Main news(2024/12/10)
Syria's interim government appoints Northwestern Governor Basil as prime minister
2024-12-10 22:08:00
On the 10th, following the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria, Bassil, who had previously served as the leader of the governing body in the northwest, was appointed as the prime minister of the interim government. Bassil himself announced this in a television address, and his term of office will run until March 1st of next year. Prior to this, it was also reported that Jawlani, leader of the Syrian Liberation Organization, which led the rebel forces, had asked Bassil to move forward with the formation of an interim government.
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Seismic activity in Ishikawa west coast: Caution advised around Noto Peninsula
2024-12-10 21:45:00
Regarding seismic activity around the Noto Peninsula, the Government's Earthquake Investigation Committee has concluded that active activity continues off the west coast of Ishikawa Prefecture following the earthquake on the 26th of last month that recorded shaking of magnitude 5-lower in Wajima City and other areas, and that caution is needed around the Noto Peninsula for future earthquakes accompanied by strong shaking and tsunamis.
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Experts' meeting to promote junior high school club activities on weekdays as part of local initiatives
2024-12-10 19:42:00
A national panel of experts was held to discuss future reform policies for club activities in junior high schools, and compiled an interim proposal that defines the next reform period as the six years starting from the year after next, 2026, and includes promoting efforts to have club activities carried out by local sports clubs and others on weekdays as well.
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Can you solve it? Japan ranks "top in the world" in "International Adult Literacy Survey"
2024-12-10 19:02:00
In the "International Adult Competencies Survey" conducted by the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development), Japan ranked first in "problem-solving ability" and second in "reading comprehension" and "numeracy," both of which were among the best in the world. However, issues were also highlighted, such as a high percentage of people who answered that they lacked their own skills and that their major did not match their current job.
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The "1.06 million barrier" has been abolished. On-site response is also to the "20 hours or more per week" barrier...
2024-12-10 18:53:00
While the so-called "1.06 million yen annual income barrier" among the requirements for joining the Employees' Pension Insurance has been abolished, the requirement of "20 hours or more per week" of working hours remains. Some people say, "Will the abolition of the 1.06 million yen barrier alone not be enough to secure the necessary workers?" How are workers responding?
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Hyogo Prefectural Assembly 100-Article Committee member requests deletion of "false video for defamation"
2024-12-10 18:22:00
A member of the Hyogo Prefectural Assembly's 100-Article Committee, which is investigating the accusations against Hyogo Governor Saito of power harassment, has announced that he has filed a request with the video sharing site operator to delete a video that contained false information, damaging his reputation.
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Tokyo Governor Koike aims to make childcare free for first-borns starting in September next year
2024-12-10 17:34:00
In a question and answer session at the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike indicated her intention to aim to start making childcare fees free for first-borns, one of her campaign pledges during the gubernatorial election, from September next year.
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Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense: "The number of Chinese military vessels in surrounding waters is the highest since last year"
2024-12-10 17:26:00
Amid reports that China may conduct military exercises around Taiwan, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense has emphasized that Chinese military and other vessels have been deployed to the waters around Taiwan in recent days at the highest rate since last year, and that Chinese military pressure poses a threat to the region.
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Tokyo gubernatorial election: Posters outside bulletin board frame "will not harm the fairness of the election" - Tokyo High Court
2024-12-10 17:14:00
In the Tokyo gubernatorial election in July, in which a record 56 people ran, there was not enough space on bulletin boards for election posters, causing some candidates to put up their posters outside the spaces. One of the candidates filed a lawsuit claiming that this was unfair and invalidated the election. The Tokyo High Court dismissed the lawsuit, saying that "it cannot be said that this undermined the fairness of the election."
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Proposal to abolish the "1.06 million yen barrier": 2 million new members expected to join Employees' Pension Insurance
2024-12-10 15:44:00
Regarding the wage requirement for joining the Employees' Pension Insurance, known as the "1.06 million yen annual income barrier," the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare presented a proposal to a subcommittee of the council on the 10th to abolish it, stating that the need for it has diminished following the increase in the minimum wage.
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House of Representatives Special Committee: Each party expresses its position on the re-revision of the Political Funds Control Law
2024-12-10 15:43:00
Discussions in a special committee of the House of Representatives began on the 10th regarding the further revision of the Political Funds Control Law. Each party expressed its views on issues such as how to abolish policy activity expenses and how to handle corporate and organizational donations.
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Person who posted slanderous comments against former Johnny's talent on social media referred to prosecutors
2024-12-10 15:01:00
It has been learned from investigators that the Kanagawa Prefectural Police have referred documents to prosecutors on suspicion of defamation against a person who posted slanderous comments on social media about a former talent who had come forward to claim she was a victim of sexual assault by Johnny Kitagawa.
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The CDP and SDP jointly submit bills to strengthen political funding penalties and establish a third-party organization
2024-12-10 13:59:00
Regarding political reform, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, together with the Social Democratic Party, has submitted a bill to the House of Representatives that includes measures such as strengthening penalties for lawmakers who fail to report political funds, as well as establishing a third-party organization to check political funds.
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"Optional separate surnames for married couples: Providing concrete examples of inconveniences to boost discussion" - Mihara Children's Affairs Minister
2024-12-10 13:31:00
Regarding the option of separate surnames for married couples, Minister of State for Children's Policy Mihara expressed her intention to support national discussion by taking measures such as expanding the use of maiden surnames as common names, as well as by providing concrete examples of the inconvenience and difficulty that arise when people are no longer able to use their maiden surnames upon marriage.
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24 years since the Setagaya family murder in Tokyo: Special investigation headquarters releases first report
2024-12-10 12:24:00
With the 24th anniversary of the murder of a family of four in a home in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo approaching soon, the Metropolitan Police Department on the 10th publicly announced for the first time the opinion of its Special Investigation Headquarters that it is highly likely that the culprit broke in and escaped through a bathroom window on the second mezzanine floor of the home, and is continuing to call for information.
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The House of Representatives Budget Committee begins deliberations on the supplementary budget bill; Prime Minister: "The size of the budget cannot be determined without consideration"
2024-12-10 12:16:00
The House of Representatives Budget Committee has begun substantive deliberations on the supplementary budget for this fiscal year, which will bring the total amount of the general account to approximately 13.9 trillion yen. Prime Minister Ishiba, in response to criticism from the opposition parties that the budget is based on the size of the budget, said that the budget includes the necessary funds for overcoming deflation and for the restoration and reconstruction of the Noto Peninsula, and that such criticism is unfounded.
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Former Osaka District Prosecutor's Office prosecutor in sexual assault trial reverses course and pleads innocence
2024-12-10 12:12:00
A former prosecutor general of the Osaka District Public Prosecutors' Office, who is accused of sexually assaulting a female subordinate who was drunk and unable to resist, has decided to plead not guilty, his lawyer has revealed.
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UN Security Council emergency meeting to coordinate statement on Syria situation
2024-12-10 12:11:00
An emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council was held to discuss the situation in Syria, but the issue of the Syrian Liberation Organization, which leads the rebel forces that toppled the Assad regime, being designated a terrorist organisation was not discussed. Instead, the Security Council decided to continue coordinating its response to issue a statement.
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LDP and Komeito confirm policy of reaching agreement with opposition parties on revising Political Funds Control Law, etc.
2024-12-10 11:45:00
Regarding political reform, the secretaries-general of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito met and confirmed their intention to strive to reach an agreement with the opposition parties to revise the Political Funds Control Act again in the current Diet session, in order to achieve things like the abolition of policy activity expenses.
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Court files petition to temporarily block US law banning TikTok
2024-12-10 10:20:00
Following a federal appeals court ruling that a law banning the video-sharing app TikTok enacted in the United States is constitutional, TikTok has filed a petition seeking an emergency injunction to temporarily halt the law's enforcement.
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UN Secretary-General denounces gang killings of 180 people, mostly elderly, in Haiti
2024-12-10 09:01:00
In the Caribbean island nation of Haiti, where public safety is deteriorating, gangs have killed approximately 180 people, mostly elderly people, in just a few days. UN Secretary-General Guterres has condemned the incident and called on countries to help restore public safety.
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US military partially suspends Osprey flights, notifies Japanese government
2024-12-10 08:11:00
The US military has announced that it has suspended some of its Osprey transport aircraft flights and has also informed the Japanese government of this. The Associated Press reports that this follows a near-crash incident at an air force base in the western US in November.
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Announcer Tomoaki Ogura passes away at age 77. He was the host of an information program.
2024-12-10 07:20:00
Freelance announcer Tomoaki Ogura, who hosted a commercial TV information program for many years and gained popularity for his witty way of speaking, passed away on the 9th. He was 77 years old.
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"SHOGUN" nominated for 4 Golden Globe Awards
2024-12-10 06:50:00
The nominees for the Golden Globe Awards, which are given to outstanding film and television works in the United States, have been announced, and "Shogun," produced by and starring Hiroyuki Sanada, has been nominated for four awards, including Best Television Drama.
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Syrian opposition leader meets with prime minister to "fast track establishment of new government"
2024-12-10 06:37:00
In Syria, the dictatorial Assad regime has collapsed, and the leader of the rebel forces who seized control of the capital Damascus met with the Syrian prime minister and expressed his intention to expedite the establishment of a new government. The focus going forward will be on whether a peaceful transfer of power will proceed.
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Suspected murder disguised as suicide: Victim explains "I was burned due to my own negligence"
2024-12-10 05:53:00
In a case where the president of a Tokyo painting company and four employees were arrested for murdering a former male colleague by making it look like a suicide at a railroad crossing, it was revealed that the victim explained that "I was burned due to my own negligence" when he visited the hospital after the assault. The Metropolitan Police Department believes that he had been in deep fear after being repeatedly assaulted, and is investigating the details of the incident.
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Discussions begin today in special committee on the Political Funds Control Law to be revised again
2024-12-10 05:24:00
In the Diet, debate will begin on the 10th toward revising the Political Funds Control Law. Each party is expected to present its position on such issues as how to abolish policy activity expenses and how to handle corporate and group donations, and the focus will be on whether the law will be revised during the current Diet session.
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Over 60% of people "understand" the new system of "My Number Health Insurance Cards"
2024-12-10 05:04:00
Starting this month, the government will stop issuing new health insurance cards and move to a system based on the "My Number Health Insurance Card," which combines a My Number card and an insurance card. When asked in an NHK opinion poll whether people understood the new system, over 60% answered "I understand it," while 30% answered "I don't understand it."
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South Korea reports that it has requested an arrest warrant for former defense minister, citing suspicions of conspiring with the president
2024-12-10 02:15:00
On the night of the 9th, South Korean media reported that the prosecution had requested an arrest warrant for former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who reportedly advised South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol to impose "emergency martial law," on suspicion of civil unrest. It was pointed out that Kim was suspected of conspiring with President Yoon and others to start a riot.
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