Amid pandemic, it’s getting a lot harder to ship food around the world
The port backups that have paralyzed food shipments around the world for weeks aren’t getting much better. In fact, in some places, they’re getting worse. In the Philippines, officials at a port that’s a key entry point for rice said earlier this week the terminal ...
With sailors stranded, shippers face a hard choice
Before the pandemic, 100,000 seafarers traveled in and out of the world’s ports every month. Some had spent weeks or months aboard the cargo ships, tankers and other merchant vessels that are essential to moving products and commodities across the globe. In a ritual ...
Japan takes second complaint to WTO over South Korean shipbuilding
Japan launched a second complaint at the World Trade Organization on Monday over support South Korea gives its shipbuilding industry, intensifying a wider dispute between the two Asian countries. Japan said in its filing that it had complained to South Korea on Jan. 31 over ...
In similar move to Japan, South Korea to deploy anti-piracy unit to Middle East amid U.S. pressure
South Korea’s military will send an independent contingent to the Middle East to help guard oil tankers amid rising regional tensions rather than participating in a U.S.-led coalition, the Defense Ministry in Seoul announced Tuesday, taking a page out of the Self-Defense Forces’ playbook. The ...
U.N.'s decarbonization target for shipping to cost over $1 trillion, study says
At least $1 trillion of investment in new fuel technology is needed to enable the shipping industry to meet U.N. targets for cuts in carbon emissions by 2050, a study published on Monday showed. The global shipping fleet, which accounts for 2.2 percent of the ...
Saudi crown prince 'fully supports' Japan MSDF mission in Middle East
Shinzo Abe and Mohammed bin Salman confirm that Japan and Saudi Arabia will work together for stability in the Middle East and safe navigation in the region.
Two SDF planes embark on pioneer intelligence-gathering mission in Middle East
Two P-3C Maritime Self-Defense Force patrol planes leave Okinawa for the Middle East in what will be the SDF’s first long-term intelligence-gathering mission abroad.
Japan's naval dispatch to Middle East a 'product of compromise' between Iran and U.S., experts say
Experts term the decision to send Maritime Self-Defense Force personnel to the Middle East for independent information-gathering a ‘product of compromise.’
Japan’s Cabinet adopts plan to send SDF to Mideast amid Iran tensions
The “investigation and research” mission will send the destroyer Takanami into an area where tensions over Iran’s nuclear program are high and an attack could drag Japan into war.
Rouhani welcomes Japan's decision to sidestep U.S.-led naval mission in Persian Gulf
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday welcomed Japan's decision not to join the U.S.-led naval mission in the Persian Gulf and said he had discussions on ways of "breaking" U.S. sanctions during his visit to Tokyo. Friction between Tehran and Washington has increased since last ...
Iran's Hassan Rouhani urges Abe to strengthen bilateral economic ties during Tokyo visit
On the 90th anniversary of diplomatic ties, the first Iranian president to visit since 2000 urges more concrete steps to promote the bilateral relationship.
Hopes low for Japan-Iran summit, with Tokyo hemmed in by competing interests
It’s unlikely Japan will be able to bypass U.S.-imposed sanctions and resume importing crude oil from Iran in accordance with Tehran’s apparent wishes, experts say.
