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Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Iwaya Takeshi met with Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs HE Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi on Monday in Kuwait, reaffirming a commitment to deepen their strategic partnership and collaborate on critical regional and international issues.In a press statement, the Embassy of Japan in Doha said minister al-Muraikhi expressed his desire to further promote bilateral co-operation under the strategic partnership. In response, minister Iwaya expressed his respect for Qatar’s diplomatic efforts towards the stabilisation of the Middle East, emphasising the importance of the strategic partnership with Qatar and his desire to further strengthen it.The two Ministers had a candid exchange of views on recent regional situations, including Iran, Gaza, and Syria. Minister Iwaya noted the importance of the fact that Gulf countries called on the parties involved to exercise restraint and to engage in dialogue during the exchange of attacks between Israel and Iran in June this year.He also mentioned the necessity of addressing the serious humanitarian situation in Gaza and acknowledged the diplomatic efforts of relevant countries towards the stabilisation of Syria, expressing his desire to continue close communication with Qatar.In addition, he emphasised Japan's consistent support for the ‘Two-State Solution’ and its desire to co-ordinate with Qatar. In response, minister al-Muraikhi explained Qatar’s position on the importance of dialogue towards regional stabilisation and thanked Japan's efforts, including the Conference on Co-operation Among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development and Japan’s long-standing support for Palestine.The two ministers also exchanged views on various international challenges, including their policies toward North Korea, as well as the nuclear, missile, and abductions issues. They confirmed to continue close communication to further strengthen bilateral relations.

Mt. Shinmoe on the southwestern Japan main island of Kyushu erupted Thursday, spewing a plume of ash 5,500 meters above the crater.The eruption that occurred this morning sent volcanic material 5,000 meters above the volcano's peak for the first time since July 3, Japan News Agency (Kyodo) said, citing the Japan Meteorological Agency.The agency maintained the level 3 alert on a scale of 5, calling on the public to refrain from approaching the crater in both Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures.Mt. Shinmoe, straddling the two prefectures and one of 50 constantly monitored active volcanoes in Japan, erupted on June 22 for the first time since June 2018.