2024-12-17 22:17:00
An earthquake occurred at around 10:11 pm on the 17th. Currently, the following areas are experiencing seismic intensity of 4 or higher. ▼Seismic intensity 4 in southern Tochigi Prefecture. Please pay attention to future information.
2024-12-17 21:52:00
The head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) gave an interview to NHK and spoke about Syria, a Middle Eastern country where a dictatorial regime has collapsed, saying, "Now is the time to make rapid investments to help Syria's economy recover so that people can rebuild their lives," and appealed for support from Japan and the international community.
2024-12-17 21:10:00
On the 17th, the Danish Ministry of Justice announced that it would not allow the extradition to Japan of Paul Watson, former head of the anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd, who was arrested in July this year in Greenland, a Danish territory, on an international wanted list for allegedly ordering sabotage of a Japanese research whaling vessel. While the Japanese government has requested the extradition of Watson, there have been voices of opposition, mainly from anti-whaling countries, and the case has attracted international attention, with French President Macron calling on the Danish government not to extradite him.
2024-12-17 20:41:00
A lawsuit over the disclosure of minutes and other documents from when NHK's Board of Governors issued a stern warning to its then-president in connection with a program that covered the inappropriate sales of insurance at Japan Post Insurance was settled with NHK publishing the minutes on its website and the former chairman of the Board of Governors paying a settlement.
2024-12-17 20:11:00
Ahead of NHK's mandatory operations, such as streaming programs over the internet, starting in October next year, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' review committee has concluded that "no opinion was found that the operational regulations formulated by NHK do not comply with the revised Broadcasting Act."
2024-12-17 18:29:00
The government officially released a draft of the new Basic Energy Plan on the 17th. With the demand for electricity expected to increase in the future due to the spread of AI and other factors, the plan outlines a policy to make renewable energy such as solar and wind power the largest power source in the future, while maximizing the use of nuclear power, which the government has previously said it will "reduce its dependency on."
2024-12-17 16:47:00
The supplementary budget for this fiscal year, which will underpin the new economic measures, was voted on in the House of Councillors Budget Committee and passed with a majority vote from the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito, Japan Restoration Party, and Democratic Party for the People. It was also passed in the House of Councillors plenary session in the evening and is expected to become law.
2024-12-17 16:28:00
Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress arrived in Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture on the morning of the 17th to visit those affected by the heavy rains in September following the earthquake on New Year's Day.
2024-12-17 16:08:00
Russia's Investigative Committee said on the 17th that an explosion occurred on a street in the capital Moscow, killing a senior Russian military officer.
2024-12-17 15:42:00
The sixth tax consultation was held between the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito and the Democratic Party for the People regarding the review of the "1.03 million yen annual income barrier." However, the Democratic Party for the People objected to the ruling party's failure to make any new proposals to further increase the deduction amount, and no agreement was reached.
2024-12-17 15:16:00
On the 16th, a man's body was found buried in the grounds of a vacant house in Seiryou Town, Niigata Prefecture. A man in his 70s who lived alone in the neighboring city of Niigata had been missing since October of this year, and police are investigating whether the body is that of this man and are working to confirm his identity.
2024-12-17 14:54:00
The professional baseball team, the Giants, announced that they have acquired catcher Takuya Kai from SoftBank, who has exercised his domestic free agent rights.
2024-12-17 13:19:00
In a case involving a political fund-raising party run by a faction of the Liberal Democratic Party, the House of Representatives Political Ethics Committee is set to hold a three-day investigation from the 17th into 15 lawmakers who were found to have not reported their income and expenditure reports. The first day of the investigation has just begun. The focus is on whether further investigations will uncover the truth behind the case.
2024-12-17 12:15:00
The Orioles of Major League Baseball have announced that pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano, who had been seeking to move to the major leagues by exercising his free agent rights from the Yomiuri Giants, has come to an agreement on a contract.
2024-12-17 11:33:00
In response to the recent spate of crimes committed through illegal part-time jobs, the government held a cabinet meeting to decide on emergency measures, including the early implementation of "fictitious identity investigations," in which investigators would use fictitious people's driver's licenses or other documents to apply for illegal part-time jobs and contact criminal groups.
2024-12-17 11:03:00
Ahead of the new US law banning the video-sharing app TikTok coming into force next month, TikTok has filed a petition with the US Supreme Court seeking an emergency injunction to temporarily halt the law's implementation.
2024-12-17 10:51:00
A board meeting of a special committee of the House of Representatives to discuss political reform was held, and the ruling and opposition parties agreed to vote on three related bills, including a bill to abolish policy activity expenses, at the committee meeting on the 17th.
2024-12-17 08:47:00
US President-elect Trump announced on his social media that he would appoint businessman George Glass, who served as the ambassador to Portugal during the first Trump administration, as the next ambassador to Japan. Glass is one of Trump's major donors. In order to become an ambassador, he will need to be approved by the Senate.
2024-12-17 08:36:00
JR Chuo Line rapid trains are currently suspended on both lines between Tokyo Station and Takao Station in Hachioji City, Tokyo, due to a signal check at Shinjuku Station. According to JR East, there is currently no prospect of resuming service.
2024-12-17 07:17:00
In South Korea, the prosecution and police are each calling on President Yoon Seok-yeol to appear in court over his "emergency martial law," while multiple South Korean media outlets are reporting that the president's side is beginning to select a defense team. The focus is on how President Yoon and his defense team will handle the investigation.
2024-12-17 06:50:00
In a case involving a political fund-raising party run by a faction of the Liberal Democratic Party, 19 lawmakers who were not included in the income and expenditure reports will be subject to a public investigation by the House of Representatives and House of Councillors Political Ethics Committee for three days from the 17th. The focus will be on whether the details of the opaque flow of funds will be revealed and whether this will lead to a clearer picture of the situation.
2024-12-17 06:28:00
Regarding political reform, the Liberal Democratic Party and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan plan to pass a bill to abolish policy activity expenses and other bills in the House of Representatives by the 17th, and it is highly likely that legal reform will be realized in the current Diet session. In addition, the supplementary budget for this fiscal year, which will support the economic measures, is expected to be passed and enacted in the House of Councillors on the 17th.
2024-12-17 05:38:00
US President-elect Donald Trump held a press conference at his home in Florida with Masayoshi Son, CEO of SoftBank Group, and announced that SoftBank Group will invest $100 billion, or more than 15 trillion yen, in the US and create at least 100,000 jobs.
2024-12-17 05:06:00
In the incident in which two junior high school students were stabbed with a knife at a fast food restaurant in Kitakyushu City, resulting in the death of a female student, the man who fled the scene was wearing light clothing such as sandals, and since emergency deployments in the area immediately after the incident have not produced any useful clues, police are investigating the man's whereabouts, believing he may be someone familiar with the area.
2024-12-17 04:58:00
At a press conference, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump indicated the possibility of meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe before the inauguration on January 20th, if the Japanese side wishes.
2024-12-17 04:19:00
On the 16th, a vote of confidence for Chancellor Olaf Scholz was held in Germany, and the vote of no confidence exceeded the vote of confidence. As a result, the president will soon dissolve the Bundestag, and parliamentary elections will be held in late February next year.
