Mahathir Mohamad talks tariffs, conflict prevention
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Japan Today
9 hours ago
- Japan Today
Japan to invite nuclear disarmament confab chair for A-Bomb anniversary
The Japanese government plans to invite Vietnamese Ambassador to the United Nations Do Hung Viet, who will chair next year's major nuclear disarmament conference, to attend the ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of Hiroshima in early August, government sources said Thursday. It will be the first time a chair of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty review conference, which is held every five years in principle, attends the memorial ceremony, the Foreign Ministry said, citing data since 2000. The move signals Japan's desire to use his presence to help build momentum toward disarmament. The Japanese government also expects Robert Floyd, head of the body overseeing an international nuclear test-ban treaty, to attend the Aug. 6 ceremony in Hiroshima and the Aug. 9 ceremony in Nagasaki, the other city hit by an atomic bomb. Floyd has served as executive secretary of the preparatory commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization since 2021 and previously attended the ceremony in Hiroshima in 2023 at the invitation of the Japanese government led by then Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The CTBT, adopted by the U.N. General Assembly in 1996, prohibits countries from carrying out all types of nuclear explosive tests but has yet to enter into force as nuclear powers like the United States and China have not ratified it. The Japanese government sees the treaty as "a key norm that does not allow nuclear testing and plays an important role in nuclear nonproliferation," according to a senior Foreign Ministry official. A total of 178 countries, including Japan, have ratified the CTBT, but for it to take effect, it must be signed and ratified by 44 treaty-defined nuclear technology holder states. Nine of these, including China, North Korea and the United States, have yet to sign or ratify. While advocating for a world without nuclear weapons, Japan has not joined the U.N. nuclear ban treaty, as a complete prohibition conflicts with its policy of relying on U.S. nuclear deterrence for protection against potential threats. The Japanese government has called for maintaining and strengthening the NPT regime, which includes both nuclear and non-nuclear states. Amid deep divisions between nuclear-armed and non-nuclear states, the NPT review conference has failed to adopt a final document for two consecutive meetings. The most recent gathering in 2022 flopped due to opposition from Russia. The chair of next year's NPT review conference is expected to be invited to Japan for a four-day visit starting Monday, the sources said. © KYODO
Japan Times
9 hours ago
- Japan Times
Japan's foreign minister urges Myanmar to restore democracy
Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya has urged Myanmar to restore democracy, after the Southeast Asian country lifted the state of emergency imposed when its military staged a coup in 2021. Japan strongly urges Myanmar's military to "swiftly restore the country's democratic political system," Iwaya told a news conference Friday. According to Myanmar's Constitution, a general election is to be held within six months after a state of emergency is lifted. "Japan is seriously concerned that if general elections are held without any moves toward political progress, it could provoke a strong backlash from the people of Myanmar," he said. Iwaya called for an immediate halt to violence and the release of political detainees, including democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi. "Japan strongly hopes that a ceasefire throughout Myanmar and its credible implementation will be achieved and that all parties will make sincere efforts toward a peaceful resolution," he added.
NHK
a day ago
- NHK
US announces visa sanctions on Palestinian officials
The United States says it is imposing sanctions on Palestinian Authority officials and members of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, denying them visas for travel to the country. The US State Department made the announcement on Thursday. The State Department accused the two organizations of "taking actions to internationalize its conflict with Israel such as through the International Criminal Court." It also said they continue to support terrorism, including incitement and glorification of violence in textbooks. The step shows strong US support for Israel and contrasts with moves by France, Britain and Canada, which indicate they will recognize the State of Palestine. There is still no end in sight to the fighting in the Gaza Strip. The announcement does not specify who would be subject to the sanctions. US media say it is not yet clear whether Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and other officials would be barred from entering the US for a United Nations General Assembly meeting in September. The US is required by an agreement with the UN not to impose any impediments to the transit of representatives of UN members to its headquarters. Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Farhan Haq told NHK that "We expect the US as host country to live up to its obligations" under the agreement.
