Japan may disappear if the current trend of falling birth rate continues, warned Masako Mori, an upper house lawmaker and former minister who advises Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on the falling birthrate problem.

Japan may disappear if the current trend of falling birth rate continues, warned Masako Mori, an upper house lawmaker and former minister who advises Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on the falling birthrate problem. "If we go on like this, the country will disappear. It's the people who have to live through the process of disappearance who will face enormous harm. It's a terrible disease that will afflict those children," said Mori. Mori did not sugarcoat his words and added that children will be born in a diabolical society. "It's not falling gradually, it's heading straight down. A nosedive means children being born now will be thrown into a society that becomes distorted, shrinks and loses its ability to function." Last week, statistics released by the Ministry of Health painted a rather dystopian picture. Twice as many people died as were born in the country with 799,728 birth reported compared to 1.58 million deaths. WATCH | WION Fineprint: Japan's PM Kishida vows to raise birth rate What does the data say? It was a continuation of a decade-long trend where the Japanese population declined but the first instance when total births had dipped below the 800,000 mark. In 2020, it reported 840,832 births and in 2021; it reported a 3.5 per cent fall to 811,604. The fall in birth rate does not augur well for the world's third-largest economy. Failure to replace the dead population means that there will be a shortage in the workforce. Consequently, older people will be forced to fill in and attempt to propel the economy on an upward trajectory - a highly difficult proposition from the outset. Japan is already the world's second-oldest country with a median age of 49. About, 28 per cent of its population is aged 65 years or older. With no young population on the bench, the economic story of Japan may come to a grinding halt. Japanese PM Kishida has stated the situation is grim and that it cannot be put in cold storage any more. "Japan is standing on the verge of whether we can continue to function as a society. Focusing attention on policies regarding children and child-rearing is an issue that cannot wait and cannot be postponed." Read more: Explained: How falling birthrate is a ticking time bomb for this giant economy The government has launched multiple policies to encourage childbirth and ensure sustainable birth practices. However, the path looks bleak at the moment and the results of the schemes will only come to light in the next few years. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Japan may cease to exist, warns PM Fumio Kishida aide as birthrate plummets to record levels

On Monday,&nbsp;South Korea announced plans to compensate victims of Japan's forced wartime labour, aiming to end a vicious cycle in the Asian country and to boost its ties to counter nuclear-armed North&nbsp;Korea.&nbsp;

This move tries to resolve the forced labour following years of disputes over World War II sex slaves, which soured Japan-South Korean ties, AFP reported.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-koreas-kim-jong-un-sweats-over-food-shortage-holds-rare-meeting-on-agricultural-practices-566697">Also read |&nbsp;North Korea's Kim Jong Un sweats over food shortage, holds rare meeting on agricultural practices</a>

Foreign Minister Park Jin said that Seoul's plan is to take money from major South Korean companies that benefited from the 1965 reparations deal with Tokyo and will use it to compensate victims.&nbsp;

Park added, "I believe that the vicious circle should be broken for the sake of the people at the national interest level."

The Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi also praised the plan and said that this initiative would help&nbsp;restore "healthy" ties between the two countries after years of tensions.&nbsp;

According to the statement issued by the White House, Washington hailed the decision and called it a "groundbreaking new chapter of cooperation and partnership between two of the United States' closest allies."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korean-leader-kim-holds-rare-meeting-on-agriculture-sounds-alarm-over-food-shortage-566908">Also read |&nbsp;North Korean leader Kim holds rare meeting on agriculture amid reports of food shortage in country</a>

While the announcement was welcomed by both Japan and the United States, the victims have criticised the proposal as it falls far short of their demand which is a full apology from Tokyo and direct compensation from the Japanese companies involved.

According to data from Seoul, around 780,000 Koreans were conscripted into forced labour by Tokyo during the 35-year occupation. This does not include women who were forced into sexual slavery by Japanese troops.

The move comes as Seoul and Tokyo already ramped up their security cooperation amid growing threats from North Korea, but the bilateral ties remained strained over Tokyo's brutal 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean peninsula.&nbsp;

Tokyo has insisted on the 1965 treaty- which saw the two countries restore their diplomatic ties with a reparations package of about $800 million in grants and cheap loans and settled all loans between the two relating to the colonial period.&nbsp;

(with inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

On Monday, South Korea announced plans to compensate victims of Japan's forced wartime labour, aiming to end a vicious cycle in the Asian country and to boost its ties to counter nuclear-armed North Korea.

On Monday, South Korea announced plans to compensate victims of Japan's forced wartime labour, aiming to end a vicious cycle in the Asian country and to boost its ties to counter nuclear-armed North Korea. This move tries to resolve the forced labour following years of disputes over World War II sex slaves, which soured Japan-South Korean ties, AFP reported. Also read | North Korea's Kim Jong Un sweats over food shortage, holds rare meeting on agricultural practices Foreign Minister Park Jin said that Seoul's plan is to take money from major South Korean companies that benefited from the 1965 reparations deal with Tokyo and will use it to compensate victims. Park added, "I believe that the vicious circle should be broken for the sake of the people at the national interest level." The Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi also praised the plan and said that this initiative would help restore "healthy" ties between the two countries after years of tensions. According to the statement issued by the White House, Washington hailed the decision and called it a "groundbreaking new chapter of cooperation and partnership between two of the United States' closest allies." Also read | North Korean leader Kim holds rare meeting on agriculture amid reports of food shortage in country While the announcement was welcomed by both Japan and the United States, the victims have criticised the proposal as it falls far short of their demand which is a full apology from Tokyo and direct compensation from the Japanese companies involved. According to data from Seoul, around 780,000 Koreans were conscripted into forced labour by Tokyo during the 35-year occupation. This does not include women who were forced into sexual slavery by Japanese troops. The move comes as Seoul and Tokyo already ramped up their security cooperation amid growing threats from North Korea, but the bilateral ties remained strained over Tokyo's brutal 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean peninsula. Tokyo has insisted on the 1965 treaty- which saw the two countries restore their diplomatic ties with a reparations package of about $800 million in grants and cheap loans and settled all loans between the two relating to the colonial period. (with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

South Korea offers compensation for victims of Japan's wartime forced labour; US hails 'groundbreaking' plan

Japan's ruling party has proposed to reduce student debt for those who have children. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has come under fire for proposing this move. This move has sparked anger. The ruling party says it is aimed at financially supporting families with children, not punishing those without.

Japan's new policy on reduced student loans for those with babies

In the last 10 days or so, multiple mutilated cat carcasses have ben found in Japan’s Saitama City sparking&nbsp;fear&nbsp;among its residents and prompted authorities to ramp up security measures in schools to protect young students from the potential cat killer.

According to a report by CNN, the first carcass of a brown-speckled cat was found along the Arakawa River in the city where a woman found a severed head and paws while the rest of the body was found on a nearby road. In mid-February, the police found a cat’s jaw on the grounds of an elementary school tied with a piece of string and hanging from the playground bars, reported VICE World News.&nbsp;

Furthermore, by the end of the month, residents found two more mutilated cat carcasses, one on the field and another one on a&nbsp;road in Saitama City. While there is no indication that these gruesome acts may also involve human victims, the city has been on edge because of its history with these kinds of killings.&nbsp;

In recent years, the Japanese city also&nbsp;jailed a killer who would torture animals like cats and post videos of his actions online. Similarly, in the late 1990s, another Japanese city Kobe witnessed children being murdered after a 14-year-old boy with a history of animal cruelty killed a 10 and 11-year-old and injured three others.&nbsp;

In reference to the case, an official who has coordinated patrol efforts on behalf of the Saitama educational board told VICE World News, that this has particularly raised concerns&nbsp;among the parents and said “that was a dark time in Japanese history”. He also said how children have been asked to alert their teachers if they notice anything out of the ordinary.

An 80-year-old woman speaking to Japan’s public broadcaster NHK&nbsp;said that she felt "scared and uncomfortable" after hearing about the cat killings&nbsp;and that her concerns went beyond animal welfare, reported CNN.

Since these carcasses have also been found near schools, teachers have been asked&nbsp;to escort children home and walk in large groups, reported NHK. Meanwhile, the city’s police have stepped up patrols and are investigating the cat murders as violations of Japan’s animal protection law.&nbsp;

In Japan, it is a crime to kill or injure animals which is punishable by up to five years in prison or fines of up to five million yen ($36,600). The country’s police detained at least 170 people, in 2021, for suspected animal abuse which was the highest since the records began in 2010.&nbsp;

A barrister who founded the Hong Kong Animal Law and Protection Organisation, Kim J. McCoy told CNN how some cases of animal cruelty have “evolved into more serious offences against humans.” He added, “There is empirical evidence to support the direct correlation between those who commit animal abuse and those that commit other more violent crimes on people.”

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

In the last 10 days or so, multiple mutilated cat carcasses have ben found in Japan’s Saitama City sparking fear among its residents and prompted authorities to ramp up security measures in schools to protect young students from the potential cat killer.

In the last 10 days or so, multiple mutilated cat carcasses have ben found in Japan’s Saitama City sparking fear among its residents and prompted authorities to ramp up security measures in schools to protect young students from the potential cat killer. According to a report by CNN, the first carcass of a brown-speckled cat was found along the Arakawa River in the city where a woman found a severed head and paws while the rest of the body was found on a nearby road. In mid-February, the police found a cat’s jaw on the grounds of an elementary school tied with a piece of string and hanging from the playground bars, reported VICE World News. Furthermore, by the end of the month, residents found two more mutilated cat carcasses, one on the field and another one on a road in Saitama City. While there is no indication that these gruesome acts may also involve human victims, the city has been on edge because of its history with these kinds of killings. In recent years, the Japanese city also jailed a killer who would torture animals like cats and post videos of his actions online. Similarly, in the late 1990s, another Japanese city Kobe witnessed children being murdered after a 14-year-old boy with a history of animal cruelty killed a 10 and 11-year-old and injured three others. In reference to the case, an official who has coordinated patrol efforts on behalf of the Saitama educational board told VICE World News, that this has particularly raised concerns among the parents and said “that was a dark time in Japanese history”. He also said how children have been asked to alert their teachers if they notice anything out of the ordinary. An 80-year-old woman speaking to Japan’s public broadcaster NHK said that she felt "scared and uncomfortable" after hearing about the cat killings and that her concerns went beyond animal welfare, reported CNN. Since these carcasses have also been found near schools, teachers have been asked to escort children home and walk in large groups, reported NHK. Meanwhile, the city’s police have stepped up patrols and are investigating the cat murders as violations of Japan’s animal protection law. In Japan, it is a crime to kill or injure animals which is punishable by up to five years in prison or fines of up to five million yen ($36,600). The country’s police detained at least 170 people, in 2021, for suspected animal abuse which was the highest since the records began in 2010. A barrister who founded the Hong Kong Animal Law and Protection Organisation, Kim J. McCoy told CNN how some cases of animal cruelty have “evolved into more serious offences against humans.” He added, “There is empirical evidence to support the direct correlation between those who commit animal abuse and those that commit other more violent crimes on people.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Mutilated cat carcasses found across this Japanese city have sparked fear among residents: Reports

In a new survey, Japan discovered it has 7200 more islands than it previously thought. Digital mapping by the geospatial information authority of Japan recently found there to be 14,125 islands in Japanese territory, more than double the figure of 6,852 that has been in official use. Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: How did Japan find 7200 new islands?

The Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will make his maiden visit to India from March 8 to 11 along with several other senior ministers from his administration, said the Ministry of External Affairs, in a statement, on Saturday (March 4). Meanwhile, a government source told Nikkei Asia that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is also planning a three-day visit to New Delhi and hold talks with his Indian counterpart PM Narendra Modi, starting on March 19.&nbsp;

The MEA, in a statement, said, that the Australian PM will arrive on March 8 at the invitation of his Indian counterpart along with the Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell, Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Madeleine King as well as senior officials and a high-level business delegation.​&nbsp;

It added that this will be Prime Minister Albanese’s first visit to India since he took office and he is scheduled to arrive in the Indian city of Ahmedabad on March 8, the day of Holi festival. The next day, he will visit the financial capital, Mumbai before arriving in Delhi on the same day.&nbsp;

In the national capital, the Australian PM will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan on March 10, said the MEA. The leaders from the two countries will also hold an annual summit to discuss the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, in line with which they will talk about areas of cooperation.&nbsp;

During his visit, Albanese will also meet the Indian President Droupadi Murmu. “The Strategic Partnership between the two countries was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in June 2020 which has been strengthened and deepened through frequent high-level exchanges and enhanced cooperation across sectors,” said the MEA.&nbsp;

The Australian PM also took to Twitter and said, “I look forward to travelling to India next week at the invitation of Prime Minister @narendramodi. We will work to strengthen our security cooperation and deepen our economic, sporting and educational ties.”&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I look forward to travelling to India next week at the invitation of Prime Minister <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a>. We will work to strengthen our security cooperation and deepen our economic, sporting and educational ties. 🇦🇺🇮🇳
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlboMP/status/1631865199228772352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Japanese PM to visit India from March 19: Report

A report by Nikkei Asia citing a government source, on Friday (March 3) said that Japanese PM Fumio Kishida is planning to visit New Delhi. This also comes as the country also holds the Group of Seven (G7) nations’ presidency this year while India is also the chair of the Group of 20 economies in 2023.&nbsp; 
 
Japan did not send its Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi to the meeting for the G20 top diplomats which was held in India last Thursday.&nbsp;

Reports suggest that the absence has since triggered a backlash and cast a shadow over the relations between the two countries. Nikkei Asia also claims that Kishida who might visit India on March 19 for three days will talk to Modi about issues stemming from the Russian invasion of Ukraine as this year’s G7 and G20 presidents.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

The Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will make his maiden visit to India from March 8 to 11 along with several other senior ministers from his administration, said the Ministry of External Affairs, in a statement, on Saturday (March 4).

The Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will make his maiden visit to India from March 8 to 11 along with several other senior ministers from his administration, said the Ministry of External Affairs, in a statement, on Saturday (March 4). Meanwhile, a government source told Nikkei Asia that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is also planning a three-day visit to New Delhi and hold talks with his Indian counterpart PM Narendra Modi, starting on March 19. The MEA, in a statement, said, that the Australian PM will arrive on March 8 at the invitation of his Indian counterpart along with the Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell, Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Madeleine King as well as senior officials and a high-level business delegation. It added that this will be Prime Minister Albanese’s first visit to India since he took office and he is scheduled to arrive in the Indian city of Ahmedabad on March 8, the day of Holi festival. The next day, he will visit the financial capital, Mumbai before arriving in Delhi on the same day. In the national capital, the Australian PM will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan on March 10, said the MEA. The leaders from the two countries will also hold an annual summit to discuss the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, in line with which they will talk about areas of cooperation. During his visit, Albanese will also meet the Indian President Droupadi Murmu. “The Strategic Partnership between the two countries was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in June 2020 which has been strengthened and deepened through frequent high-level exchanges and enhanced cooperation across sectors,” said the MEA. The Australian PM also took to Twitter and said, “I look forward to travelling to India next week at the invitation of Prime Minister @narendramodi. We will work to strengthen our security cooperation and deepen our economic, sporting and educational ties.” I look forward to travelling to India next week at the invitation of Prime Minister @narendramodi. We will work to strengthen our security cooperation and deepen our economic, sporting and educational ties. 🇦🇺🇮🇳 — Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) March 4, 2023 × Japanese PM to visit India from March 19: Report A report by Nikkei Asia citing a government source, on Friday (March 3) said that Japanese PM Fumio Kishida is planning to visit New Delhi. This also comes as the country also holds the Group of Seven (G7) nations’ presidency this year while India is also the chair of the Group of 20 economies in 2023. Japan did not send its Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi to the meeting for the G20 top diplomats which was held in India last Thursday. Reports suggest that the absence has since triggered a backlash and cast a shadow over the relations between the two countries. Nikkei Asia also claims that Kishida who might visit India on March 19 for three days will talk to Modi about issues stemming from the Russian invasion of Ukraine as this year’s G7 and G20 presidents. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Australian PM to arrive in India next week; Japanese PM plans 3-day visit to New Delhi

In pics | ‘Ex Dharma Guardian’: India-Japan participate in joint military exercises

Japan's services sector activity grew at the fastest pace in the last eight months in February, a private sector survey showed on Friday, as the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic receded globally.&nbsp;

The final au Jibun Bank Japan Services purchasing managers' index (PMI) rose in February to a seasonally adjusted 54.0 from January's 52.3.

The final figure was higher than the flash reading of 53.6 and well above the 50-mark that separates expansion from contraction for a sixth straight month.

"The Japanese services economy signalled that demand conditions had improved at a stronger rate during February," said Usamah Bhatti, economist at S&amp;P Global Market Intelligence.

The subindexes showed new orders and overseas demand grew for a sixth month, with new orders rising at the fastest pace since May 2022.

Outstanding business saw the sharpest rate of growth in five-and-a-half years in February due to the expansion in demand, Bhatti said.

The survey also showed that business confidence for the coming year improved to a four-month high on the back of stronger economic conditions and the receding impact of Covid, citing expectations for increasing demand in the travel industry.

Japan has seen a recovery in tourism after the government scrapped COVID-19 curbs in October, with data from the national tourism agency showing overseas visitors climbed to about&nbsp;1.5 million&nbsp;in January.

"Japanese private sector firms remained strongly optimistic that activity would continue to expand over the coming 12 months as the persistent weights of the pandemic and inflation on the economy showed sustained signals of easing," Bhatti said.

In the service-sector survey, the subindex for employment swung to marginal growth from contraction in the previous month as firms took on new recruits to meet higher demand.

The composite PMI, which combines the manufacturing and services figures, rose to 51.1 in February from the previous month's 50.7, staying above the break-even 50 mark for two consecutive months.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Japan's services sector activity grew at the fastest pace in the last eight months in February, a private sector survey showed on Friday, as the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic receded globally.

Japan's services sector activity grew at the fastest pace in the last eight months in February, a private sector survey showed on Friday, as the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic receded globally. The final au Jibun Bank Japan Services purchasing managers' index (PMI) rose in February to a seasonally adjusted 54.0 from January's 52.3. The final figure was higher than the flash reading of 53.6 and well above the 50-mark that separates expansion from contraction for a sixth straight month. "The Japanese services economy signalled that demand conditions had improved at a stronger rate during February," said Usamah Bhatti, economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence. The subindexes showed new orders and overseas demand grew for a sixth month, with new orders rising at the fastest pace since May 2022. Outstanding business saw the sharpest rate of growth in five-and-a-half years in February due to the expansion in demand, Bhatti said. The survey also showed that business confidence for the coming year improved to a four-month high on the back of stronger economic conditions and the receding impact of Covid, citing expectations for increasing demand in the travel industry. Japan has seen a recovery in tourism after the government scrapped COVID-19 curbs in October, with data from the national tourism agency showing overseas visitors climbed to about 1.5 million in January. "Japanese private sector firms remained strongly optimistic that activity would continue to expand over the coming 12 months as the persistent weights of the pandemic and inflation on the economy showed sustained signals of easing," Bhatti said. In the service-sector survey, the subindex for employment swung to marginal growth from contraction in the previous month as firms took on new recruits to meet higher demand. The composite PMI, which combines the manufacturing and services figures, rose to 51.1 in February from the previous month's 50.7, staying above the break-even 50 mark for two consecutive months. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Japan's Feb service-sector activity grows at fastest rate in 8 months as demand picks up

A Russian submarine in the sea of Japan hit a land target over one thousand kilometres away with a Kalibr cruise missile in a drill. Moscow has been locked in a decades-old territorial dispute with Tokyo over a chain of pacific islands.

Moscow launches Kalibr from Sea of Japan | Mainstay in Russian Navy's ground-strike capabilities

Japan will purchase 400 Tomahawk missiles from the United States, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Monday, as his government beefs up the country's defences.

Japan to buy 400 Tomahawk missiles from US, says PM Kishida

Japan's declining overseas demand took a heavy toll on key industries such as auto and semiconductor equipment. Japan's factory output shrank at the fastest pace in eight months last month.

Japan: Auto, semiconductor equipment production falls

Taiwan’s foreign ministry, on Saturday (February 25) said that the United States-led “Fab 4” or “Chip 4” semiconductor alliance held its first meeting of senior officials last week. The officials from four countries, Taiwan, the US, Japan and South Korea took part in the conversation which was centred around maintaining the resilience of the semiconductor supply chain. However, the ministry did not mention which officials were a part of the meeting.&nbsp;

The virtual meeting of senior officials from the “US-East Asia Semiconductor Supply Chain Resilience Working Group”, or “Fab 4” took place on February 16 after months of coordination, reported Reuters. The “Fab” in the name refers to a shorthand of an industry term for the fabrication plants where chips are made and used for virtually everything from fridges to fighter jets.

The countries members of this group in the Indo-Pacific region are home to some of the world’s largest contract chip makers, including&nbsp;Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd, South Korean memory chip giants Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, and SK Hynix, with Japan being the supplier of materials and equipment required to make the semiconductors.

The first meeting of the group was held in September last year after a two-year&nbsp;global chip crunch which had&nbsp;prompted car manufacturers to halt production and exposed the larger supply chain issues.&nbsp;

In a statement, the Taiwanese foreign ministry said, “The focus of the discussions of the participating quartet at the meeting was mainly on how to maintain the resilience of the semiconductor supply chain and explore the possible future cooperation directions of all parties.”&nbsp;

It added, “As an important member of the Indo-Pacific region, our country also plays a key role in the global semiconductor industry, and has deep economic and trade relations with countries in the region.” This comes as the four countries have moved to boost cooperation and collaboration after growing threats from China.&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Taiwan’s foreign ministry, on Saturday (February 25) said that the United States-led “Fab 4” or “Chip 4” semiconductor alliance held its first meeting of senior officials last week.

Taiwan’s foreign ministry, on Saturday (February 25) said that the United States-led “Fab 4” or “Chip 4” semiconductor alliance held its first meeting of senior officials last week. The officials from four countries, Taiwan, the US, Japan and South Korea took part in the conversation which was centred around maintaining the resilience of the semiconductor supply chain. However, the ministry did not mention which officials were a part of the meeting. The virtual meeting of senior officials from the “US-East Asia Semiconductor Supply Chain Resilience Working Group”, or “Fab 4” took place on February 16 after months of coordination, reported Reuters. The “Fab” in the name refers to a shorthand of an industry term for the fabrication plants where chips are made and used for virtually everything from fridges to fighter jets. The countries members of this group in the Indo-Pacific region are home to some of the world’s largest contract chip makers, including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd, South Korean memory chip giants Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, and SK Hynix, with Japan being the supplier of materials and equipment required to make the semiconductors. The first meeting of the group was held in September last year after a two-year global chip crunch which had prompted car manufacturers to halt production and exposed the larger supply chain issues. In a statement, the Taiwanese foreign ministry said, “The focus of the discussions of the participating quartet at the meeting was mainly on how to maintain the resilience of the semiconductor supply chain and explore the possible future cooperation directions of all parties.” It added, “As an important member of the Indo-Pacific region, our country also plays a key role in the global semiconductor industry, and has deep economic and trade relations with countries in the region.” This comes as the four countries have moved to boost cooperation and collaboration after growing threats from China. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

‘Fab 4’ chip group’s senior officials discussed supply chain resilience at first meeting: Taiwan

An&nbsp;earthquake with a magnitude of 6.1 hit off Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido, on Saturday (February 25). No tsunami warning was issued, said authorities, as per Reuters.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;Japan Meteorological Agency also said that it mainly rattled the&nbsp;eastern part of Hokkaido&nbsp;at 10:27 pm (local time), as per media reports. There were no immediate reports of&nbsp;injuries or damage to infrastructure. The Japanese weather agency also said that the quake was recorded at the depth of 60 km in the&nbsp;Pacific Ocean off Kushiro and shook&nbsp;a wider region including northeastern Japan and the eastern part of the country.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, an expert speaking to the&nbsp;public broadcaster NHK warned that citizens need to be&nbsp;against quakes for at least a week, reported AFP.&nbsp;The quake registered "lower than 5" on Japan's&nbsp;7-point intensity scale, as per the&nbsp;Japan Meteorological Agency, which is usually the level at which&nbsp;items fall out of shelves and unsecured furniture may move. Notably, the intensity scale&nbsp;measures ground motion.&nbsp;

Earthquakes are common in the country that&nbsp;sits on the&nbsp;Pacific "Ring of Fire" which&nbsp;causes an arc of&nbsp;intense seismic activity across&nbsp;Japan. Furthermore, the country is also situated&nbsp;at the junction of four tectonic plates and experiences a number of relatively violent quakes every year. Therefore,&nbsp;Tokyo has&nbsp;strict construction regulations to make sure that the buildings can withstand&nbsp;strong earthquakes.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.1 hit off Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido, on Saturday (February 25). No tsunami warning was issued, said authorities, as per Reuters.

An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.1 hit off Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido, on Saturday (February 25). No tsunami warning was issued, said authorities, as per Reuters. The Japan Meteorological Agency also said that it mainly rattled the eastern part of Hokkaido at 10:27 pm (local time), as per media reports. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage to infrastructure. The Japanese weather agency also said that the quake was recorded at the depth of 60 km in the Pacific Ocean off Kushiro and shook a wider region including northeastern Japan and the eastern part of the country. Meanwhile, an expert speaking to the public broadcaster NHK warned that citizens need to be against quakes for at least a week, reported AFP. The quake registered "lower than 5" on Japan's 7-point intensity scale, as per the Japan Meteorological Agency, which is usually the level at which items fall out of shelves and unsecured furniture may move. Notably, the intensity scale measures ground motion. Earthquakes are common in the country that sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" which causes an arc of intense seismic activity across Japan. Furthermore, the country is also situated at the junction of four tectonic plates and experiences a number of relatively violent quakes every year. Therefore, Tokyo has strict construction regulations to make sure that the buildings can withstand strong earthquakes. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Magnitude 6.1 earthquake hits northern Japan, no tsunami warning issued

The metal sphere that was discovered on a Japanese beach one day, raising concerns among locals has been identified and removed, local media reported.

Initially remarked by many as a "dragon ball" or "an object from outer space," the mysterious ball raised concerns among locals that it might pose a threat to the area or even explode. The police prohibited people from coming near the ball during the probe and put up a 200-metre perimeter around it, BBC reported.&nbsp;

The metal object was discovered on the shores of the Enshu beach in Hamamatsu City on Tuesday (Feb 21).

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/mysterious-object-found-on-japanese-beach-police-cordon-off-the-area-564455">Also read |Mysterious object found on Japanese beach, police cordon off the area</a>

A local told NHK news that he had no idea that everyone would be so much interested in the ball, which according to him had been lying there for a month.

Many questioned the Japanese officials for not explaining what exactly it was. Others have voiced their embarrassment over the whole incident.

Watch | Gravitas: Mysterious object washes up on Japanese beach

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-mysterious-object-washes-up-on-japanese-beach-564924/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

A tweet read, "I can't believe officials from a country surrounded by ocean don't recognise a ball buoy."

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none">
I can't believe officials from a country surrounded by ocean don't recognize a ball buoy. 🤦‍♂️ 
 
They seemed rather intrigued by the mooring loop. 🧐
— Efren Mendez, Jr. (@EfrenMendezJr) <a href="https://twitter.com/EfrenMendezJr/status/1628080802809675776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none">
It's a steel mooring buoy. They are specially designed for the mooring of vessels in the most economical way while protecting shorelines, natural habitats &amp; other boats by giving those sailing or stationed an alternative anchoring point for all types of vessels. <a href="https://t.co/PBU4l1anvJ">pic.twitter.com/PBU4l1anvJ</a>
— Jeremiah Garcia (@jeremiah_fsp) <a href="https://twitter.com/jeremiah_fsp/status/1628149798988656640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

Another user tweeted, "OMG! It's a steel mooring buoy people. I'm embarrassed to be Japanese."

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none">
Old submarine mine. <a href="https://t.co/mM85P8IcW8">pic.twitter.com/mM85P8IcW8</a>
— Urbitando (@urbitando) <a href="https://twitter.com/urbitando/status/1628095588263657472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

An oceanographer expert told BBC that he knew what it was "instantly." He added that it was very recognisable as it is used for keeping the instruments floating in the ocean.

Security concerns rose a week later after Japanese officials discussed the ramifications of North Korea's missile test that landed in Japan's territorial water. Another issue addressed was China's spy balloons. The Japanese and Chinese officials held a security meeting in Tokyo, where Japan showed its concern over the surveillance balloons.

(with inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

The metal sphere that was discovered on a Japanese beach one day, raising concerns among locals has been identified and removed, local media reported. Initially remarked by many as a "dragon ball" or "an object from outer space," the mysterious ball raised concerns among locals that it might pose a threat to the area or even explode.

The metal sphere that was discovered on a Japanese beach one day, raising concerns among locals has been identified and removed, local media reported. Initially remarked by many as a "dragon ball" or "an object from outer space," the mysterious ball raised concerns among locals that it might pose a threat to the area or even explode. The police prohibited people from coming near the ball during the probe and put up a 200-metre perimeter around it, BBC reported. The metal object was discovered on the shores of the Enshu beach in Hamamatsu City on Tuesday (Feb 21). Also read |Mysterious object found on Japanese beach, police cordon off the area A local told NHK news that he had no idea that everyone would be so much interested in the ball, which according to him had been lying there for a month. Many questioned the Japanese officials for not explaining what exactly it was. Others have voiced their embarrassment over the whole incident. Watch | Gravitas: Mysterious object washes up on Japanese beach A tweet read, "I can't believe officials from a country surrounded by ocean don't recognise a ball buoy." I can't believe officials from a country surrounded by ocean don't recognize a ball buoy. 🤦‍♂️ They seemed rather intrigued by the mooring loop. 🧐 — Efren Mendez, Jr. (@EfrenMendezJr) February 21, 2023 × It's a steel mooring buoy. They are specially designed for the mooring of vessels in the most economical way while protecting shorelines, natural habitats & other boats by giving those sailing or stationed an alternative anchoring point for all types of vessels. pic.twitter.com/PBU4l1anvJ — Jeremiah Garcia (@jeremiah_fsp) February 21, 2023 × Another user tweeted, "OMG! It's a steel mooring buoy people. I'm embarrassed to be Japanese." Old submarine mine. pic.twitter.com/mM85P8IcW8 — Urbitando (@urbitando) February 21, 2023 × An oceanographer expert told BBC that he knew what it was "instantly." He added that it was very recognisable as it is used for keeping the instruments floating in the ocean. Security concerns rose a week later after Japanese officials discussed the ramifications of North Korea's missile test that landed in Japan's territorial water. Another issue addressed was China's spy balloons. The Japanese and Chinese officials held a security meeting in Tokyo, where Japan showed its concern over the surveillance balloons. (with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Mysterious sphere discovered on Japanese beach removed, netizens voice embarrassment 

A Japanese airline which took off from Tokyo to land at Fukuoka airport faced last-minute changes before its departure because of which the delayed flight missed the commercial flights' curfew time and was forced to return back to its departure point.&nbsp;

Around 300 domestic flight passengers faced a nightmare in Japan after their two-hour flight was turned into a seven-hour ordeal because the flight missed the "deadline" of the destination airport. According to the schedule, Japan Airlines Co. flight JL331 was to depart from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport at 6:30 pm local time for a two-hour journey to reach Fukuoka, however, because of the last-minute plane switch, the takeoff faced a delay of around 90 minutes, reported Bloomberg reported.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/air-india-passengers-stranded-in-sweden-set-to-fly-back-to-delhi-on-friday-565221">Air India passengers, stranded in Sweden, set to fly back to Delhi on Friday</a>

As a result, the airline missed the 10 pm curfew time for commercial planes at the airport and had to fly back to its original departure point. The crisis took place despite the earlier expectations of officials that the flight would land with 4 minutes to spare, said the airline in a statement.&nbsp;

According to Fukuoka airport officials, the airport officials do make exceptions for congestion or bad weather, allowing the delayed flight past the curfew time, however, while speaking to &nbsp;Asahi Shimbun newspaper, the official said that they didn’t regard this delay in the landing of the flight as “unavoidable”.

After missing the 10 pm curfew time of the airport, the airline went on a roundabout journey, taking 335 passengers to Tokyo again. The Bloomberg report stated that initially, the officials were considering re-routing the flight to the nearest city of Kitakyushu, however, because they were facing difficulty in arranging accommodation at the last minute for the 335 passengers travelling onboard, the plan was cancelled.

The plane was then landed at 10:59 pm at Kansai International Airport near Osaka, which was around 450 kilometres away from their original destination, added the report citing the airline officials. However, the passengers suffering did not come to an end as this destination lacked the accommodation arrangement for all the passengers and hence, the pilot took off the flight with 335 passengers again onboard.&nbsp;

WATCH | UK: Airline Flybe goes into administration, cancels all flights

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uk-airline-flybe-goes-into-administration-cancels-all-flights-556777/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

On Monday's pre-dawn, the flight finally landed back in the capital city of Japan after a journey of around seven hours and at the same place where it took off. The airline said that the passengers were compensated by making payments for taxis and hotels. The airlines also paid in cash and replacement flight to make up for the horrid travelling experience of the customers.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

You can&nbsp;now write for wionews.com&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

A Japanese airline which took off from Tokyo to land at Fukuoka airport faced last-minute changes before its departure because of which the delayed flight missed the commercial flights' curfew time and was forced to return back to its departure point.

A Japanese airline which took off from Tokyo to land at Fukuoka airport faced last-minute changes before its departure because of which the delayed flight missed the commercial flights' curfew time and was forced to return back to its departure point. Around 300 domestic flight passengers faced a nightmare in Japan after their two-hour flight was turned into a seven-hour ordeal because the flight missed the "deadline" of the destination airport. According to the schedule, Japan Airlines Co. flight JL331 was to depart from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport at 6:30 pm local time for a two-hour journey to reach Fukuoka, however, because of the last-minute plane switch, the takeoff faced a delay of around 90 minutes, reported Bloomberg reported. ALSO READ | Air India passengers, stranded in Sweden, set to fly back to Delhi on Friday As a result, the airline missed the 10 pm curfew time for commercial planes at the airport and had to fly back to its original departure point. The crisis took place despite the earlier expectations of officials that the flight would land with 4 minutes to spare, said the airline in a statement. According to Fukuoka airport officials, the airport officials do make exceptions for congestion or bad weather, allowing the delayed flight past the curfew time, however, while speaking to Asahi Shimbun newspaper, the official said that they didn’t regard this delay in the landing of the flight as “unavoidable”. After missing the 10 pm curfew time of the airport, the airline went on a roundabout journey, taking 335 passengers to Tokyo again. The Bloomberg report stated that initially, the officials were considering re-routing the flight to the nearest city of Kitakyushu, however, because they were facing difficulty in arranging accommodation at the last minute for the 335 passengers travelling onboard, the plan was cancelled. The plane was then landed at 10:59 pm at Kansai International Airport near Osaka, which was around 450 kilometres away from their original destination, added the report citing the airline officials. However, the passengers suffering did not come to an end as this destination lacked the accommodation arrangement for all the passengers and hence, the pilot took off the flight with 335 passengers again onboard. WATCH | UK: Airline Flybe goes into administration, cancels all flights On Monday's pre-dawn, the flight finally landed back in the capital city of Japan after a journey of around seven hours and at the same place where it took off. The airline said that the passengers were compensated by making payments for taxis and hotels. The airlines also paid in cash and replacement flight to make up for the horrid travelling experience of the customers. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

After 7-hour nightmare, flight with 300 passengers lands back at its original take-off point in Japan

At a time when Japan is grappling with the challenge of a massive surge in prices of essentials, Emperor Naruhito on Thursday (February 23) delivered his first birthday address after he ascended the throne four years ago. Covid-related restrictions delayed his public birthday appearance, an annual tradition in Japan, over the last four years. In a message for the people of the nation, he emphathised with those in vulnerable positions. “My heart feels pain when I think about people in vulnerable positions, who are aged, who have disabilities, who are in need of support, and people in poverty and their children," the Emperor underlined.

The emperor, who was crowned in 2019, turned 63 on Thursday. He also praised people who were supporting the vulnerable groups in the difficult times and expressed his gratitude. "I feel very happy to be celebrating my birthday before the public for the first time," he further shared. His wife Empress Masako, his daughter Aiko, 21, and his brother Crown Prince Akishino were among those who accompanied him.

Also watch: Worrying sign for Japan's economy as factory activity sinks

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/worrying-sign-for-japans-economy-as-factory-activity-sinks-world-business-watch-564200/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<h2>Surging prices in Japan</h2>

&nbsp;

 
Consumer inflation in Japan hit four-decade high last year. There have been no signs of&nbsp; relief ever since. In January, inflation figures rose 9.5 per cent from a year earlier, according to reports.&nbsp; A report by BBC highlighted that consumer inflation was at its highest in January since 1981. Despite the worrying figures, the inflation rate in the world's third largest economy has remained one of the lowest.

Not just Japan, other nations too are tackling a similar challenge. "Global growth is slowing sharply in the face of elevated inflation, higher interest rates, reduced investment, and disruptions caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine," the World Bank’s Global Economic Prospects report highlighted in January.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-japan-poised-to-raise-age-of-consent-to-16-after-over-a-century-why-now-564542">Explained | Japan poised to raise age of consent to 16 after over a century. Why now?</a>

&nbsp;

"Given fragile economic conditions, any new adverse development—such as higher-than-expected inflation, abrupt rises in interest rates to contain it, a resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic, or escalating geopolitical tensions—could push the global economy into recession. This would mark the first time in more than 80 years that two global recessions have occurred within the same decade," it further stressed.

(With agency inputs)

&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

At a time when Japan is grappling with the challenge of a massive surge in prices of essentials, Emperor Naruhito on Thursday (February 23) delivered his first birthday address after he ascended the throne four years ago.

At a time when Japan is grappling with the challenge of a massive surge in prices of essentials, Emperor Naruhito on Thursday (February 23) delivered his first birthday address after he ascended the throne four years ago. Covid-related restrictions delayed his public birthday appearance, an annual tradition in Japan, over the last four years. In a message for the people of the nation, he emphathised with those in vulnerable positions. “My heart feels pain when I think about people in vulnerable positions, who are aged, who have disabilities, who are in need of support, and people in poverty and their children," the Emperor underlined. The emperor, who was crowned in 2019, turned 63 on Thursday. He also praised people who were supporting the vulnerable groups in the difficult times and expressed his gratitude. "I feel very happy to be celebrating my birthday before the public for the first time," he further shared. His wife Empress Masako, his daughter Aiko, 21, and his brother Crown Prince Akishino were among those who accompanied him. Also watch: Worrying sign for Japan's economy as factory activity sinks × Surging prices in Japan Consumer inflation in Japan hit four-decade high last year. There have been no signs of relief ever since. In January, inflation figures rose 9.5 per cent from a year earlier, according to reports. A report by BBC highlighted that consumer inflation was at its highest in January since 1981. Despite the worrying figures, the inflation rate in the world's third largest economy has remained one of the lowest. Not just Japan, other nations too are tackling a similar challenge. "Global growth is slowing sharply in the face of elevated inflation, higher interest rates, reduced investment, and disruptions caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine," the World Bank’s Global Economic Prospects report highlighted in January. Also read: Explained | Japan poised to raise age of consent to 16 after over a century. Why now? "Given fragile economic conditions, any new adverse development—such as higher-than-expected inflation, abrupt rises in interest rates to contain it, a resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic, or escalating geopolitical tensions—could push the global economy into recession. This would mark the first time in more than 80 years that two global recessions have occurred within the same decade," it further stressed. (With agency inputs) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

In Japan emperor Naruhito's 1st birthday address, message for those hit by inflation

A metal sphere washed up on the shore of Enshu beach in Hamamatsu. The object had been sealed off as officials were examining it.

Mysterious metal sphere washes up on Japan beach

#Gravitas | A mysterious ball has washed up on a Japanese beach. Authorities admit they don't know what the object is and where it came from. Molly Gambhir reports

Gravitas: Mysterious object washes up on Japanese beach

Japan is poised to raise the age of consent from 13 to 16 in an overhaul of legislation amid criticism that existing laws fail to protect children from rape and other sex crimes.

Japan aims to revise sex crime laws

A CNN report, citing two US officials, says that Russia carried out the test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) while President Joe Biden was in Kyiv, but it reportedly failed. The officials added that Russia had notified the United States about the launch in advance through deconfliction lines. Another official said that the test posed no risk to the United States and Washington did not see it as an escalation of any sort.&nbsp;

Russia tested the heavy SARMAT missile, which is known as the Satan II in the West. The missile is capable of delivering multiple nuclear warheads and Moscow had already tested it successfully once earlier. However, this time around it seemed to have failed, the US officials said.&nbsp;

Russian President Vladimir Putin did not mention the ICBM test in his Tuesday's State of the Nation address. US officials believe that he would have definitely mentioned it had it been a success.&nbsp;

In his speech&nbsp;that lasted one hour and 45 minutes, Putin slammed the US for escalating the Ukraine situation. He said that Russia was only trying to defend itself and that the US was making the situation worse.&nbsp;

Putin also announced that Russia is suspending the&nbsp;New START nuclear arms reduction treaty, although the foreign ministry later said that they will continue to observe&nbsp;restrictions on nuclear warheads. 
 
The US and Russia have been communicating through several different channels this week for deconfliction purposes as the US officials had also notified the Russians on Sunday night, hours before Biden’s visit to Kyiv, that the president would be visiting the Ukrainian capital. 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

A CNN report, citing two US officials, says that Russia carried out the test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) while President Joe Biden was in Kyiv, but it reportedly failed.

A CNN report, citing two US officials, says that Russia carried out the test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) while President Joe Biden was in Kyiv, but it reportedly failed. The officials added that Russia had notified the United States about the launch in advance through deconfliction lines. Another official said that the test posed no risk to the United States and Washington did not see it as an escalation of any sort. Russia tested the heavy SARMAT missile, which is known as the Satan II in the West. The missile is capable of delivering multiple nuclear warheads and Moscow had already tested it successfully once earlier. However, this time around it seemed to have failed, the US officials said. Russian President Vladimir Putin did not mention the ICBM test in his Tuesday's State of the Nation address. US officials believe that he would have definitely mentioned it had it been a success. In his speech that lasted one hour and 45 minutes, Putin slammed the US for escalating the Ukraine situation. He said that Russia was only trying to defend itself and that the US was making the situation worse. Putin also announced that Russia is suspending the New START nuclear arms reduction treaty, although the foreign ministry later said that they will continue to observe restrictions on nuclear warheads. The US and Russia have been communicating through several different channels this week for deconfliction purposes as the US officials had also notified the Russians on Sunday night, hours before Biden’s visit to Kyiv, that the president would be visiting the Ukrainian capital. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Toyota accedes to unions' demands, set to provide biggest wage hike in two decades

The concept of a weekend marriage is a growing trend among couples in Japan, where the couple waits until the weekend to spend time together. Watch this video to know more.

Trending in Japan: Weekend marriages

A Japanese justice ministry panel proposed raising the age of consent in the country from 13 to 16. Notably, the age of consent in the Asian country is the lowest among the Group of seven nations (G7)&nbsp;and has remained unchanged since its enactment over a century ago. This comes as the panel proposed a package of reforms which would clarify rape prosecution requirements as well as criminalise voyeurism. Furthermore, it would also criminalise the grooming of minors and expand the definition of rape.

What is the age of consent?

The age of consent is the legal age at which an individual is deemed capable enough of consenting to sexual activity. The aim is to protect adolescents and young adults from sexual abuse and the consequences of engaging in early sexual intercourse&nbsp;on their rights and development, as per the United Nations.&nbsp;

If an adult engages in any type of sexual activity with someone below the determined age of consent by the state they are committing a crime. Furthermore, when sexual intercourse is agreed to by both parties, it would be considered statutory rape, since the individual is still a minor and too young to consent.&nbsp;

What are the current laws?

As of now, Japan has the lowest age of consent in developed countries, as&nbsp;13-year-old children are deemed old enough to consent which also&nbsp;means sexual activity with them is not considered statutory rape. However, sexual intercourse with a person under 13 is illegal regardless of consent while intercourse with a person aged 13 to 15 will be punished if the perpetrator is five or more years older, as per Japanese laws.

In practice, there are several regions in the country which have banned “lewd” acts with minors which is the closest thing to the age of consent being 18 in Japan. However, they do not lead to harsh sentences and significantly lighter penalties than rape charges while also terming sex with children “unethical” conduct as opposed to a crime, said Kazuna Kanajiri, an activist fighting against pornography and sexual exploitation, to AFP.&nbsp;

The head of the Tokyo-based group PAPS also said that&nbsp;the current laws leave room for perpetrators to “shift blame to the victims, and argue that sex was initiated or enjoyed by the children”.&nbsp;

Additionally, since the age of consent is low it has also meant that teen rape survivors are held at the same level for prosecuting perpetrators as adults do. According to the current Japanese criminal law, the victim needs to meet two conditions, in order to secure a conviction.

In what is often referred to as one of the most controversial provisions, the sex must be non-consensual and the prosecution must be able to prove that the rape perpetrator&nbsp;used “violence and intimidation” and that it was “impossible to resist”.&nbsp;

However, critics have argued that this condition effectively blames victims for not resisting enough and said that during an assault survivors can freeze or in some cases even submit to avoid further injury, reported AFP.&nbsp;

What is the proposed reform?

Earlier this month, a panel of the Japanese Justice Ministry proposed a number of reforms which included raising the age of consent from 13 to 16, in part, to a wider overhaul of Japan’s sex crime legislation. One of the provisions also said that teenagers who are not more than five years apart in age would be exempt from prosecution if both partners are over 13.&nbsp;

However, there is no clarity on whether the wording of the proposal addresses drugging, catching victims off-guard and psychologically controlling them. According to a justice ministry official, Yusuke Asanuma, the clarification is not “make it easier or harder” to secure rape convictions but they hope that the verdicts in such cases will become “more consistent”, reported AFP.&nbsp;

Additionally, they have also called for the statute of limitations for reporting rape to increase&nbsp;from 10 years to 15 years for sexual violence against minors, to allow them more time to come forward. The council which advises the justice minister has also sought to make the act of secretly photographing an individual’s sexual body parts as well as&nbsp;intercourse and&nbsp;providing such images to other people, a punishable offence.&nbsp;

What prompted this change?

The proposed overhaul comes after mounting criticism and backlash which say that current&nbsp;laws are inadequate to protect children from rape and other sexual offences. Notably, the age of consent in Japan has not changed since 1907. However, it was after several acquittals, in 2019, which led to widespread protests.&nbsp;

At the time, thousands had taken to the streets of Japan across multiple cities and urged reform of the country’s sex crime laws. One of the cases included a father accused of repeatedly raping his 19-year-old daughter who&nbsp;was acquitted. According to reports, this was after the court had concluded that the intercourse was non-consensual, but since there was no definitive proof that the daughter had been unable to resist, the perpetrator was freed. This also sparked anger and renewed calls for “the crime of rape as all non-consensual sexual intercourse”. However, he was later sent to prison after prosecutors appealed.&nbsp;

Previous amendments&nbsp;

The recent proposal comes months after a&nbsp;draft was&nbsp;released called for merging constructive forcible sexual intercourse with forcible sexual intercourse and constructive indecent assault with indecent assault, reported the Japan Times. The proposal also sought to make&nbsp;sexual activity by making it difficult for the individual to refuse through any one of the eight acts by the perpetrator a punishable offence. The acts in question included assault or threat, causing mental or physical disorder and denying the victim the opportunity to refuse.&nbsp;

In October, when it was being amended, some members of the subcommittee noted that this could be perceived as victims being obligated “to express refusal.” Therefore, it was later changed to “making it difficult for the victim to form, express or fulfil the intention not to consent,” or taking advantage of such a situation, as per media reports. &nbsp;

What’s the age of consent across different countries?

Most developed countries have set the age of consent between 14 to 16. According to reports, Nigeria has the lowest age of consent across the world at 11 years which is followed by Angola at 12 years. On the other hand, in countries like the United Kingdom the age of consent is 16, in Greece and France it is 15 and 14 in Germany, and Italy. The age of consent in the United States varies depending on the state but in a majority of them, it is 16 years of age and 17 or 18 in others.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the highest age of consent is reportedly in Bahrain at 21. In Europe, the lowest minimum age is 14 years, set in seven European Union (EU) member nations which include Austria, Bulgaria, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Italy and Portugal. On the other hand, the highest is set at 18 years in Malta, as per the EU agency for fundamental rights.

Notably, it was not until 2015 that Spain raised its age of consent from 13 to 16.&nbsp;In India, the age of consent was 16 from 1940 until 2012 but&nbsp;was raised by the&nbsp;Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act&nbsp;to 18 years, which is among the highest across the world.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

A Japanese justice ministry panel proposed raising the age of consent in the country from 13 to 16. Notably, the age of consent in the Asian country is the lowest among the Group of seven nations (G7) and has remained unchanged since its enactment over a century ago.

A Japanese justice ministry panel proposed raising the age of consent in the country from 13 to 16. Notably, the age of consent in the Asian country is the lowest among the Group of seven nations (G7) and has remained unchanged since its enactment over a century ago. This comes as the panel proposed a package of reforms which would clarify rape prosecution requirements as well as criminalise voyeurism. Furthermore, it would also criminalise the grooming of minors and expand the definition of rape. What is the age of consent? The age of consent is the legal age at which an individual is deemed capable enough of consenting to sexual activity. The aim is to protect adolescents and young adults from sexual abuse and the consequences of engaging in early sexual intercourse on their rights and development, as per the United Nations. If an adult engages in any type of sexual activity with someone below the determined age of consent by the state they are committing a crime. Furthermore, when sexual intercourse is agreed to by both parties, it would be considered statutory rape, since the individual is still a minor and too young to consent. What are the current laws? As of now, Japan has the lowest age of consent in developed countries, as 13-year-old children are deemed old enough to consent which also means sexual activity with them is not considered statutory rape. However, sexual intercourse with a person under 13 is illegal regardless of consent while intercourse with a person aged 13 to 15 will be punished if the perpetrator is five or more years older, as per Japanese laws. In practice, there are several regions in the country which have banned “lewd” acts with minors which is the closest thing to the age of consent being 18 in Japan. However, they do not lead to harsh sentences and significantly lighter penalties than rape charges while also terming sex with children “unethical” conduct as opposed to a crime, said Kazuna Kanajiri, an activist fighting against pornography and sexual exploitation, to AFP. The head of the Tokyo-based group PAPS also said that the current laws leave room for perpetrators to “shift blame to the victims, and argue that sex was initiated or enjoyed by the children”. Additionally, since the age of consent is low it has also meant that teen rape survivors are held at the same level for prosecuting perpetrators as adults do. According to the current Japanese criminal law, the victim needs to meet two conditions, in order to secure a conviction. In what is often referred to as one of the most controversial provisions, the sex must be non-consensual and the prosecution must be able to prove that the rape perpetrator used “violence and intimidation” and that it was “impossible to resist”. However, critics have argued that this condition effectively blames victims for not resisting enough and said that during an assault survivors can freeze or in some cases even submit to avoid further injury, reported AFP. What is the proposed reform? Earlier this month, a panel of the Japanese Justice Ministry proposed a number of reforms which included raising the age of consent from 13 to 16, in part, to a wider overhaul of Japan’s sex crime legislation. One of the provisions also said that teenagers who are not more than five years apart in age would be exempt from prosecution if both partners are over 13. However, there is no clarity on whether the wording of the proposal addresses drugging, catching victims off-guard and psychologically controlling them. According to a justice ministry official, Yusuke Asanuma, the clarification is not “make it easier or harder” to secure rape convictions but they hope that the verdicts in such cases will become “more consistent”, reported AFP. Additionally, they have also called for the statute of limitations for reporting rape to increase from 10 years to 15 years for sexual violence against minors, to allow them more time to come forward. The council which advises the justice minister has also sought to make the act of secretly photographing an individual’s sexual body parts as well as intercourse and providing such images to other people, a punishable offence. What prompted this change? The proposed overhaul comes after mounting criticism and backlash which say that current laws are inadequate to protect children from rape and other sexual offences. Notably, the age of consent in Japan has not changed since 1907. However, it was after several acquittals, in 2019, which led to widespread protests. At the time, thousands had taken to the streets of Japan across multiple cities and urged reform of the country’s sex crime laws. One of the cases included a father accused of repeatedly raping his 19-year-old daughter who was acquitted. According to reports, this was after the court had concluded that the intercourse was non-consensual, but since there was no definitive proof that the daughter had been unable to resist, the perpetrator was freed. This also sparked anger and renewed calls for “the crime of rape as all non-consensual sexual intercourse”. However, he was later sent to prison after prosecutors appealed. Previous amendments The recent proposal comes months after a draft was released called for merging constructive forcible sexual intercourse with forcible sexual intercourse and constructive indecent assault with indecent assault, reported the Japan Times. The proposal also sought to make sexual activity by making it difficult for the individual to refuse through any one of the eight acts by the perpetrator a punishable offence. The acts in question included assault or threat, causing mental or physical disorder and denying the victim the opportunity to refuse. In October, when it was being amended, some members of the subcommittee noted that this could be perceived as victims being obligated “to express refusal.” Therefore, it was later changed to “making it difficult for the victim to form, express or fulfil the intention not to consent,” or taking advantage of such a situation, as per media reports. What’s the age of consent across different countries? Most developed countries have set the age of consent between 14 to 16. According to reports, Nigeria has the lowest age of consent across the world at 11 years which is followed by Angola at 12 years. On the other hand, in countries like the United Kingdom the age of consent is 16, in Greece and France it is 15 and 14 in Germany, and Italy. The age of consent in the United States varies depending on the state but in a majority of them, it is 16 years of age and 17 or 18 in others. Meanwhile, the highest age of consent is reportedly in Bahrain at 21. In Europe, the lowest minimum age is 14 years, set in seven European Union (EU) member nations which include Austria, Bulgaria, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Italy and Portugal. On the other hand, the highest is set at 18 years in Malta, as per the EU agency for fundamental rights. Notably, it was not until 2015 that Spain raised its age of consent from 13 to 16. In India, the age of consent was 16 from 1940 until 2012 but was raised by the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act to 18 years, which is among the highest across the world. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained | Japan poised to raise age of consent to 16 after over a century. Why now?

Japan and China have held security talks on several key issues. From spy balloons to Senkaku island, discussions were held extensively. Japan also worries China will resort to force to take control of Taiwan.

Japan worries China will resort to force to take control of Taiwan

The legal age to indulge in consensual sex in Japan could be changed from 13 to 16. Japan currently has the lowest age of consent among developed countries.@mollygambhir tells you more

Gravitas:  Japan: overhaul of laws related to sex crimes

As part of major overhaul of sex crime legislation, a panel of Japan's Justice Ministry proposed raising the age of consent from 13 to 16. Currently, the Asian country has the lowest age of consent among the developed countries as also among the G7 group.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;move aims to criminalise the grooming of minors and will also expand the definition of rape.

The move&nbsp;comes after a series of rape acquittals in 2019 that sparked an outcry.&nbsp;

The ministry will also increase the statute of limitation for reporting rape from 10 to 15 years, BBC reported.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hundreds-of-child-sex-abuse-lawsuits-could-trigger-bankruptcy-for-us-church-560940">Also read |&nbsp;Staggering legal costs of over 400 child sex abuse lawsuits threaten bankruptcy for US church</a>

The current law states that victims of rape need to prove that "violence and intimidation" were used during the rape and that it was impossible to resist, to secure a conviction.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The panel has not changed this wording but has added other factors including intoxication, drugging, being caught off guard and psychological control into the definition.&nbsp;

The ministry's official Yusuke Asanuma said that the move isn't made to make it easier or more challenging for the rape victims but that it should make verdicts 'more consistent.'

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/to-prevent-rape-and-abuse-philippines-raises-age-of-sexual-consent-to-16-459948">Also read |&nbsp;To prevent rape and abuse, Philippines raises age of sexual consent to 16</a>

&nbsp;

In countries like Germany and Italy, the age of consent is 14, in Greece and France it is 15 and in the UK and many states of the US, it is 16.&nbsp;

In 2019, a case in Japan saw a man go free after being accused of having intercourse&nbsp;with his teenage daughter, even though the court agreed that it was done against the wish of his daughter. He was later sent to prison after prosecutors appealed.&nbsp;

The government could pass this law as early as summer. Despite the&nbsp;potential to change the age of consent, the country will have an exception for intercourse between people who are at least 13 and who have an age gap of less than five years.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

As part of major overhaul of sex crime legislation, a panel of Japan's Justice Ministry proposed raising the age of consent from 13 to 16. Currently, the Asian country has the lowest age of consent among the developed countries as also among the G7 group.

As part of major overhaul of sex crime legislation, a panel of Japan's Justice Ministry proposed raising the age of consent from 13 to 16. Currently, the Asian country has the lowest age of consent among the developed countries as also among the G7 group. The move aims to criminalise the grooming of minors and will also expand the definition of rape. The move comes after a series of rape acquittals in 2019 that sparked an outcry. The ministry will also increase the statute of limitation for reporting rape from 10 to 15 years, BBC reported. Also read | Staggering legal costs of over 400 child sex abuse lawsuits threaten bankruptcy for US church The current law states that victims of rape need to prove that "violence and intimidation" were used during the rape and that it was impossible to resist, to secure a conviction. The panel has not changed this wording but has added other factors including intoxication, drugging, being caught off guard and psychological control into the definition. The ministry's official Yusuke Asanuma said that the move isn't made to make it easier or more challenging for the rape victims but that it should make verdicts 'more consistent.' Also read | To prevent rape and abuse, Philippines raises age of sexual consent to 16 In countries like Germany and Italy, the age of consent is 14, in Greece and France it is 15 and in the UK and many states of the US, it is 16. In 2019, a case in Japan saw a man go free after being accused of having intercourse with his teenage daughter, even though the court agreed that it was done against the wish of his daughter. He was later sent to prison after prosecutors appealed. The government could pass this law as early as summer. Despite the potential to change the age of consent, the country will have an exception for intercourse between people who are at least 13 and who have an age gap of less than five years. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Japan to raise age of consent from 13 to 16 after furore over sex crime acquittals

In Japan, police have cordoned off a beach after discovering a mysterious ball on the sand. As per local media reports, authorities are worried that the object might be a sea mine of some kind. RT News reports that the object was first spotted on Monday (February 20th) morning by a local woman in the city of Hamamatsu in the Shizuoka Prefecture. The object reportedly measures around 1.5 metres (4.9 feet) in diameter and, based on the rust on its surface, is believed to be made of iron. However, the exact metal is yet to be identified. Police have cordoned off a 200-meter radius around the object.

The mysterious ball may have washed ashore from the sea. Pictures and videos of the object have widely been shared on social media websites. They show that the ball has two latching points on opposite ends.

Take a look:

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
a group of local residents of Hamamatsu City were taking a walk on a beach when they discovered a large metallic object that looked like an ‘iron ball.’ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/japan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#japan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/mystery?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#mystery</a> <a href="https://t.co/zdpOzVAKUK">pic.twitter.com/zdpOzVAKUK</a>
— beingcurious77 (@beingcurious77) <a href="https://twitter.com/beingcurious77/status/1628060390339878912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Japanese Self-Defence Forces have been called in to inspect the object. Additionally, police have also requested the military to send a team to thoroughly inspect the mysterious ball.&nbsp;As per a Sputnik report, the coast guard is yet to identify what the object is.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

In Japan, police have cordoned off a beach after discovering a mysterious ball on the sand. As per local media reports, authorities are worried that the object might be a sea mine of some kind.

In Japan, police have cordoned off a beach after discovering a mysterious ball on the sand. As per local media reports, authorities are worried that the object might be a sea mine of some kind. RT News reports that the object was first spotted on Monday (February 20th) morning by a local woman in the city of Hamamatsu in the Shizuoka Prefecture. The object reportedly measures around 1.5 metres (4.9 feet) in diameter and, based on the rust on its surface, is believed to be made of iron. However, the exact metal is yet to be identified. Police have cordoned off a 200-meter radius around the object. The mysterious ball may have washed ashore from the sea. Pictures and videos of the object have widely been shared on social media websites. They show that the ball has two latching points on opposite ends. Take a look: a group of local residents of Hamamatsu City were taking a walk on a beach when they discovered a large metallic object that looked like an ‘iron ball.’ #japan #mystery pic.twitter.com/zdpOzVAKUK — beingcurious77 (@beingcurious77) February 21, 2023 × Japanese Self-Defence Forces have been called in to inspect the object. Additionally, police have also requested the military to send a team to thoroughly inspect the mysterious ball. As per a Sputnik report, the coast guard is yet to identify what the object is. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Mysterious object found on Japanese beach, police cordon off the area

Tears flow as Japan sends Xiang Xiang the giant panda 'home' to China

The Justice Ministry in Japan has proposed raising the age if consent to 16 from the current 13 years which is marked the lowest in the world. This comes as a part of major overhaul of sexual crime legislation.

Japan to raise age of consent from 13 to 16; age remains same since enacted in 1907

Less money, more problems. The cost of travel is also a consideration. The yen is at its weakest in decades, and many Japanese workers haven't had a raise in 30 years. Less disposable income means young people may be more inclined to stay at home or explore nearby locations.

Why Japan has so many 'never travelers'

Asia is in a warring sign for the world's third largest economy, which is facing weakening demand and struggling to tame cost pressures. Japan's manufacturing activity contracted at fastest space in 30 months in February.

Worrying sign for Japan's economy as factory activity sinks | World Business Watch

A fresh survey of Japan's territory has yielded 7,000 new islands. As per Kyodo News, after the Japanese government's first official survey of its territorial waters since 1987, the official number of Japan's islands is expected to double from 6,852 to 14,125, with the addition of 7,272 new islands.

The new survey which was conducted by the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan will not increase the nation's territory. Rather, it would, as per the NY Post, give officials a more accurate picture of Japan's territory.

Watch |&nbsp;Japan 'strongly suspects' Chinese spy balloon, tells China violation of airspace 'unacceptable'

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/japan-strongly-suspects-chinese-spy-balloon-tells-china-violation-of-airspace-unacceptable-562254/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Why did Japan conduct this survey after more than 30 years?

This, as per Kyodo News, was apparently spurred by a member of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party. In December 2021, the party member told the nation's Parliament that there was a need for an accurate understanding of the number of islands because the data was old and not updated. According to them, it was an "important administrative matter that is related to the national interest."

As per Lifestyle Asia, the survey actually detected over 100,000 islands. However, only those with a circumference of 100 metres or higher were taken into account.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-man-uses-fake-names-to-donate-sperm-in-exchange-of-gifts-holidays-563975">Australian man uses fake names to donate sperm in exchange for gifts, holidays; fathers 60 children</a>

Now, the Japanese government will soon come up with more accurate figures of the country's terrain. The latest number of islands will also have to be updated on all official documents and textbooks, etc. As per the current estimates, Japan, a country with an estimated population of around 124,840,000, has a land mass of around 146,000 square miles.

In Japan, a country regularly subjected to volcanic activity and extreme weather, the discovery of new islands isn't that surprising; previously,&nbsp;geographers have reported the formation of new islands and the disappearance of others.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

&nbsp;

A fresh survey of Japan's territory has yielded 7,000 new islands. As per Kyodo News, after the Japanese government's first official survey of its territorial waters since 1987, the official number of Japan's islands is expected to double from 6,852 to 14,125, with the addition of 7,272 new islands.

A fresh survey of Japan's territory has yielded 7,000 new islands. As per Kyodo News, after the Japanese government's first official survey of its territorial waters since 1987, the official number of Japan's islands is expected to double from 6,852 to 14,125, with the addition of 7,272 new islands. The new survey which was conducted by the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan will not increase the nation's territory. Rather, it would, as per the NY Post, give officials a more accurate picture of Japan's territory. Watch | Japan 'strongly suspects' Chinese spy balloon, tells China violation of airspace 'unacceptable' Why did Japan conduct this survey after more than 30 years? This, as per Kyodo News, was apparently spurred by a member of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party. In December 2021, the party member told the nation's Parliament that there was a need for an accurate understanding of the number of islands because the data was old and not updated. According to them, it was an "important administrative matter that is related to the national interest." As per Lifestyle Asia, the survey actually detected over 100,000 islands. However, only those with a circumference of 100 metres or higher were taken into account. Also read | Australian man uses fake names to donate sperm in exchange for gifts, holidays; fathers 60 children Now, the Japanese government will soon come up with more accurate figures of the country's terrain. The latest number of islands will also have to be updated on all official documents and textbooks, etc. As per the current estimates, Japan, a country with an estimated population of around 124,840,000, has a land mass of around 146,000 square miles. In Japan, a country regularly subjected to volcanic activity and extreme weather, the discovery of new islands isn't that surprising; previously, geographers have reported the formation of new islands and the disappearance of others. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Japan discovers 7,200 new islands in its territorial waters

japan

Japan, News on Japan, stories on Japan, articles on Japan, Japan stories at Wion, Japan news, Japan latest news