TEPCO shareholders, activists rally outside Japan Supreme Court over Fukushima liability

A group of plaintiffs, including some shareholders of Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) and several non-governmental organizations, held a rally in front of Japan's Supreme Court on Thursday, urging the court to accept their appeal and reassess the responsibility of the company's former management in the 2011 Fukushima disaster.

In July 2022, some TEPCO shareholders filed a lawsuit with the Tokyo District Court. The first-instance ruling found four of the company's five former executives liable, ordering them to pay 13.3 trillion yen (about 83 billion U.S. dollars) in damages to the shareholders.

However, during the second-instance trial, the Tokyo High Court overturned the initial ruling and ruled against the plaintiffs. Some shareholders of TEPCO argue that the company's former management bears responsibility for the Fukushima disaster and should be liable for financial compensation.

"We hope that the Supreme Court will deliver a correct and fair ruling," said Ogawa Sachiko, a representative of the plaintiffs.

The rally also attracted many Fukushima residents, as well as evacuees who were forced to leave their hometowns after the nuclear accident. They said the impacts of the Fukushima disaster are far from over.

"As the evacuation zones continue to shrink, there are still many evacuees who have not received the support they need. I believe the government bears significant responsibility in this regard," said Maya Sato, a Fukushima resident.

"Essentially, even after 15 years, it remains unclear who is responsible for the nuclear accident, which makes me feel as though there is an intentional cover-up of the issues. As a person who once lived in Fukushima, I hope that the Japanese government and TEPCO can provide a truly responsible response," said an evacuee from Fukushima.

Hit by a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and the ensuing tsunami on March 11, 2011, the Fukushima nuclear plant suffered core meltdowns that released radiation, resulting in a Level 7 nuclear accident, the highest on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale.

TEPCO shareholders, activists rally outside Japan Supreme Court over Fukushima liability

U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that Israel's attack on Beirut "should not have happened," while the Israeli military said it will continue its operations in Lebanon.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a joint statement that the Israeli military struck Hezbollah targets in southern Beirut's Dahieh suburb on Sunday, in response to firing into Israeli territory.

Meanwhile, Lebanese media reported an Israeli airstrike targeted a building in the Ghobeiri area in Beirut's southern suburbs.

The strike drew criticism from Trump, who said a regional peace deal, including Lebanon, was "very close" and urged all parties, especially Israel, to stand down.

"We are very close to a deal that will bring peace to the region, including to Lebanon, and all sides should stand down," he wrote on Truth Social.

"This morning's attack on Beirut should not have happened, particularly on a special day when we are so close to a Peace Deal with Iran," he wrote.

Israel's Sunday strikes should not disrupt the diplomacy efforts for a U.S.-Iran peace deal, Trump said.

"There should be no more attacks by Israel anywhere in Lebanon, but there should also be no more attacks by any other party, including Hezbollah, against Israel," the U.S. president added.

On the same day, the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir, during his inspection of the Northern Command, said Israeli forces will continue military operations in Lebanon in an effort to secure more favorable terms in future U.S.-mediated negotiations between the two sides.

Zamir said the IDF's operations in key areas such as the Beaufort Ridge in southern Lebanon were crucial, and that Israeli forces will continue their offensive and deepen their ground advance in necessary areas to eliminate security threats posed by Hezbollah.

He added that the IDF remains on high alert for potential developments on other fronts.

Trump says Israeli strike on Beirut should not have happened; Israel says it will continue Lebanon operations