two western Japan cities of Osaka and Hiroshima will suspend operations on Sunday morning in anticipation of heavy rain and wind, operator West Japan Railway said on Saturday.

Last month's Typhoon Jebi, the most powerful storm to hit Japan in 25 years, brought some of the highest tides since a 1961 typhoon.

A powerful typhoon brought heavy rain and high winds as it approached southern Japan on Saturday, causing power outages in several cities and prompting Kansai International Airport near Osaka to plan a temporary closure of its runways from Sunday.

A powerful typhoon brought heavy rain and high winds as it approached southern Japan on Saturday, causing power outages in several cities and prompting Kansai International Airport near Osaka to plan a temporary closure of its runways from Sunday. Typhoon Trami, rated category 2 by Tropical Storm Risk, with category 5 the highest, is the latest storm to threaten Japan in a year of weather-related woes, including punishing heat, heavy rains and landslides. Outlying islands in the Okinawan chain, some 1,000 km southwest of Tokyo, were being pounded by heavy rain and high tides a day before an Okinawan gubernatorial election on Sunday. Strong wind knocked down trees, blew off an outer wall from a building and left nine people injured in Okinawa. Trami also caused power outages in more than 30 towns, according to public broadcaster NHK. Kansai International Airport in Osaka, western Japan, which was heavily flooded by a typhoon last month, announced that it would close its runways from 11 a.m. (0200 GMT) until 6 a.m. on Monday. The airport only fully reopened on Sept. 21. NHK also said airlines had cancelled more than 390 flights, mainly those flying in and out of Okinawa. More flight cancellations were planned for Sunday. Churning north across Okinawa on Saturday, Trami is predicted to move across the islands of Kyushu and the main island of Honshu on Sunday, a path similar to that taken by typhoon Jebi early in September. Bullet trains running between the two western Japan cities of Osaka and Hiroshima will suspend operations on Sunday morning in anticipation of heavy rain and wind, operator West Japan Railway said on Saturday. Last month's Typhoon Jebi, the most powerful storm to hit Japan in 25 years, brought some of the highest tides since a 1961 typhoon.

Powerful typhoon approaches southern Japan, charts course for main island

The President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Thursday expressed his confidence in the success of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo and praised Japan for its good conditions to organize the sports event. 
 
"I have been in contact with the Japanese authorities; Tokyo is a safe place, with first class construction, technology and people with experience, we are confident that the Games will succeed," Thomas Bach said at a press conference in Mexico City. 
 
When asked about whether the recent natural disasters in Japan, including an earthquake on September 25 in Hokkaido, will affect the Olympics, Bach responded no and praised Japan for its good work. 
 
On Thursday morning, the Olympic president met with the president-elect of Mexico, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who told Bach of his idea about prioritising sports during his six-year mandate starting from this December.

Bach then toured the venues of the Mexico City Olympic Games in 1968 and met with Mexican Olympic athletes of that time.

The President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Thursday expressed his confidence in the success of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo and praised Japan for its good conditions to organize the sports event.

The President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Thursday expressed his confidence in the success of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo and praised Japan for its good conditions to organize the sports event. "I have been in contact with the Japanese authorities; Tokyo is a safe place, with first class construction, technology and people with experience, we are confident that the Games will succeed," Thomas Bach said at a press conference in Mexico City. When asked about whether the recent natural disasters in Japan, including an earthquake on September 25 in Hokkaido, will affect the Olympics, Bach responded no and praised Japan for its good work. On Thursday morning, the Olympic president met with the president-elect of Mexico, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who told Bach of his idea about prioritising sports during his six-year mandate starting from this December. Bach then toured the venues of the Mexico City Olympic Games in 1968 and met with Mexican Olympic athletes of that time.

Thomas Bach says he is confident of the success of Tokyo Olympic Games

A series of images taken from space on Tuesday (September 25) showed the eye of typhoon Trami as it moved towards Japan.

The photographs were taken by the European Space Agency astronaut Alexander Gerst from the International Space Station.

He posted the pictures with a caption, "As if somebody pulled the planet's gigantic plug."

"Staring down the eye of yet another fierce storm. Category 5 Super Typhoon Trami is unstoppable and heading for Japan and Taiwan. Be safe down there!" he added.&nbsp;

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As if somebody pulled the planet's gigantic plug. Staring down the eye of yet another fierce storm. Category 5 Super Typhoon Trami is unstoppable and heading for Japan and Taiwan. Be safe down there! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TyphoonTrami?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TyphoonTrami</a> <a href="https://t.co/4VmY2hhj2c">pic.twitter.com/4VmY2hhj2c</a>
— Alexander Gerst (@Astro_Alex) <a href="https://twitter.com/Astro_Alex/status/1044633209454174213?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2018</a></blockquote>
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A massive storm that at one point reached super typhoon size, Trami contributed to widespread flooding across Asia but has weakened considerably since moving towards Japan.

Its strength remains that of a category 3 hurricane.

Typhoon Trami is the second&nbsp;to hit Japan within one month.

Earlier in the month, Japan was hit by typhoon Jebi which killed at least 11 people.

Hundreds of people were also injured. The typhoon also caused flooding at the airport in Osaka which left 7,800 people stranded on the upper floors of the terminal.

Kansai international airport one of the busiest airports of Japan has also remained closed for three days.

Jebi, the 21st typhoon of the season in the Pacific was the strongest to make landfall in Japan in 25 years causing significant disruptions in transport, besides damaging nearly 1,000 houses and establishments across several cities of the archipelago.

(With inputs from agencies)

 
&nbsp;

A series of images taken from space on Tuesday (September 25) showed the eye of typhoon Trami as it moved towards Japan. The photographs were taken by the European Space Agency astronaut Alexander Gerst from the International Space Station.

A series of images taken from space on Tuesday (September 25) showed the eye of typhoon Trami as it moved towards Japan. The photographs were taken by the European Space Agency astronaut Alexander Gerst from the International Space Station. He posted the pictures with a caption, "As if somebody pulled the planet's gigantic plug." "Staring down the eye of yet another fierce storm. Category 5 Super Typhoon Trami is unstoppable and heading for Japan and Taiwan. Be safe down there!" he added. As if somebody pulled the planet's gigantic plug. Staring down the eye of yet another fierce storm. Category 5 Super Typhoon Trami is unstoppable and heading for Japan and Taiwan. Be safe down there! #TyphoonTrami pic.twitter.com/4VmY2hhj2c — Alexander Gerst (@Astro_Alex) September 25, 2018 × A massive storm that at one point reached super typhoon size, Trami contributed to widespread flooding across Asia but has weakened considerably since moving towards Japan. Its strength remains that of a category 3 hurricane. Typhoon Trami is the second to hit Japan within one month. Earlier in the month, Japan was hit by typhoon Jebi which killed at least 11 people. Hundreds of people were also injured. The typhoon also caused flooding at the airport in Osaka which left 7,800 people stranded on the upper floors of the terminal. Kansai international airport one of the busiest airports of Japan has also remained closed for three days. Jebi, the 21st typhoon of the season in the Pacific was the strongest to make landfall in Japan in 25 years causing significant disruptions in transport, besides damaging nearly 1,000 houses and establishments across several cities of the archipelago. (With inputs from agencies)

Pictures from space show typhoon Trami advancing towards Japan

As part of the annual prime ministerial meeting, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited India to participate in the 12th Indo-Japan Annual Summit. This year the bilateral talk began with an inauguration of the much anticipated Mumbai-Ahmadabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR). The project cost of 1.1 Lakh crore is partially funded by the Japanese as part of its infrastructure assistance to India. Moreover, the project presents a huge opportunity for both India and Japan to expand the cooperation in other areas.

Prime Minister Abe visit came at the backdrop of two major regional events – the stand-off between India and the Chinese army over Dokhlam as well as continuing North Korea nuclear and missile threat. Both the events have drawn much attention in this year’s annual summit. The Joint Statement captured recent development in the bilateral cooperation.&nbsp;

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<h5>Though both the prime ministers declared their commitment to cooperate on defence equipment and technology, one is still in the dark on the level of commitment from both the sides.</h5>
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Importantly, the joint statement made a concrete effort to reassure each other by affirming their support to “value-based partnership in achieving a free, open and prosperous Indo-pacific region.” The joint statement also took a dig at Chinese (One Belt, One Road) initiative by underlining the importance of “ensuring the development and use of connectivity infrastructure in an open, transparent and fair process.” Both the sides also condemned strongly North Korea and Pakistan for disturbing regional peace and global order.

The defence cooperation is a cornerstone of the bilateral relationship. The MALABAR trilateral naval exercise provides great impetus to the Indian navy. India will be in strong cooperation with the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) and the US Navy. The two sides agreed to continue the military-to-military engagement and discuss issues of common interest.

Though both the prime ministers declared their commitment to cooperate on defence equipment and technology, one is still in the dark on the level of commitment from both the sides. The US-2i amphibious aircraft is a classic example of failure in which both sides have not been able to finalise a deal despite several rounds of consultation. This clearly shows the problem in Indian defence acquisition policy and why many foreign countries are reluctant to invest in “Make in India” defence programme.

India believes Japanese defence industry can play an important role in “Make in India” programme. Though the US-2i procurement is getting delayed, in 2015, Indian Navy has issued Request for Information (RFI) to Japanese manufacturers. India wants Japan to participate in the project 75 (I), helping the country to build six advanced submarines with air-independent propulsion (AIP) system. Japanese Soryu-class submarine is one of its kind which can offer Indian navy great advantage in the submarine warfare. After losing Australian submarine bid to French shipbuilder Direction des Constructions Navales Services (DCNS), Japan sees an opportunity in India’s project 75 (I) programme.&nbsp;

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<h5>Japanese Soryu-class submarine is one of its kind which can offer Indian navy great advantage in the submarine warfare.</h5>
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This year, Indian Defence Minister Arun Jaitley paid two consequent visits to Japan. His primary goal was to focus on strengthening cooperation over defence equipment. During his visit to Japan in the month of May 2017, the Defence Minister made some interesting observation about challenges India is facing in acquiring defence equipment from Japan. He spoke about various reforms the present government has undertaken to attract foreign investment in the country. He has also laid out his plan of giving incentives to foreign companies that are interested in setting up defence manufacturing bases in India.&nbsp;

This is a significant statement as he himself is under huge pressure to decide on the strategic partnership with the private sector for defence equipment. Defence Minister Jaitely also indicated that India is looking at Japanese technology for local manufacturing of defence equipment. The cooperation would be “both for the purpose of buying (from Japan) and any possibility of India domestically manufacturing with their technologies.”&nbsp;

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<h5>Japan fear the transfer of technology to India will expose its technological capability to Russia.&nbsp;</h5>
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Before handing over the defence portfolio to his successor Mrs Nirmala Sitaraman, Mr Arun Jaitely revisited Japan this September to take part in the annual India-Japan defence ministerial dialogue. He intending to discuss bilateral cooperation in defence production, including dual-use technologies etc. But the cooperation in defence equipment and technology has not gained much prominence in the Joint Statement issued by two prime ministers. This clearly signifies that Japan is still reluctant on agreeing to some of the demands, such as transfer of technology (ToT) to India and co-production of equipment in India.

It also raises two major issues concerning the Japanese interest in pursuing its defence cooperation with India. Firstly, though India and Japan are steadfastly cooperating over several matters, the latter sees India’s close military ties with Russia as a major impediment in co-development of defence equipment. Japan fear the transfer of technology to India will expose its technological capability to Russia.&nbsp;

Secondly, given India’s complex defence acquisition policy, Tokyo feel that it will be difficult for it to compete with other Foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) who have already found a place in the Indian defence sector. Japan's failed bid to secure the Australian submarine programme is a classic example of how Japanese industry lack international experience when it comes to selling defence equipment. India, thus, needs to allay the fear of Japan while working hand-in-hand towards addressing the crucial gaps in the bilateral defence cooperation.

Japan sees India?s close military ties with Russia as a major impediment in co-development of defence equipment.

As part of the annual prime ministerial meeting, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited India to participate in the 12th Indo-Japan Annual Summit. This year the bilateral talk began with an inauguration of the much anticipated Mumbai-Ahmadabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR). The project cost of 1.1 Lakh crore is partially funded by the Japanese as part of its infrastructure assistance to India. Moreover, the project presents a huge opportunity for both India and Japan to expand the cooperation in other areas. Prime Minister Abe visit came at the backdrop of two major regional events – the stand-off between India and the Chinese army over Dokhlam as well as continuing North Korea nuclear and missile threat. Both the events have drawn much attention in this year’s annual summit. The Joint Statement captured recent development in the bilateral cooperation. Though both the prime ministers declared their commitment to cooperate on defence equipment and technology, one is still in the dark on the level of commitment from both the sides. × Importantly, the joint statement made a concrete effort to reassure each other by affirming their support to “value-based partnership in achieving a free, open and prosperous Indo-pacific region.” The joint statement also took a dig at Chinese (One Belt, One Road) initiative by underlining the importance of “ensuring the development and use of connectivity infrastructure in an open, transparent and fair process.” Both the sides also condemned strongly North Korea and Pakistan for disturbing regional peace and global order. The defence cooperation is a cornerstone of the bilateral relationship. The MALABAR trilateral naval exercise provides great impetus to the Indian navy. India will be in strong cooperation with the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) and the US Navy. The two sides agreed to continue the military-to-military engagement and discuss issues of common interest. Though both the prime ministers declared their commitment to cooperate on defence equipment and technology, one is still in the dark on the level of commitment from both the sides. The US-2i amphibious aircraft is a classic example of failure in which both sides have not been able to finalise a deal despite several rounds of consultation. This clearly shows the problem in Indian defence acquisition policy and why many foreign countries are reluctant to invest in “Make in India” defence programme. India believes Japanese defence industry can play an important role in “Make in India” programme. Though the US-2i procurement is getting delayed, in 2015, Indian Navy has issued Request for Information (RFI) to Japanese manufacturers. India wants Japan to participate in the project 75 (I), helping the country to build six advanced submarines with air-independent propulsion (AIP) system. Japanese Soryu-class submarine is one of its kind which can offer Indian navy great advantage in the submarine warfare. After losing Australian submarine bid to French shipbuilder Direction des Constructions Navales Services (DCNS), Japan sees an opportunity in India’s project 75 (I) programme. Japanese Soryu-class submarine is one of its kind which can offer Indian navy great advantage in the submarine warfare. × This year, Indian Defence Minister Arun Jaitley paid two consequent visits to Japan. His primary goal was to focus on strengthening cooperation over defence equipment. During his visit to Japan in the month of May 2017, the Defence Minister made some interesting observation about challenges India is facing in acquiring defence equipment from Japan. He spoke about various reforms the present government has undertaken to attract foreign investment in the country. He has also laid out his plan of giving incentives to foreign companies that are interested in setting up defence manufacturing bases in India. This is a significant statement as he himself is under huge pressure to decide on the strategic partnership with the private sector for defence equipment. Defence Minister Jaitely also indicated that India is looking at Japanese technology for local manufacturing of defence equipment. The cooperation would be “both for the purpose of buying (from Japan) and any possibility of India domestically manufacturing with their technologies.” Japan fear the transfer of technology to India will expose its technological capability to Russia. × Before handing over the defence portfolio to his successor Mrs Nirmala Sitaraman, Mr Arun Jaitely revisited Japan this September to take part in the annual India-Japan defence ministerial dialogue. He intending to discuss bilateral cooperation in defence production, including dual-use technologies etc. But the cooperation in defence equipment and technology has not gained much prominence in the Joint Statement issued by two prime ministers. This clearly signifies that Japan is still reluctant on agreeing to some of the demands, such as transfer of technology (ToT) to India and co-production of equipment in India. It also raises two major issues concerning the Japanese interest in pursuing its defence cooperation with India. Firstly, though India and Japan are steadfastly cooperating over several matters, the latter sees India’s close military ties with Russia as a major impediment in co-development of defence equipment. Japan fear the transfer of technology to India will expose its technological capability to Russia. Secondly, given India’s complex defence acquisition policy, Tokyo feel that it will be difficult for it to compete with other Foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) who have already found a place in the Indian defence sector. Japan's failed bid to secure the Australian submarine programme is a classic example of how Japanese industry lack international experience when it comes to selling defence equipment. India, thus, needs to allay the fear of Japan while working hand-in-hand towards addressing the crucial gaps in the bilateral defence cooperation.

Opinion: Will Modi's 'Make in India' programme benefit from Japanese defence industry?

Two days after the historic <a href="http://wionews.com/world/japan-eying-abe-kim-summit-with-possible-pyongyang-visit-report-144274">Trump-Kim summit in Singapore</a>, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo, South Korean foreign minister Kang Kyung-wha and Japanese foreign minister Taro Kono met in Seoul today to work together to ensure North Korea keeps its promise of denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.

During the meeting, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said: "Kim Jong Un's public commitment to completely denuclearise is an important step towards to bring lasting peace and stability to Northeast Asia and indeed to the entire world," adding, "as the president said that this will be a process, and not an easy one, staying closely aligned with our allies."

Pompeo reiterated that Korea and Japan will be critical to the success of North Korea completely dismantling its nuclear infrastructure.

"The world should rest assured that the United States, South Korea and Japan remain committed to achieving the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation of North Korea," the US secretary of state said.

The Japanese foreign minister Taro Kono said his country was keen to resolve the nuclear and abductee issue and wanted to "normalise relations with North Korea" and could also offer "economic assistance" to North Korea.&nbsp;

Japanese foreign minister Taro Kono said,&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; "I hope a bilateral summit between Japan and North Korea will be held as a step that can lead to resolving issues, including the abduction. I think various arrangements will be made for realising the summit."

According to a new report, Japanese PM Shinzo Abe's office is arranging a meeting with &nbsp;North Korean leader Kim Jong-un possibly in August to discuss all outstanding issues with Abe possibly visiting Pyongyang to mee the North Korean leader.

<iframe allow="autoplay encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C4OQVjhm9Zo" width="560"></iframe>

The Japanese foreign minister Taro Kono said his country was keen to resolve the nuclear and abductee issue with North Korea

Two days after the historic Trump-Kim summit in Singapore, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo, South Korean foreign minister Kang Kyung-wha and Japanese foreign minister Taro Kono met in Seoul today to work together to ensure North Korea keeps its promise of denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. During the meeting, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said: "Kim Jong Un's public commitment to completely denuclearise is an important step towards to bring lasting peace and stability to Northeast Asia and indeed to the entire world," adding, "as the president said that this will be a process, and not an easy one, staying closely aligned with our allies." Pompeo reiterated that Korea and Japan will be critical to the success of North Korea completely dismantling its nuclear infrastructure. "The world should rest assured that the United States, South Korea and Japan remain committed to achieving the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation of North Korea," the US secretary of state said. The Japanese foreign minister Taro Kono said his country was keen to resolve the nuclear and abductee issue and wanted to "normalise relations with North Korea" and could also offer "economic assistance" to North Korea. Japanese foreign minister Taro Kono said, "I hope a bilateral summit between Japan and North Korea will be held as a step that can lead to resolving issues, including the abduction. I think various arrangements will be made for realising the summit." According to a new report, Japanese PM Shinzo Abe's office is arranging a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un possibly in August to discuss all outstanding issues with Abe possibly visiting Pyongyang to mee the North Korean leader.

After Kim-Trump summit, Pompeo in Seoul to meet foreign ministers from Japan and South Korea

India&nbsp;is set to miss a December deadline to acquire land for a Japan-backed $17 billion bullet train project following protests by fruit growers, government officials said, likely delaying one of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's most ambitious projects.

Modi's office is now monitoring the project week-to-week, as&nbsp;Indian officials seek to reassure Tokyo that the hurdles can be overcome through intense negotiations with sapota and mango growers in Maharashtra.

Protests, backed by local politicians, have flared up in recent months against attempts to secure sections of a 108-km stretch, which is around one-fifth of the entire bullet train corridor connecting Mumbai with Ahmedabad, the largest commercial city in Modi's home state Gujarat.

"I've worked hard for three decades to develop this plantation, and they are asking me to hand over this land," sapota farmer Dashrat Purav, 62, said as he showed his orchard in the town of Palghar, a three-hour-drive north of Mumbai.

"I haven't worked hard to surrender land for the project. I did that for my children."

Purav said he would sell his land only if at least one of his two unemployed sons was promised a government job.

Protests against land acquisitions are common in&nbsp;India, where tens of millions of farmers till small holdings. A planned $44 billion refinery to be run by a consortium including Saudi Aramco, the world's biggest oil producer, is also struggling to secure land in Maharashtra.

"Land acquisition for any project is complex in&nbsp;India," said Dhananjay Kumar, spokesman for the National High-Speed Rail Corp Ltd (NHSRCL) that is overseeing the project. "Here also we are facing difficulty because of so much resistance."

Failure to procure the bullet train land by the deadline would delay disbursal of soft-loans by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), a government development body, which is reviewing the project next month, said two senior officials with the state-run&nbsp;Indian Railways, declining to be named.

A JICA spokeswoman said that&nbsp;India&nbsp;must create&nbsp;relocation plans for local residents and make them public in order to enter into a loan agreement covering the main part of the bullet train project.

"It is possible that it takes time to sign a contract as&nbsp;India&nbsp;takes proper and careful measures in line with JICA's guidelines for environmental and social considerations," she said.

To assuage Japan's concerns,&nbsp;Indian officials have sought a meeting this month with transport ministry officials in Tokyo, one of the&nbsp;Indian officials said.&nbsp;India&nbsp;wants the project's completion target to be advanced by a year to 2022, the 75th year of&nbsp;India's independence.

A Japanese transport ministry official who deals with the bullet train project said that&nbsp;Indian officials had told them that "they can manage" the land acquisition.

"We will continue to work together with the&nbsp;Indian government to bring this project forward with an aim to start operation in 2023," the official said.

Japan is majority-funding the train project through a 50-year loan. Japanese companies such as Nippon Steel and Sumitomo Metal Corp, JFE Holdings, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Toshiba Corp and Hitachi are likely to supply at least 70 percent of the core components of the rail line, sources told Reuters in January.

Modi has called the project crucial for his pet "Make in&nbsp;India" campaign aimed at lifting the share of manufacturing in&nbsp;India's $2 trillion economy. The government also hopes to generate hundreds of jobs through the train project, and hence is pushing hard to finish it on time.

To sweeten the terms for people opposed to selling their land,&nbsp;Indian Railways has put its weight behind NHSRCL, pledging funds from its own welfare scheme to build schools and community halls, one of the officials said.

Ashwani Lohani, chairman of the&nbsp;Indian Railway Board, said the issues with farmers were not insurmountable.

The government has offered to buy land at a 25per centt premium to the market value, the two government officials said. Farmers are also being offered resettlement dues of 500,000 rupees ($7,409) or 50 percent of the land value, whichever is higher.

However, local political opposition in Palghar, ahead of a general election next year, has fanned the protests. Opponents say the bullet train is wasteful and the money would be better used upgrading the country's rickety rail infrastructure. Farmers have threatened a hunger strike.

Last week, farmers and local activists disrupted a public hearing conducted by NHSRCL, its second attempt to hold such an event in less than a month. The first one last month was also cut short by protests.

"In coming weeks, we will intensify the protests," said Nilam&nbsp;Gorhe, a spokesman for Shiv Sena, a regional party that has an on-off relationship with Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

'I haven't worked hard to surrender land for the project. I did that for my children'

India is set to miss a December deadline to acquire land for a Japan-backed $17 billion bullet train project following protests by fruit growers, government officials said, likely delaying one of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's most ambitious projects. Modi's office is now monitoring the project week-to-week, as Indian officials seek to reassure Tokyo that the hurdles can be overcome through intense negotiations with sapota and mango growers in Maharashtra. Protests, backed by local politicians, have flared up in recent months against attempts to secure sections of a 108-km stretch, which is around one-fifth of the entire bullet train corridor connecting Mumbai with Ahmedabad, the largest commercial city in Modi's home state Gujarat. "I've worked hard for three decades to develop this plantation, and they are asking me to hand over this land," sapota farmer Dashrat Purav, 62, said as he showed his orchard in the town of Palghar, a three-hour-drive north of Mumbai. "I haven't worked hard to surrender land for the project. I did that for my children." Purav said he would sell his land only if at least one of his two unemployed sons was promised a government job. Protests against land acquisitions are common in India, where tens of millions of farmers till small holdings. A planned $44 billion refinery to be run by a consortium including Saudi Aramco, the world's biggest oil producer, is also struggling to secure land in Maharashtra. "Land acquisition for any project is complex in India," said Dhananjay Kumar, spokesman for the National High-Speed Rail Corp Ltd (NHSRCL) that is overseeing the project. "Here also we are facing difficulty because of so much resistance." Failure to procure the bullet train land by the deadline would delay disbursal of soft-loans by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), a government development body, which is reviewing the project next month, said two senior officials with the state-run Indian Railways, declining to be named. A JICA spokeswoman said that India must create relocation plans for local residents and make them public in order to enter into a loan agreement covering the main part of the bullet train project. "It is possible that it takes time to sign a contract as India takes proper and careful measures in line with JICA's guidelines for environmental and social considerations," she said. To assuage Japan's concerns, Indian officials have sought a meeting this month with transport ministry officials in Tokyo, one of the Indian officials said. India wants the project's completion target to be advanced by a year to 2022, the 75th year of India's independence. A Japanese transport ministry official who deals with the bullet train project said that Indian officials had told them that "they can manage" the land acquisition. "We will continue to work together with the Indian government to bring this project forward with an aim to start operation in 2023," the official said. Japan is majority-funding the train project through a 50-year loan. Japanese companies such as Nippon Steel and Sumitomo Metal Corp, JFE Holdings, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Toshiba Corp and Hitachi are likely to supply at least 70 percent of the core components of the rail line, sources told Reuters in January. Modi has called the project crucial for his pet "Make in India" campaign aimed at lifting the share of manufacturing in India's $2 trillion economy. The government also hopes to generate hundreds of jobs through the train project, and hence is pushing hard to finish it on time. To sweeten the terms for people opposed to selling their land, Indian Railways has put its weight behind NHSRCL, pledging funds from its own welfare scheme to build schools and community halls, one of the officials said. Ashwani Lohani, chairman of the Indian Railway Board, said the issues with farmers were not insurmountable. The government has offered to buy land at a 25per centt premium to the market value, the two government officials said. Farmers are also being offered resettlement dues of 500,000 rupees ($7,409) or 50 percent of the land value, whichever is higher. However, local political opposition in Palghar, ahead of a general election next year, has fanned the protests. Opponents say the bullet train is wasteful and the money would be better used upgrading the country's rickety rail infrastructure. Farmers have threatened a hunger strike. Last week, farmers and local activists disrupted a public hearing conducted by NHSRCL, its second attempt to hold such an event in less than a month. The first one last month was also cut short by protests. "In coming weeks, we will intensify the protests," said Nilam Gorhe, a spokesman for Shiv Sena, a regional party that has an on-off relationship with Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

India set to miss key target for Japan-backed bullet train project

A man was arrested in central Japan after stabbing one person to death and injuring two others aboard a bullet train on Saturday night, a rare violent assault in the Asian nation.

The suspect, identified as Ichiro Kojima, attacked the victims around 10:00 pm (1300 GMT) aboard the shinkansen train which was travelling from Tokyo to a station in Osaka, police and news reports said.

Police officers stormed into the rail carriage and took the man into custody after the train, carrying some 880 passengers, made an emergency stop at Odawara station.

Police arrested the 22-year-old unemployed suspect on suspicion of attempted murder, a local police spokesman told AFP.

"A male passenger was sent to hospital and his death was confirmed later," the spokesman said.

News reports said two women who appeared to be in their twenties were wounded but their injuries were not life-threatening.

The suspect told investigators that he felt "frustrated and wanted to kill someone", public broadcaster NHK said, adding that he used at least two knives.

Witnesses said passengers fled in panic, some of them in tears.

"All of a sudden, a lot of passengers were dashing from behind. People panicked", a 44-year-old male passenger told the Mainichi Shimbun.

"Everyone appeared to be feeling the strain and some of them cried," he said.&nbsp

A female passenger told NHK: "Everyone fled and fell like one domino falling after another. I was scared to death."

Japan has one of the lowest rates of violent crime in the developed world and mass attacks are extremely rare.

In 2015, a man set himself ablaze on board a moving bullet train, killing himself and a woman in an unprecedented incident.&nbsp

The suspect, identified as Ichiro Kojima, attacked the victims around 10:00 pm (1300 GMT) aboard the shinkansen train which was travelling from Tokyo to a station in Osaka, police and news reports said

A man was arrested in central Japan after stabbing one person to death and injuring two others aboard a bullet train on Saturday night, a rare violent assault in the Asian nation. The suspect, identified as Ichiro Kojima, attacked the victims around 10:00 pm (1300 GMT) aboard the shinkansen train which was travelling from Tokyo to a station in Osaka, police and news reports said. Police officers stormed into the rail carriage and took the man into custody after the train, carrying some 880 passengers, made an emergency stop at Odawara station. Police arrested the 22-year-old unemployed suspect on suspicion of attempted murder, a local police spokesman told AFP. "A male passenger was sent to hospital and his death was confirmed later," the spokesman said. News reports said two women who appeared to be in their twenties were wounded but their injuries were not life-threatening. The suspect told investigators that he felt "frustrated and wanted to kill someone", public broadcaster NHK said, adding that he used at least two knives. Witnesses said passengers fled in panic, some of them in tears. "All of a sudden, a lot of passengers were dashing from behind. People panicked", a 44-year-old male passenger told the Mainichi Shimbun. "Everyone appeared to be feeling the strain and some of them cried," he said. A female passenger told NHK: "Everyone fled and fell like one domino falling after another. I was scared to death." Japan has one of the lowest rates of violent crime in the developed world and mass attacks are extremely rare. In 2015, a man set himself ablaze on board a moving bullet train, killing himself and a woman in an unprecedented incident.

Man arrested over deadly Japan stabbing spree

Kazuhiro Hasegawa has been driving a taxi in Tokyo for three years. It's a job he enjoys, despite 18-hour shifts.

But recently, he said, it has not been enough to make ends meet.

The 4.5 million-4.8 million yen ($41,110-$43,850) a year he makes from his primary job is far short of what he needs to cover a mortgage and university for his son, Hasegawa said.

"I have no choice but to work two jobs, as income is unstable," said Hasegawa, 51, who earns several thousand yen a month from a side job shooting and editing videos for&nbsp;businesses. "There's no rest. I try to avoid being short of sleep as that would cause trouble driving a taxi."

Japanese workers like Hasegawa are signing up for second jobs in record numbers to earn extra cash as wages stagnate, stirring hopes of a rise in consumer spending but adding to fears of overwork in a society notorious for long hours.

Facing a labour crunch, many companies welcome the influx of part-time workers. And the government has loosened rules that banned or discouraged employees from taking second jobs.

The result is that a record 7.44 million Japanese will work at least two jobs this year - or about 11 per cent of the workforce - up from 5.33 million in 2015, according to Lancers Inc, which helps freelancers find jobs.

That lags behind countries like the US, which have been embracing the "gig economy" for longer. About 20 per cent of the US workforce had second jobs in 2017, data show.

The shift in Japan aligns with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's goal of creating a workforce that can adapt to economic changes and offer more individual freedom, which he says will promote growth.

Indeed, people working two jobs will contribute an estimated 7.8 trillion yen to the economy, Lancer's data showed.

But there is a dark side.

Japanese workers need to put in roughly 11 per cent more hours than they did in 1997 to make the same salary. In the meantime, Tokyo's annual cost of living for an average household is about $3,300 a month, government data shows, a 6 per cent decrease from 1997.

Working two or three jobs to make ends meet undercuts the government's "work-style reform" efforts, including proposed caps on overtime in response to cases of "karoshi," literally death by overwork.

"It could raise the risk that one person ends up working over 100 hours (of overtime) by assuming 50-hour jobs at two firms," said Kotaro Kurashige, an attorney of Anzai Law Office, who represents management in labour disputes.

"What the government is trying to do is full of inconsistencies," he said. "Making up for cuts in overtime pay by assuming side jobs elsewhere is like putting the cart before the horse."

The emerging trend highlights the decline of Japan's lifetime employment system, in which workers in the decades after World War Two were guaranteed job security in exchange for devotion to their employers.

Such positions are much rarer these days. A large number of workers taking second jobs would traditionally be nearing retirement age nearly half of Japanese workers with two jobs are older than 50, according to Lancers.

"There's no such thing as lifetime employment anymore," said Masaki Shimizu, 32, who on top of his regular job at internet start-up En Factory Inc, runs a coffee shop where patrons can pet live hedgehogs and has two other side jobs.

"I need these side jobs to master new skills and expand my own strengths," Shimizu said.

Natsuko Anastasia Ariyama, 25, said she earned about 200,000 yen a month from her full-time job as a university staffer and an additional 20,000 yen from a side job as a writer and translator. She does not get overtime pay, nor has she gotten a raise.

"I have started doing a second job last year to earn spending money," she said, adding that the extra work gives her a sense of security as well.

Attracting Talent

Japanese companies have traditionally demanded that their workers be fully committed to their employers.

But more are softening their views on the subject, including Rohto Pharmaceutical Co, SoftBank Group Corp, photocopier maker Konica Minolta Inc and Shinsei Bank Ltd.

Diaper maker Unicharm Corp in April started letting its 1,500 full-time employees hold second jobs. The decision was made partly to lure workers amid a labour shortage and to encourage current employees to acquire new knowledge and skills.

"We judged that benefits from side jobs outweigh potential risks such as overwork, leakage of information and brain drain," said Yukinari Watanabe, a senior human resources manager of Unicharm.

So far only one employee, a man in his 50s, has responded, asking to become a basketball coach for middle and high school students.

"We need to be a company that will attract capable workers," Watanabe said. "We also feel that workers need to acquire skills that can be used anywhere as you never know what may happen in this era of uncertainty."

New Rules

After Abe called for more labour mobility, the government has tried to clear the way for companies to allow side jobs.

In January, the labour ministry removed a rule banning second jobs without an employer's permission. Now workers must only inform their employer before taking on another job.

But recent cases of people working themselves to death have also led Abe's government to propose labour reforms such as a cap on overtime of 100 hours per month.

Many workers count on overtime pay, however, and caps would reduce that income, said Hisashi Yamada, research director at Japan Research Institute.

So as long as people can skirt that by taking additional jobs, the trend of working for more than one company will probably continue, Yamada said.

But if it spreads workers too thin, it could erode Japanese employment culture, Yamada said.

"Many Japanese firms still want employees to focus on their main job, so Japan won't turn into a country like America right away, where gig economy jobs are widely available," he said.

Facing a labour crunch, many companies welcome the influx of part-time workers

Kazuhiro Hasegawa has been driving a taxi in Tokyo for three years. It's a job he enjoys, despite 18-hour shifts. But recently, he said, it has not been enough to make ends meet. The 4.5 million-4.8 million yen ($41,110-$43,850) a year he makes from his primary job is far short of what he needs to cover a mortgage and university for his son, Hasegawa said. "I have no choice but to work two jobs, as income is unstable," said Hasegawa, 51, who earns several thousand yen a month from a side job shooting and editing videos for businesses. "There's no rest. I try to avoid being short of sleep as that would cause trouble driving a taxi." Japanese workers like Hasegawa are signing up for second jobs in record numbers to earn extra cash as wages stagnate, stirring hopes of a rise in consumer spending but adding to fears of overwork in a society notorious for long hours. Facing a labour crunch, many companies welcome the influx of part-time workers. And the government has loosened rules that banned or discouraged employees from taking second jobs. The result is that a record 7.44 million Japanese will work at least two jobs this year - or about 11 per cent of the workforce - up from 5.33 million in 2015, according to Lancers Inc, which helps freelancers find jobs. That lags behind countries like the US, which have been embracing the "gig economy" for longer. About 20 per cent of the US workforce had second jobs in 2017, data show. The shift in Japan aligns with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's goal of creating a workforce that can adapt to economic changes and offer more individual freedom, which he says will promote growth. Indeed, people working two jobs will contribute an estimated 7.8 trillion yen to the economy, Lancer's data showed. But there is a dark side. Japanese workers need to put in roughly 11 per cent more hours than they did in 1997 to make the same salary. In the meantime, Tokyo's annual cost of living for an average household is about $3,300 a month, government data shows, a 6 per cent decrease from 1997. Working two or three jobs to make ends meet undercuts the government's "work-style reform" efforts, including proposed caps on overtime in response to cases of "karoshi," literally death by overwork. "It could raise the risk that one person ends up working over 100 hours (of overtime) by assuming 50-hour jobs at two firms," said Kotaro Kurashige, an attorney of Anzai Law Office, who represents management in labour disputes. "What the government is trying to do is full of inconsistencies," he said. "Making up for cuts in overtime pay by assuming side jobs elsewhere is like putting the cart before the horse." The emerging trend highlights the decline of Japan's lifetime employment system, in which workers in the decades after World War Two were guaranteed job security in exchange for devotion to their employers. Such positions are much rarer these days. A large number of workers taking second jobs would traditionally be nearing retirement age nearly half of Japanese workers with two jobs are older than 50, according to Lancers. "There's no such thing as lifetime employment anymore," said Masaki Shimizu, 32, who on top of his regular job at internet start-up En Factory Inc, runs a coffee shop where patrons can pet live hedgehogs and has two other side jobs. "I need these side jobs to master new skills and expand my own strengths," Shimizu said. Natsuko Anastasia Ariyama, 25, said she earned about 200,000 yen a month from her full-time job as a university staffer and an additional 20,000 yen from a side job as a writer and translator. She does not get overtime pay, nor has she gotten a raise. "I have started doing a second job last year to earn spending money," she said, adding that the extra work gives her a sense of security as well. Attracting Talent Japanese companies have traditionally demanded that their workers be fully committed to their employers. But more are softening their views on the subject, including Rohto Pharmaceutical Co, SoftBank Group Corp, photocopier maker Konica Minolta Inc and Shinsei Bank Ltd. Diaper maker Unicharm Corp in April started letting its 1,500 full-time employees hold second jobs. The decision was made partly to lure workers amid a labour shortage and to encourage current employees to acquire new knowledge and skills. "We judged that benefits from side jobs outweigh potential risks such as overwork, leakage of information and brain drain," said Yukinari Watanabe, a senior human resources manager of Unicharm. So far only one employee, a man in his 50s, has responded, asking to become a basketball coach for middle and high school students. "We need to be a company that will attract capable workers," Watanabe said. "We also feel that workers need to acquire skills that can be used anywhere as you never know what may happen in this era of uncertainty." New Rules After Abe called for more labour mobility, the government has tried to clear the way for companies to allow side jobs. In January, the labour ministry removed a rule banning second jobs without an employer's permission. Now workers must only inform their employer before taking on another job. But recent cases of people working themselves to death have also led Abe's government to propose labour reforms such as a cap on overtime of 100 hours per month. Many workers count on overtime pay, however, and caps would reduce that income, said Hisashi Yamada, research director at Japan Research Institute. So as long as people can skirt that by taking additional jobs, the trend of working for more than one company will probably continue, Yamada said. But if it spreads workers too thin, it could erode Japanese employment culture, Yamada said. "Many Japanese firms still want employees to focus on their main job, so Japan won't turn into a country like America right away, where gig economy jobs are widely available," he said.

Second jobs, once rare in Japan, are reshaping attitudes about work

<a href="http://wionews.com/india-news/as-rajnath-singh-visits-jk-terrorists-attack-army-patrol-in-kupwara-twice-in-24-hours-142979">As Rajnath Singh visits J&K, terrorists attack Army patrol in Kupwara twice in 24 hours</a>

A day after home minister arrived in&nbsp;Jammu and Kashmir(J&K)&nbsp;terrorists&nbsp;attacked an army patrol in Haril area of Kupwara district. On Thursday, terrorists had ambushed the Army's patrol party in the Keran sector in Kupwara. Two soldiers were injured in the attack.

<a href="http://wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-rajinikanths-kaala-releases-in-select-theaters-across-karnataka--142982">Rajinikanth's 'Kaala' releases in select </a><a href="http://wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-rajinikanths-kaala-releases-in-select-theaters-across-karnataka--142982">theaters</a><a href="http://wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-rajinikanths-kaala-releases-in-select-theaters-across-karnataka--142982"> across Karnataka</a>

Rajinikanth's Kaala did release in Karnataka on Thursday but only in select theatres and amid heavy security. Fear of vandalism overtook a high court order and most theaters preferred not to screen the film across the state.

<a href="http://wionews.com/world/might-invite-kim-to-us-if-talks-go-well-trump-142969">Might invite Kim to </a><a href="http://wionews.com/world/might-invite-kim-to-us-if-talks-go-well-trump-142969">US</a><a href="http://wionews.com/world/might-invite-kim-to-us-if-talks-go-well-trump-142969"> if talks go well: Trump</a>

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he may invite North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un to the White House if the Singapore summit goes well.

<a href="http://wionews.com/india-news/india-must-improve-performance-of-public-sector-banks-imf-142991">India must improve </a><a href="http://wionews.com/india-news/india-must-improve-performance-of-public-sector-banks-imf-142991">performance</a><a href="http://wionews.com/india-news/india-must-improve-performance-of-public-sector-banks-imf-142991"> of public sector banks: IMF</a>

The International Monetary Fund said today that&nbsp;India should look at the performance&nbsp;of the public sector banks as it seeks to reform and grow.

<a href="http://wionews.com/world/japan-willing-to-talk-to-north-korea-and-normalise-ties-pm-shinzo-abe-142971">Japan willing to talk to North Korea and normalise ties: PM Shinzo Abe</a>

Japanese PM Shinzo Abe said today that Japan strongly for peace in the Korean Peninsula while asserting that his country was willing to talk to North Korea to normalise ties.

As Rajnath Singh visits J&K, terrorists attack Army patrol in Kupwara twice in 24 hours A day after home minister arrived in Jammu and Kashmir(J&K) terrorists attacked an army patrol in Haril area of Kupwara district. On Thursday, terrorists had ambushed the Army's patrol party in the Keran sector in Kupwara. Two soldiers were injured in the attack. Rajinikanth's 'Kaala' releases in select theaters across Karnataka Rajinikanth's Kaala did release in Karnataka on Thursday but only in select theatres and amid heavy security. Fear of vandalism overtook a high court order and most theaters preferred not to screen the film across the state. Might invite Kim to US if talks go well: Trump US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he may invite North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un to the White House if the Singapore summit goes well. India must improve performance of public sector banks: IMF The International Monetary Fund said today that India should look at the performance of the public sector banks as it seeks to reform and grow. Japan willing to talk to North Korea and normalise ties: PM Shinzo Abe Japanese PM Shinzo Abe said today that Japan strongly for peace in the Korean Peninsula while asserting that his country was willing to talk to North Korea to normalise ties.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Japanese PM Shinzo Abe said today that Japan strongly for peace in the Korean Peninsula while asserting that his country was willing to talk to North Korea to normalise ties.

Abe and Trump earlier met at the White House with both leaders discussing the impending summit with Kim Jong-un at length.

"In five days, the US-North Korea summit is to take place. First of all, I would like to pay my deep respect to the outstanding leadership of President Trump as he made this decision that no past president were ever able to accomplish. In the last 18 months, we really spent many hours to discuss this issue," the Japanese PM said.

The Japanese PM who has strongly stood for denuclearisation of North Korea, said: "Japan is willing to talk to North Korea to normalise ties."

"Trump, amongst the world leaders, I think is one of the leaders who understands the issue the greatest. So at the upcoming summit, the abduction issue would be explained to Kim," he added.

Japan, Abe said, will continue to ask for complete implementation of the successive United Nations Security Council Resolutions. &nbspAbe said based on the Japan-North Korea Pyongyang Declaration, Tokyo was prepared to settle the past, normalise diplomatic relations and improve economic ties with North Korea.&nbsp

"There is no change at all for Japan's policy to seek comprehensive solution of the abduction, nuclear and missile programmes, and to realise real peace in northeast Asia. This is what Japan strongly hopes for," he said.

Abe added that the world was going to witness a "historic" summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un next week. 
&nbsp

Abe added that the world was going to witness a "historic" summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un next week.

Japanese PM Shinzo Abe said today that Japan strongly for peace in the Korean Peninsula while asserting that his country was willing to talk to North Korea to normalise ties. Abe and Trump earlier met at the White House with both leaders discussing the impending summit with Kim Jong-un at length. "In five days, the US-North Korea summit is to take place. First of all, I would like to pay my deep respect to the outstanding leadership of President Trump as he made this decision that no past president were ever able to accomplish. In the last 18 months, we really spent many hours to discuss this issue," the Japanese PM said. The Japanese PM who has strongly stood for denuclearisation of North Korea, said: "Japan is willing to talk to North Korea to normalise ties." "Trump, amongst the world leaders, I think is one of the leaders who understands the issue the greatest. So at the upcoming summit, the abduction issue would be explained to Kim," he added. Japan, Abe said, will continue to ask for complete implementation of the successive United Nations Security Council Resolutions. &nbspAbe said based on the Japan-North Korea Pyongyang Declaration, Tokyo was prepared to settle the past, normalise diplomatic relations and improve economic ties with North Korea. "There is no change at all for Japan's policy to seek comprehensive solution of the abduction, nuclear and missile programmes, and to realise real peace in northeast Asia. This is what Japan strongly hopes for," he said. Abe added that the world was going to witness a "historic" summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un next week.

Japan willing to talk to North Korea and normalise ties: PM Shinzo Abe

Japan is drawing up plans requiring all senior government bureaucrats to undergo anti-sexual harassment training, an official said today, after a scandal involving a top finance ministry employee.

"We are now preparing such a plan," a cabinet office official told, adding that a final version will be presented at a meeting headed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe later this month.

The move comes after the top bureaucrat at the Finance Ministry quit in April following allegations he sexually harassed female reporters.

He denied the claims, but a ministry probe subsequently found the allegations credible and docked his retirement benefits.

The finance ministry was slammed for its poor handling of the case, with Finance Minister Taro Aso initially dismissing the allegations and officials later calling on victims to come forward publicly.

Earlier this week, a foreign ministry official in charge of Russian affairs was suspended for nine months, with Japanese media widely reporting he had been accused of sexual harassment.

Foreign Minister Taro Kono has declined to clarify why the bureaucrat was suspended, citing the privacy of "the victim." The training plan could be approved as early as next week at the meeting entitled "Base for creating a society where all women shine," that Abe will head, the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper reported.

How many officials will be required to undergo the training remains unclear, though some media reported it may become mandatory for bureaucrats seeking promotion.

Abe has made increasing female participation in the workforce a key plank of his economic policies as Japan struggles with a labour shortage.

But the country ranked bottom among G7 countries in the World Economic Forum's latest "Global Gender Gap Report", coming 114th worldwide.

It scored poorly on women's participation in the economy and political involvement.

The #MeToo movement has sometimes seemed to have skipped Japan, though some observers said the outcry over the finance ministry case suggested a reckoning could now happen in the country too.

The sexual harassment scandal at the finance ministry has proved an additional headache for Abe, whose government is already under fire over two cronyism scandals -- one of which involves the scrubbing of documents by the finance ministry.

The move comes after the top bureaucrat at the Finance Ministry quit in April following allegations he sexually harassed female reporters

Japan is drawing up plans requiring all senior government bureaucrats to undergo anti-sexual harassment training, an official said today, after a scandal involving a top finance ministry employee. "We are now preparing such a plan," a cabinet office official told, adding that a final version will be presented at a meeting headed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe later this month. The move comes after the top bureaucrat at the Finance Ministry quit in April following allegations he sexually harassed female reporters. He denied the claims, but a ministry probe subsequently found the allegations credible and docked his retirement benefits. The finance ministry was slammed for its poor handling of the case, with Finance Minister Taro Aso initially dismissing the allegations and officials later calling on victims to come forward publicly. Earlier this week, a foreign ministry official in charge of Russian affairs was suspended for nine months, with Japanese media widely reporting he had been accused of sexual harassment. Foreign Minister Taro Kono has declined to clarify why the bureaucrat was suspended, citing the privacy of "the victim." The training plan could be approved as early as next week at the meeting entitled "Base for creating a society where all women shine," that Abe will head, the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper reported. How many officials will be required to undergo the training remains unclear, though some media reported it may become mandatory for bureaucrats seeking promotion. Abe has made increasing female participation in the workforce a key plank of his economic policies as Japan struggles with a labour shortage. But the country ranked bottom among G7 countries in the World Economic Forum's latest "Global Gender Gap Report", coming 114th worldwide. It scored poorly on women's participation in the economy and political involvement. The #MeToo movement has sometimes seemed to have skipped Japan, though some observers said the outcry over the finance ministry case suggested a reckoning could now happen in the country too. The sexual harassment scandal at the finance ministry has proved an additional headache for Abe, whose government is already under fire over two cronyism scandals -- one of which involves the scrubbing of documents by the finance ministry.

Japan plans anti-sexual harassment training for officials

US-imposed trade tariffs on its close allies could have a "grave impact" on ties and the world trading system, the Japanese government said&nbsp;Monday, describing the situation as "extremely deplorable".

Washington found itself isolated at a weekend meeting of G7 finance ministers over its stinging steel and aluminium tariffs and Tokyo kept up the barrage in unusually strong language.

"It is extremely deplorable that the situation has not improved even after Japan has explained to the US its concerns at various levels," said government spokesman Yoshihide Suga.

Close allies Tokyo and Washington have been at loggerheads over trade policy after the US refused to give Japan an exemption from the tariffs, which came into effect&nbsp;on Friday.

"The US government's trade measures, citing its security, makes us concerned that they could disrupt the global market," Suga told reporters.

"On top of that, we think that it may have a grave impact on the economic cooperation between the allies Japan and the United States and on the whole multilateral trading system under the WTO (World Trade Organization) rules."

The trade row has cast a shadow over the relationship between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and US President Donald Trump, who have forged otherwise close ties.

Last month, Tokyo informed the WTO it had the right to impose tariffs worth 50 billion yen ($456 million) on American goods -- equivalent to the impact of the US tariffs newly imposed on Japanese steel and aluminium products.

According to the most recent data, Japan's trade surplus with the US was 615.7 billion yen in April ($5.6 billion), a gain of 4.7 per cent on higher demand for cars and construction machinery.

Washington found itself isolated at a weekend meeting of G7 finance ministers over its stinging steel and aluminium tariffs and Tokyo kept up the barrage in unusually strong language

US-imposed trade tariffs on its close allies could have a "grave impact" on ties and the world trading system, the Japanese government said Monday, describing the situation as "extremely deplorable". Washington found itself isolated at a weekend meeting of G7 finance ministers over its stinging steel and aluminium tariffs and Tokyo kept up the barrage in unusually strong language. "It is extremely deplorable that the situation has not improved even after Japan has explained to the US its concerns at various levels," said government spokesman Yoshihide Suga. Close allies Tokyo and Washington have been at loggerheads over trade policy after the US refused to give Japan an exemption from the tariffs, which came into effect on Friday. "The US government's trade measures, citing its security, makes us concerned that they could disrupt the global market," Suga told reporters. "On top of that, we think that it may have a grave impact on the economic cooperation between the allies Japan and the United States and on the whole multilateral trading system under the WTO (World Trade Organization) rules." The trade row has cast a shadow over the relationship between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and US President Donald Trump, who have forged otherwise close ties. Last month, Tokyo informed the WTO it had the right to impose tariffs worth 50 billion yen ($456 million) on American goods -- equivalent to the impact of the US tariffs newly imposed on Japanese steel and aluminium products. According to the most recent data, Japan's trade surplus with the US was 615.7 billion yen in April ($5.6 billion), a gain of 4.7 per cent on higher demand for cars and construction machinery.

US trade policy 'deplorable', rages Japan

Japan&nbspon Tuesday&nbspsaid it had detected what appeared to be a Chinese-flagged vessel, 350 km (218 miles) off Shanghai, conducting illegal transfers to a North Korean ship.

"Following a comprehensive assessment, the government of Japan strongly suspects that they conducted ship-to-ship transfers banned by UNSCR," Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a news release, referring to UN&nbspSecurity Council resolutions.

A Japanese P-3 maritime patrol plane detected the vessels, which lay alongside each other connected by hoses, on May 19, with one of the ships flying what seemed like a Chinese flag, it said.

China's Foreign Ministry said the information provided was "unclear" and it was hard to reach any definitive conclusions.

China has always fully enforced UN resolutions and if there is concrete proof of the resolutions being breached then China will handle it in accordance with the law, the ministry said in a statement sent to Reuters.

Japan's decision to voice its suspicion comes as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and US&nbspPresident Donald Trump prepared for what may be a breakthrough summit as early as next month.

Japan is urging the United States and other countries to stick to a strict imposition of UN&nbspsanctions on North Korea until it abandons the development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.

In April, the UN&nbspSecurity Council blacklisted dozens of ships and shipping companies over oil and coal smuggling by North Korea, including five based in China. The vessels are subject to a global port ban and must be deregistered.

China's Foreign Ministry said the information provided was "unclear" and it was hard to reach any definitive conclusions

Japan&nbspon Tuesday&nbspsaid it had detected what appeared to be a Chinese-flagged vessel, 350 km (218 miles) off Shanghai, conducting illegal transfers to a North Korean ship. "Following a comprehensive assessment, the government of Japan strongly suspects that they conducted ship-to-ship transfers banned by UNSCR," Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a news release, referring to UN&nbspSecurity Council resolutions. A Japanese P-3 maritime patrol plane detected the vessels, which lay alongside each other connected by hoses, on May 19, with one of the ships flying what seemed like a Chinese flag, it said. China's Foreign Ministry said the information provided was "unclear" and it was hard to reach any definitive conclusions. China has always fully enforced UN resolutions and if there is concrete proof of the resolutions being breached then China will handle it in accordance with the law, the ministry said in a statement sent to Reuters. Japan's decision to voice its suspicion comes as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and US&nbspPresident Donald Trump prepared for what may be a breakthrough summit as early as next month. Japan is urging the United States and other countries to stick to a strict imposition of UN&nbspsanctions on North Korea until it abandons the development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. In April, the UN&nbspSecurity Council blacklisted dozens of ships and shipping companies over oil and coal smuggling by North Korea, including five based in China. The vessels are subject to a global port ban and must be deregistered.

Japan says it detects apparent Chinese ship breaking North Korea sanctions

Ahead of talks with Kim, US President Trump and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe agreed that North Korea should completely dismantle it's nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and ballistic missile programs.

Trump and Abe spoke on the phone even as President Trump prepares to meet Kim Jong-un in Singapore on June 12th.

“The president and prime minister affirmed the shared imperative of achieving the complete and permanent dismantlement of North Korea’s nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and ballistic missile programs,” the White House said in a statement.

The dismantling of nuclear infrastructure has been the bone of contention between the US and North Korea with Kim hitting out at the US a few days ago which nearly put the June 12th summit in jeopardy, later the North Korean backed down and toned down his nuclear rhetoric.

During a telephone call, the pair “discussed recent developments in North Korea and confirmed they would meet again to continue close coordination in advance of the expected meeting between the United States and North Korea,” the White House said.

Japan, a key ally of the US, has been steadfast in its view that North Korea should work towards complete denuclearisation and has often conveyed its point of view to the US openly.

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Trump and Abe spoke on the phone even as President Trump prepares to meet Kim Jong-un in Singapore on June 12th.

Ahead of talks with Kim, US President Trump and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe agreed that North Korea should completely dismantle it's nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and ballistic missile programs. Trump and Abe spoke on the phone even as President Trump prepares to meet Kim Jong-un in Singapore on June 12th. “The president and prime minister affirmed the shared imperative of achieving the complete and permanent dismantlement of North Korea’s nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and ballistic missile programs,” the White House said in a statement. The dismantling of nuclear infrastructure has been the bone of contention between the US and North Korea with Kim hitting out at the US a few days ago which nearly put the June 12th summit in jeopardy, later the North Korean backed down and toned down his nuclear rhetoric. During a telephone call, the pair “discussed recent developments in North Korea and confirmed they would meet again to continue close coordination in advance of the expected meeting between the United States and North Korea,” the White House said. Japan, a key ally of the US, has been steadfast in its view that North Korea should work towards complete denuclearisation and has often conveyed its point of view to the US openly.

Trump, PM Abe for permanent dismantling of North Korea’s nuclear programme: White House

For centuries, trees have provided mankind with daily necessities such as paper and rubber, now, scientists in Japan have discovered a new use for trees: making booze.

Since 2009, researchers at Japan's Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, have been testing out environmentally-friendly ways to disintegrate and ferment wood to make fuel, or alcohol, without using chemicals or heat. They discovered the process could be done entirely with food additives, which led them to the idea of drinkable alcohol.

Yuichiro Otsuka, a researcher at the institute, explained the process involves fermenting pulverised wood with water, yeast and enzyme and can be done in ten days, producing beverages resembling alcohol that have aged inside wooden barrels.

Scientists in Japan found ways to ferment wood to make alcohol. The process takes about 10 days and doesn't use chemicals or heat.

So far, drinks have been made from cherry blossom, cedar and white birch trees.

The method involves pulverising wood into a creamy paste and then adding yeast and an enzyme to start the fermentation process.

By avoiding using heat, researchers say they are able to preserve the specific flavour of each tree's wood.

Four kilogrammes of cedar wood gave them 3.8 litres of liquid, with an alcohol content of around 15 percent, similar to that of Japan's much-loved sake.

Researchers experimented with both brewed and distilled versions of the new beverage, but "we think distilled alcohol appears better", researcher Kengo Magara said.

Wood fermentation is already used to produce biofuel but the product contains toxins and is flavourless, making it far from a suitable cocktail component.

"But our method can make it drinkable, and with a wood flavour, because it does not require high heat or sulphuric acid to decompose the wood," Magara said.

So far, drinks have been made from cherry blossom, cedar and white birch trees

For centuries, trees have provided mankind with daily necessities such as paper and rubber, now, scientists in Japan have discovered a new use for trees: making booze. Since 2009, researchers at Japan's Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, have been testing out environmentally-friendly ways to disintegrate and ferment wood to make fuel, or alcohol, without using chemicals or heat. They discovered the process could be done entirely with food additives, which led them to the idea of drinkable alcohol. Yuichiro Otsuka, a researcher at the institute, explained the process involves fermenting pulverised wood with water, yeast and enzyme and can be done in ten days, producing beverages resembling alcohol that have aged inside wooden barrels. Scientists in Japan found ways to ferment wood to make alcohol. The process takes about 10 days and doesn't use chemicals or heat. So far, drinks have been made from cherry blossom, cedar and white birch trees. The method involves pulverising wood into a creamy paste and then adding yeast and an enzyme to start the fermentation process. By avoiding using heat, researchers say they are able to preserve the specific flavour of each tree's wood. Four kilogrammes of cedar wood gave them 3.8 litres of liquid, with an alcohol content of around 15 percent, similar to that of Japan's much-loved sake. Researchers experimented with both brewed and distilled versions of the new beverage, but "we think distilled alcohol appears better", researcher Kengo Magara said. Wood fermentation is already used to produce biofuel but the product contains toxins and is flavourless, making it far from a suitable cocktail component. "But our method can make it drinkable, and with a wood flavour, because it does not require high heat or sulphuric acid to decompose the wood," Magara said.

Alcohol made from wood discovered by scientists in Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that Russia and Japan should sign a peace treaty so that they can realise their economic cooperation ambitions.

Russia and Japan have not signed an official peace treaty after World War Two due to a dispute over a number of Pacific islands off the northeast coast of Japan.

Abe, speaking at an economic forum in Russia attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, said that the islands could become a symbol of cooperation between Tokyo and Moscow.

Russia and Japan have not signed an official peace treaty after World War Two due to a dispute over a number of Pacific islands off the northeast coast of Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that Russia and Japan should sign a peace treaty so that they can realise their economic cooperation ambitions. Russia and Japan have not signed an official peace treaty after World War Two due to a dispute over a number of Pacific islands off the northeast coast of Japan. Abe, speaking at an economic forum in Russia attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, said that the islands could become a symbol of cooperation between Tokyo and Moscow.

Need peace treaty with Russia to promote economic cooperation: Japan PM

According to a report released by the Henley Passport Index on Wednesday, Singapore has been overtaken by Japan to have the world's most powerful passport.

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&nbsp;

This translates into the fact that the Japanese can now enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to a record 189 destinations.

Singapore now stands second giving its citizens access to 188 countries that don't require a visa beforehand.

India comes 81st on the list with 56 destinations.

South Korea, Finland, France, Italy, Spain and Sweden share the third stop while the United States and the United Kingdom were tied at number four.

Henley's previously published index, that came out in February, had both Singapore and Japan at the top with 180 destinations.

Germany stood second with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 179 destinations.

As many as 199 countries were surveyed for the index against 227 travel destinations across the globe.&nbsp;

Singapore now stands second giving its citizens access to 188 countries that don't require a visa beforehand

According to a report released by the Henley Passport Index on Wednesday, Singapore has been overtaken by Japan to have the world's most powerful passport. × This translates into the fact that the Japanese can now enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to a record 189 destinations. Singapore now stands second giving its citizens access to 188 countries that don't require a visa beforehand. India comes 81st on the list with 56 destinations. South Korea, Finland, France, Italy, Spain and Sweden share the third stop while the United States and the United Kingdom were tied at number four. Henley's previously published index, that came out in February, had both Singapore and Japan at the top with 180 destinations. Germany stood second with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 179 destinations. As many as 199 countries were surveyed for the index against 227 travel destinations across the globe.

Japanese possess most powerful passport in world, India on 81st spot

India suffered an embarrassing 0-5 defeat to Japan in their third and final Group A tie at the Uber Cup badminton tournament on Wednesday.&nbsp;

In the first game of the women's singles, Saina Nehwal lost to Akane Yamaguchi 19-21, 21-9 20-22 in a marathon 54-minute match.&nbsp;

In the women's doubles, Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi hammered Sanyogita Ghorpade and Prajakta Sawant in straight sets 21-15, 21-6 to take a crucial 2-0 lead.&nbsp;

India's poor performance continued in the third and the do-or-die match as Vaishnavi Reddy lost to Nozomi Okuhara 21-10, 21-13 in just 26 minutes.

In the fourth match, Indian shuttlers suffered the loss. In doubles match, Shiho Tanaka and Koharu Yonemoto thrashed inexperienced Vaishnavi Bhale and Meghana Jakkampudi 21-8, 21-17 to take a 4-0 lead.

Anura Prabhudesai rounded up a disappointing day for the Indians as she lost in the straight games to Sayaka Takahashi.

The Indian lost 12-21, 7-21 in just 26 minutes. 
&nbsp;

Nehwal lost to Akane Yamaguchi 19-21, 21-9 20-22 in a marathon 54-minute match.

India suffered an embarrassing 0-5 defeat to Japan in their third and final Group A tie at the Uber Cup badminton tournament on Wednesday. In the first game of the women's singles, Saina Nehwal lost to Akane Yamaguchi 19-21, 21-9 20-22 in a marathon 54-minute match. In the women's doubles, Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi hammered Sanyogita Ghorpade and Prajakta Sawant in straight sets 21-15, 21-6 to take a crucial 2-0 lead. India's poor performance continued in the third and the do-or-die match as Vaishnavi Reddy lost to Nozomi Okuhara 21-10, 21-13 in just 26 minutes. In the fourth match, Indian shuttlers suffered the loss. In doubles match, Shiho Tanaka and Koharu Yonemoto thrashed inexperienced Vaishnavi Bhale and Meghana Jakkampudi 21-8, 21-17 to take a 4-0 lead. Anura Prabhudesai rounded up a disappointing day for the Indians as she lost in the straight games to Sayaka Takahashi. The Indian lost 12-21, 7-21 in just 26 minutes.

Thomas and Uber Cup: Saina Nehwal loses as Japan thrash India 5-0

On Friday, Japan told the World Trade Organization that it would withdraw its conciliatory stance toward United States over tariffs. The Abe administration noted that it was ready to take retaliatory measures against US tariffs on its steel and aluminium.

While China has already taken retaliatory measures, Japan had taken a conciliatory approach, attempting to win exemptions through dialogue.

The WTO was informed that Japan had the right to impose tariffs on US goods worth 50 billion yen ($451 million) -- equivalent to the impact of the US tariffs newly imposed on Japanese metal products.

"We plan to decide appropriately, considering the impact on Japanese companies as well as related US measures," Japanese foreign ministry noted in a statement.&nbsp

US President Donald Trump slapped 25 percent tariffs on steel and 10 percent on aluminium imports, primarily to target China, but also allies, including EU countries as well as Japan -- a move that sparked fears of a trade war in March when he decided to impose.

Trump has maintained that massive imports to the US threatened national security.

(With inputs from AFP)&nbsp

 
&nbsp

Trump has maintained that massive imports to the US threatened national security

On Friday, Japan told the World Trade Organization that it would withdraw its conciliatory stance toward United States over tariffs. The Abe administration noted that it was ready to take retaliatory measures against US tariffs on its steel and aluminium. While China has already taken retaliatory measures, Japan had taken a conciliatory approach, attempting to win exemptions through dialogue. The WTO was informed that Japan had the right to impose tariffs on US goods worth 50 billion yen ($451 million) -- equivalent to the impact of the US tariffs newly imposed on Japanese metal products. "We plan to decide appropriately, considering the impact on Japanese companies as well as related US measures," Japanese foreign ministry noted in a statement. US President Donald Trump slapped 25 percent tariffs on steel and 10 percent on aluminium imports, primarily to target China, but also allies, including EU countries as well as Japan -- a move that sparked fears of a trade war in March when he decided to impose. Trump has maintained that massive imports to the US threatened national security. (With inputs from AFP)

Ready to retaliate against US steel tariffs: Japan tells WTO

Japan Prime Minister Shinzō Abe on Thursday spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and told him that he would like to further promote coordination towards the achievement of a free and open Indo-Pacific.&nbsp

Modi will visit Japan this year for annual India-Japan Summit.

Japan-India summit telephone conversation began at 4:35 pm and lasted for nearly 20 minutes.&nbsp

During the conversation, Abe conveyed his heartfelt sympathies over the fact that there have been enormous damages, including many lives lost, due to the dust storm which hit areas around Northern India twice this month.

Prime Minister Abe also stated that he would like to further promote coordination and cooperation towards the achievement of a free and open Indo-Pacific and open a new window.

Both the leaders also held discussions on regional issues with a focus on Asia.

Prime Minister Modi stated that he was looking forward to his upcoming visit to Japan this year, to which Prime Minister Abe noted that he would like to fully coordinate for a fruitful visit of Modi.

Modi will visit Japan this year for annual India-Japan Summit.

Japan Prime Minister Shinzō Abe on Thursday spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and told him that he would like to further promote coordination towards the achievement of a free and open Indo-Pacific. Modi will visit Japan this year for annual India-Japan Summit. Japan-India summit telephone conversation began at 4:35 pm and lasted for nearly 20 minutes. During the conversation, Abe conveyed his heartfelt sympathies over the fact that there have been enormous damages, including many lives lost, due to the dust storm which hit areas around Northern India twice this month. Prime Minister Abe also stated that he would like to further promote coordination and cooperation towards the achievement of a free and open Indo-Pacific and open a new window. Both the leaders also held discussions on regional issues with a focus on Asia. Prime Minister Modi stated that he was looking forward to his upcoming visit to Japan this year, to which Prime Minister Abe noted that he would like to fully coordinate for a fruitful visit of Modi.

Japan PM Shinzo Abe, PM Modi hold telephonic conversation

Japan seems to be enjoying a spoonful of gold in their meals these days. The country has taken to adding gold to their food for a healthy living and to promote longevity.&nbsp;

According to reports, restaurants in Tokyo are serving gold-infused meals for around $300 a serving. Over the past year, Japan has estimated to have consumed 8 kilograms of gold. The total global production of gold was estimated at 3.15 thousand metric tons in 2017 according to global statistics portal Statista.&nbsp;

While Japan's love for gold grows, its economy has taken a dip for the first time in a decade. Japan's fondness for the precious metal is based on the belief that its consumption promotes long and healthy life. Medieval alchemists also reportedly shared the same belief and prescribed portable gold for treating a variety of ailments.&nbsp;<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-Df4Edf5uYM" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

In India too, health benefiting concoctions like Chyawanprash, a mix of herbs and immunity-boosting foods, are believed to contain small quantities of metals like silver and gold.&nbsp;

Over the year, Japan is reported to have seen food trends like gold-covered sushis, gold flaked ice creams among others.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

In India too, health benefiting concoctions like Chyawanprash are believed to have small quantities of metals like silver and gold

Japan seems to be enjoying a spoonful of gold in their meals these days. The country has taken to adding gold to their food for a healthy living and to promote longevity. According to reports, restaurants in Tokyo are serving gold-infused meals for around $300 a serving. Over the past year, Japan has estimated to have consumed 8 kilograms of gold. The total global production of gold was estimated at 3.15 thousand metric tons in 2017 according to global statistics portal Statista. While Japan's love for gold grows, its economy has taken a dip for the first time in a decade. Japan's fondness for the precious metal is based on the belief that its consumption promotes long and healthy life. Medieval alchemists also reportedly shared the same belief and prescribed portable gold for treating a variety of ailments. In India too, health benefiting concoctions like Chyawanprash, a mix of herbs and immunity-boosting foods, are believed to contain small quantities of metals like silver and gold. Over the year, Japan is reported to have seen food trends like gold-covered sushis, gold flaked ice creams among others.

Watch: Japanese have consumed nearly 8 kgs of gold in their meals 

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FIFA 2018: All you need to know about 21st edition of football World Cup

A magnitude 5.1 earthquake hit central Japan on Saturday morning but no tsunami is expected, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

Police said they have heard no reports of damage or casualties.

The quake's epicentre was in northern Nagano prefecture in central Japan, and tremor occurred at around 10:29 a.m. (0129 GMT) at a depth of around 10 km (6 miles), the weather agency said.

No abnormalities have been observed at Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings' (TEPCO) Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in neighboring Niigata prefecture, public broadcaster NHK quoted the electric utilities as saying.

There have been no information on casualties or damages yet

A magnitude 5.1 earthquake hit central Japan on Saturday morning but no tsunami is expected, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. Police said they have heard no reports of damage or casualties. The quake's epicentre was in northern Nagano prefecture in central Japan, and tremor occurred at around 10:29 a.m. (0129 GMT) at a depth of around 10 km (6 miles), the weather agency said. No abnormalities have been observed at Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings' (TEPCO) Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in neighboring Niigata prefecture, public broadcaster NHK quoted the electric utilities as saying.

Magnitude 5.1 earthquake hits central Japan, no tsunami

Japan's economy is expected to have contracted for the first time in two years in the first quarter due to weak private consumption and softer export demand, a Reuters poll showed on Friday.

A negative reading, while slight, would snap Japan's longest period of economic expansion - eight straight quarters of growth - since its 1980s bubble economy.

But analysts said the expected January-March weakness may be only a temporary soft patch, arguing that higher prices for fresh vegetables and bad winter weather likely weighed on consumer spending in the quarter.

The global economy also has remained firm, suggesting Japan will regain traction in the second quarter, they added.

Gross domestic product (GDP) probably shrank at an annualised rate of 0.2 per cent in the first quarter after a 1.6 of expansion in the final quarter of 2017, the poll of 18 analysts showed.

That would mark the first contraction in the world's third-largest economy since late 2015.

The annualised contraction would translate into a flat reading from the previous quarter.

"The economy had steadily recovered but it appeared to have come to a temporary standstill," said Yoshiki Shinke, chief economist at Dai-ichi Life Research Institute.

"Economic indicators such as factory output and firms' business sentiment have shown a softening momentum of the economy. The GDP data will likely reflect those moves."

Analysts believe there was no growth in private consumption in the quarter, after a 0.5 per cent gain in the final quarter last year. Private consumption accounts for 60 per cent of GDP.

External demand - or exports minus imports - also provided no contribution to GDP, the poll found. Japan's exports rose less than expected in March and a business survey showed export order growth slowed sharply in April due to a stronger yen.

Capital spending was forecast to rise 0.4 per cent in the quarter, slowing from a 1.0 per cent increase in the previous period but still up for a sixth straight quarter.

"The economy is expected to return to the pace of around annualised 1.0 per cent growth from April-June but we need to pay attention to impacts from the United States' trade protectionism including the currency movements," said Yusuke Ichikawa, senior economist at Mizuho Research Institute.

The Cabinet Office will publish the GDP data on May 16 at 8:50am (2350 GMT, May 15).

MACHINERY ORDERS, CORE CPI

The poll also predicted machinery orders fell 3.0 per cent in March from the previous month, when they grew 2.1 per cent. The highly volatile data series is regarded as an indicator of capital spending in six to nine months.

It would be the first decline in three months after a 2.1 per cent growth in February and a 8.2 per cent jump in January.

Still, machinery orders likely rose for the third straight quarter in Jan-March versus the previous quarter, analysts say.

"Capital spending is staying solid despite the bearish tone of domestic and overseas economies and it will likely retain its positive movement," said an analyst at SMBC Nikko Securities in the survey.

The machinery order data will be released at 8:50am on May 17.

The poll also found the core consumer price index (CPI), which includes oil products but excludes volatile fresh food prices, rose 0.8 percent in April from a year earlier, a touch less than the 0.9 per cent gain seen in March.

Core CPI is due out at 8:30am on May 18.

The Bank of Japan's corporate goods price index (CGPI), which measures the prices companies charge each other for goods and services, likely grew 2.0 per cent in April.

The annualised contraction would translate into a flat reading from the previous quarter.

Japan's economy is expected to have contracted for the first time in two years in the first quarter due to weak private consumption and softer export demand, a Reuters poll showed on Friday. A negative reading, while slight, would snap Japan's longest period of economic expansion - eight straight quarters of growth - since its 1980s bubble economy. But analysts said the expected January-March weakness may be only a temporary soft patch, arguing that higher prices for fresh vegetables and bad winter weather likely weighed on consumer spending in the quarter. The global economy also has remained firm, suggesting Japan will regain traction in the second quarter, they added. Gross domestic product (GDP) probably shrank at an annualised rate of 0.2 per cent in the first quarter after a 1.6 of expansion in the final quarter of 2017, the poll of 18 analysts showed. That would mark the first contraction in the world's third-largest economy since late 2015. The annualised contraction would translate into a flat reading from the previous quarter. "The economy had steadily recovered but it appeared to have come to a temporary standstill," said Yoshiki Shinke, chief economist at Dai-ichi Life Research Institute. "Economic indicators such as factory output and firms' business sentiment have shown a softening momentum of the economy. The GDP data will likely reflect those moves." Analysts believe there was no growth in private consumption in the quarter, after a 0.5 per cent gain in the final quarter last year. Private consumption accounts for 60 per cent of GDP. External demand - or exports minus imports - also provided no contribution to GDP, the poll found. Japan's exports rose less than expected in March and a business survey showed export order growth slowed sharply in April due to a stronger yen. Capital spending was forecast to rise 0.4 per cent in the quarter, slowing from a 1.0 per cent increase in the previous period but still up for a sixth straight quarter. "The economy is expected to return to the pace of around annualised 1.0 per cent growth from April-June but we need to pay attention to impacts from the United States' trade protectionism including the currency movements," said Yusuke Ichikawa, senior economist at Mizuho Research Institute. The Cabinet Office will publish the GDP data on May 16 at 8:50am (2350 GMT, May 15). MACHINERY ORDERS, CORE CPI The poll also predicted machinery orders fell 3.0 per cent in March from the previous month, when they grew 2.1 per cent. The highly volatile data series is regarded as an indicator of capital spending in six to nine months. It would be the first decline in three months after a 2.1 per cent growth in February and a 8.2 per cent jump in January. Still, machinery orders likely rose for the third straight quarter in Jan-March versus the previous quarter, analysts say. "Capital spending is staying solid despite the bearish tone of domestic and overseas economies and it will likely retain its positive movement," said an analyst at SMBC Nikko Securities in the survey. The machinery order data will be released at 8:50am on May 17. The poll also found the core consumer price index (CPI), which includes oil products but excludes volatile fresh food prices, rose 0.8 percent in April from a year earlier, a touch less than the 0.9 per cent gain seen in March. Core CPI is due out at 8:30am on May 18. The Bank of Japan's corporate goods price index (CGPI), which measures the prices companies charge each other for goods and services, likely grew 2.0 per cent in April.

Japan economy seen shrinking for first time in two years in first quarter

Japan and North Korea should begin talks to normalise relations between the two countries and contribute to peace and stability in the region, South Korean President Moon Jae-in told a Japanese newspaper on Tuesday.

"In particular, I think dialogue between Japan and North Korea should be resumed," Moon said in the interview with the Yomiuri newspaper.

"If Japan-North Korea relations are normalised, that would greatly contribute to peace and security in Northeast Asia beyond the Korean peninsula," he said in written answers to questions submitted by the newspaper.

At Moon's summit last month with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, both sides agreed to work towards denuclearisation. Kim said during that meeting he was "ready to have a dialogue with Japan anytime", Moon told the newspaper.

There was no immediate comment from the Japanese government, which has called Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and missile programmes the toughest security threat facing Japan since World War Two.

Moon's interview was conducted ahead of a summit on Wednesday between Moon, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Tokyo.

North Korea was expected to be high on the agenda but a Chinese diplomat said last week the talks were about regional cooperation and not focused on the Korean peninsula

Nevertheless, months of frosty relations between Beijing and Pyongyang appear to have thawed since Kim's secretive visit to Beijing in March, where he met Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Analysts said Kim's meeting with Xi strengthened North Korea's negotiating position by aligning the two nations ahead of Kim's summit with US&nbspPresident Donald Trump in the coming weeks.

A high-ranking North Korean official visited the Chinese city of Dalian this week, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency said on Tuesday, citing multiple anonymous sources.

The North Korean official flew in a private plane and arrived at Dalian airport on Monday amid heavy security, Yonhap said. It did not identify the official.

In the interview, Moon said Kim's desire for "complete denuclearisation" laid the groundwork for the future summit between the United States and North Korea, although it remained to be seen if concrete steps were agreed at the talks.

Trump has said he will maintain sanctions and pressure on the North and "not repeat the mistakes of past administrations", and has said his tough stance had led to the breakthrough.

Moon said Kim was "a very open and practical person" and both leaders had a mutual goal for the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.

"From now on, based on our deep mutual trust, we'll make bold steps toward peace and prosperity, and unification," Moon said.

At Moon's summit last month with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, both sides agreed to work towards denuclearisation

Japan and North Korea should begin talks to normalise relations between the two countries and contribute to peace and stability in the region, South Korean President Moon Jae-in told a Japanese newspaper on Tuesday. "In particular, I think dialogue between Japan and North Korea should be resumed," Moon said in the interview with the Yomiuri newspaper. "If Japan-North Korea relations are normalised, that would greatly contribute to peace and security in Northeast Asia beyond the Korean peninsula," he said in written answers to questions submitted by the newspaper. At Moon's summit last month with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, both sides agreed to work towards denuclearisation. Kim said during that meeting he was "ready to have a dialogue with Japan anytime", Moon told the newspaper. There was no immediate comment from the Japanese government, which has called Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and missile programmes the toughest security threat facing Japan since World War Two. Moon's interview was conducted ahead of a summit on Wednesday between Moon, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Tokyo. North Korea was expected to be high on the agenda but a Chinese diplomat said last week the talks were about regional cooperation and not focused on the Korean peninsula Nevertheless, months of frosty relations between Beijing and Pyongyang appear to have thawed since Kim's secretive visit to Beijing in March, where he met Chinese President Xi Jinping. Analysts said Kim's meeting with Xi strengthened North Korea's negotiating position by aligning the two nations ahead of Kim's summit with US&nbspPresident Donald Trump in the coming weeks. A high-ranking North Korean official visited the Chinese city of Dalian this week, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency said on Tuesday, citing multiple anonymous sources. The North Korean official flew in a private plane and arrived at Dalian airport on Monday amid heavy security, Yonhap said. It did not identify the official. In the interview, Moon said Kim's desire for "complete denuclearisation" laid the groundwork for the future summit between the United States and North Korea, although it remained to be seen if concrete steps were agreed at the talks. Trump has said he will maintain sanctions and pressure on the North and "not repeat the mistakes of past administrations", and has said his tough stance had led to the breakthrough. Moon said Kim was "a very open and practical person" and both leaders had a mutual goal for the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. "From now on, based on our deep mutual trust, we'll make bold steps toward peace and prosperity, and unification," Moon said.

Japan and North Korea should talk, South Korea's Moon says

A major diplomatic incident seems to have broken out over the dessert served by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe.&nbsp;

Abe was visiting Israel last week.&nbsp;

News reports said things were going well and after a day of high-level meetings on May 2, Abe was served a meal at Benjamin and Sara Netanyahu's home.&nbsp;

The meal, described as "top notch", was cooked up by celebrity Israeli chef Segev Moshe.&nbsp;

Things continued to go well until the dessert was brought out — chocolates in shoes.&nbsp;

<img alt="pudding shoe.jpg" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="430" src="http://images.wionews.com/iniline-images/pudding%20shoe.jpg" width="770" />

Japanese culture abhors shoes.&nbsp;

Like in many homes in India, the Japanese do not wear shoes inside the home.&nbsp;

But the Japanese take it a step further, and reportedly do not wear shoes inside the office too.&nbsp;

The news reports added that the Japanese think of nothing as "lower" than a shoe. &nbsp;

As expected, a furore followed with both Japanese officials and Israeli diplomats who've served in Japan saying the move was not funny.&nbsp;

Moshe later issued a clarification saying the shoe holding the chocolates was not a "real shoe"&nbsp;but a sculpture (made of cast metal)&nbsp;by the artist Tom Dixon.&nbsp;

The officials and diplomats&nbsp;however replied to that saying that before you serve a prime minister a meal, you should do at least a little reading up on them.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The meal, described as "top notch", was cooked up by celebrity Israeli chef Segev Moshe

A major diplomatic incident seems to have broken out over the dessert served by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe. Abe was visiting Israel last week. News reports said things were going well and after a day of high-level meetings on May 2, Abe was served a meal at Benjamin and Sara Netanyahu's home. The meal, described as "top notch", was cooked up by celebrity Israeli chef Segev Moshe. Things continued to go well until the dessert was brought out — chocolates in shoes. Japanese culture abhors shoes. Like in many homes in India, the Japanese do not wear shoes inside the home. But the Japanese take it a step further, and reportedly do not wear shoes inside the office too. The news reports added that the Japanese think of nothing as "lower" than a shoe. As expected, a furore followed with both Japanese officials and Israeli diplomats who've served in Japan saying the move was not funny. Moshe later issued a clarification saying the shoe holding the chocolates was not a "real shoe" but a sculpture (made of cast metal) by the artist Tom Dixon. The officials and diplomats however replied to that saying that before you serve a prime minister a meal, you should do at least a little reading up on them.

Netanyahu serves Japan's Shinzo Abe dessert — in a shoe, furore follows

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