Briefly

JAPAN

Mitsubishi Heavy to develop stealth fighter

Japan has picked Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as a main contractor to develop the country's own next generation stealth fighter for launch in the 2030s, Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said on Friday. The next generation stealth jet will replace F-2s that Japan codeveloped with the United States. They are due to be retired around 2035. The Defense Ministry is seeking 58.7 billion yen ($556 million) in the 2021 budget for research into developing the aircraft.

UNITED STATES

Government ends gray wolf protections

Officials on Thursday stripped Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves in most of the country, ending long-standing federal safeguards and putting states and tribes in charge of overseeing the predators. The US Department of Interior announcement just days ahead of the Nov 3 election could lead to resumption of wolf hunts in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Agencies via Xinhua