Volcano erupts in Japan, one dies
TOKYO, Jan 23: A Japanese soldier was killed Tuesday and several other people injured after a volcano erupted near a popular ski resort, sparking an avalanche and leaving scores stranded --including tourists from Britain and Taiwan. Footage broadcast on Japanese television showed thick black smoke interspersed with falling rocks rolling down the snow-covered side of the volcano towards a ski slope. Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera told reporters that one of eight members of the Self Defence Forces who had been on a training mission on Mt. Kusatsu Shirane, northwest of Tokyo, had died after being hit by volcanic rocks. "Black smoke rose from the top of the mountain and we were told to evacuate inside 30 minutes later," a man who was at the ski resort told public broadcaster NHK. — AFP
S Korea to criminalise suicide pacts
SEOUL, Jan 23: South Korea is to make organising a suicide pact a criminal offence, officials said Tuesday, as the government seeks to reduce one of the world's highest rates of self-killing. The suicide rate in Asia's fourth-largest economy has increased sharply since 2000 to 25.6 a year per 100,000 people, twice the average for Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) member countries. Prominent suicides regularly make headlines-K-pop singer Kim Jong-Hyun killed himself last month-but most victims are elderly in a country where social safety nets are weak. The criminalisation of suicide pacts was among a series of measures approved by the cabinet Tuesday. TV dramas and web cartoons glorifying suicides will also be discouraged, and suicide prevention education will be required for all soldiers. — AFP
Strong quake jolts Indonesia
JAKARTA, Jan 23: A strong quake rattled Indonesia Tuesday, sparking panic in the capital Jakarta. Office workers rushed outside as high-rises began swaying, while riders were thrown off their motorbikes by the force of the 6.0 magnitude rumble. It was not immediately clear if there were any casualties. "I was sitting when the building suddenly started shaking," said Jakarta department store worker Suji, 35, who like many Indonesians goes by one name. "I ran outside the building. It was quite strong and I was afraid." The United States Geological Survey said the 6.0 magnitude quake struck at a depth of 43 kilometres. There was no warning of any tsunami. The epicentre was off the coast, about 130 kilometres southwest of Jakarta, a sprawling city of more than 10 million people. — AFP
HK democracy activist gets bail
HONG KONG, Jan 23: Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong was released on bail Tuesday pending appeal against a jail term over pro-democracy protests. Wong was jailed for three months last week, the second time he has received a prison sentence for his involvement in the Umbrella Movement. Campaigners fear political debate in the semi-autonomous Chinese city is being shut down with a series of court cases against activists involved in the mass 2014 protests. Wong, 21, who became the face of the rallies, was jailed on Wednesday last week on a contempt charge for obstructing clearance of a major protest encampment, to which he had pleaded guilty. He was released on bail as a judge acknowledged he had grounds to appeal the sentence. — AFP
