Main news(2024/12/18)
Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare approves new plan to tackle uneven distribution of doctors at expert committee
2024-12-18 22:58:00
Regarding the "uneven distribution of doctors," with doctors concentrated in urban areas and in short supply in rural areas, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare presented a draft of new measures to an expert committee, including strengthening financial support for opening clinics in areas with a shortage of doctors, and the proposal was broadly approved.
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House fire in Saitama's Sakura Ward, couple in their 80s unable to contact
2024-12-18 21:58:00
A fire broke out at a house in Saitama City just after 7 p.m. on the 18th, and according to the police, they have been unable to contact the couple in their 80s who lived there. Police and firefighters are currently investigating the whereabouts of the couple.
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South Korean President Yoon refuses to appear in court; military officials hold secret meeting two days before declaration
2024-12-18 21:54:00
In an investigation into the "emergency martial law" imposed by South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol, the joint investigation headquarters including the police had requested President Yoon to appear on the 18th, but he did not comply. South Korean media has reported that they are considering issuing a request for him to appear again.
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Kitakyushu: 1,000 city officials to patrol school commuters after middle school student killed
2024-12-18 19:56:00
In the incident in which two junior high school students were stabbed, the man fled the scene with a knife in hand, and Kitakyushu City has decided to have approximately 1,000 city officials patrol the area during school hours to ensure the safety of children.
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If no progress is made in LDP-Komeito talks, the tax bill will be clearly stated in the tax policy outline: "Raise to 1.23 million yen"
2024-12-18 19:48:00
Regarding the review of the "1.03 million yen annual income barrier," the Tax System Research Council of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito has decided to make adjustments toward clearly stating in next year's tax reform outline that the income tax deduction amount will be raised to 1.23 million yen, unless there is progress in discussions with the Democratic Party for the People.
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Akita Governor Satake explains his "sending bear" remarks: "It will make it easier for staff to respond"
2024-12-18 19:12:00
When the Akita Prefecture Governor Satake exterminated a bear that had invaded a supermarket, the prefecture received a phone call of complaint, and in response, he said at the prefectural assembly on the 17th, "If it were me, I would say, 'I'll send the bear to you, so send me your address.'" When asked about the intention of his remarks on the 18th, Governor Satake expressed the view that if the top leader responds firmly, it will be easier for employees to respond.
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House of Councillors Ethics Committee: Yamatani: "Secretary did not enter information in accordance with faction instructions"
2024-12-18 19:06:00
The House of Councillors Political Ethics Committee met in public with the attendance of the four lawmakers who had omitted to report income and expenditures. Eriko Yamatani, who had omitted about 24 million yen, explained that her secretary had not done so in accordance with instructions from her faction and that she had not been aware of the omissions.
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Bank of Japan's Monetary Policy Meeting: Focus on further interest rate hike
2024-12-18 18:08:00
The Bank of Japan's monetary policy meeting began on the 18th. The focus is on whether to raise interest rates further, but many within the BOJ are of the opinion that they should wait and see whether wage increases will spread and the impact of the policies of the next US President Trump, and it is expected that the BOJ will carefully decide on its policy after analyzing the situation.
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Experts' roundtable report compiles: "The Science Council of Japan should become an independent corporation"
2024-12-18 18:03:00
Regarding the future of the Science Council of Japan, a government panel of experts has compiled a report calling for the organization to be made an independent corporation while receiving financial support from the government. Based on the report, the government plans to submit the necessary bills to the ordinary Diet session next year.
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Hokkaido to hold ceremony to introduce RAPIDUS "EUV exposure equipment" at New Chitose Airport
2024-12-18 17:58:00
A ceremony was held on the 18th to commemorate the introduction of an EUV exposure tool, a cutting-edge device essential to Lapidus' business, which aims to domestically produce cutting-edge semiconductors, at its factory in Chitose, Hokkaido.
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Nomura Securities: 30 million yen fine for price manipulation of futures trading
2024-12-18 16:48:00
The Japan Securities Dealers Association has announced that it has ordered the largest securities firm in Japan, Nomura Securities, to pay a penalty of 30 million yen in relation to its involvement in the manipulation of prices in Japanese government bond futures trading.
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New head coach of women's soccer team Nadeshiko Japan Nielsen holds press conference
2024-12-18 16:05:00
Nils Nielsen, the new head coach of the Japanese women's national soccer team, Nadeshiko Japan, will hold a press conference to mark his appointment.
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Herpes zoster vaccine to be given to seniors turning 65 and others on a regular basis next year
2024-12-18 15:42:00
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has decided to begin regular vaccinations against shingles, a disease that causes painful blisters on the skin, targeting people aged 65 and over from next fiscal year.
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8 guest judges announced for NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen
2024-12-18 15:38:00
Eight people who have been active in the fields of culture and sports this year have been selected as guest judges to appear on NHK's Kohaku Uta Gassen, which will be broadcast on New Year's Eve.
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US President-elect Trump sues newspapers that reported unfavorable opinion polls
2024-12-18 14:57:00
On the 16th, US President-elect Donald Trump filed a lawsuit against newspapers and others who published opinion poll results showing him at a disadvantage in last month's presidential election just before the voting day, claiming that this was "election interference" and seeking damages.
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Second trial of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant class action lawsuit: Government not found responsible, only TEPCO awarded compensation
2024-12-18 14:56:00
In a class action lawsuit filed by people who evacuated to Kyoto Prefecture following the accident at the Tokyo Electric Power Company's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, seeking compensation from the national government and Tokyo Electric Power Company, the Osaka High Court, on second instance, overturned the first instance ruling that had recognized the government's liability for compensation, and ordered Tokyo Electric Power Company alone to pay more than 112 million yen in compensation.
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Former House of Representatives member Tsukasa Akimoto sentenced to four years in prison in IR corruption case
2024-12-18 14:04:00
Former House of Representatives member Tsukasa Akimoto, who was charged with bribery and witness tampering in a corruption case involving integrated resort projects and who maintained his innocence, the Supreme Court decided on the 18th to dismiss the appeal, meaning that his four-year prison sentence will become final.
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Prime Minister Ishiba: "I want to deepen discussion within the LDP" regarding the death penalty
2024-12-18 13:49:00
Regarding the death penalty system, Prime Minister Ishiba responded to a request from a private group made up of members of the judicial system to set up a conference within the government and the Diet to fundamentally review the system, by expressing his desire to deepen discussion within the Liberal Democratic Party.
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Woman stabbed at Sannomiya Station on the Kobe subway
2024-12-18 13:07:00
According to the police, a woman in her 70s was stabbed with a knife by a woman near the ticket gates of Sannomiya Station on the Kobe subway just before 12:30 p.m. on the 18th. The woman sustained injuries to her back and was taken to the hospital. She was conscious at the time of the hospitalization. The police have detained the woman who is believed to have stabbed her, and are currently investigating the details of the incident.
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Tokyo Olympics bid-rigging case: Event production company fined 280 million yen
2024-12-18 12:58:00
The Tokyo District Court has handed down a guilty verdict to an event production company, which had pleaded not guilty to charges of fraudulent contract adjustment in a bid-rigging case surrounding the management of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, and fined it 280 million yen.
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Kioxia Holdings to list on Tokyo Stock Exchange - Will this lead to increased competitiveness?
2024-12-18 12:13:00
Kioxia Holdings, a global leader in semiconductors and flash memory, listed its shares on the Tokyo Stock Exchange on the 18th. The company plans to use the funds raised through the listing to make capital investments in cutting-edge memory production and other areas, and the focus is on whether this will lead to increased competitiveness.
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Shibayama explains at the House of Representatives Ethics Committee that he was "instructed by his faction not to include it"
2024-12-18 12:01:00
Regarding the issue surrounding political fundraising parties held by LDP factions, former Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Shibayama, who appeared before the House of Representatives Political Ethics Committee, explained that although he had listed the funds he had received back from the faction as a donation in his income and expenditure report, he had received instructions from the faction around 2014 not to list them.
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Bain Capital announces intention to acquire Fujisoft without consent
2024-12-18 11:39:00
While two investment funds have proposed to acquire the software giant Fujisoft, one of the investment funds, Bain Capital, has revealed its intention to launch a tender offer without the company's consent. The unusual battle between the two funds is becoming more intense, and shareholders' decisions are attracting attention.
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Small rocket "Kairos 2" to be launched at 11 a.m. today
2024-12-18 11:14:00
The privately-run Kairos 2 rocket, which had been postponed twice due to wind conditions, is scheduled to launch from a launch site in Wakayama Prefecture at 11 a.m. on the 18th. The first rocket exploded immediately after launch, so attention is focused on whether the second rocket will be successful and whether it will be able to put the satellite it is carrying into the planned orbit.
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LDP proposes "raising the reduction threshold" for pension reductions
2024-12-18 10:46:00
Regarding a review of the "employed elderly pension" system, under which people aged 65 or older have their employee pension insurance reduced if they earn a certain income, the Liberal Democratic Party has put together a proposal that, while considering the possibility of abolishing the system in the future, the standard amount for reductions should first be raised, taking into account the impact of increased spending on pension finances.
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Trade balance in November: 117.6 billion yen deficit, 5th consecutive month of deficit - Ministry of Finance
2024-12-18 09:09:00
According to last month's trade statistics released by the Ministry of Finance, the trade balance, which is exports minus imports, was in the red by 117.6 billion yen. This is the fifth consecutive month that the trade balance has been in the red.
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NY Dow falls for 9th consecutive trading day, first since February 1978, US media
2024-12-18 08:44:00
In the New York Stock Exchange, sell orders were placed as investors waited to see the pace of interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve Board, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell for the ninth consecutive trading day. According to American media, this is the first time since February 1978 that the market has fallen for nine consecutive trading days.
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Syrian interim government requests lifting of economic sanctions imposed on former government by Western countries
2024-12-18 08:03:00
In Syria, where the dictatorial Assad regime has collapsed, a major challenge is rebuilding the economy, which has been exhausted by years of civil war, and the leaders of the organization that established the interim government are calling for the lifting of economic sanctions imposed on the former regime by the West and others.
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Cold air flows into the sky, causing snow along the mountains through the 19th. Be careful of traffic impacts.
2024-12-18 07:10:00
Due to the influence of strong cold air over eastern and western Japan, the atmospheric conditions are expected to be very unstable mainly on the Sea of Japan side through the 19th, and snow is expected to fall in the mountains. The Japan Meteorological Agency is calling for people to be careful of the impact of snow on traffic, as well as to be careful of strong gusts of wind such as lightning and tornadoes.
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What are the views of experts on the re-revision of the Political Funds Control Law?
2024-12-18 06:57:00
We spoke to two experts about the passage of three bills related to political reform in the House of Representatives plenary session, which makes it highly likely that the Political Funds Control Act and other bills will be revised again during this Diet session.
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Released former head of Sea Shepherd renews criticism of Japanese whaling
2024-12-18 06:53:00
The former head of the anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd, who was on an international wanted list for ordering acts of sabotage against Japanese research whaling vessels, has been released and, in media interviews, has once again criticized Japan's whaling.
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Ukrainian official: Trump and Zelensky are on the same page
2024-12-18 06:35:00
A senior Ukrainian government official said in an interview with NHK that U.S. President-elect Trump and President Zelenskyy agree that military force is necessary to begin peace talks with Russia, and expressed hope for continued military support from the United States.
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President Zelensky accuses Russia of destroying evidence of dead North Korean soldier
2024-12-18 06:34:00
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of trying to destroy evidence of North Korean soldiers killed in combat in order to conceal their participation in fighting in western Russia during cross-border attacks.
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Honda and Nissan in talks to merge
2024-12-18 06:26:00
It has been learned that Honda and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. are in talks to merge. With overseas emerging manufacturers taking the lead in fields such as electric vehicles (EVs), the merger is expected to allow the two companies to share huge investments and bring together their technologies in order to increase their competitiveness.
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Democratic Party of Japan rebels over "1.03 million yen barrier" as budget discussions draw near
2024-12-18 06:12:00
As the bill's deliberation in the current Diet session becomes more and more likely, the Democratic Party for the People is strongly opposed to the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito Party's failure to propose further raising the income tax deduction amount regarding the review of the "1.03 million yen annual income barrier." With an eye on next year's budget deliberations, the two sides are engaged in intensifying negotiations.
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Kitakyushu: No similar person caught on security camera at nearest station in murder-suicide
2024-12-18 04:58:00
In a case where two junior high school students were stabbed with a knife by a man at a fast food restaurant in Kitakyushu City and a female student was killed, interviews with investigators have revealed that security cameras at the nearest station in the direction from which the man is believed to have fled did not capture anyone with similar characteristics before or after the incident. Emergency deployment on major roads immediately after the incident did not yield any useful clues, and police are searching the surrounding alleys and other areas to investigate the whereabouts of the suspects.
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A total of 3.03 million yen in donations not reported at a Liberal Democratic Party branch in Tokyo
2024-12-18 04:35:00
NHK examined last year's political funding report published by the Tokyo Metropolitan Election Administration Commission and found that 16 branches of the Liberal Democratic Party, out of the more than 700 branches of political parties, had not reported a total of 3.03 million yen in donations as income, when it was listed on the expenditures side.
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One Japanese person arrested in Belarus
2024-12-18 02:49:00
The Japanese embassy in Belarus said it would take appropriate measures to protect its citizens, after it was learned that a Japanese national had been detained in Russia's ally Belarus. Independent media in Belarus reported earlier this month that a Japanese man had been detained by authorities in the southeast on suspicion of espionage.
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