Foreign media are expressing doubts and concerns over the Japanese government's treatment of people who are disembarking the coronavirus- hit cruise ship. Japan is allowing those people to use public transportation and to return to their homes.

People started leaving the ship on Wednesday and will continue to disembark on Thursday and Friday.

Japanese Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has called into question Japan's financing of a coal-fired power plant in Vietnam.

Environment Ministry officials say a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation and others are planning to build the Vung Ang 2 power plant in Vietnam's Ha Tinh Province. The government-affiliated Japan Bank for International Cooperation is among those considering funding the project.