Arab envoys' group lauds Japan over response to prophet cartoons
February 16, 2006The head of a group of envoys from Arab nations based in Tokyo praised the Japanese government on Thursday for its efforts to urge the Japanese media to voluntarily refrain from publishing the controversial cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad amid the recent violence sparked by Muslim outrage over such publication. Tunisian Ambassador to Japan Salah Hannachi, who heads the Arab and Islamic Diplomatic Groups in Tokyo, visited the Japanese Foreign Ministry to convey his gratitude to Motohide Yoshikawa, head of the ministry's Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau, over the Japanese government's efforts not to aggravate the situation.
4,660 will die if M7.3 quake hits Tokyo: forecast
February 16, 2006About 4,660 people will die and 436,000 buildings will totally collapse if a magnitude 7.3 earthquake hits Tokyo, the metropolitan government forecast Thursday. A disaster-prevention council of the Tokyo government made the projection based on the assumption that a quake of that magnitude hits north of Tokyo Bay at 6 p.m. in wintertime when the wind is blowing with a speed of 21.6 kilometers per hour, twice the average for that season.
Bush wants to invite Koizumi to U.S. this year: Schieffer
February 16, 2006U.S. President George W. Bush intends to invite Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to the United States this year, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer said Thursday. ''I did tell him that the president does want to renew his invitation for him to come to the United States sometime this year,'' the ambassador told reporters after visiting Koizumi at his official residence.
China defends Internet control, says firms must obey domestic laws
February 16, 2006China on Thursday defended the control it imposes on the country's Internet access, adding that foreign companies must obey Chinese laws and regulations on the issue when operating in the nation. The comments by Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang came a day after U.S. lawmakers grilled U.S. Internet companies in Washington for allegedly helping China exercise political censorship and prioritizing business benefits in the giant Asian market.
N. Korea praises leader Kim on 64th birthday
February 16, 2006North Korea's official media heaped praise on leader Kim Jong Il to mark his 64th birthday Thursday, as the country faced a continuing stalemate internationally over its nuclear programs. Minju Choson, the newspaper of the country's Cabinet, urged in its editorial on the same day that the nation should exalt its ''honor of holding Kim Jong Il in high esteem,'' the official Korean Central News Agency reported.