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(AP) - TOKYO, Aug. 5 Japan's efforts to achieve its midterm goal of curbing greenhouse gas emissions will cost each household 77,000 yen (some $810) a year, a government panel estimate showed Wednesday. The government has been promoting the use of advanced, low-emission vehicles, solar-power generation and other energy-saving measures with various programs, with the public expected to be forced to share part of the burden of financing. In June, Japan announced it would reduce its emissions by 15 percent compared with 2005 levels by 2020. The estimate, made by a subcommittee of the industry ministry's Advisory Committee for Natural...

Breaking. (In Japanese) Just 'news ticker' at this point. Says that there are reports of a 'guerilla' attack (incident) upon the US Air Force Base of Yokota, in western Tokyo.Breaking on Kyodo in Japanese.Considering the headline, it probably was a small incident created by terrorist elements of the Japanese radical or anarchist left. Details unconfirmed.Occasionally these elements plant pipe bombs or set down bottle rocket launchers and fire away at US bases in Japan. They have been known to injure people or destroy property.Until more information comes in, perhaps we might see it as a small action.Dispatch ran around a...

KYOTO — A three-day UN conference to discuss disarmament and security issues amid the growing threat of terrorism opened Wednesday in Kyoto. The meeting brings government officials, nongovernmental organization members and journalists from 12 countries together to talk about the impact of the Sept 11 attacks on security issues as well as terrorism in general and weapons of mass destruction.