Tag: Japan

U.S. women arrested for allegedly smuggling $1 million worth of drugs to Japan, one claims she was motivated by free trip

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Police officers investigate a taped-off building beside a patrol car in rainy neon-lit Tokyo

Tokyo police arrested two American women for allegedly smuggling $1 million worth of cannabis into the country, with one suspect claiming she was motivated by a free trip to Japan, an official and media reports said Friday. The pair, both 25, arrived at Tokyo’s Haneda airport from New York last Saturday with two suitcases in which “cannabis-like dried plants were secretly stored,” a police spokesman told AFP. Nippon TV aired images of the drug seizure, showing more than a dozen packages containing the alleged cannabis.

Japan has some of the world’s strictest drug laws and smuggling or possession of illegal narcotics can result in a lengthy jail term. The dried cannabis weighed around 30 kilograms (66 pounds) and is valued at about 150 million yen ($970,000), media reported. One of the women told police she took the job for the money and because, “I was attracted by the fact I could go to Japan for free,” Nippon TV reported. The other suspect denies the allegation, telling police she “didn’t know that cannabis was inside” the suitcase, the Tokyo Shimbun reported, citing unnamed police sources.

The women “conspired with someone else whose name is unknown,” the police spokesman told AFP. They claimed they received instructions from a man they met on social media but never met in person, according to local media. The pair were arrested “on suspicion of violating the drugs and psychotropics control law, or, smuggling to gain profit,” the spokesman said. They also breached two other unnamed laws, he added. Smuggling cannabis for the purpose of making profit carries up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to 3 million yen ($19,500).

Last December, prominent American playwright Jeremy O. Harris was arrested in Japan on suspicion of smuggling the psychedelic drug ecstasy. He was released three weeks later.

Source: U.S. women arrested for allegedly smuggling $1 million worth of drugs to Japan, one claims she was motivated by free trip – CBS News

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
Isaiah 53:4

Proverbs 21:23

Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble. This verse emphasizes that people who carefully watch what they say will protect themselves from serious trouble.…

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Psalm 5:8

Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me. In the verse David is praying in the morning while people who…

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3 lions die at Tokyo zoo from suspected heatstroke as Japan bakes in “cruelly hot” summer

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Three lions at a Tokyo zoo have died from suspected heatstroke and others are under treatment, a spokeswoman said on Tuesday, with the big cats struggling with high humidity. Japan sweltered through its hottest summer on record last year and parts of the country have hit 40 degrees Celsius in recent weeks, qualifying for the new designation “cruelly hot day,” with thousands of people hospitalized. Ten of the 16 lions in Tama Zoological Park have suffered symptoms such as “loss of appetite and decreased activity” since mid-July, and three lionesses died, the zoo said in a statement.

One 3-year-old female named Mugi died on Tuesday. Three days later, an 11-year-old female named Ichigo died and on Sunday, a 15-year-old female named Luena died. The Tama Zoological Park said the lion enclosure, where visitors can normally be driven around in zebra-pattern “safari” buses, was closed to the public until further notice. “According to our veterinarian, the cause of the deaths is suspected to be heatstroke” because dehydration and multiple organ failure were observed, a spokeswoman told AFP. “Even though lions are thought to be resistant to heat, zookeepers have been strengthening countermeasures to cope with Japan’s summer heat in recent years. Heat here comes with high humidity; that is different from heat with dry air in Africa,” she said.

The spokeswoman said the heat “arrived suddenly” this summer after the rainy season ended in late July. The zoo said it used water sprays and industrial fans, and delivered intravenous fluids and medication to the affected lions. “We are strengthening measures against the heat (further), sprinkling water, improving ventilation and installing spot air conditioners,” she said. Several lions are still being treated, she added. “Born, lived, and died in confinement” Animal rights group PETA said the lions “were born, lived, and died in confinement, deprived of everything that makes life worth living for a wild animal.” “Zoos are not rescues or sanctuaries; they exist to display animals for profit, not to put animals’ needs first,” PETA said in a statement. Park Close to 18,600 people were taken to hospitals for heatstroke between July 20 and 26, with 45 of them pronounced dead on arrival, according to the fire and disaster management agency. A  woman in her 70s died of suspected heatstroke as she sheltered in her car, officials said Monday, public broadcaster NHK reported, and the temperature in Kumamoto City hit a record 40.3 degrees Celsius.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, 34 locations nationwide have hit temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius or higher this summer, the Asahi Shimbun reported, breaking the record set last year. Average temperatures in western Japan during mid-to-late July were also the highest since recordkeeping began in 1946, the newspaper reported. Japan experiences about 1,300 heat-related deaths annually and is aiming to halve that number by 2030.

Source: 3 lions die at Tokyo zoo from suspected heatstroke as Japan bakes in “cruelly hot” summer – CBS News

For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Proverbs 2:6

A study of the Mesha Stele

The Mesha Stele, also famously known as the Moabite Stone, is a 3-foot-tall black basalt monument dating back to circa 840 BCE. It is one of the most vital archaeological discoveries…

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Tsunami watch triggered after 7.8 magnitude earthquake shakes southern Philippines

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giant sea waves

A magnitude 7.8 earthquake shook part of the southern Philippines early Monday, causing damage in a key coastal city, knocking down power and sparking a tsunami warning on some regional coasts. People were urged to go to higher ground. There were no immediate reports of casualties, and it was not clear if people were trapped or injured in the collapse of a small building in General Santos city. The coastal city of more than 700,000 people is a commercial hub on the island of Mindanao known for its tuna processing industry. The epicenter was 8 miles southwest of General Santos and had a depth of 6.2 miles, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

It struck at 7:37 a.m. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said tsunami waves up to 10 feet were possible on some coasts of the Philippines. Waves up to 3 feet were possible on some coasts of Indonesia and Malaysia. “We advise people to evacuate to higher grounds or go further inland,” Teresito Bacolcol, the head of the Philippine institute, warned people living in coastal areas. Smaller sea changes were possible in Taiwan, Japan, Guam, Papua New Guinea and several island nations and territories in the western Pacific. There was no threat to Hawaii, the PTWC said. DZRH radio station in Manila reported that the small commercial building where its provincial branch was located partly collapsed and staffers dashed to the ground floor without injuries. It wasn’t clear if other people were trapped in the rubble of the four-story office building due to the quake, which struck before office hours.

Residents also felt the earthquake tremors in north-central Indonesia, and tsunami waves up to 7 inches were recorded on some coasts of North Sulawesi and North Maluku provinces. Aftershocks up to 6.5 magnitude followed, the U.S. Geological Survey said. It measured the original quake at 34 miles deep. Variations in measurements by different agencies are common in the immediate aftermath of an earthquake. The Philippines, one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries, is often hit by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions due to its location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an arc of seismic faults around the ocean.

Source: Tsunami watch triggered after 7.8 magnitude earthquake shakes southern Philippines – CBS News

But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.
Matthew 12:36

Texas man sentenced for killing bald eagle

A Houston-area man is headed to federal prison for shooting and killing a bald eagle. A news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Texas, said 43-year-old Santos Guerrero pleaded guilty on…

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Bear rampages through 2 factories and a residential area in Japan, injuring 4 people

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majestic brown bear in autumn forest

A bear attack left four people injured in two factories and a residential area in northern Japan’s Fukushima on Tuesday, police and media reports said. A record 13 people were killed by bears in Japan last year, and there has been a jump in sightings as the animals emerge hungry from hibernation. “A bear-related human injury incident… occurred in Fukushima City, injuring four people,” the prefectural police said in a statement. The bear was first spotted in a car parts factory, prompting an emergency call explaining that “employees had been bitten,” the Yomiuri Shimbun daily reported, citing police and fire department officials. The outlet reported the bear still had not been located.

As the bear continued its rampage, two other people were injured, one in a residential area and the other on the premises of an electronic equipment manufacturer nearby, the Yomiuri said, adding that the animal was thought to have remained inside the factory. The report said one of those attacked was heavily injured, while the rest suffered only mild injuries. In the last fiscal year to March, bear sightings nationwide topped 50,000, more than double the previous record set two years earlier, according to official data. The animals have been seen on airport runways, walking on golf courses, roaming near schools and causing panic in supermarkets and hot spring resorts almost on a daily basis. A bear that rampaged through a supermarket for two days was lured out with food coated in honey, and police said the animal was trapped and later killed.

The problem was so bad that last year the U.S. State Department warned Americans in Japan to be alert for bears.  Record sightings have been reported again this year as the bears emerge from their winter slumber, according to local media. In April, bear attacks killed one person and injured five others, according to the environment ministry. There have also been more than a dozen bear sightings reported on the outskirts of Tokyo this year, with a Russian man in his 30s reportedly mauled as he hiked in the city last month. A Japanese company making ferocious-looking robot wolves is being swamped by orders after record numbers of fatal bear attacks on humans last year.

“Monster Wolf” is an animatronic scarecrow with flashing red eyes that howls and growls menacingly to scare away wild animals.  Scientists say the surge in attacks has been driven by fast-growing numbers of bears, combined with a falling human population, especially in rural areas.

Source: Bear rampages through 2 factories and a residential area in Japan, injuring 4 people – CBS News

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
James 3:17

Finding Truth and Life in Jesus

In a world filled with competing voices, confusing paths, and endless distractions, Jesus doesn’t simply show us the way He declares, ‘I am the way.’ When everything around you tries to…

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North Korea fires 10 suspected ballistic missile towards Sea of Japan, Seoul says

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historic kochi castle in springtime japan

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s office has asked authorities to ensure the safety of aircraft, vessels and other military assets. It has also called for deploying all measures for precaution, including readying contingencies

Source: North Korea fires 10 suspected ballistic missile towards Sea of Japan, Seoul says – Firstpost

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13

Baby Bear Nibbles on Photographer’s Boot

A baby bear took a nibble at a photographer after becoming curious about his boot. Wildlife photographer Bruce Robert Danz was in the Katmai Preserve in Alaska on August 2 with another shooter while capturing images of three cubs and a mama bear fishing. But as is sometimes the case with wildlife photography, the bears…

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Preliminary 4.8 earthquake strikes off Northern California coast

A preliminary 4.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the Northern California coast Friday night, and no tsunami is expected, officials said. The United States Geological Survey says the earthquake struck off the Humboldt County coast, about 75 miles southwest of Eureka, around 7:41 p.m.  Some people along the coast reported to the USGS that they felt…

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Another Alzheimer’s blood test gets OK from FDA

The US Food and Drug Administration has cleared Roche and partner Eli Lilly’s blood test to help ​identify signs of Alzheimer’s disease in people age ‌55 and older with cognitive decline. The test, Elecsys pTau217, is a biomarker blood test that can help doctors identify patients who are ​likely or unlikely to have Alzheimer’s-related brain…

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Rutgers University dean allegedly recorded “upskirt” videos, prosecutors say

A dean at Rutgers University was arrested for allegedly recording “upskirt” videos while working for the school, according to New Jersey prosecutors. Joshua Kohut, 51, is being charged with fourth-degree invasion of privacy after the videos were found on one of his devices, Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced. Kohut is the dean of research at the…

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14 times ‘unhinged’ Democrats have called for political violence

Exactly one year ago, Democratic Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed publicly rejected calls for peace and said, “We take them to the mud and choke them out.” While the mainstream media regularly promotes every story that portrays those on the right as the main source of political violence, there are plenty of examples available of…

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Islamabad hospital fire kills at least 14 newborn babies in Pakistan’s capital

At least 14 newborn babies died Wednesday morning in one of Pakistan’s deadliest hospital fires in recent decades. The fire broke out inside the maternity ward at the government-run Pakistan Institute for Medical Sciences (PIMS), the largest hospital in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad, around 7 a.m. local time. The blaze appears to have been triggered by…

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Former WWE Star-Turned-Mayor Cuts The Cord With Flock

Knox County, Tennessee, Mayor Glenn Jacobs told Flock Safety that a contract with the county sheriff was no longer valid, placing the future of over 140 cameras in doubt. The former WWE star raised questions about the contract’s validity in an August 12 letter to Alex Guth, a regional sales director for Flock Safety. In…

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Beloved Singer, Philanthropist Dolly Parton Cause of Death Revealed

The cause of death for beloved singer, philanthropist, and actress Dolly Parton at the age of 80 was revealed on Tuesday. Reps for Parton confirmed to Page Six on Tuesday that the American icon died following a brief battle with cancer, though they did not specify exactly what type of cancer. “After bravely facing a…

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Marking ten years since the 2011 Japan earthquake

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Japan

Fifteen years ago, on March 11, 2011, the fourth-largest recorded earthquake in history struck Japan’s Pacific Coast, triggering a 128-foot tsunami wave that swallowed villages whole and triggered the biggest nuclear disaster since Chernobyl. Nearly 20,000 people died, 500,000 were forced to evacuate, 138,000 buildings were destroyed, and the country suffered the most expensive disaster in human history, with $360 billion in economic losses, according to a 2013 estimate from the Brookings Institution.

Source: Marking ten years since the 2011 Japan earthquake – 60 Minutes – CBS News

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Joshua 1:8

Man catches record-breaking pumpkinseed sunfish in West Virginia

A West Virginia man caught a record-breaking pumpkinseed sunfish, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources announced.  Robert Glover caught a record-breaking pumpkinseed sunfish, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources announced. (Photo Credit: West Virginia Division of Natural Resources) Robert Glover of Morgantown reeled in the record-setting fish in Cheat Lake in Monongalia County…

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Aggressive coyote shot and killed after attacking dog in Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania, police say

Police in Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania, say an aggressive coyote has been shot and killed after attacking a dog.  In a social media post Friday afternoon, Cheltenham police said they received multiple reports of an aggressive coyote in the Wyncote section of Cheltenham Township.The coyote was spotted near Curtis Park, Hopeland Road, Washington Lane and Rock…

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Fast-growing Hawk Fire near Reno, Nevada forces thousands to evacuate

A fast-growing wildfire spread from the Sierra foothills toward the center of Reno early Sunday, as approximately 90,000 residents were urged to evacuate. The fire has been burning across a rugged section of the Humboldt–Toiyabe National Forest, where Peavine Mountain is ringed by homes and businesses on the Nevada side of the California state line,…

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Two people injured in recent bear attacks in Colorado high country

Colorado Parks and Wildlife says two people were recently injured in separate bear attacks in the high country. On Tuesday, a bear reportedly entered a home in Steamboat Springs near Fish Creek Falls Road. The woman told wildlife officers the bear entered her home through the sliding glass door around 1 a.m., and she attempted…

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Japan says a second Japanese person is detained in Iran

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international flags waving against blue sky

Japan’s Foreign Ministry says a second Japanese national has been detained in Iran and requested the early release of both people

Source: Japan says a second Japanese person is detained in Iran – ABC News

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7

Reclaiming Attention From Distractions

Pip: Drink of Jesus has been asking a question your phone’s algorithm would really prefer you not think about: what if the thing eating your attention is the distraction? Mara: That’s the thread running through this episode. The posts cover fixing your eyes on Jesus when life gets loud, how fear and people-pleasing hijack your…

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Colorado firefighters say bear broke into home and started fire

Firefighters in Crested Butte said that a house fire was started by a bear after the animal got inside the private residence. The Crested Butte Fire Protection District posted on its Facebook page that crews responded to a residential structure fire overnight on Aug. 19 in the Mt. Crested Butte neighborhood.  According to fire officials,…

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At least 10 railcars derail in Mansfield; no injuries reported, officials say

Police are directing traffic and the Grand Prairie hazmat unit is on the scene after at least 10 railcars derailed in Mansfield on Thursday evening, officials said. The derailment happened near Seeton Road and South Holland Road around 2:30 p.m. The Mansfield Fire Department also responded. No injuries or leaks have been reported, authorities said.…

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North Texas heat wave sparks power outages across Dallas neighborhoods

The extreme heat in North Texas is straining electrical equipment and causing scattered power outages across several Dallas neighborhoods. More than a dozen residents in the Kessler Park neighborhood told CBS News Texas they experienced two outages on Monday during the extreme temperatures. One lasted about an hour, and the second about 30 minutes.  Will…

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Lawmakers expected to pass law ending child marriage in California

California lawmakers are expected to pass a new law ending child marriage within the state.  Currently, California is one of three states that allow children of any age to get married if a parent or guardian signs off. The bill passing through the legislature would end underage marriage with no exceptions.  “So many survivors of…

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Big Bear wildlife activists name eagle spotted with Shadow

Wildlife activists on Thursday named the new eagle that has been spotted following Shadow through Big Bear’s treetops and skies. “Generally, Friends of Big Bear Valley does not give names to nest visitors unless they have been around long-term…until now,” the Friends of Big Bear Valley wrote in a Facebook post. FOBBV chose the name…

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Midday storm threat in Chicago area on Friday

Thunderstorms return to the Chicago area on Friday.  Most of the morning remains dry, but by lunchtime, scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to move into the Chicago area.  Storms could be severe, with a level 2 out of 5; a slight risk is in place. Damaging winds up to 60-65 miles per hour and…

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Alaska Air Guard Rescues Injured Hiker From Hatcher Pass

At the request of the Alaska State Troopers, Alaska Air National Guardsmen of the 176th Wing rescued an injured hiker from steep terrain in the Hatcher Pass area, approximately 40 miles north of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Aug. 18. When the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center received the request for assistance, an HH-60W Jolly Green II aircrew…

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Authorities seize 29 cats, 1 dog from condemned Brooklyn Park home

Dozens of animals are beginning new lives after being rescued from a Twin Cities home last month. Twenty-nine cats and a dog were seized from the home of a 68-year-old Brooklyn Park woman. Investigators got a search warrant after years of complaints, some dating as far back as 2001. According to a criminal complaint, the…

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