Kyodo News Digest: Nov. 2, 2024
Rion Sumiyoshi of Japan performs in the women’s short program at the Grand Prix de France figure skating competition in Angers, France, on Nov. 1, 2024. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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China says “unexpected obstruction” led to Aug. Japan airspace breach
BEIJING – China informed Japan that an “unexpected obstruction” was what caused one of its military planes to breach Japanese airspace in August, diplomatic sources said Saturday, seemingly attributing the blame to the Japanese defense force’s activities prior to the unprecedented intrusion.
Beijing has not acknowledged any wrongdoing or outlined measures to prevent a recurrence, the sources said. The “obstruction” may be a reference to the tracking of Chinese military planes by Japanese Self-Defense Forces aircraft.
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Heavy rain briefly halts all Tokyo-Hakata shinkansen bullet trains
TOKYO – Heavy rain briefly halted all shinkansen bullet train services between Hakata in southwestern Japan and Tokyo on Saturday morning, with the weather agency urging caution as the intense rainfall is forecast to continue during the first half of the three-day weekend.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said atmospheric conditions are likely to be unstable in the west on Saturday and in the east the following day, warning of the risk of landslides, overflowing rivers, lightning strikes and tornadoes.
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Sending troops to Russia a “gamble” for N. Korea leader: ex-diplomat
GENEVA – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has taken a “gamble” in sending troops to Russia amid the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, a former senior diplomat who defected from Pyongyang last year has said.
Ri Il Gyu, a former counselor at North Korea’s embassy in Cuba, also told Kyodo News in a recent interview that Kim will never abandon the nuclear weapons program, even though it has caused severe financial hardships in his country, and that Pyongyang remains highly interested in economic aid from Japan.
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Japan gov’t coalition party Komeito to tap transport minister as new chief
TOKYO – Japan’s junior ruling coalition partner is likely to appoint transport minister Tetsuo Saito as its new leader, following incumbent Keiichi Ishii’s loss in the general election late last month, sources close to the matter said Saturday.
Ishii, who became head of the Komeito party on Sept. 28, has expressed his intention to step down, adding to the ruling bloc’s woes as the Liberal Democratic Party grapples with a loss of public trust amid a slush funds scandal.
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Planned Mt. Fuji light rail line to transport 3 million hikers per year
KOFU, Japan – A proposed light rail transit service connecting the foot of Mt. Fuji to its 5th station would be capable of transporting 3.36 million passengers annually, a recent report by a local government showed.
Yamanashi Prefecture is proposing a double-track line operating two-car trains every six minutes for 10 hours per day to disperse the summer influx of tourists while reducing vehicle emissions, according to its interim report.
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Tokyo Olympic race walk medalist Ikeda suspended on doping allegation
LOS ANGELES – Tokyo Olympic silver medal-winning race walker Koki Ikeda has been provisionally suspended for “use of a prohibited substance/method,” track and field’s doping watchdog said Friday.
Ikeda, 26, achieved the best-ever Olympic result by a Japanese race walker when he finished second in the men’s 20-kilometer event at the Tokyo Games in 2021.
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Football: Nagoya edge Niigata on penalties in epic League Cup final
TOKYO – Nagoya Grampus edged Albirex Niigata 5-4 on penalties after an enthralling 3-3 draw to secure their second League Cup and deny their opponents a first major title on Saturday.
Niigata scored a last-minute leveler to force extra-time after coming back from two goals down, then equalized again to take the epic cup final all the way to a shootout at Tokyo’s National Stadium, where Nagoya lifted the trophy they first won in 2021.
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Sumo: Tickets sell out for all 90 match days for 1st time in 28 years
TOKYO – Sumo tickets have sold out for all 15 days at each of the six grand tournaments this year, including the upcoming meet in Fukuoka, the Japan Sumo Association said Saturday.
In a sign of rejuvenated popularity, it is the first year-round sell-out since 1996, when the sport received a massive boost from brothers Wakanohana and Takanohana.
Video: Scenic beachside rocks in Kushimoto, Wakayama Pref., lit up
