Rumsfeld asked Japan to use SDF for security work in Iraq
January 29, 2006U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld explored the possibility during a meeting in January with Defense Agency Director General Fukushiro Nukaga that Japan considers using the Self-Defense Forces for security operations in Iraq and to train Iraqi forces, diplomatic sources said Sunday. Nukaga rejected the idea, made during a meeting between the two in Washington on Jan. 17, saying ''It is difficult under (Japan's) existing laws,'' the sources said.
Roof collapses in Poland, killing at least 65
January 29, 2006The roof of an exhibition hall collapsed Saturday in the southern Polish city of Katowice, killing at least 65 people and injuring about 160, the Associated Press reported Sunday. As many as 700 people were attending an international pigeon racing fair in the about 100 meter long and 150 meter wide hall when the roof suddenly broke in half in the center and collapsed on top of them on Saturday evening, reports said.
9th GSDF contingent members leave Japan for Iraqi mission
January 29, 2006About 150 Japanese ground troops left for Iraq on Sunday to conduct humanitarian reconstruction assistance in the southern Iraqi city of Samawah. The troops were being dispatched to Iraq as the first group of 500 members of the ninth contingent of the Ground Self-Defense Force Iraqi mission.
Boxing: Koshimoto takes split decision over Chi, grabs WBC title
January 29, 2006Japanese challenger Takashi Koshimoto won a split decision over champion Chi In Jin of South Korea to capture the WBC featherweight title on Sunday. With the victory, the 35-year-old Koshimoto became the oldest Japanese boxer to claim a title after judges rendered a 2-1 decision in favor of the Fukuoka native in the 12-rounder at Fukuoka Kyuden Memorial Gymnasium.
U.S. wanted tanker planes to be relocated to Iwakuni base
January 29, 2006The U.S. government requested that KC-130 tanker planes stationed in Okinawa be relocated to the U.S. Marine Corps' Iwakuni Air Station in Yamaguchi Prefecture instead of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force's Kanoya base in Kagoshima Prefecture as initially agreed by Japan and the United States, Japanese government sources said Sunday. But the Japanese government has already rejected the request, filed by the United States during forces realignment talks with Japan in Hawaii last week, telling Washington that ''changing the plan is impossible,'' the sources said.
ATM with 17 million yen stolen in Ibaraki
January 29, 2006An automated teller machine with 17 million yen in it was stolen from a do-it-yourself store in Joso, Ibaraki Prefecture, early Sunday, police said. A security company called police around 3:10 a.m. when an alarm went off on the ATM installed inside the store, the police said. The ATM's outer frame and a power shovel were found 15 meters from the store, they said.
Japan to continue to suspend food aid to N. Korea
January 29, 2006Japan will continue to suspend food aid to North Korea despite an agreement to resume bilateral talks in Beijing from next Saturday, government sources said Sunday. The decision to maintain the suspension of the 125,000-ton food aid to North Korea is in line with the government's policy of not normalizing relations with Pyongyang before the abduction issue is resolved, the sources said.
Indian premier reshuffles Cabinet
January 29, 2006Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reshuffled his Cabinet on Sunday but kept the key foreign affairs portfolio for himself. Twenty-two ministers -- 10 ministers of Cabinet rank and 12 junior ministers -- took the oath at the palace of President Abdul Kalam.