Tokyo prosecutors issued an arrest Thursday for Nissan's former chairman Carlos Ghosn, who skipped bail while awaiting trial in Japan and is now in Lebanon.

The first group of Japanese evacuees from a virus-hit Chinese city arrived in Tokyo on Wednesday, a dozen of them with cough and fever including two who were later diagnosed with pneumonia.

Japan is sending its first chartered flight to China to evacuate Japanese citizens from Wuhan, the city at the center of a deadly viral outbreak. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Tuesday that the evacuees will be allowed to go home after quarantine procedures at the airport, but asked them to remain in their houses for about two weeks. Officials say the plane, which is leaving Japan on Tuesday, will also take face masks, hazmat suits and other relief goods for Chinese and foreign residents who remain in the worst-affected province.

Japan logged a deficit for a second straight year last year as its exports were hurt by a slowdown of demand in China amid a tariff war with the U.S.

Newly-appointed Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Naoki Ito on Monday said Japan is ready to extend any kind of assistance in resolving Rohingya crisis as the country wants a sustainable solution to the problem.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Monday that Japan will form a space defense unit to protect itself from potential threats as rivals develop missiles and other technology and the new unit will work closely with its American counterpart recently launched by President Donald Trump.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged Sunday to bolster his country's role under its security pact with the U.S. in "outer space and cyberspace," as the allies marked the 60th anniversary of a treaty that has been the basis for their postwar defense alliance.

Though former Nissan Chairman Ghosn is unlikely to stand trial in a real court, he has made himself a key witness in putting Japan's justice system on trial.

Japan's justice minister vowed Monday to strengthen border departure checks and review bail conditions after Nissan's former chairman, Carlos Ghosn, fled the country despite the stringent surveillance imposed as a condition of his release.

The government has appointed Shahabuddin Ahmed, former Food Secretary now on post-retirement leave, as Bangladesh Ambassador to Japan for three years on contractual basis.