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NEWS ABOUT: Okinawa

Japanese PM Quits Over Okinawa Base

Hatoyama cites failure to move US base as reason for resigning

(Newser) - Japan's Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama is stepping down after just 8 months in office. Hatoyama—whose plunging approval ratings ahead of an election expected to be held in July put him under intense pressure from his Democratic Party of Japan to step down—said he was quitting because of a... More »

7.3 Quake Rattles Japan; Tsunami Warning Lifted

Temblor strikes Okinawa; no major damage reported

(Newser) - A tsunami warning has been lifted and residents of Okinawa are breathing a sigh of relief after an earthquake rattled the southern Japanese island early Saturday morning. " First there was a strong vertical shake, then sideways," an official of the city of Naha tells Reuters . "The strong... More »

Okinawa Marine Gets 4 Years for Teen Sex Abuse

US court martial accepts his plea to lesser charges

(Newser) - The US marine accused of raping a 14-year-old Japanese girl was sentenced by court martial today to four years in prison, after pleading guilty to abusive sexual conduct, Reuters reports. The other charges against 38-year-old Sgt. Tyrone Hadnott, including rape and kidnapping, were dropped. With his plea deal, Hadnott will... More »

US Charges Marine With Okinawa Rape

Military does own investigation after Japan drops charges

(Newser) - The US military has charged a Marine with rape of a child, adultery, and kidnapping after an assault on a 14-year-old girl in Okinawa, CNN reports. Japanese officials had released the Marine earlier this year after the girl, apparently not wanting to be in the public eye, dropped the allegations.... More »

Okinawa Protesters Rip US Military Crimes

Rape case sparks calls for slashing bases

(Newser) - Thousands poured into the streets of Okinawa today to protest crimes by US servicemen and to demand a smaller American military presence on the Japanese island, Reuters reports. "Crimes and accidents have happened over and over," said the mayor of Okinawa City. "But each time, our voices... More »

4 Marines Face Court-Martial in Hiroshima Rape Case

Gang-rape trial to begin in spring

(Newser) - The American military has announced it will court-martial four Marines on charges of gang-raping a Japanese woman in Hiroshima last year. The first two Marines will face a general court-martial in late April or early May. Japanese prosecutors had concluded that there was not sufficient evidence to charge them in... More »

Marine in Okinawa Rape Case Released

Teen victim drops charges, but US is still investigating incident

(Newser) - A US Marine was released into US custody today after Japanese prosecutors dropped rape charges against him, Reuters reports. The Okinawa arrest had sparked outrage across Japan, but prosecutors backed off when the alleged victim withdrew her accusations. The 38-year-old Marine had admitted holding down his 14-year-old accuser but maintained... More »

Rice 'Deeply Regrets' Okinawa Rape Case

Bid to soothe fury over Marine arrest

(Newser) - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met today in Japan with the prime minister and other top officials and expressed regret for the alleged rape of a 14-year-old girl by a US Marine stationed on Okinawa. "We just regret deeply that it happened," said Rice, who added that she... More »

New Sexual Assault Charge Shocks Okinawa

After alleged rape, 2nd case threatens US-Japan ties

(Newser) - The American military is investigating a second allegation of sexual assault against a woman on the Japanese island of Okinawa. Reuters reports that a soldier has been taken into custody, accused of sexual assault against a Filipina living on the island. The new allegation comes only a week after a... More »

US Troops Confined to Base in Japanese Uproar

Military personnel confined to bases indefinitely

(Newser) - The US military has ordered 45,000 American troops, civilian employees and their families in Japan restricted to their military bases, homes and workplaces in a move to quell growing Japanese outrage at problem Marines. The orders, in place indefinitely, will effectively bar Marines nationwide and all military personnel on... More »

4 More US Marines Face Rape Charges in Japan

Men busted just days after arrest in separate case involving 14-year-old girl

(Newser) - US military authorities are charging four Marines with raping a young Japanese woman, just days after a Marine was arrested by Japanese authorities and charged with raping a 14-year-old schoolgirl in a separate case. The four men are accused of assaulting a 19-year-old woman in October after meeting her at... More »

Okinawa Rape Case Reignites Anti-US Ire

Citing discipline lack, angry Japanese want less military presence

(Newser) - The arrest this week of a US Marine on charges of raping a 14-year-old girl on the Japanese island of Okinawa has stirred long-simmering resentment of the nearly 50,000 American troops stationed there, Reuters reports. “Considering that such vicious, atrocious incidents have never ceased to occur, we must... More »

Japanese Fury Mounts Over US Marine Rape Case

'Unforgivable' crime threatens alliance

(Newser) - Tensions continued to mount in Japan today in the aftermath of the arrest of a US Marine accused of raping a 14-year-old schoolgirl in Okinawa. "It is unforgivable," Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda told a parliamentary panel. "It has happened over and over again in the past and... More »

US Marine Busted in Rape of Okinawa Schoolgirl

Governor furious as marine denies crime

(Newser) - A US Marine has been arrested on suspicion of raping a 14-year-old Japanese schoolgirl in Okinawa, where resentment is already running high against American military presence, Reuters reports. The 38-year-old Marine allegedly raped the teen in a car yesterday, officials said. "This kind of crime cannot be forgiven, especially... More »

FAA Orders Inspections of Boeing 737s

Hundreds of jets to be checked for loose nut that caused China Airlines fire

(Newser) - The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered airlines to inspect hundreds of Boeing 737s after a loose bolt punctured a China Airlines jet last week, causing a fire that destroyed the aircraft. Southwest, Delta, Continental, AirTran, Alaska Air, ATA and Aloha Airlines have 24 days to check for loose nuts on... More »

Jet Catches Fire in Japan; Passengers, Crew Escape

Plane's engine exploded; cause unknown

(Newser) - A jet burst into flames after landing in Okinawa today, moments after all 165 people onboard escaped. The China Airlines plane skidded while landing on arrival from Taipei, and its left engine exploded shortly afterward. The cause of the fire is unknown, the AP reports. Firefighters took an hour to... More »

Typhoon Drowns Southern Japan

40 ft waves and 150mph winds; at least 17 injured,100,000 homes without power

(Newser) - A massive typhoon is pummeling the Japanese island of Okinawa, stirring up 40 foot waves and 150mph winds which are overturning trucks and ripping trees from the ground. Super typhoon Man-yi has injured at least 17 people and cut the electricity to nearly 100,000 homes. "This is one... More »

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