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Why has Japan set up a task force to deal with foreigners?
Why has Japan set up a task force to deal with foreigners?

CNN

time5 days ago

  • Politics
  • CNN

Why has Japan set up a task force to deal with foreigners?

Japan has worked hard to attract foreigners to boost its sluggish economy but now the perception there are too many has prompted the creation of a new task force, as competition for votes heats up ahead of Sunday's national election. The issue is on the political agenda ahead of the upper house election, in part because of a fringe party promoting 'Japanese first' policies, in a nod to the nativist rhetoric of US President Donald Trump. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba launched the task force – formally named the Office for the Promotion of a Society of Harmonious Coexistence with Foreign Nationals – on Tuesday, citing 'crimes or nuisance behaviors committed by some foreign nationals,' as well as 'inappropriate use of various' government systems. The world's fourth-largest economy has a long history of strict immigration policies, and a strong cultural strain of isolationism. But with a rapidly aging population and plunging birth rates, Japan has been gradually opening up to foreign workers and seeking more international tourists. Pulling up the drawbridge could exacerbate the demographic crisis and jeopardize the tourism industry, experts warn. Here is what we know about the task force and why foreigners have become an election issue: Ishiba described the new office as a 'command center' coordinating policies for both Japanese citizens and foreigners. Among the areas it will cover are immigration, land acquisitions by foreigners, and unpaid social insurance, Ishiba added. He pledged to 'take strict action against those who do not follow the rules.' There have been no more concrete details, but the government said last month it plans to revise policies to ban tourists and foreign residents with unpaid medical bills from getting a visa or returning to the country. Though Japan's population of foreign residents has jumped from 2.23 million to 3.77 million over the past decade, they still only account for 3% of the total population of more than 120 million people. Much more notable is a surge in tourism over the past few years, especially since the Covid-19 pandemic. A record 21.5 million foreign tourists visited Japan in the first half of this year, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization. Last year, Japan was the world's 8th most-visited country by tourists, according to UN Tourism, and the top in Asia. The influx has irritated many residents, whose lives have been disrupted by tourists flocking to their neighborhoods for sightseeing, shopping or a scenic photo opportunity. It prompted authorities to temporarily block a popular view of Mount Fuji from a convenience store due to a surge in residents' complaints of overcrowding, and a hot spring resort area to warn against low water levels as visitors demanded private baths. Some blame tourists for triggering inflation and contributing to shortages of certain supplies, including rice, Japan's most cherished staple. Others take issue with foreign residents reportedly evading public health insurance and investors snatching up properties in the country and pushing up prices. A retiree in Tokyo who used to work for a trading company told CNN that he believed foreign workers were taking Japanese people's jobs. 'They came to Japan because they couldn't make a living in their countries,' said the 78-year-old man, who asked to remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of the discussion. 'Because the cultures are different, it is impossible to live together.' Office worker Kouyama Nanami, 23, said she read on the news that a lot of welfare assistance goes to non-Japanese residents. 'I think the aids haven't been prioritized for Japanese people,' she said. Shunsuke Tanabe, a sociology professor at Waseda University in Tokyo, said many of the negative beliefs around migration – such as the idea of rising crime – stem from falsehoods and misleading claims from the campaign trail. 'There are visibly more foreigners around; they start to assume that public safety must be getting worse, too,' he told CNN. 'As a result, negative campaigns spread on social media resonate with many, leading them to think that parties promising to 'protect' society from these imagined threats are the better choice,' he added. He noted that crime in Japan has declined in the past 20 years, despite an uptick in tourists and foreign residents. 'There is virtually no difference between Japanese nationals and foreign nationals in terms of crime rates,' he said. In 2023, 9,726 foreigners were arrested for alleged crimes, accounting for 5.3% of total people arrested, according to a white paper by the Ministry of Justice. The figure includes both tourists and foreign residents. Ishiba's hand has been forced as the election campaign, entering its final stretch, has focused on anger over irresponsible foreign citizens and unruly tourists, according to political pundits. Sanseito, a minor right-wing party that has been rallying against immigrants and advancing 'Japanese first' policies, has been gaining traction and media coverage. The upstart party is far from being able to compete for a majority, but is projected to win 10 to 15 seats, which could chip away at the majority of Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). The LDP and its coalition partner Komeito last year lost their majority in the lower house, for the first time in 15 years. Ishiba could face further pressure to step down if they lose the upper house this weekend. 'Anti-immigration parties such as the Sanseito are using this as an opportunity to take advantage of public misconceptions, public fears about immigration and about foreigners to take away votes from the LDP,' said Jeffrey Hall, a Japanese studies lecturer at Kanda University of International Studies in Chiba. While out campaigning Sunday, Sanseito Secretary General Sohei Kamiya said his party was 'simply saying it's unreasonable to spend public money to hire foreigners or hand over profitable businesses' to foreigners. 'This is not discrimination or hate speech,' he said. Hall said setting up the new office could help the LDP demonstrate 'they're being tough on the issue,' though there will be a price to pay. 'If Japan becomes a society that strictly monitors foreigners to the point where they feel unwelcome, it could have a damaging effect on the ability of businesses to get the foreign workers they need,' Hall said. The country's birth rate plunged to another record low of 1.15 in 2024, well below the 2.1 needed to keep a population stable in the absence of immigration, meaning that the working population will continue to shrink in decades to come. This is worsening the outlook for a Japanese economy that has already suffered stagnation since the early 1990s. To attract foreign workers, the government has been easing requirements for visas and trying to improve conditions. The number of foreign employees hit a record high of 2.3 million last October, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. The government has been granting 'specific skilled workers' visas to work in a range of industries from nursing and hospitality to construction and aviation, the Foreign Ministry's website shows. During Tuesday's announcement, Ishiba acknowledged the importance of Japan remaining open-minded. 'As Japan faces the challenges of a declining birthrate and aging population, it is essential for us to incorporate the vitality of the international community, through the acceptance of a certain number of foreign workers and the expansion of inbound tourism, to ensure a smooth transition to a growth-oriented economy,' he said.

Direct trains from London to Berlin could run within a decade
Direct trains from London to Berlin could run within a decade

Times

time5 days ago

  • Business
  • Times

Direct trains from London to Berlin could run within a decade

Rail passengers will be able to travel directly from London to Berlin as a result of the first bilateral treaty between Britain and Germany. Under plans which ministers claim will 'fundamentally change how millions of people travel' the two governments are to set up a taskforce to agree border and security controls, and the technical aspect of the new service. The government hopes the rail link could be operational by the early 2030s. It would also link London with other German cities, such as Frankfurt. Eurostar has already said it hopes to launch direct services from London to Switzerland and Germany. London to Frankfurt is likely to take about five hours and London to Geneva is expected to take five hours and 20 minutes. Eurostar and other train operators had an eye on expanding the number of destinations served by the Channel Tunnel since the original service was launched in the 1990s. Plans were put on hold after Brexit because priority was given to sorting out the logistical issues of keeping the existing lines serving France, Belgium and the Netherlands running smoothly. The new taskforce will examine commercial and technical requirements, including safety standards, border arrangements and collaboration with rail operators. 'We're pioneering a new era of European rail connectivity and are determined to put Britain at the heart of a better-connected continent,' Heidi Alexander, the transport secretary, said. 'The Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin Wall and Checkpoint Charlie — in just a matter of years, rail passengers in the UK could be able to visit these iconic sights direct from the comfort of a train. 'This landmark agreement has the potential to fundamentally change how millions of people travel between our two countries.' The announcement was made during the first visit to the UK of Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor. He and Sir Keir Starmer signed a major bilateral agreement between the two countries setting out new co-operation in areas such as defence and illegal migration. At a joint press conference, Starmer said that the deal was 'evidence of the closeness of our relationship as it stands today' as well as a 'statement of intent, a statement of our ambition to work ever more closely together'. It includes plans to let UK travellers use German e-gates, defence procurement co-operation and a commitment from Germany to change the law so police can seize engines and inflatable boats used in illegal channel migration. Merz said that Britain, France and Germany were 'converging' on policy matters such as migration and security. He said: 'It is no coincidence that I happen to be here a week after the state visit of the French president to London, Emmanuel Macron. 'Great Britain, France and Germany are converging in their positions on foreign policy, on security policy, on migration policy, but also on economic policy issues.' During the press conference Starmer also revealed that the UK was in talks with the Trump administration to buy US weapons to send to Ukraine. Trump announced the initiative at a meeting with Mark Rutte, the Nato secretary general, two days ago, but Downing Street had not said whether the UK would participate.

Aviation staff need disability training, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson says
Aviation staff need disability training, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson says

Yahoo

time5 days ago

  • Yahoo

Aviation staff need disability training, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson says

Airline and airport staff should be better trained to support disabled passengers, a Government-commissioned review led by Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson has found. The Paralympian and crossbench peer said the 19 recommendations put forward by her taskforce should be 'turned into action' which puts accessibility 'at the heart of aviation'. The Aviation Accessibility Task and Finish Group called for disability awareness training to be rolled out across all aviation roles, including airline crew, assistance providers, ground services, security and hospitality staff. It highlighted a need for passengers to access information easily about their travel, including how they can request and book assistance, where they can find in-airport support services, and detailed guidance on how their mobility aids will be transported. The taskforce also called for passengers to be able to find transparent information on complaints procedures. The group will now work to help ensure its proposals are adopted by airlines, airports and regulator the Civil Aviation Authority. Lady Grey-Thompson said: 'This report is the next critical step in making air travel more inclusive for disabled people. 'I'm grateful for the commitment the industry has shown to making change and breaking down barriers in aviation for everyone, bringing freedom to travel, whether for leisure or work, and to connect with friends and family. 'We know there's more work to be done, and I look forward to seeing these recommendations turned into action which truly puts accessibility at the heart of aviation.' Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: 'Everyone should be able to travel with dignity and be respected at every stage of their journeys, including disabled passengers. 'That's why we established this group in November last year, and I welcome this report's findings which will clear the runway for greater accessibility in aviation.' Annoyed to find that @HeathrowAirport is slipping back into its old bad habits, leaving disabled passengers still waiting for a high-lift to turn up so we can get off the plane, long after all others have disembarked. Other airports can manage. C'mon Heathrow, get a grip! — Frank Gardner (@FrankRGardner) June 3, 2025 Tim Alderslade, chief executive of trade body Airlines UK, said carriers are 'committed to removing barriers so that flying is accessible to all', and will support the 'implementation of these recommendations'. Karen Dee, boss of industry group AirportsUK, said the report will 'build on the work already being done by airports, and the wider sector, to ensure air travel is accessible to all'. In June, BBC journalist and wheelchair user Frank Gardner was forced to wait 95 minutes for a medical lift so he could leave an aircraft that had arrived at Heathrow's Terminal 5. The airport apologised and said the delay was caused by its assistance provider responding to a medical emergency, which reduced the number of vehicles available.

Up to 10,000 prisoners could be released to ease overcrowding in Italy
Up to 10,000 prisoners could be released to ease overcrowding in Italy

The Independent

time6 days ago

  • Politics
  • The Independent

Up to 10,000 prisoners could be released to ease overcrowding in Italy

Italy may release up to around 10,000 people from prison to ease overcrowding, the Justice Ministry has announced. Some 10,105 prisoners, or about 15 per cent of the total population of inmates, are "potentially eligible" for alternative measures to prison, such as house arrest or probation, the ministry said late on Tuesday. The option would apply to people whose convictions are final and no longer subject to appeal, have less than two years of sentences left to serve, and have no serious disciplinary offences in the past 12 months. People serving time for serious crimes such as terrorism, organised crime, rape, migrant trafficking and kidnapping would be excluded. According to the World Prison Brief database, Italy has one of Europe's worst prison overcrowding records, with an occupancy level of around 122 per cent. Any level above 100 per cent indicates that prisons are occupied above their maximum capacity. Only Cyprus, France and Turkey have higher scores in Europe, according to the database. The plight of prisoners has attracted attention in Italy following a rise in suicides and complaints about soaring summer temperatures in detention facilities that are not air-conditioned. However, the early release of prisoners is a politically sensitive move, and the Justice Ministry indicated that it would not happen overnight. It said it had set up a task force to liaise with prisons and parole judges to facilitate decisions on individual cases, which will meet weekly and report on its work by September.

Italy may release up 10,000 people from prison to curb overcrowding
Italy may release up 10,000 people from prison to curb overcrowding

Al Arabiya

time6 days ago

  • Politics
  • Al Arabiya

Italy may release up 10,000 people from prison to curb overcrowding

Italy may release up to around 10,000 people from prison, or about 15 percent of the total population of inmates, to ease overcrowding, the Justice Ministry has announced. Some 10,105 prisoners are 'potentially eligible' for alternative measures to prison, such as house arrest or probation, the ministry said in a statement late on Tuesday. The option would apply to people whose convictions are final and no longer subject to appeal, less than 2 years of sentences left to serve, and no serious disciplinary offences in the past 12 months. People serving time for serious crimes such as terrorism, organized crime, rape, migrant trafficking and kidnapping would be excluded, the ministry added. According to the World Prison Brief database, Italy has one of Europe's worst prison overcrowding records, with an occupancy level of around 122 percent. Any level above 100 percent indicates that prisons are occupied above their maximum capacity. Only Cyprus, France and Turkey have higher scores in Europe, according to the database. The plight of prisoners has attracted attention in Italy following a rise in suicides and complaints about soaring summer temperatures in detention facilities that are not air- conditioned. However, the early release of prisoners is a politically sensitive move, and the Justice Ministry indicated that it would not happen overnight. It said it had set up a taskforce to liaise with prisons and parole judges to facilitate decisions on individual cases, which will meet weekly and report on its work by September.

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