Foreign former defense chiefs, premier to be decorated in Japan

Former U.S. defense secretaries Chuck Hagel and Ashton Carter, and former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn will be among the 142 foreigners recognized in this year's spring awards for making notable contributions to relations between Japan and their countries, the government said Tuesday.The list of recipients for the annual decorations was announced a month later than usual to allow for Emperor Naruhito's ascension to the throne early this month.The 142 foreign recipients come from 61 countries and regions.Hagel, 72, and Carter, 64, who served in U.S. President Barack Obama's …READ FULL ARTICLE