Main news(2024/12/20)
LDP plans to appoint Hagiuda and Hirazawa as branch chiefs, to be officially endorsed in single-seat constituencies
2024-12-20 23:06:00
The Liberal Democratic Party has decided to appoint former Policy Research Council Chairman Hagiuda and former Reconstruction Minister Hirazawa, who were not officially endorsed in the recent House of Representatives election following issues surrounding faction political fundraising parties, as branch chiefs who will be expected to be officially endorsed candidates in single-seat constituencies in the next election.
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Experts' panel to be set up to set up "Disaster Prevention Agency" - first meeting to be held in the new year
2024-12-20 21:46:00
The government has decided to set up a new council of experts, including researchers and representatives of volunteer groups, to consider establishing a Disaster Prevention Agency that will act as a command center in the event of a disaster. The government plans to compile a policy direction by next summer.
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Cambodia wants MSDF ships to make first port call at China-backed naval base
2024-12-20 21:45:00
Diplomatic sources have learned that Cambodia has expressed its intention to have Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels call at Ream Naval Base in southwestern Cambodia as its first port of call after expansion work is completed with support from China.
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Sharp to sell part of Sakai factory land and building to SoftBank
2024-12-20 21:10:00
Sharp, a major electronics manufacturer, has decided to sell part of the land and buildings of its factory in Sakai City, Osaka, where it produces large LCD panels for televisions, to SoftBank for approximately 100 billion yen.
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Aichi Prefecture Tsushima City Council Member Resigns After Being Drunk and Being Taken to Hospital, Assaulting Nurses
2024-12-20 21:08:00
A report was filed against a Communist Party city council member in Tsushima City, Aichi Prefecture, who was taken to the hospital in a drunken state on the 13th of this month, alleging that he had used violence against nurses and firefighters. The council member held a press conference on the 20th to apologize and revealed that he had submitted his resignation, which was accepted.
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Japan Post to seek damages from Yamato Transport as delivery collaboration review
2024-12-20 19:30:00
Japan Post has decided to file a lawsuit against Yamato Transport Co., Ltd., seeking damages, according to sources. The company claims that damages will be incurred as a result of Yamato Transport's request to review its delivery cooperation agreement.
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Innocent case: Interrogation footage from Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office's Special Investigation Division played in court [video included]
2024-12-20 19:02:00
A trial is underway in which the former president of a real estate company who was found not guilty in an embezzlement case investigated by the Osaka District Public Prosecutors' Office Special Investigation Division is seeking compensation from the government.A video recording of the prosecutor who interrogated one of the former president's subordinates at the time banging on the table and telling the subordinate in a forceful tone, "Don't mess with the prosecutors," was played in court for the first time.
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Risk of heavy snowfall from Sunday to Monday, mainly in areas along the Sea of Japan coast
2024-12-20 18:12:00
Due to a strong winter pressure pattern and cold front, heavy snow is expected from Sunday to Monday, the 22nd, mainly in the Sea of Japan side of northern and western Japan, and the Japan Meteorological Agency is urging people to be careful of the impact of the heavy snow on traffic.
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Number of influenza patients more than doubled from last week, 40 prefectures issue "warning"
2024-12-20 17:54:00
The influenza epidemic is spreading nationwide, with the number of patients who visited medical institutions in the week ending on the 15th of this month estimated to be over 710,000, more than double the number from the previous week.
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Bolton reveals "Trump 2.0" to NHK
2024-12-20 17:53:00
John Bolton, who served as National Security Advisor during the first term of the Trump administration, gave an interview to NHK and expressed the view that there is a high possibility that Trump will hold another summit meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his second term.
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Rice relative transaction price 57% up from the same month last year, hitting a new record high for three consecutive months
2024-12-20 17:03:00
The average relative trading price of rice for all varieties in November rose 57% from the same month last year, hitting a new record high for three consecutive months.
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"Never apply for shady part-time jobs," says Minister of Children Mihara in video
2024-12-20 16:45:00
In response to a series of incidents involving young people applying for unlicensed part-time jobs, Minister of State for Child Policy Mihara posted a video on the Agency for Children and Families' former Twitter account "X" and other platforms in time for the winter break, urging people not to apply for these jobs under any circumstances.
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"060" mobile numbers to be added starting July 2026
2024-12-20 16:32:00
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications decided on the 20th to add numbers beginning with "060" to the list of mobile phone numbers. After the telecommunications carriers have completed their adjustments, the numbers will be gradually available from July of the year after next.
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One-year-old dies after choking on round cheese - Caution advised
2024-12-20 16:26:00
In August of this year, it was discovered that a one-year-old boy had choked on a round piece of cheese like a candy and died. The National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan is calling for caution, especially for infants and young children, such as cutting the cheese into small pieces before giving it to them.
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The Revised Expenses Law was enacted, making it mandatory to disclose the use of former correspondence expenses and return the remaining balance.
2024-12-20 15:02:00
The revised expenditure law, which requires the disclosure of the use of the former correspondence expenses, now called "research, public relations and residence expenses," on an annual basis and the return of any remaining funds, was passed unanimously at the House of Councilors plenary session on the 20th.
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DMM Bitcoin leak: "North Korean cyber attack?" US analysis firm
2024-12-20 14:16:00
In the case of the theft of 48 billion yen worth of Bitcoin from cryptocurrency exchange DMM Bitcoin, a US analysis company has published the results of an investigation which suggests that North Korea may have stolen the funds through a cyber attack.
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Selection of extension route plan for Hokuriku Shinkansen to Shin-Osaka postponed
2024-12-20 13:45:00
Regarding the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Shin-Osaka, the ruling party's project team committee has decided to postpone the selection of the final route plan for the "Obama-Kyoto Route" this year. Senator Masashi Nishida, who serves as the committee chairman, told reporters that the reason for this is the lack of understanding from the local community, and that it is now difficult to start construction within the targeted fiscal year 2025.
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Problems with electronic prescriptions: Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Fukuoka calls for "thorough prevention of recurrence"
2024-12-20 13:09:00
Regarding the issue of incorrect medication being displayed when using "electronic prescriptions," which allow medical institutions and pharmacies to share medication information online using My Number health insurance cards, Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Fukuoka said, "This is a very serious issue that could lead to health damage," and expressed his intention to take thorough measures to prevent recurrence.
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Agriculture Minister: "Competition to secure new rice is heating up among rice collectors" behind rising rice prices
2024-12-20 12:50:00
Regarding the continued sharp rise in rice prices, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Eto stated at a press conference after the Cabinet meeting that one of the reasons behind this is the heated competition among rice collectors to secure new rice.
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Hyogo Prefectural Gubernatorial Election: Prefectural Police accept complaint regarding freeze on supporters of Kazumi Inamura's support group X
2024-12-20 12:22:00
According to an interview with an investigator, the Hyogo Prefectural Police Headquarters has accepted a complaint filed by the support group of Hyogo Prefectural gubernatorial candidate Kazumi Inamura, alleging that an unspecified number of people had made false reports simultaneously regarding the freezing of her social media accounts during the election period. The police plan to continue their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the freezing of the accounts.
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South Korean police and other joint investigation headquarters request President Yoon to appear for second time
2024-12-20 12:16:00
The joint investigation headquarters, consisting of the South Korean police and other organizations, has requested President Yoon Song-ryul to appear on the 25th of this month regarding the "emergency martial law." This is the second time that the investigation headquarters has requested President Yoon to appear, and attention is focused on how the president will respond.
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Susukino fire: Ex-boyfriend of female employee in critical condition dies
2024-12-20 12:08:00
Last month, a fire broke out at a girls' bar in Susukino, a downtown area of Sapporo, injuring five people. The ex-boyfriend of a female bar employee was left unconscious and in critical condition, but it was learned from police interviews that she died at the hospital on the night of the 19th. Police are investigating the possibility that the ex-boyfriend spread a gasoline-like liquid inside the bar and set it on fire.
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Government plans to revise across-the-board drug price cuts next fiscal year
2024-12-20 11:52:00
Regarding the official drug prices set by the government, the government has announced its intention to change the current method of uniformly lowering the prices of all target items in the next fiscal year's price revision. For new drugs, the items subject to price reduction will be limited.
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Ministry of Justice to begin discussions on amending the retrial system
2024-12-20 11:50:00
The Ministry of Justice is considering starting discussions on amending the law regarding the retrial system, which allows for trials to be retried, in light of criticism that it prolongs trials and hinders the clearing of wrongful convictions. It plans to ask the Legislative Council for its consideration as early as next spring.
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Knives and yellow sandals seized from suspect's home in case of murder of junior high school student in Kitakyushu
2024-12-20 11:25:00
In a case where two junior high school students were killed with a knife at a fast food restaurant in Kitakyushu City, it was learned from an interview with an investigator that the knife believed to have been used in the incident and the yellow sandals believed to have been worn at the time were seized from the home of the arrested 43-year-old suspect. Police are conducting an examination and investigating whether they are related to the incident.
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LDP and Komeito approve tax reform outline, raising deduction amount to 1.23 million yen from next year
2024-12-20 11:17:00
Regarding next year's tax reform, the Liberal Democratic Party and the Komeito Party each held meetings of their Tax System Research Councils and approved a tax reform outline that includes revising the "1.03 million yen annual income barrier" and raising the deduction amount to 1.23 million yen.
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Republican budget plan rejected by House of Representatives in the U.S., threatening partial government shutdown
2024-12-20 10:49:00
In the United States, the current budget, which secures the immediate funding of the federal government, is due to expire on the 20th, and on the 19th, the Republican Party's new budget proposal, which takes into account the wishes of the next president, Trump, was rejected by the House of Representatives. It is unclear whether the proposal will be passed by the 20th, and there is a risk that some government agencies may be shut down.
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Tokyo Metropolitan Central Library considering relocating to area around former "Children's Castle" in Shibuya
2024-12-20 10:12:00
It has been learned that the Tokyo Metropolitan Central Library in Minato Ward, which is becoming increasingly dilapidated, is considering relocating to nearby public land in Shibuya Ward, which includes the former National Children's Castle, which the metropolitan government plans to redevelop.
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Record number of "working disabled people" - 46% of companies achieve legal employment rate
2024-12-20 09:02:00
According to a Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare report, the number of disabled people working at companies that are required by law to employ them has reached a record high of approximately 670,000. However, only 46.0% of companies have achieved the statutory employment rate, which was raised in April this year, and the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has decided to provide support through Hello Work.
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November Consumer Price Index up 2.7% year-on-year
2024-12-20 08:50:00
The Consumer Price Index for November, which tracks the price movements of goods and services consumed at home and excludes fresh food, which is subject to large fluctuations due to weather, rose 2.7% from the same month last year, up 0.4 percentage points from October's 2.3% increase.
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First discovery of pearl oysters off the coast of Miyagi Prefecture: Global warming may be to blame
2024-12-20 07:31:00
Until now, Akoya pearl oysters, which are used in pearl farming, had been thought to have reached their northernmost habitat off the coast of Chiba Prefecture, but it was discovered in October this year that they had been spotted off the coast of Miyagi Prefecture for the first time. Experts point out that this may be the result of global warming.
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French ex-husband sentenced to 20 years in prison for drugging wife and sexually assaulting her for 10 years
2024-12-20 07:26:00
A French court has sentenced a former husband to 20 years in prison for allegedly drugging his then-wife, putting her in a coma, and sexually assaulting her. Many of the 50 defendants who responded to an online call by the ex-husband and were charged with assaulting the woman have also been given prison sentences, causing widespread anger in French society.
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LDP and Komeito urge Democratic Party for the People to continue discussions on "1.03 million yen annual income barrier"
2024-12-20 06:15:00
Regarding the review of the "1.03 million yen annual income barrier," the LDP and Komeito plan to clearly state their position of continuing discussions with the Democratic Party for the People in the tax reform outline for next year, which will be decided on the 20th. They will ask the Democratic Party for the People to continue discussions in line with the agreement reached by the three parties' secretaries-general.
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More than 13,000 applications for cancellation of My Number health insurance card registration
2024-12-20 06:09:00
Regarding the "My Number Health Insurance Card," which began full-scale operation on December 2nd after the issuance of new health insurance cards was halted, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare revealed that by the end of last month, more than 13,000 applications had been submitted to cancel registration for the card.
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Kitakyushu: Junior high school student killed; knife not clearly visible on store security camera
2024-12-20 06:06:00
In a case where two junior high school students were stabbed with a knife at a fast food restaurant in Kitakyushu City, leaving the female student dead and the male student injured, police have learned that when the 43-year-old suspect arrested on suspicion of attempted murder entered the restaurant, security cameras did not clearly capture the knife. Many of the customers in the restaurant were unaware that they had been stabbed, and police are investigating how he managed to bring the knife into the restaurant.
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What's the top music software sales this year?
2024-12-20 05:11:00
This year's annual music software sales rankings have been announced, and the hip-hop unit Creepy Nuts' "Bling-Bang-Bang-Born" came in first in the ranking of most played songs on online distribution services.
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Aomori tuna fishing boat goes missing, 1 dead, 1 missing
2024-12-20 02:00:00
On the night of the 19th, a tuna fishing boat with two crew members on board went missing in the Tsugaru Strait off the coast of Aomori Prefecture, and one crew member was found adrift, but was later confirmed dead. A capsized fishing boat was found in the surrounding waters, and the Japan Coast Guard is continuing its search.
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