Main news(2024/12/06)
Romanian presidential election invalidated by court; pro-Russia candidate takes the lead
2024-12-06 22:56:00
On the 6th, Romania's Constitutional Court announced that it had made a decision to invalidate the presidential election held on November 24th. Georgescu, an independent who was previously unknown but advocated pro-Russia positions, had campaigned on social media and had come in at the top of the polls, with a runoff election scheduled for December 8th. Supporters of Georgescu have reacted negatively to the court's decision, and confusion is expected.
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US November employment statistics: 227,000 more employed than expected
2024-12-06 22:45:00
The November employment statistics for the United States, which influence the yen exchange rate and stock prices, were released, showing that the number of non-agricultural employees increased by 227,000 from the previous month, exceeding market expectations of an increase of around 220,000. The unemployment rate also rose 0.1 percentage point from the previous month to 4.2%. The previous October employment statistics showed that employment growth was significantly lower than market expectations, so attention will be focused on how financial markets will react to these statistics.
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Paraguay expels Chinese diplomats, may have been trying to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan
2024-12-06 21:40:00
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Paraguay, the only South American country with diplomatic relations with Taiwan, revoked the visas of Chinese diplomats and ordered them to leave the country, accusing them of "interfering in the country's internal affairs." Western media have reported that the Chinese diplomats were lobbying for the severing of diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
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High school baseball seven-inning system: Kōryō Ren to discuss issues and implement measures by December next year
2024-12-06 21:11:00
The Japan High School Baseball Federation announced that after much discussion in a working group examining the seven-inning system to protect players' safety from the extreme heat, both opinions on the merits of the system, such as "reducing the risk of heat stroke," and the demerits of "reducing players' opportunities to play," were reported to the board of directors. In response to these results, the Japan High School Baseball Federation will set up a new meeting to consider issues in high school baseball, including the seven-inning system, and will put together countermeasures by December of next year.
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JR Central suspends drilling survey for Linear Chuo Shinkansen in Shizuoka Prefecture
2024-12-06 20:54:00
Regarding the Linear Chuo Shinkansen, for which Shizuoka Prefecture has not given permission to start construction, JR Central announced that it has suspended the "boring survey" that had been underway in Shizuoka Prefecture since last month prior to the tunnel construction. In an area of Yamanashi Prefecture where the geology is fragile, the hole for the survey has become clogged with soil, making it difficult to continue.
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Government considers banning unilateral price setting by ordering party through amendment of Subcontracting Law
2024-12-06 20:53:00
Regarding the proposed amendments to the Subcontracting Act, which is currently under discussion in order to achieve wage increases that exceed inflation, interviews with related parties have revealed that the government is considering including wording that would prohibit unilateral price setting that puts pressure on the management of companies that receive contracts.
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Go "Oza" triple crown champion Iyama defends title, becoming the all-time record holder for total titles won
2024-12-06 19:04:00
In the best-of-five match for the Oza tournament, one of the seven major Go titles, triple-crown champion Yuta Iyama (35) defeated challenger Toramaru Shibano (25), 9th dan, to defend his title and win his fourth consecutive championship.
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12 more people confirmed as disaster-related deaths in Noto Peninsula earthquake, bringing death toll to 475
2024-12-06 19:00:00
Two municipalities in Ishikawa Prefecture have certified 12 people who died after the Noto Peninsula earthquake as disaster-related, bringing the total number of disaster-related deaths to 247 and the total death toll, including direct deaths, to 475.
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Large-scale blackout in Shikoku "caused by miscommunication"; measures to prevent recurrence submitted to government
2024-12-06 18:57:00
Regarding the large-scale blackout that occurred in Shikoku last month, Shikoku Electric Power Transmission and Distribution Co., Ltd. stated that it was caused by a mistake in coordination with Kansai Electric Power Transmission and Distribution Co., Ltd., and has put together measures to prevent recurrence, including strengthening coordination, such as reviewing the memorandum of understanding held by the two companies.
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It will be cold nationwide tomorrow, and snow is expected to intensify mainly along the Japan Sea coast through the 8th.
2024-12-06 18:39:00
Due to the winter pressure pattern and strong cold front, the temperature will drop sharply across the country on the 7th, and snow is expected to intensify mainly on the Sea of Japan side through Sunday the 8th, so people should be careful when driving on snowy roads and the impact on traffic.
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Lawyer and prosecutor file criminal charges over improper investigation into attack on former Prime Minister Kishida
2024-12-06 18:09:00
Regarding the case of a prosecutor conducting improper interrogation that denied the defendant's character, who was indicted on charges of throwing an explosive device near former Prime Minister Kishida, who was visiting Wakayama City last year to support an election, a lawyer held a press conference on the 6th and stated his intention to consider filing criminal charges against the prosecutor, saying, "This was illegal interrogation that violated the right to remain silent."
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Prince and Princess Akishino visit Türkiye, visit "Foundation of Friendship" warship exhibition, etc.
2024-12-06 17:57:00
Prince and Princess Akishino, who are on an official visit to Turkey to promote international friendship, visited a museum in Istanbul and viewed exhibits on the shipwreck of an Ottoman warship that occurred off the coast of Wakayama Prefecture over 130 years ago and which is said to have laid the foundation for friendship between the two countries.
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Seiichi Ota passes away at age 79. Former LDP member of the House of Representatives and Minister of Agriculture, etc.
2024-12-06 17:53:00
Seiichi Ota, a former member of the House of Representatives of the Liberal Democratic Party and former Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, passed away on the 4th at a hospital in Tokyo. He was 79 years old.
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Party leaders' political fundraising income for the past year: Prime Minister Ishiba, president of the Liberal Democratic Party, tops
2024-12-06 17:53:00
When we looked at the political fund income of each party leader for the past year, Prime Minister Shinzo Ishiba, who is also the president of the Liberal Democratic Party, had the most, at just over 50 million yen.
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When will influenza infections peak? Number of patients continues to increase after the start of the epidemic
2024-12-06 17:19:00
As of the 1st of this month, the number of influenza patients reported nationwide was 4.86 per medical institution, and has been increasing for four consecutive weeks since the start of the nationwide epidemic. When will the infection peak? What kind of measures are needed? We interviewed them.
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Six people injured in accident at wooden maze; three people, including manager at the time, referred to prosecutors
2024-12-06 16:50:00
In an accident three years ago in 2021, the floor of a wooden multi-story maze collapsed at an amusement park in Kato City, Hyogo Prefecture, leaving six people with serious and minor injuries. On the 6th, police referred papers to prosecutors on suspicion of professional negligence resulting in injury to three people, including the amusement park's then manager, claiming that the accident was caused by negligence in safety management at the facility.
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LDP: Teacher salaries to be increased by 10% or more without conditions starting next year
2024-12-06 16:21:00
Regarding the handling of the additional salary increase for teachers, the Liberal Democratic Party has put together an emergency resolution calling for an increase to at least 10% to be implemented from next fiscal year, without attaching conditions such as a reduction in overtime work.
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Two mommy friends arrested for allegedly soliciting illegal part-time work and defrauding tablet devices
2024-12-06 15:49:00
The Aichi Prefectural Police Headquarters arrested two "mom friends" in their 30s from Tochigi Prefecture, whose children attend the same nursery school, for soliciting illegal part-time workers and defrauding a store of tablet computers. During police questioning, one of the women stated that she had debts from hosts and gambling.
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JR East requests fare increase, average fare increase of 7.1% from March 2026
2024-12-06 15:47:00
JR East has announced that it has applied to the government for a fare increase from March 2026. This applies to regular fares as well as commuter passes for work and school, with the overall increase coming to an average of 7.1%. The starting fare for Yamanote Line tickets will be increased by 10 yen, from the current 150 yen to 160 yen. This is the second increase in the fares of JR East tickets and passes, following the March 2023 increase when a "barrier-free fare" was added to some sections of the Tokyo metropolitan area, but this will be the first across-the-board fare increase since the company was founded in 1987, excluding times when the consumption tax is introduced or increased.
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Democratic Party leader Noda to submit bill to ban corporate and group donations next week
2024-12-06 15:41:00
Regarding political reform, Constitutional Democratic Party leader Noda stated at a press conference that he intends to submit a bill to the House of Representatives next week to ban corporate and organizational donations.
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"Emergency martial law" troops attack election commission building over "election fraud allegations" in South Korean media
2024-12-06 15:37:00
It was revealed on the 6th that when South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol declared "emergency martial law," approximately 300 martial law troops were deployed to the Central Election Commission building and other locations.
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LDP approves bill to amend Political Funds Control Act to include "special consideration expenditures"
2024-12-06 15:19:00
In preparation for the further revision of the Political Funds Control Act, the Liberal Democratic Party has approved a bill that will abolish policy activity expenses, while creating "sensitive expenditures" that require special consideration in terms of disclosure, such as those related to diplomatic secrets, and which will be audited by a third-party organization.
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A restaurant owner in his 30s was arrested in connection with a attempted robbery in Ota Ward, Tokyo
2024-12-06 15:11:00
In connection with a case in which two people were arrested for attempting to rob a house in Tokyo's Ota Ward by handing someone a note containing a robbery plan, the Metropolitan Police Department has also arrested a restaurant owner in his 30s.
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Actress Miho Nakayama dies at age 54 at her home in Shibuya, Tokyo, according to the Metropolitan Police Department.
2024-12-06 15:08:00
According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, actress Miho Nakayama (54) was found dead at her home in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo on the morning of the 6th.
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Retired thoroughbred racehorse collides with car, driver slightly injured in Gunma
2024-12-06 14:04:00
In the early morning of the 6th, a car collided with a male thoroughbred weighing approximately 500 kg that had escaped from a ranch in Isesaki City, Gunma Prefecture, and the woman driving the car sustained minor injuries. The horse died in the accident, and the police are currently investigating the details.
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Musk meets with U.S. Congress members for first time to exchange views
2024-12-06 13:59:00
Businessman Elon Musk, who will lead an organization to cut government spending under the incoming Trump administration, has already begun his work, meeting for the first time with members of Congress to exchange ideas.
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Russian Foreign Minister: "Red line that must not be crossed. If you don't understand, act"
2024-12-06 13:39:00
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has warned that the West must understand that there are red lines that Russia will not cross, and that if it does not, it will demonstrate this with further actions, citing Ukraine's attacks with long-range missiles provided by the West.
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Retinal cell transplants made from iPS cells “still take root after one year, light in a dark place”
2024-12-06 13:06:00
A group at a hospital in Kobe City developing the world's first treatment to transplant retinal cells made from iPS cells into patients with serious eye diseases has announced that cells transplanted into three patients were still there one year later, and that one of the patients' vision had improved and he was able to sense light in dark places.
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Prime Minister Ishiba revises the Political Funds Control Law: "Ensuring fairness through audits involving each political party"
2024-12-06 12:40:00
On the 6th, Prime Minister Ishiba attended the House of Councillors Budget Committee for a general question and answer session. Regarding the second revision of the Political Funds Control Act, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) raised doubts about the LDP bill to abolish policy activity expenses while having a third-party audit of "expenses requiring special consideration" that require special consideration in disclosure. Prime Minister Ishiba countered that the audits involving each party would ensure fairness.
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National Police Agency considers introducing "fake identity investigation" to crack down on illegal part-time jobs
2024-12-06 12:05:00
Amid a rise in crimes committed through illegal part-time work, the National Police Agency is considering introducing a new investigative technique in which investigators would use fictitious personal identification documents to apply for illegal part-time work and contact criminal groups, according to interviews with relevant parties.
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LDP and Komeito agree to raise annual income requirement for "special dependent deduction" from 1.03 million yen
2024-12-06 12:00:00
The Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito Party and the Democratic Party for the People held tax system discussions and agreed to raise the annual income requirement for the "specific dependent deduction," which reduces the income tax burden on households with children such as university students, from 1.03 million yen in relation to the review of the "1.03 million yen annual income barrier."
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Saudi diplomat in Japan returns to Japan after failing to appear in court over suspicion of violation of anti-nuisance ordinance
2024-12-06 11:49:00
A diplomat from the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Japan was asked by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department to appear for investigation after he allegedly groped a woman's breast at a club in Tokyo in July, but the diplomat did not comply and returned to Japan last month, according to an interview with a person involved in the investigation. On the 6th, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department sent the documents to the prosecutor's office on suspicion of violating the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's nuisance prevention ordinance.
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Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Muto: Shimane Nuclear Power Plant Unit 2 to be restarted tomorrow "Safety must be the top priority"
2024-12-06 11:17:00
Regarding Chugoku Electric Power's Shimane Nuclear Power Plant Unit 2, which is scheduled to be restarted on the 7th, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Muto called on the company to prioritize safety when carrying out operations at the plant, at a press conference after the Cabinet meeting on the 6th.
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North Korea to hold Supreme People's Assembly on 22nd of next month to discuss constitutional amendments
2024-12-06 10:53:00
North Korea has announced that it will hold a Supreme People's Assembly on the 22nd of next month to discuss amending the constitution. General Secretary Kim Jong Un instructed at the Supreme People's Assembly in January this year to amend the constitution to clearly state that South Korea is the "number one enemy country," and attention is focused on what specific content he will present.
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Prince and Princess Akishino visit Turkey to commemorate 100 years since diplomatic relations were established
2024-12-06 10:43:00
Prince and Princess Akishino, who are on an official visit to Turkey to promote international friendship, attended a ceremony in Istanbul, the country's largest city, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
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Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Murakami: "Legal restrictions will be implemented if necessary" regarding false information on the internet
2024-12-06 10:33:00
Regarding measures against false information on the Internet, Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Murakami stated at a press conference after the Cabinet meeting that he intends to consider institutional responses, including legal regulations, if necessary, while taking into consideration the freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution.
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October household survey: Consumption -1.3% year-on-year, 3rd consecutive month of decline
2024-12-06 08:55:00
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications announced in its October household budget survey that the amount spent by households with two or more people on consumption, excluding price fluctuations, was down 1.3% compared to the same month last year. This is the third consecutive month of decline, with the average household spending standing at 305,819 yen.
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NASA announces delay to astronauts' moon landing until 2027
2024-12-06 08:50:00
NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, has announced that it will delay the Artemis mission, which involves astronauts landing on the moon, from the original target of 2026 to 2027.
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October real wages at same level as same month last year due to rising prices Total salary +2.6%
2024-12-06 08:44:00
The total amount of cash wages per worker in October this year increased by 2.6% compared to the same month last year. However, due to rising prices, real wages were at the same level as the same month last year.
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US Secretary of Defense to visit Japan next week, reports say South Korea visit canceled
2024-12-06 08:37:00
The Pentagon announced that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin will visit Japan next week. However, Reuters reported that he has canceled a visit to South Korea, where a state of emergency was declared.
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Figure GP Final "Rikuryu" pair starts in 2nd place
2024-12-06 07:14:00
The final, which features the top skaters in the figure skating Grand Prix series, has begun, and in the first half of the pairs short program, the ``Rikuryu'' pair of Miura Riku and Kihara Ryuichi started in second place, just a little behind the leader.
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Norwegian students learn about the achievements of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Japan Atomic Bomb Sufferers Association
2024-12-06 07:02:00
In Norway, where the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony for Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations will be held on the 10th of this month, teaching materials summarizing the organization's achievements have been distributed to schools across the country, and students are learning about the nuclear abolition movement.
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French President Macron intends to complete his term, even as his cabinet resigns two and a half months after it was formed
2024-12-06 06:45:00
Following the passage of a motion of no confidence in the cabinet in the French lower house of parliament, Prime Minister Barnier submitted his resignation to President Macron on the 5th, and the entire cabinet resigned. In response, President Macron addressed the nation, saying that he would soon select a successor prime minister, but emphasized his intention to complete his term as president.
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Prince and Princess Akishino visit Türkiye and tour the World Heritage site of Istanbul's Old City
2024-12-06 05:23:00
Prince and Princess Akishino, who are on an official visit to Turkey to promote international friendship, toured the Islamic mosque and Ottoman palace in Istanbul's old city, a World Heritage Site.
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M7.3 earthquake hits US coast; slight tide changes off Japan coast, no damage expected
2024-12-06 05:21:00
According to a report received by the Japan Meteorological Agency from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii, a large earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale occurred at around 3:44 a.m. on the 6th, Japan time, with its epicenter off the coast of northern California in the United States. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, this earthquake may cause changes in tide levels of less than 20 cm along the coast from Hokkaido to Okinawa for about half a day starting around noon in some places, but there is no need to worry about damage.
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North Korean missile used by Russian military: "Strong explosive force poses a threat"
2024-12-06 05:18:00
A Ukrainian research institute has expressed the view that the North Korean-made short-range ballistic missiles that the Russian military is using to attack Ukraine are inaccurate but pose a threat due to their high explosive power.
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Today's House of Councillors Budget Committee debates recovery and reconstruction support for the Noto Peninsula earthquake
2024-12-06 05:00:00
Following the House of Representatives meeting on the 5th, the House of Councillors Budget Committee will hold deliberations with Prime Minister Ishiba in attendance on the 6th. The ruling and opposition parties will continue to debate on specific measures for regional revitalization and support for recovery and reconstruction following the Noto Peninsula earthquake, which will mark one year since its occurrence next month.
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South Korea's President Yoon's impeachment motion focuses on ruling party lawmakers' actions
2024-12-06 04:49:00
The opposition party is aiming to vote on the 7th on a motion calling for the impeachment of President Yoon Seok-yeol, who temporarily declared "emergency martial law" in South Korea. If some members of the ruling party vote in favor, the motion will be passed, and with some ruling party lawmakers distancing themselves from the president, the focus will be on how that will play out.
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