Society

Abe arrives in NY for UN Assembly, summit talks

Sep 20 (NHK) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is in New York to attend the UN General Assembly and to hold talks with other world leaders.

Abe will speak before the Assembly on Wednesday.

On Thursday, he will meet with US President Donald Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

During the visit, Abe plans to urge nations to put more pressure on North Korea. The North is continuing to pursue its nuclear and missile development programs despite international criticism.

Representatives from 193 UN member states will state their positions on various international issues this week.

On Tuesday, Trump will speak before the UN Assembly for the first time.

One question is whether he will state a willingness to cooperate with other countries when dealing with global challenges, such as the fight against global warming, as well as the protection of refugees and migrants.

The US government has officially informed the UN that it will withdraw from the Paris Agreement on climate change. Trump is also calling for tighter controls on immigration.

North Korea is expected to be high on the agenda at the General Assembly. Foreign Ministers of the Security Council member states are expected to sit down to discuss the issue.

Osaka Police End 14-Hour Siege

Police in Osaka arrested a 48-year-old man on October 22nd after a tense 14-hour standoff in which he allegedly held a woman at knifepoint inside an apartment. A special tactical unit forced entry into the residence late at night, ending the standoff without injuries.

Imperial Family Pays Tribute to War Victims

The Emperor, Empress, and their daughter Princess Aiko visited the Tokyo Metropolitan Memorial Hall in Sumida Ward on Thursday afternoon, marking their first visit to the site as Japan observes the 80th year since the end of World War II. They were greeted upon arrival by Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike and other officials.

First Snow Caps Mount Fuji, 15 Days Earlier Than Last Year

The Kofu Local Meteorological Observatory announced on October 23rd that the season’s first snow had been observed on Mount Fuji, which stands 3,776 meters tall. Around 6 a.m., an official visually confirmed that snow had clearly accumulated near the summit.

Tokyo’s Aging Expressway Reborn After Major Overhaul

After nearly a decade of construction, the newly rebuilt Haneda Line of the Metropolitan Expressway, one of Tokyo’s key arteries linking the city center with Haneda Airport, has been unveiled to the media ahead of its official switch to a new road on October 29th.

New Cabinet Takes On 'Takaichi Color'

The newly launched Takaichi Cabinet moved into full operation on October 22nd, with early personnel decisions revealing a clear conservative tone. Satsuki Katayama was appointed as finance minister and Kimi Onoda as minister in charge of foreign resident policy, underscoring what observers are calling the emergence of a distinct “Takaichi color.”

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