News On Japan

Japan PM to propose limits on U.N. Security Council vetoes

Mar 19 (Nikkei) - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will propose reforms at the United Nations to limit veto powers held by the Security Council's five permanent members, Nikkei has learned, after Russia last month blocked a resolution condemning its invasion of Ukraine.

"Russia, a permanent member of the Security Council, has violated international law with its reckless actions," Kishida said at a parliamentary upper house budget committee meeting Thursday. "We need to work toward concrete reforms on the use of veto power."

Kishida had told Japanese lawmakers on Monday that he wanted to continue promoting change at the U.N. and the Security Council in cooperation with countries like France, which has proposed limits to veto power in the past.

"Japan's stance has long been that countries must exercise maximum restraint on veto use," he said.

Kishida did not give details on Japan's proposal, but possibilities include restricting the council's permanent members from vetoing resolutions on conflicts in which they are involved, or resolutions related to grave human rights violations. The permanent members are the U.S., China, France, the U.K. and Russia.

The U.K. is willing to discuss removing Russia as a permanent member of the Security Council, a spokesperson for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on March 1.

Moscow is expected to block any attempts to remove Russia as a permanent member or to limit veto powers. The U.S. also has reservations. ...continue reading

POPULAR NEWS

or as long as Shohei Ohtani plays for the Dodgers -- which will be at least for the next decade -- May 17 will be known as “Shohei Ohtani Day” in Los Angeles County. (MLB)

Two residents of Sapporo who died earlier this month likely succumbed to food poisoning caused by mistakenly consuming toxic autumn crocus, according to the Sapporo City Health Department. The department confirmed on May 17 that the deaths were indeed due to poisoning from this plant.

A revised Civil Code introducing 'joint custody' for children after divorce has been passed by the Diet. This marks the first time in 77 years that Japan has reviewed the approach to post-divorce custody.

Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested three leaders of the political group 'Tsubasa Party' on suspicion of violating the Public Offices Election Act by disrupting the speeches of other candidates during a House of Representatives by-election in Tokyo's 15th district. Investigators view this as a "challenge to democracy" and plan to pursue a thorough investigation.

An event allowing visitors to experience life in 2050 has launched in Tokyo, including an elevator which enables transportation to space via a cable extending from a satellite to Earth.

FOLLOW US
         

MORE Society NEWS

A pilot in his 80s explained that he 'forgot to lower the landing gear,' leading to a belly landing of a small propeller plane at Fukui Airport on May 15. The incident has been classified as a "serious incident" by national authorities.

A ranking of the 'most livable places' in the Tokyo metropolitan area has been announced. While the top three remained unchanged from last year, Katase-Enoshima Station made its debut at fourth place in this year's survey.

An explosion in central Kyoto on Thursday morning has left two injured and caused significant disruptions. The scene immediately after the fire was captured on video, with loud sirens blaring and the area filled with thick smoke, reducing visibility to less than 20 meters.

Two men have been arrested for throwning a friend off a pier causing him to drown during a birthday party in Yaiz, Shizuoka Prefecture.

An American man has been arrested and sent to prosecutors on charges of robbery and assault after attacking a man on the streets of Nishinari Ward, Osaka, stealing cash.

In Osaka, a public bathhouse famous for its painted Mt. Fuji mural underwent a much-anticipated restoration on May 15, the first in seven years.

A 32-year-old man has been arrested for pushing two men from the platform onto the tracks.

Police in Tochigi Prefecture have arrested two Vietnamese men. They are investigating whether the two men were involved in a series of robberies that have taken place over the past month in Tochigi Prefecture, north of Tokyo, and the nearby prefectures of Nagano, Gunma and Fukushima. (NHK)