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National Geographic
09-05-2025
- Science
- National Geographic
Pink squirrels and green sharks—why do so many animals ‘glow' in UV light?
Animals with ultraviolet color patterns can be found all over nature. Here's what we know about what purpose these patterns serve. Scorpions are one of many animals that appear to glow under ultraviolet (UV) light. Scientists are finding that photoluminescence is more common than previously suspected. Photograph by David Guttenfelder, Nat Geo Image Collection Shine an ultraviolet flashlight on flying squirrels, and they glow bright pink. Catch a scorpion on a full moon, and you'll notice that it's a haunting blue. Rays and sharks can turn neon green, while nearby coral come alive in electric reds. And hawksbill sea turtles? Under ultraviolet light, they turn into glow-in-the-dark, underwater Christmas decorations, with both greens and reds arranged in overlapping chevrons. Each of these glowing animals is an example of photoluminescence—the property of being able to reflect or absorb and re-emit ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun, moon, or an artificial UV light source. Some animals absorb the UV wavelengths and reflect visible wavelengths, while others seem to display UV coloration—invisible to the human eye without specialized cameras. Sometimes referred to as fluorescence, phosphorescence, or even biofluorescence, it seems like every day scientists continue to discover this suite of phenomena in new and exciting places. (Read more about flying squirrels that secretly glow pink.) In the last year, citizen scientists have uncovered glowing geckos and millipedes using UV flashlights in their own backyards. And researchers have added snakes to the long list of animals that exhibit photoluminescence—out of 110 species of snake from Colorado down to Peru, fully 90 percent showed at least some signs of ultraviolet coloration, or reflection of UV light. The findings echo previous studies which have revealed that 92 percent of 187 frog species had photoluminescent skin. Other researchers identified 95 species of coral reef fish that glow in ultraviolet and 181 species of bird with photoluminescent plumage. Not to be left out, 95 percent of 148 mammals tested also had photoluminescent fur. From scuba diving to set-jetting 'Recent papers that have come out have kind of made it out that it's a really rare, special thing. Like, 'we found one, and that's the only one' kind of thing,' says Linda Reinhold, a zoologist at James Cook University in Australia and lead author of the mammal study, published in the Australian Journal of Zoology in 2023. 'But it's the norm, not the exception.' 'When I was out in the forest at night watching live animals, they pretty much all glow,' she says. But even if photoluminescence is more common than we thought, there is still one great mystery underlying the phenomenon—that is, what if anything does all this hidden glow mean? From reproduction to protection A flying squirrel glows pink under UV light at Nebraska Wildlife Rehab. Photograph by Nebraska Wildlife Rehab/Alex Wiles While scientists have discovered that bioluminescence—or when an organism creates its own light—can be used to attract prey or mates, as anglerfish and fireflies do, the utility of photoluminescence is very much still up in the air. In fact, nearly everything scientists know about the phenomenon is related to just one aspect of biology. 'We did a comprehensive literature review that looked at the reported functions of UV color and found that, actually, almost all the reported function is really heavily skewed towards reproduction,' says Hayley Crowell, a herpetologist at the University of Michigan and lead author of the snake study. For instance, some plants use ultraviolet coloration to guide pollinators to their flowers, and some birds appear to use ultraviolet colorations as part of their mate selection process, as evidenced by the neon beaks of puffins. (Read more about the surprising discovery of glowing puffin beaks.) And this is what makes the new snake study so interesting. Because scientists found no difference between male or female snakes with regard to UV coloration, and because their ability to reflect UV light seemed to have more to do with habitat differences, such as living in trees, the researchers believe that predators might actually be what's driving some snakes to glow—or not. In one example, prairie rattlesnakes live out in the open, but they had almost no UV coloration. 'They are like ghosts on the landscape,' says Crowell. Whereas those snakes' close cousins, tree vipers found in the tropics from the genus Bothrops, displayed what she calls 'full UV coloration.' As to why there should be such a big difference between what are almost sister species, Crowell suspects it has to do with the ability of bird predators to see into the ultraviolet range. (Studies suggest that snakes can see in UV too, but snake vision wasn't part of Crowell's study.) In other words, snakes living in the canopy are already somewhat protected from eyes in the sky, and anyway, many plants also reflect ultraviolet light, so such colorations may actually act like camouflage among the foliage. Likewise, prairie rattlesnakes may have evolved to get rid of their UV colorations on a landscape where reflecting UV would make them stand out like a neon sign in a diner window. 'It's really easy to get hung up on this being like some amazing, super-secret,' says Crowell. 'When in reality, we just have to treat it like any other color. Like, there are scenarios where green will help you hide, and scenarios where green is terrible to have, because you'll stand out.' Elsewhere in the animal kingdom several studies seem to suggest scorpions may be able to use their glowing exoskeletons to sense ultraviolet light and move away from it—perhaps as a way to hide themselves on moonlit nights. Similarly, another study found birds prefer to eat caterpillars that were not photoluminescent, hinting at the possibility that insects use an ultraviolet glow as a way to warn off predators—like a skunk's stripes or a poison dart frog's bright colors. What scientists can learn from glowing roadkill While the snake study and other examples provide tantalizing evidence for camouflage, the purpose of UV photoluminescence in mammals is a mystery. When Reinhold and her colleagues tested how wildlife interacted with rat models made of real fur, which appears bluish-white in ultraviolet light, as opposed to rat fur models that had been treated to remove their glow, they found no preference for either model—neither during the new nor full moon, nor among herbivores and carnivores, nor even among placental mammals, marsupials, nor birds. 'There was no pattern to it,' says Reinhold, who published the study in the Australian Journal of Zoology in 2024. This was especially disappointing, in part because back in 2023, Reinhold had tested fur—mostly roadkill samples—from 141 Australian mammal species and found that 95 percent had some photoluminescent properties. 'You'd stop by the side of the road and find something dead and turn your torch on it, and it was just dazzling,' she says. 'And just time after time, going through the freezers at the university… it was like a box of chocolates!' An opossum glows pinkish purple under ultraviolet light at Nebraska Wildlife Rehab. Under visible light, its coat is much less vibrant. Without UV flashlights or specialized cameras, photoluminescence is invisible to the human eye. Photograph by Nebraska Wildlife Rehab/Alex Wiles (Top) (Left) and Photograph by Nebraska Wildlife Rehab/Alex Wiles (Bottom) (Right) Land animals aren't the only ones to glow under UV light, and in some ways the phenomenon makes more sense in the ocean because of how underwater environments impact light. In the 2000s, David Gruber was studying photoluminescent coral when he saw something no one had ever seen before—an eel that looked like it'd been dipped in ectoplasm from Ghostbusters. This led him to turn his ultraviolet light on fishes of all shapes and sizes, and eventually revealed the glowing sea turtles and sharks mentioned above. Later, he and his team would even create a camera that revealed just how vibrant these sharks would appear to each other. Shark-vision, in other words. 'It was kind of like dropping into a portal of the marine world that all these different marine creatures had been tuned into, but we hadn't been,' says Gruber, who is a marine biologist at the City University of New York, as well as a National Geographic Explorer. Because the upper parts of the ocean act like a blue light filter, Gruber says, only UV light permeates farther depths. So the ability to absorb ultraviolet and re-emit it in other colors makes more logical sense for ocean creatures than it does for those living up on the land. Though he notes that scientists still need to look at the visual systems of each creature to determine whether they can actually perceive those colors, as the cat sharks can. Understanding how the colors are perceived by both the creatures displaying them and their predators could help reveal their function. 'We can go underwater and revisit some of these animals that were described for the first time hundreds of years ago,' says Gruber. 'We can see them in a new light and find things that are meaningful to them and to their world that we just hadn't known before, because we didn't have the tools to examine them.'
Indian Express
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
As Trump invokes Bagram, story of the strategic air base in Afghanistan
US President Donald Trump on Thursday claimed that China now occupies the Bagram Airfield, which American forces had vacated weeks before pulling out from Afghanistan in 2021. Trump claimed that the Americans were going to 'keep' Bagram which is 'an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons'. But 'they (presumably the Joe Biden -administration) gave Bagram up, and right now, China occupies Bagram,' he said. It is unclear which Chinese nuclear facility Trump was referring to. The closest known testing site is 2,000 km away at Lop Nur in Xinjiang, where China tested its first atom bomb in 1964. The closest nuclear weapons facility is the Koko Nur complex, further east in the Qinghai province. When Trump made similar comments in March, the Taliban had issued a strong denial. 'Bagram is controlled by the Islamic Emirate (Taliban), not China. Chinese troops are not present here, nor do we have any such pact with any country,' it had said. Taliban fighters, members of a unit from Helmand Province, at a guard post just outside the prison at Bagram Air Base, a former U.S. military base, in Bagram, Afghanistan, Dec. 5, 2021. (David Guttenfelder/The New York Times) Built by Soviets… Bagram Airfield, the largest air base in Afghanistan, lies some 60 km to the north of Kabul, in the strategic Parwan province. Experts say that in Parwan lie the keys to controlling much of Afghanistan. The 2.6 km-long Salang tunnel here connects Kabul to Mazar-e-Sharif and other cities in the north, while highways provide linkages to Ghazni and Kandahar in the south, and Bamiyan to its west. The air base was originally built by the Soviets in the 1950s, during the early days of the Cold War, when both the US and the USSR were jockeying for influence in Afghanistan. In 1959, for his landmark visit to the country, then US President Dwight Eisenhower landed in Bagram. During the Soviet-Afghan War from 1979-89, Bagram became a vital Soviet base. Troops from airborne divisions were deployed from Bagram, and Sukhoi Su-25s flew daily missions against mujahideen in the mountains from the base. The base was fortified, and began housing military personnel. Men at the abandoned prison complex at Bagram Air Base, a former U.S. military base, in Bagram, Afghanistan, Dec. 5, 2021. (David Guttenfelder/The New York Times) …Expanded by US After the Soviet withdrawal, in the 1990s, the abandoned Bagram base became a frontline in a war between the Taliban, who held Kabul to the south, and the Northern Alliance fighters based in mountain gorges to its north. The airbase was heavily damaged as a result. After the September 11, 2001 attacks, the US and its allies took over the Bagram Airfield. Over the next two decades, as the 'War on Terror' raged on, Bagram became the epicentre of the American presence in Afghanistan. The base was further expanded — it grew to over 77 sq km — and a new, improved runway, almost 3.5 km-long, was constructed, as were medical facilities and fast food joints for US personnel. A disused hangar also ended up being used as a detention facility, which has drawn comparisons to Guantanamo Bay base in Cuba due to reports of torture and abuse by US soldiers. A Taliban fighter stands on top of the outer security wall surrounding Bagram Air Base, a former U.S. military base, in Bagram, Afghanistan, Dec. 5, 2021. (David Guttenfelder/The New York Times) American exit, Chinese stakes The previous Trump administration in 2020 signed a deal with the Taliban, which provided for a pullout of all NATO troops from Afghanistan soil. Over the next year, the Taliban gained ground as the US began pulling resources from Afghanistan. The final American aircraft took off from the Kabul airport on August 30, 2021. US forces had vacated Bagram on July 2; the base fell to the Taliban on August 15. With little domestic support for keeping troops in Afghanistan, keeping the Bagram Airfield was never on the cards. 'Retaining Bagram would have required putting as many as 5,000 US troops in harm's way just to operate and defend it,' then Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin told the House Armed Services Committee in September 2021. The base is under Taliban control today. That said, the US has long been concerned over China making inroads into Afghanistan after its exit. Even as most countries have been wary of fully engaging with the Taliban, China gave the Taliban representative in Beijing ambassador credentials last year. For China, relations with Afghanistan matter because it has a sizable Muslim population of its own in the bordering Xinjiang. Beijing would want to ensure that radical elements in Afghanistan do not cross over into its own territory. To that end, it has attempted to bolster ties within a limited framework and also made some investments in Afghanistan.
National Geographic
14-04-2025
- National Geographic
8 family-friendly things to do in Tokyo
You can thank anime, manga, and Mario Kart for Japan's consistent popularity with kids. If your kids are chasing Pokémon or digging into their favorite flavor of Pocky, a trip to Tokyo, Japan's largest city, won't disappoint. Its distinctive architecture, fast (fun) food, and collectible culture are perfect for kids. And for families hoping to introduce their kids to Japanese history, nature, and culture, Tokyo feels like a one-stop-shop. Lure the kids in with their favorite shows and games, then surprise and delight them with a city with opportunities for intercultural connection around every corner. Play with your food A Kaiten-zushi restaurant serves sushi on a rotating conveyor belt at Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo. Photograph by Petr Svarc, Alamy Stock Photo In a country known for its good manners, Tokyo makes it surprisingly easy to play with your food! Themed cafes (ranging from Alice in Wonderland to micro pigs ) mean meals have entertainment built-in. Conveyor belt sushi restaurants (like popular chain, Sushiro Yurakucho ) and latte art cafes like Reissue , keep the foodie fun going. You can have your favorite picture recreated on top of your hot chocolate! Plus, there are Japan snacks: mackerel mixed with a handful of slivered almonds, wasabi-covered peanuts, and crayon-shaped gummy candies. The combination of delicious bites and slightly questionable choices will keep kids engaged. Don't leave Tokyo without stopping by one of the 7-11 stores for unique, tasty souvenirs. (Related: A culinary guide to Tokyo.) Sneak in some history History lessons don't always top kids' vacation lists, but Tokyo is filled with living history places to visit such as temples and shrines in the heart of popular kid-friendly spots. For example, Meiji Shrine, a Torii gate dedicated to the first emperor of modern Japan. On its own, it's less than exciting. But its location at the edge of the 133-acre, picnic-perfect Yoyogi Park means kids can explore a forest in the city before examining the 40-foot tall gate. There's almost always something happening in the park (regional dance groups or wedding processions), so it offers a chance to see local life too. Families with children should consider visiting the 133-acre Yoyogi Park when visiting Tokyo. There's always something to see and do, including a fun picnic in the park. Photograph by David Guttenfelder, Nat Geo Image Collection Other historical monuments with great parks nearby include Ueno Park, where kids will love the swan-shaped paddle boats, and the Imperial Palace grounds, currently home to Emperor Naruhito, and also where after a picnic in the garden, families can take a free palace tour. Reservations are required. Tours are not available on Sundays or Mondays. Connect with beloved characters A visit to the Ghibli Museum is a must if your kids love Japanese animation. Reservations are required. Created in 1985, the animation studio celebrates Hayao Miyazaki's works, including a replica of the Catbus from My Neighbor Totoro. A café, bookstore, and rooftop garden are located on-site as well. At the indoor theme park Sanrio Puroland, kids can explore everything from Hello Kitty to Cinnamoroll through character meet-and-greets, rides, shows, and of course, the gift shop. Tokyo Disneyland has the famous characters you know but includes some high-tech experiences not available at other parks, such as The Happy Ride with Baymax. For an animation deep dive, head to the Suginami Animation Museum where, over three floors of exhibits, the genre is explained in detail. It's free admission to the museum, too! ( Related: 10 not-to-be-missed things to do in Tokyo .) Keep culture cool Takeshita Street in Harajuku continues to attract cosplayers and lovers of kitsch and color. Kids will get a kick out of people-watching here: the outfits, the makeup, and the shoes. Shops here are filled with fun souvenirs and trinkets that are always a hit with kids. Remember to go before or after the lunch rush to avoid the crowds. Families with children can visit this owl cafe in the Harajuku neighborhood of Tokyo to observe, photograph, and pet owls with safety guidelines from owners. Owls are believed to have healing qualities. Photograph by David Guttenfelder, Nat Geo Image Collection The cultural quarter of Shimokitazawa, Setagaya is full of mural-painted lanes, vintage shops, and traditional cafes, including the popular Shiro-hige Cream Puff factory. Time your Tokyo visit with Grand Sumo, a 15-day event that happens in January, May, and September. You can introduce kids to the big-body sport that dates back to the Edo period. Get fishy with it Even kids who'd wince at a shopping trip at home will get a kick out of the Tsukiji Outer Market. The original Tsukiji Fish Market—a spot where fishmongers and wholesalers made big deals—moved locations in 2018. But the Outer Market remains in the same location, offering peeks into seafood tanks and features shops for traditional Japanese wares and snacks (think everything from fresh sushi to grilled scallops). While here, try the white strawberry Daifuku for a unique mochi or Japanese rice cake treat. If you'd prefer to catch your dinner, ZAUO fishing restaurants offer the chance to rent a rod, catch your favorite seafood, and have it prepared for dinner. Don't miss stopping by the koi ponds in Japanese public gardens for a break from the urban rush. ( Related: The essential guide to visiting Tokyo .) Impress your gamers Japan is the home of Nintendo, Sony, and Sega, and gamers will find the game references everywhere. Pop into Pokémon Center at Shibuya Parco or over to First Avenue Tokyo Station's Character Street to score unique gamer merch. Then head to Akihabara, also known as Electric Town, where neon signs illuminate the dozens of arcades. For manga books and products, Radio Kaikan in Akihabara is the place to go. The gachapon (capsule toy) machines throughout Akihabara are an inexpensive way to net unique collectibles. Visit kids' favorite museums The full-scale train models at the Railway Museum, vintage trucks at the Tokyo Fire Museum, and the life-size helicopter at the Tokyo Police Museum are just a few kids' favorites in or near Tokyo. The Railway Museum is about a 30-minute train ride from the city. The gift shop at the National Museum of Nature and Science is worth a visit even if you don't choose to explore the massive museum. Kids keen on photography may like the Tokyo Trick Art Museum, an illusions museum, or teamLab Planets, where you can walk through rooms that immerse you in interactive, colorful art creations. Immerse yourself among locals A young girl rides on the shoulders of an adult in the Ginza neighborhood in Tokyo, usually closed to traffic on a Saturday afternoon. Photograph by David Guttenfelder, Nat Geo Image Collection To come to Tokyo and not meet someone new would be a travesty. Several free or inexpensive walking tours in the city can help with that. Tokyo Localized offers family-friendly neighborhood tours with an insider perspective. Families with kids should skip the night options. For an intercultural exchange, consider Tokyo Free Guides. These guides are usually retired locals who want to meet foreigners and practice their English. It's a great opportunity for the whole family to pick up some Japanese words as well. (Related: Where to go in Japan beyond Tokyo.) Heather Greenwood Davis is a travel journalist, on-air personality and family travel advocate. She is based in Toronto, Canada.
National Geographic
14-04-2025
- National Geographic
Everything you need to know for the perfect Tokyo trip
One of the world's most populous cities, Tokyo brings together many of the elements that make Japan so popular with travelers. Visit youthful Shibuya and upscale Ginza to experience the modern side of Tokyo, then seek out moments of tradition at Meiji Jingu shrine, Senso-ji temple and Rikugi-en garden. Hike Mt. Takao for a taste of Japan's great outdoors. Depending on when you come, you could time your visit for cherry blossom season or any number of traditional festivals. And don't forget the food. From sublime sushi to comforting ramen, Tokyo is a culinary powerhouse. Best time to visit Tokyo This photo captures the street view outside the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. Photograph by David Guttenfelder, Nat Geo Image Collection The 2080-foot-tall Tokyo Skytree, the tallest structure in Japan, offers panoramic views of Tokyo and is one of the few spots you can see Mount Fuji. Photograph by Alvin Huang, Getty Images Spring: Around late March to mid-April, there's nothing more Japanese than picnicking in the pink shade of Tokyo's cherry blossoms – whether that's with thousands of others in Ueno Park or in more peaceful spots like Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. In mid-May, check out the traditional procession of floats and portable shrines that define the Kanda Matsuri. Summer: In early summer, grab your rainbow colors for Tokyo Pride, the country's largest event for the LGBTQ+ community and allies. It includes a Pride festival and parade on the first weekend in June, as well as a Youth Pride event the following weekend. During the midsummer heat and humidity, take in the Sumida River Fireworks display in late July and the Awa-Odori dance festival in August in Koenji. Fall: As Tokyo contemplates cooling down, the second half of September sees Japan's best (and biggest) sumo take part in 15 days of grueling bouts at the Kokugikan arena in Ryogoku. From mid-November to early December, the fall foliage then reaches its fiery-red and golden-yellow peak on Mount Takao in western Tokyo, while a week or so later is usually the best time to see the maples at Rikugi-en, an 18th-century landscaped garden in the city center. Winter: Soak up the winter vibes at the Tokyo Midtown complex in Roppongi, where from mid-November through December there's an ice skating rink, Christmas market, and the grounds are decorated with hundreds of thousands of bubble lights. In mid-December, pick up antiques, crafts and bargains at Setagaya's annual Boro-ichi flea market, which dates to the late 1500s. Winter is also a great time to head out of the city for winter sports. The slopes of Gala Yuzawa in Niigata Prefecture are only 75 minutes away by high-speed bullet train. (Related: 10 not-to-be-missed things to do in Tokyo.) Key areas to explore in Tokyo Eastern Tokyo: Start in Asakusa with the towering gateways and pagoda of Senso-ji temple. Nearby, you could take a cruise down the Sumida River or walk 15 minutes west for Kappabashi, a street dedicated to serving the city's culinary trade. It's the ideal place to pick up a handcrafted Japanese knife, chopsticks, or even the plastic replicas of dishes found in restaurant window displays. A little further east is Ueno, best known for the bustling Ameya Yokocho street market and the many attractions of Ueno Park. Senso-ji temple is an ancient Buddhist temple located in the Asakusa neighborhood of Tokyo. Photograph by David Guttenfelder, Nat Geo Image Collection Central Tokyo: The heart of Tokyo is packed with things to see and do: Ginza for glitzy stores and Michelin-starred restaurants, Shibuya for youthful fashions and nightlife, and Roppongi for sleek urban complexes and contemporary art. In Shinjuku, you can chill in Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, hit numerous department stores, and attempt to navigate the world's busiest train station. Western Tokyo: Moving west, Tokyo becomes more suburban and eventually rural. Off the tourist trail, Chofu is home to 8th-century Jindai-ji, one of the oldest temples in Tokyo, which you could combine with a visit to the neighboring Jindai Botanical Gardens. Mount Takao offers hiking trails, views across to Mount Fuji, and a mountainside temple complex, called Yakuo-in, that holds a fire-walking festival in March. Turn up and you are more than welcome to tread the coals. (Related: A family-friendly guide to plan a trip to Tokyo with your kids.) Taste of Tokyo While viiting Tokyo, visitors should consider exploring the nightlife in the Yurachucho and Shimbashi neighborhoods. Photograph by David Guttenfelder, Nat Geo Image Collection Chanko nabe: packed with meat, seafood, tofu and vegetables, this is the hotpot sumo wrestlers use to bulk. You'll find many chanko specialists near the main sumo arena in Ryogoku, including the 40-year-old Chanko Tomoegata. Ramen: You'll find most of Japan's ramen variations in Tokyo, from soy-based broths to miso or pork-bone broths. In recent years, the consommé-like soup at Ginza Hachigou and spicy tantanmen ramen at Nakiryu have created a buzz, but any ramen-ya with a queue of locals outside will deliver a bowl of comforting noodles. For a selection of ramen styles under one roof, head to Tokyo Ramen Street at Tokyo Station. Sushi: Like ramen, sushi isn't a singular experience. For a splurge, there are 20 intimate sushi-ya in Tokyo with Michelin stars – including the three-starred Harutaka in Ginza. At the other end of the spectrum are low-cost, family-friendly chains like Sushiro and Uobei, where the sushi is delivered via conveyor belts. (Related: A culinary guide to Japan.) Where to stay Janu Tokyo: Opened in the swanky Azubudai Hills complex in 2024, Aman's first Janu hotel in Japan isn't just five-star luxury, it also offers access to exclusive cultural experiences, such as bonsai workshops. Yuen Shinjuku: Most of Tokyo's central hotels are Western-style and modern, but Yuen offers the opportunity to stay in a contemporary take on a ryokan inn in the city center, complete with tatami mat rooms and hot-spring bathing. (Related: Some of the nicest gardens in Tokyo are hidden behind hotels.) Getting around Locals and out-of-towners can get this incredible view of Tokyo at sunset from the top of the Moro Tower building. Photograph by David Guttenfelder, Nat Geo Image Collection By air: Both Haneda and Narita airports have international flights to multiple parts of the US. Haneda is in the south of Tokyo, while Narita is 40 miles east of Tokyo in Chiba Prefecture. Frequent rail and bus services connect both airports to the city center. By rail and subway: By far the best way to get around Tokyo is the efficient rail and subway network, which has dozens of lines crisscrossing the city. Get a contactless Suica or Pasmo transport card, so you don't have to think about buying a ticket each time you travel or transfer lines. By bicycle: When the weather is nice, do as many Tokyoites do: cycle. A handy option is to use a bike share service, such as Docomo, although you can also find bike rental stores. Just be sure to check out the before setting off. Know before you go Manners: Overtourism is a growing issue in Tokyo, with local coverage often focusing on traveler behavior: think tourists vandalizing sacred shrines and trespassing on private property. In terms of basic manners, avoid talking loudly in public spaces, don't litter, and look out for etiquette posters on trains, temples and tourist attractions – they detail key manners. LGBTQ+: Shinjuku Ni-chome, near Shinjuku Station, is the largest LGBTQ+ neighborhood in Japan, with hundreds of bars, clubs, and restaurants. Japan has no laws against same-sex relationships. (Related: Why this Buddhist monk has become an LGBTQ+ role model in Tokyo.) How to visit Tokyo sustainably Sushi's 4-S rule: Seafood that's small, silver, seasonal, or shellfish tends to have a lower environmental impact. Also consider avoiding bluefin tuna and freshwater eel, as both are suffering from overfishing. Secondhand souvenirs: Skip the souvenir stores in favor of Tokyo's antique and flea markets. Oedo Antiques Market on the first and third Sundays of each month is a good hunting ground for traditional arts and crafts, such as ceramics and ukiyo-e prints. The Koenji and Shimokitazawa neighborhoods are known for their vintage fashions and hip recycle shops.
Ya Libnan
24-03-2025
- Business
- Ya Libnan
Lebanon, ravaged by war, needs changes to unlock aid. That could be a tall order
Clearing debris in Beirut after a strike in October. The World Bank estimates that Lebanon needs a total of $11 billion for reconstruction after the war. Credit David Guttenfelder for The New York Times By Euan Ward On his first day in office, Lebanon's new finance minister, Yassine Jaber, sat at his desk reading a color-coded report on the dire state of the ministry's operations. Nearly everything was marked in alarming red. The computers were decades old — some still ran on Windows 98. Like much of the government, the ministry relied on mountains of paper records, allowing dysfunction and corruption to fester. 'Things cannot continue as they are,' he sighed. To fix how it's run, Lebanon needs money. But to attract money, it needs to fix how it's run: For years, it has failed to enact sweeping financial and governance overhauls required to unlock billions in international financial assistance that it has needed to address a debilitating economic crisis. Now, that support is even more critical after the devastating 14-month war between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militia that has long held political sway in this tiny Mediterranean country. A fragile truce is holding, but large parts of Lebanon are in ruins. Hezbollah has been left battered and cannot pay for reconstruction. Lebanon's new government is able to afford 'frankly none' of the bill, Mr. Jaber said. Foreign donors hold the key to Lebanon's recovery, but to meet their demands, the state must do what it has never done before: Undertake painful economic and structural changes while confronting the thorny issue of Hezbollah's arms. 'The foreign aid is not just charity,' said Paul Salem, the vice president for international engagement at the Middle East Institute in Washington. 'They are not going to give billions and billions of dollars unless their position is respected.' The total damage and economic loss from the war is estimated to be $14 billion, and Lebanon needs $11 billion to rebuild, the World Bank said this month, making the conflict the country's most destructive since its long civil war ended in 1990. Lebanon's Finance Minister Yassin Jaber, who represents Speaker Nabih Berri in the cabinet, a key all of the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia 'It's very important to move fast on reconstruction; people are sleeping in tents. You have a whole part of Lebanon paralyzed,' said Mr. Jaber, on that day in his office last month. 'Everything today is a priority.' The devastation has compounded the country's economic woes, which began in 2019 when its financial system collapsed under the burden of state debt. That triggered a sovereign default and prompted banks to impose informal capital controls, leaving many Lebanese people with their life savings frozen. Lebanon reached a draft funding deal with the International Monetary Fund in 2022 that was billed as a lifeline for the country, but it was conditioned on changes, including addressing the country's weak governance and restructuring its financial sector. The government failed to deliver, hindered by deadlock and vested interests of the country's political elite. 'Lebanon has to start by helping itself,' Mr. Jaber said. 'How do you do that? By starting to show real action.' Mr. Jaber spoke with The New York Times the day after Lebanon's new government received a vote of confidence that has sidelined Hezbollah politically. Mr. Jaber, now one of the country's most powerful figures, holds the reins to public spending and is responsible for reconstruction efforts and securing foreign aid Hezbollah's patron, Iran is now largely unwilling to help in reconstruction because of its own crises, analysts said. The group has been further isolated by the collapse of another ally, the Assad regime in neighboring Syria. As a result, Hezbollah — so powerful before the war that it was widely considered a state within a state — cannot finance reconstruction, Mr. Jaber said. 'It's a different era,' he said. Lebanon has so far secured a pledge of $250 million in reconstruction aid from the World Bank, said Mr. Jaber, an initial loan that is part of a broader $1 billion fund to be provided by donor countries, but amounting to only 2 percent of what the World Bank says the country needs. Some experts question how quickly the government can make systemic changes. President Joseph Aoun has said that he hopes the foreign aid can come 'step by step' as new policies are implemented. Adding to the uncertainty, international assistance may depend on more than just a financial overhaul. Under the terms of the truce deal that ended the war in November, Hezbollah must also disarm — a task that could risk violence between Hezbollah's largely Shiite supporters and domestic opponents. Experts said that the United States and Gulf Arab countries consider disarmament a prerequisite for large-scale assistance. the war in November, Hezbollah must also disarm — a task that could risk violence between Hezbollah's largely Shiite supporters and domestic opponents. Experts said that the United States and Gulf Arab countries consider disarmament a prerequisite for large-scale assistance. The Lebanese government has promised to bring all weapons under the state's control, but it remains unclear how exactly it will achieve that, and if so, when. Mr. Jaber did not comment on disarming Hezbollah but noted that the group was an established political party with popular support and that its political role was not a point of contention. Hezbollah remains a potent military force, and some Lebanese officials have ruled out forcibly disarming it, hinting at a negotiated settlement. Earlier this month, the group's leader, Naim Qassem, implicitly rejected the idea that the 'resistance' would lay down its weapons. The government is 'being bombarded by both demands: painful economic and financial reforms, and strangling Hezbollah's finances and presence,' said Mohanad Hage Ali, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut. But, without funding first, 'you are pushing a government and a president, with no juice, to meet the most challenging goals.' Hezbollah officials have insisted that reconstruction must not be linked to overhaul demands, fearing a loss of support if the rebuilding process is drawn out, experts said. Nearly 100,000 people are displaced in Lebanon, according to the United Nations, the vast majority of them from Hezbollah's heartlands in the south. 'Reform will take a hell of a long time,' Mr. Hage Ali said. Seeking to reassure Hezbollah's supporters, Mr. Qassem, the group's leader, has promised compensation for each affected household of between $12,000 and $14,000, intended to cover rent costs and replace furniture. But the process has been marred by delays. With Hezbollah largely sidelined, a flurry of diplomatic efforts are underway to reassure foreign donors. Lebanese officials met this month with an I.M.F. delegation in Beirut, which Mr. Jaber said aimed to restart negotiations over the organization's long-awaited rescue package. A top European Union official said last month that Brussels would monitor the talks to assess whether Europe could offer its own financial aid. An immediate priority, Mr. Jaber said, is appointing a central bank governor who can set about reviving the country's banking sector. Lebanon has failed to name a successor since Riad Salameh stepped down from the role in 2023, facing accusations that he ran the world's largest Ponzi scheme for overseeing a strategy that required ever more borrowing to pay creditors. Lebanon's new leaders have also promised an external audit of all public institutions, part of a broader pledge to crack down on the corruption that has long plagued the country. Mr. Jaber said he was hopeful but acknowledged the uncertainty ahead. 'Where there is a will, there is a way,' he said. The government faces a test 'on the issue of their will.' The New York Times
