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World War II-era bomb explodes at busy international airport, cratering taxiway
An American World War II-era bomb buried beneath a busy Japanese airport exploded Wednesday, cratering a busy taxiway and forcing the cancellation of dozens of flights, officials said.
According to Land and Transport Ministry officials, there were no aircraft nearby and no injuries were reported when the bomb exploded at Miyazaki Airport in southwestern Japan.
Investigators determined that the explosion came from a WWII-era 500-pound bomb, though it’s not clear what caused the sudden detonation.
Miyazaki Airport was built in 1943 as a former Imperial Japanese Navy flight training field from which some kamikaze pilots took off on suicide attack missions.
A video recorded by a nearby aviation school showed the blast spewing pieces of asphalt into the air like a fountain. Videos broadcast on Japanese TV showed a crater in the taxiway roughly 20 feet in diameter and around 3 feet deep.
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Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said more than 80 flights were canceled at the international airport, which hopes to resume operations Thursday morning.
A number of unexploded bombs dropped by the U.S. military during WWII have been unearthed in the area, Defense Ministry officials said.
Hundreds of tons of unexploded bombs from the war remain buried around Japan, and are sometimes dug up at construction sites.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
World
Macron warns of precarious time for Europe as he visits Berlin
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron in Berlin on Wednesday. During Macron’s fourth visit to Germany this year, the French leader voiced concerns over the future of Europe.
French President Emmanuel Macron discussed Chinese electric vehicle (EV) tariffs, escalating tensions in the Middle East and the future of Europe in a visit to Berlin with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Scholz underlined the need for a ceasefire amidst spiralling tensions between Israel and Iran in the morning at the Chancellery, where Macron vowed to support Israel by increasing the presence of the French military in the Middle East.
Macron warned that the European Union is in a very precarious situation and could face trouble if it didn’t deepen its single market and resolve “fragmentation”, in a speech given at the Berlin Global Dialogue Conference on Tuesday.
He said the EU would have to implement a rescue plan in five to 10 year’s time if it didn’t act soon in terms of reforming regulations.
The two strongest economies in Europe disagreed on how to move forward with Chinese electric vehicle (EV) tariffs.
Macron said he supports the EU’s plans to introduce tariffs of up to 45% on Chinese EVs, whilst Scholz expressed his hesitation.
German carmakers, including the multinational Mercedes Benz Group, have expressed their concern that the tariffs could lead to China retaliating with countermeasures that could upset the car industry — upon which the German economy is heavily dependent.
Scholz has generally campaigned for open dialogue with China, having to content with a strong lobby of German carmakers that have expressed their desire for Germany to vote against additional import levies at a vote planned between European member states on 4 October.
Elsewhere during their meeting, Macron said that the EU needed to prioritise defence, security and “accelerate the ability to innovate” as it risks being left behind world powers such as China and the US.
He maintained that Europe’s current budget isn’t efficient, and that the continent needs to advance further with the green energy transition or risk further economic stagnation.
As Scholz grapples with dismal approval ratings, many question whether his bid for re-election would be successful in federal elections scheduled next year.
The leaders also co-ordinated on issues prevalent at the next mid-October European Council meeting, according to a Federal Government press release.
World
Prince Harry is visiting the small mountain kingdom of Lesotho, where he's called 'the warrior'
MASERU, Lesotho (AP) — Prince Harry is visiting the tiny mountain kingdom of Lesotho, where he co-founded a youth charity in 2006 in honor of his late mother, Princess Diana.
The Duke of Sussex began his visit Tuesday by meeting with young people and sharing experiences around an evening campfire. He was due to have a private event on Wednesday.
Harry, who turned 40 last month, is also due to visit Johannesburg in neighboring South Africa on the four-day trip to southern Africa, his first to the region in five years. His wife, Meghan Markle, and children Archie and Lilibet did not travel with him.
Harry co-founded the Sentebale charity with Lesotho’s Prince Seeiso initially to help young people affected by HIV/AIDS. It works in Lesotho and Botswana and has evolved into an organization that supports children and young people as they face various challenges related to health, inequality and climate.
Sentebale means “don’t forget me” in the Sesotho language, and the princes established it in memory of both their late mothers.
“We are building a force of young advocates and when they are empowered to use their voices, the strength of their impact will be immense,” Harry said to the young people and others connected to his charity gathered around the campfire. “You might not always realise how significant your influence is, but if it changes even one person’s life, it’s worth it.”
The evening event was held at a children’s center funded by Sentebale in the historic village of Thaba Bosiu, which was once the capital of Lesotho.
Prince Seeiso, 58, called Harry his younger brother, and reminded everyone that Harry had an African title that Seeiso had previously bestowed on him. Seeiso said Harry was also known as “the warrior” in Lesotho.
Harry, who was dressed casually in a puffer jacket and dark pants, smiled at the compliment.
The British prince also paid a courtesy visit to Lesotho Prime Minister Sam Matekane, who said: “Lesotho will always be a second home for Prince Harry, and we are forever grateful for his dedication.”
Lesotho celebrates its Independence Day on Friday and is also this year marking 200 years since the country was founded. Harry’s connection with Lesotho, a nation of 2.3 million completely surrounded by South Africa, began when he visited after leaving school and worked with orphaned children.
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AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa
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