Japan's navy chief sacked for blunders

Japan's Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba sacked the head of the navy, forfeited some pay himself and punished dozens of other staff on Friday, after a string of scandals including the sinking of a fishing boat in a collision with a warship.

The defense ministry said Ishiba, who has himself come under pressure to resign, imposed penalties such as suspensions and salary cuts on more than 80 staff over the incidents, among which was a leak of classified data related to a missile defense system Japan shares with the United States.

The top admiral's job has been on the line for the past month after last month's collision involving a hi-tech naval destroyer, but opposition politicians had also wanted to bring down Ishiba, who is seen by analysts and the public as one of Fukuda's most competent cabinet ministers.