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The Mainichi
a day ago
- Business
- The Mainichi
More Japanese consumers in Gunma Pref. turning to foreigner-owned shops for rice
An increasing number of Japanese consumers in Gunma Prefecture, which has one of the highest ratios of foreign residents per unit of population in the country, were seen turning to foreign-owned stores to buy imported rice amid high prices and shortages of the grain in early June. In the prefecture, many shops and convenience stores operated by individuals from Asia and South America offer rice from countries such as Thailand and India. Since the outbreak of a rice crisis last summer, more Japanese customers have apparently been purchasing these products. At Alh Mini Mart and Restaurant in the city of Tatebayashi, more than 10 varieties of rice from countries such as Thailand and Pakistan are sold. According to Aung Tin, a member of the Rohingya Muslim minority from Myanmar who manages the establishment, most buyers were initially foreigners from Myanmar and other countries, but the number of Japanese customers has increased since last year. California rice is also sold at this store. Not only is Japonica rice, commonly consumed by Japanese people, selling well at the store, but so is the long-grain Indica rice. The basmati variety is often used in biryani -- a dish where rice and meat are cooked with spices. Biryani is served at the restaurant attached to the store. Aung Tin shared a cooking tip, saying, "We layer cooked rice and ingredients in a commercial rice cooker and steam them. The key is to keep the rice firm when cooking." According to the Gunma Prefectural Government, as of the end of December 2024, there were 81,396 foreign residents in Gunma, accounting for 4.3% of the prefecture's population. This ratio is among the highest in Japan, alongside Tokyo and Aichi Prefecture. The increase in stores and restaurants run by Vietnamese and Nepalese people has made foreign rice more accessible. At the south exit of JR Maebashi Station, where Japanese language schools operate and students take buses to part-time jobs, the convenience store Chyandora sells jasmine rice produced in Thailand and Vietnam. While 70% of the customers are foreigners, roughly 30% are Japanese. Neupane Bhesham Raj, a Nepalese representative director, noted, "With the rise in rice prices in Japan, purchases by Japanese customers significantly increased." The Vietnamese Japonica rice is particularly popular among Japanese customers. "The taste is quite similar to Japanese rice," he said. Private imports also spiked. Beliatta Lanka Co., a wholesaler and retailer in Bando, Ibaraki Prefecture, imports rice for Chyandora. Beliatta Lanka pays a tariff of 341 yen (some $2.30) per kilogram for private imports. The company's Sri Lankan representative director stated, "The demand for foreign rice is increasing, and retail prices are also rising." (Japanese original by Tetsuya Shoji, Maebashi Bureau)
India.com
16-07-2025
- Politics
- India.com
West Bengal: Its Mamata vs Suvendu Again On Voter List Revision, Illegal Migrants
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday issued a strong warning amid rising political tensions, stating that no one can stop her from taking her message across the country if trouble continues in Bengal. "I work in Bengal. The people of Bengal have elected me. Let me work in Bengal. If I have a problem in Bengal, I will go all over India," Mamata said. While attacking the BJP, Mamata added, "You can't stop me. I will see how many detention camps you can take me to. I will speak in Bengali. If the people of Bengal are kept in detention camps, the people of Bengal will also keep the BJP in detention camps politically through the elections." Mamata also raised a question with the centre over the Matua and Rajbongshi issue and said, "Matua-speaking people have been tortured in Maharashtra. Many Rajbongshis have been pushed back to Bangladesh and put in jail." Reacting to Bihar's SIR, she said. "I have heard in Bihar that 30.5 lakh votes have been deleted. The BJP won in Maharashtra. Otherwise, you can't win. This has happened in Delhi too. That is also being planned. They are also our brothers and sisters. There is also planning to launch in Bengal. We will fight inch by inch. We will not give up an inch of land without a fight. " Meanwhile, reacting to CM's statement, Adhikari said that Mamata Banerjee is backing and providing security to Rohingya Muslims. He alleged that there is no fencing in the area of 540 kilometres and CM Mamata has not given land to the Home Department. "Mamata Banerjee has come out on the streets to provide security to Rohingya Muslims. BJP MLAs have only one demand that the name of any Rohingya Muslim will not be there in the voter list of Bengal. There is no fencing in the area of 540 kilometers. Mamata Banerjee has not given land to the Home Department," he said. He further claimed that CM Mamata is getting fake Aadhar cards, fake EPIC cards, and there are at least one crore Rohingya Muslims in the entire voter list. "Mamata Banerjee is getting fake Aadhar cards, fake EPIC cards made. And there are at least one crore Rohingya Muslims in the entire voter list. Thirty lakh names were deleted in Bihar. There must be at least ninety lakh Indian names will remain, but Rohingya Muslim names will not remain in the voters' list," he added.
Sydney Morning Herald
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Julie Bishop makes rare diplomatic foray into Russia
London: Julie Bishop has made a rare trip to the Kremlin, meeting senior Russian officials during a visit that underscores Moscow's growing influence in Myanmar and its central role in shielding the country's military regime from global pressure. The former Australian foreign minister, who is now the United Nations special envoy for Myanmar, held talks with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin. She posted photos to her Instagram last week from inside Russia's Foreign Ministry and Red Square – a striking image for a Western diplomat given Russia's isolation over its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Bishop, who rarely speaks publicly about her role, declined to comment when approached by this masthead, only confirming the visit as part of her role in engaging key United Nations Security Council members on Myanmar's political and humanitarian crisis. Russia is one of the junta's most powerful allies, supplying arms, vetoing UN resolutions, and expanding oil and gas co-operation. The Kremlin recently announced new strategic agreements with Myanmar's military, even as the regime continues its crackdown on political opponents, ethnic minorities, and pro-democracy forces. In an address to the UN General Assembly earlier this month, Bishop warned that since the February 2021 coup, 'Myanmar has been in polycrisis, with more than 14,000 civilian fatalities and 80,000 total fatalities recorded, more than 3.5 million internally displaced, and over 100,000 houses torched.' Loading She condemned the junta for continuing to 'fly airstrikes as part of its campaign against anti-junta forces and Myanmar's people, despite a ceasefire announcement', and said the plight of the Rohingya Muslim minority had 'only worsened' since the military seized power. 'Those who have been forcibly deported from Myanmar face an uncertain future, with life-saving support to refugees significantly reduced, while Rohingya inside Myanmar face continuing persecution, displacement, and denial of human rights amidst an intensifying conflict,' she said. She also warned that elections planned by the junta for December were aimed at whitewashing military rule.
The Age
30-06-2025
- Politics
- The Age
Julie Bishop makes rare diplomatic foray into Russia
London: Julie Bishop has made a rare trip to the Kremlin, meeting senior Russian officials during a visit that underscores Moscow's growing influence in Myanmar and its central role in shielding the country's military regime from global pressure. The former Australian foreign minister, who is now the United Nations special envoy for Myanmar, held talks with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin. She posted photos to her Instagram last week from inside Russia's Foreign Ministry and Red Square – a striking image for a Western diplomat given Russia's isolation over its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Bishop, who rarely speaks publicly about her role, declined to comment when approached by this masthead, only confirming the visit as part of her role in engaging key United Nations Security Council members on Myanmar's political and humanitarian crisis. Russia is one of the junta's most powerful allies, supplying arms, vetoing UN resolutions, and expanding oil and gas co-operation. The Kremlin recently announced new strategic agreements with Myanmar's military, even as the regime continues its crackdown on political opponents, ethnic minorities, and pro-democracy forces. In an address to the UN General Assembly earlier this month, Bishop warned that since the February 2021 coup, 'Myanmar has been in polycrisis, with more than 14,000 civilian fatalities and 80,000 total fatalities recorded, more than 3.5 million internally displaced, and over 100,000 houses torched.' Loading She condemned the junta for continuing to 'fly airstrikes as part of its campaign against anti-junta forces and Myanmar's people, despite a ceasefire announcement', and said the plight of the Rohingya Muslim minority had 'only worsened' since the military seized power. 'Those who have been forcibly deported from Myanmar face an uncertain future, with life-saving support to refugees significantly reduced, while Rohingya inside Myanmar face continuing persecution, displacement, and denial of human rights amidst an intensifying conflict,' she said. She also warned that elections planned by the junta for December were aimed at whitewashing military rule.
Daily Express
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Myanmar woman arrested for Suu Kyi ‘happy birthday' post: local media
Published on: Tuesday, June 24, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jun 24, 2025 By: AFP Text Size: Suu Kyi was the figurehead of Myanmar's decade-long democratic thaw, becoming de facto leader as it opened up from military rule, but she has been incarcerated since February 2021 when the generals snatched back power in a coup. - AP pic YANGON: A Myanmar woman arrested by the junta for 'spreading propaganda' is being detained over a Facebook post celebrating the 80th birthday of jailed democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi, local media said. Suu Kyi was the figurehead of Myanmar's decade-long democratic thaw, becoming de facto leader as it opened up from military rule, but she has been incarcerated since February 2021 when the generals snatched back power in a coup. She is serving a 27-year sentence on charges rights groups dismiss as fabricated and on Thursday marked her birthday behind bars while her son urged followers to publish messages declaring their support. Myanmar's junta said in a statement over the weekend it had arrested two Facebook users for 'inciting and spreading propaganda on social media with the intention to destroy state stability'. One of those detained -- Hinn Yin Phyu -- was arrested at accommodation for employees of state media station MRTV in the capital Naypyidaw on Saturday, the statement said, without providing details of her posts. The Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) reported on Monday that Hinn Yin Phyu was an MRTV employee who had been arrested after posting a 'happy birthday' message for Suu Kyi, citing sources close to the detained woman. Advertisement 'May you live long and be free from illness, may you be free from the suffering caused by separation from your loved ones throughout your life, and may you only meet good people,' said the now-deleted post, according to DVB. Despite being blocked in a digital crackdown accompanying the coup, Facebook remains Myanmar's most popular social media platform. State notices announcing arrests over social media use are commonplace but usually provide scant detail of alleged transgressions. A spokesman for Myanmar's junta could not be reached for comment on the arrest. Suu Kyi won the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize as she refused to enter exile to escape her first period of incarceration by Myanmar's military. As she guided the country through its democratic interlude her reputation was tarnished on the international stage after she defended the military for their crackdown on the Rohingya Muslim minority. When the generals toppled her government it sparked a protest movement that security forces swiftly crushed in the streets. Since then the country has descended into civil war as pro-democracy activists formed guerrilla units to fight back, alongside ethnic armed organisations that have been battling the military in Myanmar's fringes for decades. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
