The Register’s (United Kingdom) Web site reported Feb. 17 that Japan signed onto an international charter aimed at improving satellite imaging response to major disasters. A Canadian official was quoted in the article as saying Japan joined because it thought it may be at risk for a tsunami, similar to the ones that struck in Southeast Asia and India on Dec. 26. Japan will have an imaging satellite in orbit later this year. Other signatories of the charter include Argentina, the European Space Agency, Canada and India.