East Asia
Japan Conducts First Land-to-Ship Missile Test on Home Soil Amid Rising Regional Tensions
Japan has conducted its first-ever land-to-ship missile test within its own territory, a move the Ministry of Defense described as “extremely important for enhancing military capability in the current difficult security situation.”
The ‘Type-88’ missile was test-fired by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) from a military base on the northern island of Hokkaido on Tuesday (local time), hitting an area off the Pacific coast, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP). Traditionally, Japan has conducted such live-fire drills at U.S. military bases, but these are often expensive and involve a limited number of personnel. The decision to conduct drills domestically comes as a weaker Japanese Yen has further increased these costs.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi stated in a Wednesday press briefing that conducting live-fire exercises at home allows for the training of a greater number of troops and aids in the defense of islands and other areas. While he maintained the exercise was not directed at any specific country, Japan has previously identified China as its “biggest security threat.”
Experts suggest that Beijing’s push for regional dominance, particularly its assertive stance on Taiwan, has led Japan to significantly alter its defense strategy. Japan is currently working towards a long-term plan to increase its defense budget to 2% of GDP, aligning with NATO standards. Concurrently, it is strengthening its military alliance with the United States to enable a swift response to regional tensions and potential threats.
A bizarre and rare incident occurred in Pushpatli village of Hardoi district in Uttar Pradesh, India, where a farmer bit a cobra to death after being bitten by it.
According to local reports, 28-year-old farmer Punit was working in his paddy field when a black cobra appeared and coiled around his leg before biting him. Instead of panicking, the farmer retaliated by biting the snake on its head, killing it instantly.
Villagers quickly took the injured man to Hardoi Medical College, where doctors administered anti-venom and treated him.
Speaking later, Punit said, “It was an act of impulse. Biting a snake is extremely dangerous. If even a small amount of venom had entered my mouth, I wouldn’t have survived.”
At first, locals thought Punit was joking, but when they visited the field, they found the dead cobra lying there. Doctors warned that such actions are highly risky and should never be attempted.
Doctors in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad have surgically removed 29 steel spoons, 19 toothbrushes, and several pens from the stomach of a man named Sachin. He had been admitted to a rehabilitation centre in Hapur to recover from drug addiction but soon developed a strange compulsion to swallow such objects.
According to family members and staff, Sachin often complained of inadequate food at the centre. Sometimes he survived on just a single biscuit a day. Out of desperation, he began swallowing spoons, toothbrushes, and even pens, eventually becoming addicted to the habit.
His condition deteriorated when he started experiencing severe abdominal pain. Doctors performed X-rays and CT scans, which revealed a large collection of foreign objects inside his stomach. Emergency surgery was carried out, saving his life.
Medical professionals noted that without timely intervention, the complications could have turned fatal. Sachin is currently under observation.
Educational institutions across Bangladesh will remain closed for 12 consecutive days during the upcoming Durga Puja festival. According to the latest circular from the Ministry of Education, schools and colleges will observe holidays from 28 September to 7 October.
Students will enjoy an extended break as the weekly holidays on 26 and 27 September fall just before the official vacation. In addition, 6 October, the day of Laxmi Puja, has been declared as an optional holiday for schools and colleges.
The holiday package also covers other religious occasions, including Fateha-i-Yaj Daham, Prabarana Purnima, and Sri Sri Laxmi Puja. However, universities, being autonomous, will set their own vacation schedules through their respective syndicates.
Meanwhile, office employees will enjoy a shorter holiday period. They will get three consecutive days off — beginning with the official holiday on 2 October for Bijoya Dashami, followed by the regular weekend holidays on 3 and 4 October.
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