US Marine Arrested for Murder in Okinawa; PM Takaichi Protests to US

Police in Japan's Okinawa prefecture have arrested a US marine, 20-year-old Davin Ballard, on suspicion of murdering and robbing 39-year-old Anna Yagi, newspaper South China Morning Post reported. According to the report, Ballard, who is stationed at Futenma Airbase, is suspected of killing Yagi at a hotel in the city of Naha and stealing her wallet and backpack. The suspect denies the allegations.

Following the arrest, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi issued a sharp protest. According to Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun, Takaichi described the incident on social media platform X as a "cruel and heinous act" and stated that Japan had lodged a strong protest with the US administration. Further details regarding the investigation have not yet been released.