Japan marks WWII's end, Kishida doesn't mention aggression
APTOPIX Japan WWII Anniversary Visitors in old Japanese Imperial army uniforms enter Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Japan's war dead, Monday, Aug. 15, 2022, in Tokyo. In his first address as prime minister since taking office in October, Kishida said Japan will “stick to our resolve to never repeat the tragedy of the war." Kishida did not mention Japanese aggression across Asia in the first half of the 20th century or the victims in the region. The omission was a precedent set by the assassinated former leader Shinzo Abe, who had pushed to whitewash Japan’s wartime brutality. Beginning in 2013, Abe stopped acknowledging Japan’s wartime hostilities or apologizing in his Aug. 15 speeches, scrapping the tradition that began in 1995.
wftv.comJapan marks WWII's end, Kishida doesn't mention aggression
Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida renewed Japan's no-war pledge at a somber ceremony Monday as his country marked the 77th anniversary of its World War II defeat, but he did not mention Japanese wartime aggression. In his first address as prime minister since taking office in October, Kishida said Japan will “stick to our resolve to never repeat the tragedy of the war." Kishida did not mention Japanese aggression across Asia in the first half of the 20th century or the victims in the region.
news.yahoo.comJapan PM names new Cabinet, shifting some over church ties
Kishida is set to reshuffle his Cabinet on Wednesday in a move seen as trying to distance his administration from controversial ties to the Unification Church following former leader Shinzo Abe's assassination. Police and media reports say the man arrested had targeted Abe over suspected ties to the Unification Church, which the man hated because his mother’s massive financial donations to the church ruined his family. Most of the respondents said they think politicians have not sufficiently explained their ties to the Unification Church. Kishi was replaced by former Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada, and Taro Kono, who previously served as a vaccination tsar during the pandemic as well as foreign and defense minister, returned to the Cabinet as digital minister. Economy and Trade Minister Koici Hagiuda, who also had church ties, was shifted to head the party policy research committee and replaced by former Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura.
wftv.comJapan PM to name new Cabinet, shifting some over church ties
Kishida is set to reshuffle his Cabinet on Wednesday in a move seen as trying to distance his administration from controversial ties to the Unification Church following former leader Shinzo Abe's assassination. Police and media reports say the man arrested had targeted Abe over suspected ties to the Unification Church, which the man hated because his mother’s massive financial donations to the church ruined his family. Most of the respondents said they think politicians have not sufficiently explained their ties to the Unification Church. Kishida's Cabinet renewal, which had been expected in September before the autumn parliamentary session, was apparently expedited as public support weakened amid questions over the church ties. Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno and Economy Minister Daishiro Yamagiwa will reportedly stay in the new Cabinet.
wftv.comHiroshima vows nuke ban at 77th memorial amid Russia threat
Japan Hiroshima Anniversary Doves fly over the cenotaph dedicated to the victims of the atomic bombing during the ceremony marking the 77th anniversary of the world's first atomic bombing, at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, western Japan Saturday, Aug. 6, 2022. “Nuclear weapons are nonsense. They guarantee no safety — only death and destruction," said U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who joined the prayer at the Hiroshima Peace Park. Japan surrendered on Aug. 15, ending World War II and Japan’s nearly half-century of aggression in Asia. The world continues to face threats from nuclear weapons, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said at the memorial.
wftv.comJapan warns of rising global tension, Russia-China arms ties
Japan warned of escalating national security threats stemming from Russia’s war on Ukraine and China’s tensions with Taiwan in an annual defense paper issued Friday, as Japan tries to bolster its military capability and spending. The annual defense white paper, approved by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s Cabinet on Friday, highlights the need for Japan’s military buildup to address security concerns and seeks to gain public support for a stronger military and increased budget, which Kishida’s governing party aims to double in coming years.
news.yahoo.comJapan PM blames police for death of former leader Shinzo Abe
Japan Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida delivers a speech at his official residence in Tokyo Thursday, July 14, 2022. (Zhang Xiaoyu/Pool Photo via AP) (Zhang Xiaoyu)TOKYO — (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Thursday blamed inadequate police protection for the death of former leader Shinzo Abe, who was shot while giving an outdoor campaign speech. Abe, one of Japan's most influential politicians, was assassinated last Friday in western Japan, shocking a nation known for its low crime rate. He was reportedly upset because his mother made large donations to the Unification Church that bankrupted the family. The Japan branch of the South Korean-based church confirmed on Monday that Yamagami’s mother was a member and that Abe was not.
wftv.comAbe's complicated legacy looms large for current Japan PM
Japan Abe's Legacy FILE - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, center, shouts traditional "Banzai (long life)" cheers with lawmakers and members of his ruling Liberal Democratic (LDP) Party during its annual convention at a hotel in Tokyo on March 5, 2017. Assassinated former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was perhaps the most divisive leader in recent Japanese history. For current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, this complicated legacy will loom large as he considers taking up his mentor's unachieved policy goals after a big win for their ruling Liberal Democratic Party in parliamentary elections Sunday, just days after Abe's death. How Kishida deals with Abe's still considerable political presence may determine his success as leader. His first period as prime minister, which began in 2006, ended in failure after a year, partly because of a backlash to his nationalist policy goals.
wftv.comAbe's party vows to finish his work after win in Japan vote
Japan Japanese Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, Fumio Kishida, speaks during a news conference after the results of the Upper House elections at the party headquarters on Monday, July 11, 2022, Tokyo, Japan. The result means Prime Minister Fumio Kishida could rule uninterrupted until a scheduled election in 2025 and allows him to work on long-term policies — but the constitutional amendment would still face an uphill battle. Kishida welcomed the victory but also acknowledged the need to unify the party without Abe, who even after resigning as prime minister in 2020 remained a force in the party and national politics. But he also vowed to push for reinforcing Japan’s national security and amending the constitution, which only allows the country's military to act in self-defense. Abe, who stepped down as prime minister two years ago, citing health reasons, said at the time he regretted leaving many of his goals unfinished, including revising the constitution.
wftv.comJapan's Kishida calls for unity to achieve Abe's unmet goals
Kishida welcomed the victory but also acknowledged that unifying the party will be a hard task without Abe, who even after resigning as prime minister in 2020 had led a powerful party faction. “Because we've lost a great leader, undeniably we could be affected in many ways," Kishida said. At a time of security and economic challenges in and outside Japan, Abe's death is most regrettable, Kishida said. Abe, 67, stepped down as prime minister two years ago, citing health reasons. He was the grandson of another prime minister and became Japan’s youngest prime minister in 2006, at age 52.
wftv.comJapan's Kishida gets mandate, Blinken brings US condolences
Japan US Abe U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks after a meeting with Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the prime minister's official residence Monday, July 11, 2022, in Tokyo. Blinken pays a brief condolence visit to Japan following the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. “We simply want them to know that we deeply feel the loss on the personal level as well,” Blinken told Kishida. He said he will also steadily push for reinforcing Japan’s national security as well the constitutional amendment. He was the grandson of another prime minister and became Japan’s youngest prime minister in 2006, at age 52.
wftv.comJapan ruling party heads to victory in wake of Abe's death
Early results in the race for the parliament's upper house showed Abe's governing party and its junior coalition partner Komeito securing a majority in the chamber and adding more. With a likely major boost, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stands to rule without interruption until a scheduled election in 2025. “It was extremely meaningful that we carried out the election,” Kishida said. His absence could change the power balance in the governing party that has almost uninterruptedly ruled postwar Japan since its 1955 foundation, experts say. Abe was groomed to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, former Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi.
wftv.comEx-leader Shinzo Abe critically shot in shock Japan attack
Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, an arch-conservative and one of his nation's most divisive figures, was shot and critically wounded during a campaign speech Friday in western Japan. Police arrested the suspected gunman at the scene of an attack that shocked many in Japan, which is one of the world’s safest nations and has some of the strictest gun control laws anywhere. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Abe was in “grave condition” and he hoped Abe would survive.
news.yahoo.comWhy Japan Will Struggle to Do Without Russian Energy
Japan’s stake in a big Russian energy project known as Sakhalin-2 is in limbo after President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to transfer the rights to a new Russian company. Resource-poor Japan depends on Russia for its natural gas needs, which is why Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has been reluctant to make a complete break with Moscow. While Japan is working frantically to secure alternative supplies, a global energy crunch means that it will be challenging for the island nation to quit Russian
washingtonpost.comG-7 leaders united behind Ukraine, aim at Kremlin oil money
To be effective, however, it would have to involve as many consuming countries as possible, in particular India, where refiners have been snapping up cheap Russian oil shunned by Western traders. The U.S. has already blocked Russian oil imports, which were small in any case. Meanwhile, higher global oil prices have softened the blow to Russia's income, even as Western traders shun Russian oil. From the secluded Schloss Elmau hotel in the Bavarian Alps, the G-7 leaders will move to Madrid for a summit of NATO leaders, where fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine will again dominate the agenda. ___Follow AP's coverage of the G-7 summit at https://apnews.com/hub/g-7-summit and of Russia's war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraineCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.
wftv.comG-7 leaders end summit pledging to hurt Russia economically
The summit host, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, said he "once again very emphatically set out the situation as Ukraine currently sees it." Agreement on some of the complexities of the oil price cap — such as whether it would apply only to Russia or to other oil producers — could be left for further discussions beyond the summit. From the secluded Schloss Elmau hotel in the Bavarian Alps, the G-7 leaders will continue straight to Madrid for a summit of NATO leaders — where fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine will again dominate the agenda. All G-7 members other than Japan are NATO members, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has been invited to Madrid. ___Follow AP's coverage of the G-7 summit at https://apnews.com/hub/g-7-summit and of Russia's war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraineCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.
wftv.comLive updates | Biden, Turkish leader hope to meet at summit
The White House said Biden “looks forward” to seeing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Madrid. His comments came at the start of a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi. ___U.S. President Joe Biden is leaving the Group of Seven summit in Germany earlier than scheduled due to bad weather. From there, he would fly via Air Force One to Madrid for the NATO summit. Ahead of his early departure, Biden met with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italy’s Prime Minister Mario Draghi and summit host Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
wftv.comOil price cap could strike Russia's war chest — if enforced
The cap also would limit the impact of higher oil prices on inflation in consuming countries, with the cost of gasoline and diesel squeezing consumers and businesses. But much would depend on whether Asian countries like India would go along with the price cap. EU countries, however, need time to line up new sources of oil and are under pressure from the high price of crude. And some Russian oil sales have simply gone off the books. Since European refiners started shunning Russian oil in late February, Russian crude oil imports to Europe fell from 2.04 million barrels per day to 1.49 million between March and May, according to Rystad Energy.
wftv.comG-7 leaders confer with Zelenskyy, prep new aid for Ukraine
In addition, the U.S. was preparing to announce the purchase of an advanced surface-to-air missile system for Kyiv to help Ukraine fight back against Vladimir Putin’s aggression. Leaders were finalizing the deal to seek a price cap during their three-day G-7 summit in the German Alps. The G-7 leaders began Monday's session of their three-day summit with a focus on Ukraine. Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron have tried to facilitate that through active conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy, while also supplying weapons to Ukraine. ___Follow AP's coverage of the G-7 summit: https://apnews.com/hub/g-7-summitFollow AP's coverage of the Russia-Ukraine war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraineCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.
wftv.comEXPLAINER: G7 provides forum for like-minded democracies
G7 Explainer From left, Italy's Prime Minister Mario Draghi, Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, France's President Emmanuel Macron, Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz, US President Joe Biden, Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pose for a group photo at Castle Elmau in Kruen, near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, on Sunday, June 26, 2022. It's a group of wealthy democracies with large, advanced economies and high standards of living. Annual summits give leaders a chance to hash out common approaches on pretty much anything they want to talk about. The G-7 are also looking for ways to facilitate grain shipments out of Ukraine and to alleviate global food inflation and shortages. The G-7 has faced several criticisms over the years - for excluding developing economies and for its lack of a formal institutional setup.
wftv.com77 years after battle's end, Okinawa wants US base reduced
Japan Okinawa Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, right, offers a silent prayer during a ceremony at the Peace Memorial Park in Itoman, Okinawa, southern Japan Thursday, June 23, 2022. Japan marked the Battle of Okinawa, one of the bloodiest battles of World War II fought on the southern Japanese island, which ended 77 years ago, Thursday. The southern island group was the site of one of the bloodiest battles of World War II, known as the Battle of Okinawa, which killed about 200,000 people, nearly half of them Okinawan residents. Because of the U.S. bases, Okinawa faces burdens including noise, pollution, accidents and crime related to American troops, Tamaki said. Resentment and frustration run deep in Okinawa over the heavy U.S. presence and Tokyo's lack of effort to negotiate with Washington to balance the security burden between mainland Japan and the southern island group.
wftv.com77 years after battle's end, Okinawa wants US base reduced
Okinawa marked the 77th anniversary Thursday of the end of one of the bloodiest battles of World War II, with the governor calling for a further reduction of the U.S. military presence there as local fears grow that the southern Japanese islands will become embroiled in regional military tension. The Battle of Okinawa killed about 200,000 people, nearly half of them Okinawan residents. Japan's wartime military, in an attempt to delay a U.S. landing on the main islands, essentially sacrificed the local population.
news.yahoo.comJapan PM's cautious course sets up potential long-term rule
Japan Kishida’s Popularity FILE - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida attends a news conference following the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) leaders meeting at the Prime Minister's official residence in Tokyo on May 24, 2022. (Kiyoshi Ota/Pool Photo via AP, File) (Kiyoshi Ota)TOKYO — (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida did not look like he'd last long when he took office eight months ago. That's saying something in a country where many past prime ministers had only relatively brief periods in office. That has prompted a surge in support for Kishida’s plan to bolster Japan’s military spending and defense power. Last week, Japan's Cabinet approved an annual policy plan calling for a drastic strengthening of defense capabilities and spending.
wftv.comChina will 'definitely not hesitate to start a war' over Taiwan split, Beijing warns US
In a meeting between China and the U.S. on Friday, Chinese Defense Minister General Wei Fenghe warned that the country would go to war with Taiwan if the island declared independence. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida gave the event’s keynote speech. In a separate face-to-face meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Wei made it clear that China remained firm in its stance against Taiwanese independence.
news.yahoo.comAt first meeting, U.S., China defense chiefs call for more communication
It was the latest indication that the temperature of the U.S.-China conflict has been dialed down a few notches, even as Beijing and Washington remain strategic rivals with opposing interests across a range of issues.
washingtonpost.comHow Putin’s Spooking Japan Further Away From Pacifism
Bombed-out and poverty-stricken after World War II, Japan disbanded its military and renounced war, devoting its efforts instead to economic development under a pacifist constitution. More than seven decades later, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has spooked Prime Minister Fumio Kishida into pledging a substantial increase in defense spending, which has long been only about half the target set for its Western counterparts.
washingtonpost.comJapan OKs $21B extra budget to tackle rising prices
Japan Extra Budget Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida raises hand to speak at Budget Committee of the upper house of the Diet, Tuesday May 31, 2022 in Tokyo. Japan’s parliament on Tuesday enacted a 2.7 trillion yen ($21 billion) extra budget to tackle soaring fuel and food prices following Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Kyodo News via AP) (Uncredited)TOKYO — (AP) — Japan’s parliament enacted a 2.7 trillion yen ($21 billion) extra budget on Tuesday to tackle soaring fuel and food prices following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Crude oil prices have risen sharply due to fears of disruptions in supplies from Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine. Wheat and corn prices are also up significantly, prompting food prices to soar.
wftv.comNorth Korea: Medication offered as Covid fight continues
A North Korean army medic hands out medication to counter 'fever' -- a term Pyongyang often uses to refer to Covid -- and related sickness. The medic, Jong Jun Ho says the number of people receiving treatment for 'fever' has gone down in recent times. North Korea says its Covid-19 outbreak has been brought under control, but experts question the official numbers given the isolated country has one of the world's worst healthcare systems and likely no Covid-19 drugs or mass testing ability.
news.yahoo.comAlbanese elected Australia's leader in complex poll result
Australians awoke to a new prime minister in Anthony Albanese, the center-left Labor Party leader whose ascension to the nation’s top job from being raised in social housing by a single mother on a disability pension was said to reflect the country's changed fabric.