Main news(2024/06/27)
China's former defense minister and former defense minister stripped of party membership for accepting bribes and other corruption
2024-06-27 22:59:00
On the 27th, the Chinese Communist Party decided to strip the two former defense ministers of their party membership for violating party rules and accepting huge bribes. It is unusual for two former defense ministers to be punished at the same time, and the Xi Jinping leadership has demonstrated its intention to crack down on corruption within the military.
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Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi: "A Japan-North Korea summit must be held to bring the abducted victims back to Japan as soon as possible"
2024-06-27 22:44:00
A United Nations symposium on the North Korean abduction issue was held online, and Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi emphasized his intention to work toward the realization of a Japan-North Korea summit meeting in order to ensure the early return of all victims, and called for cooperation from the international community.
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Osaka Governor Yoshimura to consider amending ordinances to ban elderly people from using mobile phones at ATMs
2024-06-27 22:29:00
In order to prevent the ever-increasing number of special frauds, Osaka Governor Yoshimura has indicated his intention to consider amending prefectural ordinances to prohibit elderly people from using mobile phones at ATMs.
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Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare begins discussions on measures to combat "health hazards caused by cosmetic medical treatment"
2024-06-27 22:07:00
In response to an increase in inquiries about health damage caused by cosmetic medical treatments such as hair removal and liposuction, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has established a study group to discuss countermeasures, and discussions began on the evening of the 27th.
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Taiwan raises travel warning to China to second highest level
2024-06-27 21:54:00
Following the Chinese authorities' announcement of guidelines on punishment, including the death penalty, for "Taiwan independence advocates," the Taiwanese authorities raised their travel warning for China to the second most dangerous level on the 27th, likely prolonging the stagnation of exchanges between China and Taiwan.
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Emperor and Empress say farewell to King Charles and Queen
2024-06-27 20:50:00
Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, who are on an official visit to the United Kingdom to promote international friendship, visited Buckingham Palace in London to bid farewell to King Charles and Queen Consort, concluding their official schedule as state guests.
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Cyber attack on Kadokawa, hacker group claims responsibility on dark website
2024-06-27 20:45:00
It has been revealed that a group of hackers calling themselves "Black Suit" has issued a statement claiming to have carried out a cyber attack on Kadokawa, a major publishing company currently experiencing system problems with its video streaming service Nico Nico Douga and book publishing, stealing the company's business plans, user data, and other data.
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First confirmed passage of North Korean government vessel equipped with gun-like weapon off Yamato Bank, off the coast of Noto
2024-06-27 20:35:00
It has been discovered that a North Korean vessel equipped with what appears to be a gun was spotted sailing for the first time last year in the waters off the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture, known as a good fishing ground and where illegal fishing by North Korean fishing boats and other vessels has been a problem. With the peak fishing season approaching, the Japan Coast Guard is further strengthening its vigilance with this year's focused security measures, which began last month.
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Reporting health hazard information on functional foods to become legal obligation from September
2024-06-27 19:40:00
In response to the issue of people who took Kobayashi Pharmaceutical's red koji supplements developing kidney diseases and other problems, the Consumer Affairs Agency has presented a proposal to revise the Food Labeling Standards, which it has been considering.The standard will require businesses that register functional foods to collect and report information on health damage from September of this year.
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[Breaking News] Athletics Japan Championships kicks off, Toyoda Ken advances to 400m Hurdles final
2024-06-27 19:10:00
The Japan Championships, which will decide the best athlete in Japan, began on the 27th in Niigata City. It will be held over four days until the 30th. This year, it also serves as a selection for the Paris Olympics, and if a runner beats the participation standard and wins, they will be selected for the team. In the preliminaries for the men's 400m hurdles, Toyoda Kane, who has already beaten the participation standard and is aiming to win and compete in his first Olympic Games, advanced to the finals on the 28th with the fastest time overall. NHK is broadcasting the event on its BS channel.
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Osaka District Court orders government to disclose documents regarding extension of former prosecutor general Kurokawa's retirement age
2024-06-27 18:59:00
In a lawsuit filed by a university professor against the government for documents that could verify the circumstances surrounding the Cabinet decision to change the interpretation of the law and extend the retirement age of former Tokyo High Public Prosecutor's Office Prosecutor General Kurokawa, the Osaka District Court ordered the disclosure of some of the documents. The ruling stated, "The change in the interpretation of the law can only be considered to have been aimed at extending the retirement age of Mr. Kurokawa, who is close to retiring from public service."
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Adding one more anti-cancer drug before surgery for esophageal cancer increases survival rate: research group
2024-06-27 18:49:00
The standard treatment for esophageal cancer has been to use two types of anticancer drugs before surgery to shrink the cancer, but a group from the National Cancer Center has announced research results showing that adding another type of anticancer drug can increase the patient's survival rate. It is said that this will be a catalyst for a review of esophageal cancer treatment methods worldwide.
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Civil Code provision not allowing married couples to have different surnames violates constitution, lawsuit begins against government
2024-06-27 18:04:00
Ten people living in Tokyo and elsewhere are seeking compensation from the government, arguing that the Civil Code provision that does not allow married couples to have different surnames violates the Constitution. The plaintiffs argued that "the pain of being forced to have the same surname as a married couple should be treated as a human rights issue." Meanwhile, the government has indicated that it will fight the case.
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22 more people certified as disaster-related deaths in Noto Peninsula earthquake, bringing death toll to 281
2024-06-27 18:02:00
The cities of Wajima and Nanao in Ishikawa Prefecture have certified a total of 22 people who died while evacuating after the Noto Peninsula earthquake as disaster-related deaths by the 27th. The death toll from the Noto Peninsula earthquake has now reached 281, surpassing that of the Kumamoto earthquake.
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Evacuation order issued to Kohoku Town, Saga Prefecture; 3,715 households and 9,586 people in the entire town
2024-06-27 17:36:00
The town of Kohoku in Saga Prefecture issued an evacuation order to 3,715 households and 9,586 people throughout the town at 5 p.m. on the 27th, citing the increased risk of disasters due to heavy rain. The evacuation order corresponds to alert level 4 out of a five-level alert system, and calls for everyone to immediately evacuate from dangerous areas.
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"Unseasonable rainy season" affects crops, some people complain of feeling unwell
2024-06-27 17:15:00
This year's rainy season began nationwide 4 to 16 days later than average. In the Kanto-Koshin region, the rainy season began around the 21st of this month, 14 days later than average, making it the third latest since statistics began to be collected in 1951. In central Tokyo, during the week since the rainy season began, there were only two days of significant rainfall, while there were four days of midsummer days with maximum temperatures exceeding 30 degrees, making it difficult to feel whether the rainy season has arrived or not. Concerns are being raised about the impact of this unseasonable rainy season on crops and people's health.
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Seven of the top 10 major electricity companies cut electricity rates in August due to falling LNG prices
2024-06-27 16:48:00
Seven of the top 10 electric power companies will see a reduction in electricity bills due in August this year due to falling prices of liquefied natural gas (LNG), a fuel for thermal power generation.
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Japan Fair Trade Commission orders surcharge on five valve manufacturers and sellers for cartel
2024-06-27 16:38:00
The Japan Fair Trade Commission has ordered five companies that manufacture and sell "valves" for attaching to LP gas containers to pay a total of more than 700 million yen in penalties for forming a cartel to unfairly raise prices, thereby violating the Antimonopoly Act.
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Narita Airport unable to secure fuel, suspending new and increased flights for 57 flights per week
2024-06-27 16:21:00
Overseas airlines are increasingly suspending flight schedules due to an inability to secure fuel for their aircraft, and it has been revealed that 57 new flights and increases to the number of flights per week have been postponed at Narita Airport.
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Shareholders' meeting peaks on the 27th Mitsubishi UFJ president apologizes after business improvement order
2024-06-27 16:09:00
The peak of shareholder meetings for listed companies is on the 27th, with many companies holding their meetings from the morning.
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Tochigi Nasu Town body abandonment case victim's eldest daughter arrested on suspicion of murder
2024-06-27 15:43:00
In a case where the bodies of a company executive couple were found in Nasu Town, Tochigi Prefecture, and six people, including the eldest daughter's common-law husband, were arrested on suspicion of murder, the Metropolitan Police Department has also arrested the eldest daughter on suspicion of being involved in the incident. The eldest daughter was involved in the management of the company together with her common-law husband, and the Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the details, believing that there was a feud between the couple over management policy.
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Paris Olympics Men's Volleyball Qualifiers: United States in same group
2024-06-27 14:21:00
The draw for the men's volleyball competition at the Paris Olympics has been held, and Japan, ranked second in the world and aiming to win its first medal in 52 years, has been placed in the same group as the United States, ranked fifth in the world, and Argentina, which won the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, in the preliminary league.
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Saitama: Former dog breeder in his 80s arrested for suffocating a dog he was raising
2024-06-27 14:09:00
A former dog breeder in his 80s who ran a dog sales business in Moroyama Town, Saitama Prefecture, was arrested on suspicion of violating the Animal Welfare Act for sealing one of his dogs in a bag and suffocating it to death.
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Roads temporarily flooded due to large amount of water from construction site in Minato Ward, Tokyo; water pipes may have burst
2024-06-27 14:04:00
Just before noon on the 27th, a large amount of water overflowed from a construction site in Minato Ward, Tokyo, temporarily flooding the surrounding roads. The Metropolitan Police Department has restricted traffic in the area and is investigating the exact cause, suspecting that a water pipe burst during construction.
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Smartphone use to be included in "dangerous behavior" while riding a bicycle
2024-06-27 13:45:00
The Road Traffic Law requires that people who have been arrested multiple times within three years for "dangerous behavior" while riding a bicycle must take a safety course run by the local public safety commission. The National Police Agency plans to add "distracted driving," which is riding a bicycle while using a smartphone or other device, to the "dangerous behavior" that is subject to the law, and will proceed with the procedure to amend the Enforcement Order of the Road Traffic Law.
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A 39-year-old suspect was arrested for possessing more than 1,100 prescription drugs with the intent of transferring them to others.
2024-06-27 12:54:00
A 39-year-old suspect was arrested for possessing over 1,100 prescription drugs with the intent of transferring them to others. The Metropolitan Police Department is currently investigating the details of the case, as it is believed that the suspect frequented the area around "Toyoko" in Kabukicho, Shinjuku, and transferred the drugs to young people with the intention of overdosing on them.
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LINE to accelerate measures to prevent recurrence of large-scale data leak incident
2024-06-27 12:46:00
In the wake of the massive data leak incident at LINE, it has been revealed that Yahoo! JAPAN, the operator of LINE, has decided to move ahead with its initial plan to separate its network from the Korean company responsible for the leak, as a preventative measure. The separation is set to be completed by March of next year.
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Okinawa prefecture protests to U.S. military over sexual assault by U.S. soldier: "Absolutely unacceptable"
2024-06-27 12:45:00
In response to the case in which a soldier attached to the U.S. Kadena Air Base in Okinawa was indicted on charges of luring a girl under the age of 16 for lewd purposes and sexually assaulting her, the Okinawa prefectural government protested to the top officials of Kadena Air Base on the 27th, saying, "This is completely unacceptable. It causes anxiety to the Okinawan residents who are forced to live next to the base," and strongly urged them to prevent a recurrence.
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30 years since the Matsumoto Sarin gas attack: Residents visit memorial stand to mourn victims
2024-06-27 12:05:00
On the 27th, it will be 30 years since the Aum Shinrikyo Sarin Incident, in which the highly toxic sarin gas was released in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture, killing eight people. Residents mourning the victims have visited a flower tribute set up near the scene, and the local association that set it up is asking for people to think about the incident again.
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Ibaraki: Welfare facility shuttle bus collides with light passenger vehicle, 1 seriously injured, 8 slightly injured
2024-06-27 11:18:00
On the morning of the 27th, a van used to transport people at a welfare facility for the disabled and a light passenger car collided on a prefectural road in Kasama City, Ibaraki Prefecture. Nine people in both vehicles were taken to the hospital, one of whom was seriously injured and eight others with only minor injuries.
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Japan, US and South Korea commerce and industry ministers share strong concerns over "economic coercion"
2024-06-27 10:55:00
The first-ever meeting of the trade and industry ministers of Japan, the United States and South Korea was held in Washington, D.C. In the joint statement released, they expressed strong concerns about pressure on trading partners, with China in mind, and included cooperation in strengthening supply chains for semiconductors and critical minerals.
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UK's final leader debate before general election: economic policy debate
2024-06-27 10:32:00
In the UK, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of the ruling Conservative Party, who are competing for power in the general election on July 4th, and Leader of the main opposition Labour Party, Starmer, held their final debate before the election, engaging in a fierce debate over economic policy and other issues.
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Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani hits leadoff home run for second consecutive game, his 25th of the season
2024-06-27 10:11:00
Shohei Ohtani of the Major League Baseball Dodgers hit his 25th solo home run of the season in a game against the White Sox on the 26th, making it his second consecutive leadoff home run.
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Small plane crashes on Okinawa's Iejima Island: Japan Transport Safety Board says plane may have crashed due to failure to correct low altitude
2024-06-27 10:03:00
Last year, a small plane crashed at an airport on Iejima Island in Okinawa Prefecture, killing two people on board. The Japan Transport Safety Board compiled a report stating that the plane may have crashed because it was unable to correct its low altitude when approaching the runway. However, the board said it was not equipped with a device to record the flight, and therefore could not disclose details.
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National pension contribution rate reaches record high for 12th consecutive year, number of subscribers at record low
2024-06-27 10:02:00
The contribution rate for the National Pension System, which is for self-employed individuals and others, was 77.6% last year, the highest ever, and the 12th consecutive year that it has exceeded the previous year. Meanwhile, the number of people enrolled in the system was the lowest ever at about 14 million.
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US Supreme Court mistakenly posts unpublished decision on website
2024-06-27 09:48:00
The US Supreme Court accidentally posted on its website documents that hinted at the content of a court decision that had not yet been made public, causing the contents of the decision to be leaked. As the decision was about a case regarding abortion, which is one of the main issues in the upcoming presidential election, the US media has been reporting the matter widely.
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Yen weakens to dollar level for the first time in 37 and a half years, raising concerns over market intervention
2024-06-27 09:14:00
The yen fell to the upper 160 yen range against the dollar on the Tokyo foreign exchange market on the 27th and in the New York market on the 26th, reaching a record low of about 37 and a half years, creating a situation in which the yen is prone to selling. In this situation, there is growing concern in the market about market intervention by the government and the Bank of Japan.
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Bolivia: Soldiers briefly occupy city center square, some at presidential palace
2024-06-27 08:57:00
On the 26th, armed soldiers in Bolivia temporarily occupied a square in the capital city of La Paz. Some of the soldiers stormed into the presidential palace, but later reportedly withdrew.
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North Korea announces successful multiple warhead missile separation and guidance test
2024-06-27 06:54:00
North Korea's Missile General Administration announced on the 27th through the Workers' Party of Korea's official newspaper and other sources that it had successfully conducted a separation and guidance test of a multiple-warhead missile on the 26th.
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Emperor attends dinner hosted by CEOs of the world's financial district, the City
2024-06-27 06:49:00
The Emperor, who is on an official visit to the United Kingdom to promote international friendship, attended a welcome dinner hosted by representatives of the City of London, the world's largest financial district.
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Heavy rains expected in western Japan, especially Kyushu, as rainy season front becomes more active
2024-06-27 06:35:00
Due to the activity of the rainy season front becoming more active, there is a risk of very heavy rain in western Japan, especially Kyushu, through the 29th. The ground has become loose in some areas due to the rain so far, so please be on guard against landslides and rising rivers.
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Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare to work with local governments to address "Megumi" group home for people with disabilities
2024-06-27 06:16:00
Regarding the issue of excessive food charges at Megumi, a nationwide operator of group homes for people with disabilities, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare notified Megumi on the 26th that it will take measures to prevent the renewal of certification for all of its facilities nationwide. Facilities whose certification has been renewed are expected to be unable to operate one after another, and the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has decided to respond in cooperation with local governments across the country, including by setting up a liaison council.
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Aso and Kono dine together in Tokyo to exchange views on LDP presidential election
2024-06-27 05:45:00
LDP Vice President Taro Aso and Digital Minister Kono, who belongs to the Aso faction, had dinner in Tokyo on the evening of the 26th. Kono has run for the party's presidency twice, including the last time three years ago, and it is believed they exchanged views on how to respond to the election to be held by autumn.
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ANA plane makes emergency descent due to loss of cabin pressure, 11 people complain of feeling unwell
2024-06-27 05:33:00
This month, an All Nippon Airways passenger plane heading from Nagasaki Airport to Chubu Centrair International Airport made an emergency descent due to a loss of cabin pressure, and it was discovered that 11 passengers and crew members were complaining of feeling unwell. The National Transportation Safety Board plans to investigate the cause as a serious incident that could have led to an accident.
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