2025-02-19 22:27:00
South Korean media reported that a North Korean soldier who was captured in Ukraine had been told that South Korean troops deployed to Ukraine were attacking with drones. South Korea has not sent any troops, and the soldiers were fueled by false information.
2025-02-19 22:00:00
The professional baseball team Yakult has announced that a staff member in charge of the team mascot, Tsubakuro, has passed away.
2025-02-19 21:09:00
On the night of the 19th, approximately 100 vehicles were temporarily stuck for over 2 kilometers on the Kan-Etsu Expressway due to a truck breaking down on the outbound lane near the Yuzawa Interchange in Niigata Prefecture. East Nippon Expressway Co., Ltd., which manages the road, moved the broken-down truck to the shoulder of the road, and the stranded vehicles are gradually moving again.
2025-02-19 20:58:00
The French government has announced that it will hold a second summit on the situation in Ukraine, following the one on the 17th. It is expected that the participants will be mainly European leaders who were not invited to the previous summit.
2025-02-19 20:45:00
Tax system consultations were held between the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito, and the Democratic Party for the People to review the "1.03 million yen annual income barrier." The Democratic Party for the People called for a uniform increase, arguing that the LDP's proposal to change the income tax exemption limit according to annual income would not lead to an increase in take-home pay for a wide range of people, and further discussions were scheduled to be held on the 20th.
2025-02-19 20:20:00
In an accident in which the manager and three employees of a hotel in Fukushima City died after entering the mountains to manage the source of a hot spring, the city has issued a notice to an association of hot spring inns and other establishments, requesting them to take thorough safety measures, due to high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide near the site.
2025-02-19 19:04:00
On the 18th, US President Trump told reporters that the tariffs he is considering imposing on cars imported into the US will be "around 25%." If a 25% tariff is actually imposed on all countries, there are concerns that Japan, which exports a lot of cars to the US, will also be seriously affected.
2025-02-19 19:02:00
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, and in Nagata Ward, Kobe City, which suffered heavy damage, work is underway to repaint the "Tetsujin 28" monument, which has become a symbol of reconstruction, for the first time in eight years.
2025-02-19 18:56:00
As rice prices continue to rise, the average price of all rice varieties traded between traders last month rose 69% compared to the same month last year, hitting a new record high for the fifth consecutive month.
2025-02-19 17:58:00
Many foreigners are believed to be being forced into special fraud schemes in Myanmar, and efforts to free them continue. Two Japanese high school students were rescued from a crime base. Last week, a military official who rescued a 16-year-old high school student from Aichi Prefecture on the Thai side spoke to NHK in an interview and testified about what happened at the time.
2025-02-19 17:52:00
On the 19th, it has been one month since the six-week ceasefire between Israel and the Islamic organization Hamas began in the Gaza Strip in Palestine. So far, the ceasefire has been maintained, but full-scale talks on the next stage, aiming for a permanent ceasefire, have not begun, and the outlook for the lives of those living in the Gaza Strip remains unclear.
2025-02-19 17:46:00
More than 3.78 million foreign tourists visited Japan last month, the highest number of tourists ever in a single month, mainly due to an increase in travelers from China during the Lunar New Year.
2025-02-19 16:56:00
A list of the more than 125,000 Japanese Americans who were interned in the United States as "enemy aliens" during World War II will be made public across the country from the 19th, and a commemorative ceremony was held in Washington, D.C.
2025-02-19 16:29:00
The Japan Sports Agency and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) have signed a partnership agreement to share the knowledge and know-how of athletes and astronauts, both of whom are required to undergo rigorous training to achieve high performance, and to create new value that will lead to the physical and mental improvement of humanity.
2025-02-19 16:24:00
The average price of new apartments released in the greater Tokyo area last month was 73.43 million yen. This was 7.7% lower than the same month last year, due to a decrease in the number of units released in the high-priced 23 wards of Tokyo.
2025-02-19 16:13:00
Following a large road collapse in Yashio City, Saitama Prefecture, leaving one man missing, the Saitama Prefecture government lifted its evacuation request for residents living near the site on the 19th, as it had completed work to reinforce the ground in the surrounding area.
2025-02-19 16:12:00
A 34-year-old office worker from Adachi Ward, Tokyo, was arrested for rummaging through the belongings of a female cafe employee, searching her home, making a duplicate key and breaking into her house. Duplicate keys to other rooms were also found in the house, and the Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the possibility that he may have repeatedly targeted and broken into the rooms of multiple female cafe employees.
2025-02-19 16:09:00
A delegation from the Japan-China Economic Association visiting China met with senior officials of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, which is in charge of industrial policy, and agreed to strengthen cooperation between the two countries through the use of advanced technologies such as AI (artificial intelligence).
2025-02-19 15:54:00
According to JR East, a Tohoku Shinkansen train heading from Tokyo to Morioka was traveling between Shin-Shirakawa Station and Koriyama Station in Fukushima Prefecture when a warning sign on the bogie of the train came on just before 3pm, and the train is currently undergoing inspection. As a result, the Tohoku Shinkansen has suspended operations on both inbound and outbound lines between Tokyo Station and Sendai Station. Operations are expected to resume around 4:50pm.
2025-02-19 15:42:00
It has been learned that the defendant in the case last September in which a 10-year-old boy attending a Japanese school in Shenzhen, southern China, was attacked with a knife and killed, a man in his 40s who was sentenced to death, has not appealed.
2025-02-19 15:38:00
The Nagoya High Court ruled that the disparity in the value of one vote in last October's House of Representatives election, which was as large as 2.06 times, did not violate the Constitution, and dismissed a lawsuit seeking to invalidate the election.
2025-02-19 15:32:00
Actor Toshiyuki Nishida was loved by many for his warm personality. He passed away at the age of 76 in October last year, and a large number of people attended his farewell ceremony held on the 18th. It was discovered that an audio recording of an interview Nishida gave just before his death had been preserved.
2025-02-19 15:05:00
Major League Baseball will be trialing a so-called "robot umpire" system that uses cameras to determine strikes and balls in this year's exhibition games. The timing of its introduction in the regular season has not been decided, but it will be used in the exhibition games from the Dodgers vs. Cubs game on the 20th of this month.
2025-02-19 14:57:00
Regarding the "High-Cost Medical Care Expenses System," which aims to reduce the out-of-pocket expenses of patients with high medical expenses, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan has submitted a bill to the House of Representatives to completely freeze the government's planned increase in the upper limit of such expenses.
2025-02-19 14:55:00
The southern U.S. state of Kentucky has been hit by a series of severe storms and floods, with local media reporting that at least 14 people have died so far. A cold wave is also expected in the area, and strict vigilance is ongoing.
2025-02-19 14:49:00
Takahiku Kuruma, a member of the popular comedy duo Reiwa Roman who apologized for being questioned by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department after playing online casino, announced on his social media that he will be suspending his entertainment activities for the time being, starting from the 19th.
2025-02-19 14:09:00
The Akita branch of the Sendai High Court ruled that the disparity in the value of one vote in last October's House of Representatives election, which was as large as 2.06 times, did not violate the Constitution, dismissing a lawsuit seeking to invalidate the election.
2025-02-19 13:48:00
A startup led by American businessman Elon Musk has announced that it has launched a new generative AI, which it claims is comparable to the technology of leading competitors in the field of generative AI when it comes to solving complex mathematical problems.
2025-02-19 12:41:00
Following the arrest of the former hospital director and others for attempting to cover up a murder case at a hospital in Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture, it has been learned from interviews with related parties that the city and prefecture will be conducting an on-site inspection of the hospital on the afternoon of the 19th. They will be investigating whether there have been any similar cases in the past.
2025-02-19 12:37:00
In a case where the president of a painting company and four others were arrested for murdering a male co-worker at a railroad crossing in Itabashi Ward, Tokyo, two years ago and making it look like a suicide, the Metropolitan Police Department has rearrested three of them for pouring boiling water on the man and forcing him to drink detergent. This is the fourth arrest, and the Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the case, believing that they had repeatedly assaulted and harassed the man over a long period of time.
2025-02-19 12:36:00
Two suspects in their 40s were arrested for allegedly using a smartphone stolen from a person asleep on a train to illegally obtain credit card PIN numbers and make purchases worth 370,000 yen at a convenience store. The Metropolitan Police Department is calling for caution as it is believed they used the victim's SIM card to circumvent authentication.
2025-02-19 12:35:00
As a series of cases of inappropriate interrogations by prosecutors come to light, Prosecutor General Naomi Unemoto of the Supreme Public Prosecutors' Office announced at a meeting of prosecutors on the 19th that some interrogations in cases where the suspect is not arrested and is being investigated at home will also be audio-visualized. The aim is to expand the scope of audio-visualization and video recording to ensure the appropriateness of interrogations.
2025-02-19 12:33:00
In the case of a group of Chinese nationals arrested for illegally reselling products purchased at a discount from Apple's own stores, the president of a Tokyo company who is believed to have provided the group with funds to use his card to make purchases has been arrested. The president is said to be denying the charges.
2025-02-19 12:26:00
Regarding the free high school tuition, the Japan Restoration Party held a meeting of its Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Committee to discuss the contents of the discussions it has been holding with the Liberal Democratic Party and the Komeito Party. No clear opposition was expressed by the attendees, and it was confirmed that the future response would be left to the discretion of Policy Research Council Chairman Aoyagi.
2025-02-19 11:51:00
Regarding high-level talks with Russia, U.S. President Donald Trump said, "My confidence has increased. Russia wants to do something," expressing confidence in progress of talks toward achieving a ceasefire in Ukraine.
2025-02-19 11:38:00
While U.S. President Trump has been critical of the United Nations, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a Security Council meeting that "China supports the United Nations playing a central role in international affairs," emphasizing China's stance of supporting multilateralism centered on the United Nations.
2025-02-19 11:05:00
The Cubs have announced that Shota Imanaga will be the starting pitcher for their opening game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Tokyo next month. Yoshinobu Yamamoto will be the starting pitcher for the Dodgers, and it will be the first time in history that two Japanese starting pitchers will face off in a major league opening game.
2025-02-19 11:02:00
The Wakayama District Court sentenced a 25-year-old defendant to 10 years in prison on charges of attempted murder and other offences for allegedly throwing an explosive device near former Prime Minister Kishida, who was visiting Wakayama City to support an election campaign two years ago.
2025-02-19 10:40:00
According to JR East, due to vehicle inspections, the Tohoku Shinkansen has been suspended on both lines between Tokyo Station and Sendai Station since before 10 a.m. There is no prospect of resuming operations.
2025-02-19 10:14:00
The House of Representatives Budget Committee was scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. on the 19th, with Prime Minister Ishiba and relevant cabinet ministers in attendance, to hold intensive discussions on issues such as political funding. However, at a board meeting held prior to the committee meeting, the ruling and opposition parties were unable to reach an agreement regarding the summoning of expert witnesses, causing the committee to open late.
2025-02-19 09:12:00
According to trade statistics for January released by the Ministry of Finance, the trade balance, which is exports minus imports, was in the red by 2.7588 trillion yen. This is the first time in two months that the trade balance has been in the red.
2025-02-19 08:56:00
Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers held his second bullpen practice during training camp, throwing 21 pitches, seven more than last time. In addition to the no-windup technique he has been working on since this season, he also tried pitching with a quick motion from a set position, stepping up his training with a more realistic approach to pitching.
2025-02-19 08:39:00
According to the Shizuoka Prefectural Police Headquarters, a fire broke out in a tanker truck near Shin-Shimizu Junction on the Shin-Tomei Expressway in Shimizu Ward, Shizuoka City, just before 7:00 a.m. on the 19th.
2025-02-19 07:25:00
On the 18th, the New York Stock Exchange saw the S&P 500 stock index, which is calculated based on the stock prices of 500 major companies, rise 0.2% from the end of last week to a new record high.
2025-02-19 07:02:00
On the 18th, US President Trump told reporters that the tariffs he is considering imposing on cars imported into the US "will be around 25%."
2025-02-19 06:55:00
A meeting of senior US and Russian officials took place in Saudi Arabia, where they agreed to set up a new high-level negotiating team to work towards a ceasefire in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Ukraine has expressed its displeasure over the fact that the meeting was held without its participation.
2025-02-19 06:53:00
Due to the influence of strong cold air and winter pressure patterns, snow is falling mainly on the Sea of Japan side of northern and western Japan, and there is a risk of heavy snowfall in the plains of Kinki and Tokai. The Japan Meteorological Agency is calling for caution regarding the impact on traffic, as well as power outages, fallen trees, and avalanches due to snow accumulation.
2025-02-19 06:22:00
Approximately 1,200 foreigners who are believed to have been forced to take part in specialized fraud in Myanmar have been released and are expected to be transferred to neighboring Thailand for protection soon. The foreigners come from 12 countries and regions, and Thai authorities will investigate how they ended up in Myanmar.
2025-02-19 06:16:00
The National Police Agency announced that it had arrested a Nigerian-based fraud group in a joint investigation with local authorities for defrauding Japanese people of money through "romance scams" that tricked people into falling in love through social media. The agency is investigating the situation, believing that a West African-based criminal group is using these scams as a source of funding.
2025-02-19 05:43:00
Coordination between the Liberal Democratic Party, the Komeito Party and the Japan Restoration Party for the revision of the new fiscal year budget bill is in the final stages. The Japan Restoration Party is planning to hold a discussion among its members on the 19th, with a view to reaching a consensus.
2025-02-19 04:26:00
A former employee of Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, who was under compulsory investigation for suspicion of insider trading, lied about his place of employment when the Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission inquired about suspicious transactions, and avoided detection, according to interviews with people involved. The Surveillance Commission is continuing its investigation with a view to filing charges with the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office Special Investigation Division.
