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The Mainichi
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Mainichi
Passenger tried opening door on ANA jet during flight: Our 5 most-read stories from last week
We've listed our five most read stories on The Mainichi news site, from top to bottom, that were published between May 24 and June 1. The first story was viewed by 17.0% of our regular readers. (The Mainichi) ANA Tokyo-US flight made emergency landing after passenger tried opening door WASHINGTON (Mainichi) -- An All Nippon Airways (ANA) flight heading to Texas from Tokyo over the weekend was forced to divert and make an emergency landing after a passenger tried to open an exit door mid-flight. Full story. Japan's scorching summer heat forcing fireworks, other festivals to change schedules TOKYO -- The extreme summer heat that has struck Japan in recent years due climate change is altering the landscape of annual fireworks and other festivals in the country, forcing the summer events to be moved to spring or autumn. Even so, there are cases where it has been difficult to reschedule the festivals due to their traditional nature. Full story. Shiga governor says reactions to midge outbreak at Osaka Expo site excessive OSAKA -- Shiga Gov. Taizo Mikazuki said reactions over a plague of non-biting midges at the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai venue might be overblown. Full story. Tokyo mom questions school collecting PTA membership fees before consent When the new school year began in April last year, a 51-year-old Tokyo woman received a notice from her son's elementary school detailing various fees, which included a PTA membership fee. Full story. Japan's former Princess Mako has 1st baby; gender, birthday undisclosed TOKYO -- Mako Komuro, the eldest daughter of Crown Prince Akishino (Fumihito) and Crown Princess Kiko, has given birth to her first child, the Imperial Household Agency announced on May 30. Full story.
IOL News
16 hours ago
- Politics
- IOL News
The Unintended Consequences of US Refugee Policy for South African Minorities
Members of the Khoi and San community camped outside the Union Building in 2019 demanding that their rights be recognised. Image: Oupa Mokoena/African News Agency (ANA) Clyde N.S. Ramalaine The recent resettlement of 49 South Africans, described as 'Afrikaners', to the United States under refugee status via the US Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) has drawn public ridicule, suspicion, and commentary. While some predict their imminent return to sunny South Africa, the event offers an unexpected opportunity to examine how USRAP's criteria could inadvertently apply to other historically marginalised South African groups, particularly the KhoeSan and Coloured communities. This article does not support or validate the ideological narratives of groups like AfriForum or Solidarity, who claim persecution under terms like 'white genocide.' Such claims are unsubstantiated, racially selective, and morally indefensible. Instead, this article offers a literal and policy-driven reading of USRAP's eligibility framework, focusing not on its intentions but on its possible implications for marginalised non-white South African identities. USRAP eligibility criteria Under Executive Order 14204, USRAP permits applications from South Africans who meet three conditions: Must be of South African nationality; Must be of Afrikaner ethnicity or a member of a racial minority; Must articulate past persecution or fear of future persecution. Although influenced by racialised narratives of white Afrikaner persecution, the policy does not explicitly exclude non-white groups. This opens an interpretive doorway that, when read literally and consistently, may qualify KhoeSan and Coloured South Africans—groups with longstanding, legitimate claims of marginalisation. South African nationality - A contested construct The idea of a unified 'South African nationality' is not neutral or straightforward. South African identity has been deeply shaped by colonial conquest, apartheid-era racial division, and selective post-apartheid nation-building. Far from a cohesive category, 'South African' is an ongoing site of contestation, haunted by economic inequality, cultural marginalisation, and incomplete reconciliation. Under apartheid, nationality was fractured across pseudo-ethnic 'homelands.' Today, the uncritically adopted 'Rainbow Nation' rhetoric fails to conceal the persistence of racial and spatial disparities. For many, especially KhoeSan and Coloured South Africans, national identity remains fractured, imposed, and weaponised against their claims to full inclusion and recognition. Afrikaner identity - An exclusionary social construct The term 'Afrikaner' has always been a politically fluid concept. It was only in the 20th century, under apartheid, that it solidified as a synonym for white Afrikaans speakers. However, Afrikaans itself is a Creole language born at the Cape from African, European, and Asian linguistic influences. Millions of non-white South Africans—particularly the KhoeSan and Coloured communities—speak Afrikaans as their mother tongue and have made significant contributions to its literary and cultural legacy. If 'Afrikaner' is used to denote those rooted in Africa who speak Afrikaans, then the most authentic claimants are arguably the KhoeSan and Coloured peoples. To exclude them is to perpetuate apartheid's racial gatekeeping. The USRAP, though likely intending to privilege white identities, inadvertently opens space for those previously denied recognition within the very cultural matrix it seeks to protect. The notion of a "white Afrikaner" as a uniquely persecuted category is built on historical erasure. Afrikaner culture is not racially homogeneous. Its racialisation is a mid-20th-century political invention, not a cultural or linguistic truth. If USRAP implicitly assumes whiteness under the 'Afrikaner' identity, it contradicts its own stated openness. Racial minorities - Recognition beyond whiteness The policy's second clause, which asserts, 'or a member of a racial minority', broadens the scope for inclusion. Here, the KhoeSan and Coloured groups qualify, both as racial minorities and as communities subjected to historical persecution and contemporary marginalisation. The KhoeSan, South Africa's first people, have endured centuries of displacement, genocide, and erasure. Today, despite growing self-identification, they remain denied official indigeneity and reparative justice. Their exclusion from land reform and identity recognition makes them textbook examples of persecuted minorities. Coloured South Africans, a category created by apartheid to obscure Indigenous ancestry and maintain social control, also remain in a state of political liminality. This imposed identity, still used in state policy, has allowed the post-apartheid government to deny both their indigeneity and their oppression, framing them as 'beneficiaries' of apartheid while excluding them from targeted redress. Post-1994 policy continues to maintain racial categories rooted in apartheid logic. In practice, this has meant retaining the 'Coloured' label to contain indigenous claims and limit state accountability. Despite Steve Biko's inclusive definition of Black Consciousness, embracing all non-white oppressed peoples, the state's operational framework reserves 'African' identity for Nguni-Bantu groups, excluding KhoeSan and Coloured communities from full African identification and associated redress. A policy that outruns Its intentions The original purpose of the USRAP criteria appears to have been the protection of white South Africans fearing political and land displacement. However, its language is broad enough to permit reinterpretation. A literal application of its three criteria—nationality, minority status, and persecution—clearly allows for KhoeSan and Coloured inclusion. If USRAP is truly about offering refuge to marginalised South Africans, then KhoiSan and Coloured communities not only qualify but arguably embody the policy's intent more authentically than the white Afrikaners it was implicitly designed to protect. The US Refugee Admissions Program, though politically motivated and ideologically framed, unintentionally exposes the contradictions in South African identity politics and racial categorisation. Its criteria, if interpreted without racial bias, could provide an unexpected platform for historically marginalised communities like the KhoeSan and Coloured peoples to assert claims long denied by the South African state. This article is not an endorsement of emigration as a political solution. Rather, it is a call to critically examine how refugee policy, constructed with one ideological target in mind, might unintentionally illuminate deeper questions of identity, marginalisation, and justice. USRAP, as worded, opens a policy loophole. This gateway challenges racialised assumptions about Afrikaner identity and repositions the conversation around who truly qualifies as persecuted in post-apartheid South Africa.
Calgary Herald
3 days ago
- Calgary Herald
Getting around Japan: Travel tips to know before you go
Article content Article content Canadians are currently enjoying a very favourable exchange rate with the Japanese yen. Travellers of all stripes, from budget to bougie, are taking advantage of this boost in purchasing power to put Japan on their immediate travel radar. Article content Travel initiatives, packages and promotions make experiencing Japan more accessible than ever. Riding Japan's world-famous Shinkansen is a bucket list experience in its own right. Yet it is also the key to going beyond the well-travelled areas of Japan and discovering the wonders of more distant prefectures. Article content Article content Article content Canadians are enjoying more airlift into Japan than ever before with direct flights on five carriers departing from four Canadian cities. In addition to grabbing the best deals during airline seat sales, you can also save on airfare domestically with low-cost carriers and special discounts like ANA's Discover Japan Fare and JAL's Japan Explorer Pass. Article content Train travel in Japan is the most beautiful, immersive and convenient way to see the country and there are many scenic railway journeys which are just as impressive as the destination. The options are endless: city subways, local trains, express trains and high-speed bullet trains criss-cross the country, making rail travel both highly convenient and highly confusing. JNTO's complete guide explains exactly how to navigate train and bus lines and provides all the information you need to make day trips and regional visits easy. Article content Article content For years, the Japan Rail Pass has been the best-known way for overseas travellers to save on train travel. Covering all Japan Railway (JR) lines across the country, the pass is available in 7-, 14-, or 21-day lengths and can be used on all but the top two speeds of Shinkansen bullet trains. Article content Beyond the all-encompassing countrywide pass, there are a plethora of different railway companies operating in different regions, each with their own discount offerings. Those who prefer a slower, more in-depth look at an area may want to consider the more localized regional passes and city subway passes.
Tokyo Weekender
4 days ago
- Politics
- Tokyo Weekender
Japan Attempts To Ban Outlandish Kirakira Baby Names
In this week's news roundup we report on the revised Family Registry Act, which is cracking down on kirakira names. Japanese universities consider accepting foreign students from Harvard. An ANA flight is forced to make an emergency landing after a man tries to open the exit doors midair. Onosato is promoted to the highest rank of yokozuna. And Shohei Ohtani inches closer to a pitching return. List of Contents: Japanese Government Revises Law on Kirakira Names Japanese Universities Consider Accepting Foreign Students From Harvard ANA Flight Makes Emergency Landing After Man Tries To Open Exit Doors Midair Onosato Promoted to the Highest Rank of Yokozuna Ohtani Hits 20th Homer, Return to the Mound Expected After All-Star Break Related Posts Japanese Government Revises Law on Kirakira Names On Monday, the Family Register Act was revised in Japan in an attempt to crackdown on so-called kirakira (sparkly) names, such as Pikachu. It means parents in Japan will no longer be free to choose whatever name they like for their child. Now, if the pronunciation of their baby's name clearly deviates from convention, they'll be asked to spell it out in katakana during the registration process. Local officials then have the power to reject that name if the phonetic sound doesn't match how its characters are typically pronounced. Around 3,000 or so kanji characters are permitted by the revised law, but they must be pronounced clearly and in accordance with tradition. Names considered too disconnected from the characters used will be banned. The reason, according to the government, is that they can cause confusion in schools, hospitals and other public institutions. It's also believed that children with kirkira names could face harassment. The rise in kirkira names towards the end of the 20th century was seen as part of a larger shift towards individualism in Japanese society. Japanese Universities Consider Accepting Foreign Students From Harvard On Tuesday, Japan's education ministry called on universities nationwide to consider accepting or supporting students who may no longer be able to study in the United States. The move comes after the US government announced that it planned to revoke Harvard University's ability to enroll foreign students. District Judge Allison Burroughs issued a restraining order last Friday, temporarily blocking the measure after Harvard filed a lawsuit. Yesterday, a federal judge extended that order. While these rulings have been welcomed by international students, they remain in limbo. On Monday, the University of Tokyo said it would consider temporarily accepting international students from Harvard University if they were forced to leave. Kyoto University said likewise the following day. Other universities, such as the University of Osaka, Tohoku University, Waseda University and Hokkaido University are believed to be considering the possibility of receiving those students. According to education minister Toshiko Abe, the Japan Student Services Organization will soon release details of the support measures provided by each participating university to assist Harvard students if they are displaced. ANA Flight Makes Emergency Landing After Man Tries To Open Exit Doors Midair An All Nippon Airways (ANA) flight headed to Texas from Tokyo was forced to make an emergency landing at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Saturday after a male passenger attempted to open two exit doors during the flight. According to the police, the man, who has not been identified , was 'having a medical crisis.' He was restrained by the crew and passengers before being taken to hospital for medical evaluation after the plane landed. It's currently unclear whether he'll face any charges. The plane — a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner — departed Tokyo at approximately 10:30 a.m. local time on May 24, bound for George Bush Intercontinental Airport. Following the disturbance, it landed at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport at approximately 4 a.m. The plane reached its destination in Houston, Texas, at 12:40 p.m., four hours after its scheduled arrival time. 'The safety of our passengers and crew is our top priority, and we applaud the efforts of local law enforcement for their support,' ANA said in a statement. Onosato Promoted to the Highest Rank of Yokozuna Onosato was promoted to the highest rank of yokozuna on Wednesday following his Summer Grand Sumo Tournament triumph. The 24-year-old Ishikawa Prefecture native achieved the feat after just 13 professional tournaments, making him the fastest to attain the exalted rank in the modern era. The previous record was held by fellow Ishikawa Prefecture native Wajima, who secured promotion after his 21st meet in 1973. Onosato , whose birth name is Daiki Nakamura, is the first Japanese-born sumo wrestler to become grand champion since 2017. The only other Japanese-born competitor promoted to the top rank of the sport this century was his stablemaster Nishonoseki , who wrestled as Kisenosato . He retired in 2019. Since Asashoryu's ascent to the highest rank 22 years ago, sumo has been dominated by Mongolian wrestlers, with six of the last eight yokozuna hailing from the world's second-largest landlocked country. The rise of Onosato, though, could mark a new era in the sport. A remarkable talent, he is the first wrestler to turn yokozuna without a single losing record. Ohtani Hits 20th Homer, Return to the Mound Expected After All-Star Break On Tuesday night, Shohei Ohtani became only the third Los Angeles Dodgers player in history to hit 20 homers within the team's first 55 games. The fastest he had reached that number before was in 70 matches. What's even more exciting for fans of the franchise is that the two-way superstar may soon be ready for a return to the mound. In a simulated game before the Dodgers' matchup with the New York Mets on Sunday, Ohtani threw 22 pitches to five batters. 'He looks good,' said pitching coach Mark Prior. 'He looked healthy. That's always the main thing with facing hitters. That he feels confident, his endurance is good, he maintained his stuff.' According to coach Dave Roberts, Ohtani is unlikely to return to the mound until after the All-Star break. 'He's doing his first simulated game for two innings, and, in theory, you got to build a starter up to five, six innings,' said Roberts. 'And so just the natural progression, I just don't see it being before that.' Related Posts Number of Foreign Visitors to Japan Hits Yet Another Record High British Couple in Shorts and T-Shirt Rescued From 'Ghost of Yotei' Mountain Actors Kei Tanaka and Mei Nagano Deny Affair Rumors Following Private Messages Leak
Tokyo Weekender
7 days ago
- Tokyo Weekender
ANA Flight Makes Emergency Landing After Man Tries To Open Exit Doors Midair
An All Nippon Airways (ANA) flight headed to Texas from Tokyo was forced to make an emergency landing at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Saturday after a male passenger attempted to open two exit doors during the flight. According to the police, the man, who has not been identified, was 'having a medical crisis.' He was restrained by the crew and passengers before being taken to hospital for medical evaluation after the plane landed. It's currently unclear whether he'll face any charges. ANA Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Seattle The plane — a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner — departed Tokyo at approximately 10:30 a.m. local time on May 24, bound for George Bush Intercontinental Airport. Following the disturbance, it landed at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport at approximately 4 a.m. The plane reached its destination in Houston, Texas, at 12:40 p.m., four hours after its scheduled arrival time. 'The safety of our passengers and crew is our top priority, and we applaud the efforts of local law enforcement for their support,' ANA said in a statement. While the plane was waiting on the tarmac of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, a second passenger started acting in a disorderly manner. According to the FBI, the person punched a bathroom door after getting annoyed due to the diversion. Spokesperson Chris Guizlo told CNN passenger was 'removed for unruly behavior before the plane departed SEA for Houston.' He added, 'This was unrelated, and the passenger was deplaned without incident.' Unruly Passenger Behavior It's not the first time this year that a passenger has tried to open a door on a plane midair. A similar incident occurred on board a Jetstar flight from Bali to Melbourne in April. The aircraft was forced to turn around while flying over the Indian Ocean. In November 2024, passengers on an American Airlines flight from Milwaukee restrained and tied up a man who attempted to force open a door and injured a flight attendant while doing so. He allegedly said he 'needed to exit the aircraft now.' Related Posts Passenger Planes Collide at Airport in Hokkaido Haneda Airport Plane Collision Continues to Disrupt Flights Dozens of Flights Canceled After Scissors Go Missing At Hokkaido Airport
