Main news(2025/03/06)
French President says former European Commission chief: "Nuclear security may be necessary"
2025-03-06 22:52:00
In an interview with NHK, Barroso, former president of the European Commission, the executive body of the EU, expressed understanding of French President Macron's intention to begin considering expanding France's nuclear deterrent power to Europe, saying, "We are opposed to the use of nuclear weapons, but unfortunately there are times when it is necessary to provide nuclear security."
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Keidanren calls for early introduction of optional separate surnames for married couples at LDP meeting
2025-03-06 21:33:00
A meeting of the Liberal Democratic Party working group was held to discuss optional separate surnames for married couples, and a representative from the Japan Business Federation expressed appreciation for the 1996 Legislative Council's proposal and called for the system to be introduced as soon as possible.
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The yen is trading at 147 yen to the dollar, its strongest in five months, and the dollar is at its weakest.
2025-03-06 21:11:00
On the 6th, the yen rose to the 147 yen range on the foreign exchange market as the yen was bought and the dollar was sold. This is the highest yen-dollar level in about five months since October last year. The yen-buying and dollar-selling trend is accelerating against the backdrop of the expectation that the Bank of Japan will continue to raise interest rates in the future.
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Three women who reported being sexually assaulted by Johnny Kitagawa file lawsuit against "SMILE-UP."
2025-03-06 21:00:00
Three men who reported being victims have filed a lawsuit against SMILE-UP, the company that is providing compensation for Johnny Kitagawa's sexual assault case, seeking confirmation that they are in a position to receive compensation.
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US military aid to Ukraine to be halted: Will intelligence support also be halted? Western media
2025-03-06 20:51:00
Regarding the suspension of US military aid to Ukraine, Western media have reported that intelligence support has also been suspended, raising concerns that this could lead to a weakening of Ukraine's defense capabilities and intensification of Russian attacks.
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EU special summit: agreement in principle expected on "rearmament plan" to strengthen defense capabilities
2025-03-06 19:10:00
The European Union is expected to hold a special summit on the 6th and reach an agreement in principle on a plan to secure 127 trillion yen in funding to strengthen its defense capabilities. With US President Trump urging Europe to play a greater role in the defense of the region, the focus is on how strong a message the EU can send.
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Otsu couple killed and injured: missing son on wanted list for attempted murder
2025-03-06 18:51:00
Last month, in an apartment in Otsu City, a couple in their 70s was found bleeding and collapsed, with the husband dying. The police have issued a wanted notice for the 50-year-old son, who has been missing since the incident, on suspicion of attempted murder. The son was captured on a security camera near the scene, and the police have released the security camera footage to investigate his whereabouts.
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Two suspects arrested for theft of copper wire cables from Saitama solar power generation facility
2025-03-06 17:50:00
Two Cambodian suspects were arrested for stealing over 500 meters of copper cable from a solar power generation facility in Saitama Prefecture.
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Tokyo Fire Department displays records from the subway sarin gas attack for young firefighters
2025-03-06 17:15:00
As the 30th anniversary of the Aum Shinrikyo sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway approaches, the Tokyo Fire Department is holding an exhibition featuring records and testimonies of activities from that time, aimed at young firefighters who have no recollection of what happened at the time.
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Japan cannot host the 2031 Women's World Cup
2025-03-06 16:52:00
Regarding the 2031 Women's World Cup, which Japan had been aiming to host, FIFA has decided to invite bids from member associations in Africa or North, Central America and the Caribbean, meaning that Japan will no longer be able to host the event.
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Sensoji Temple Nakamise's new roof unveiled after first re-roofing in 80 years
2025-03-06 16:06:00
The Nakamise street at Senso-ji Temple, a popular tourist spot in Asakusa, Tokyo, is nearing completion of its first complete roof replacement in 80 years, and the new roof, covered in reddish-brown copper sheets, was unveiled to the press on the 6th.
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Seven & i Holdings President Isaka retires, Steven Dacus to succeed him
2025-03-06 16:01:00
Seven & i Holdings Co. announced that President Ryuichi Isaka, who has led the group since 2016, will step down and that outside director Steven Hayes Dacus will take over as his successor.
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[Updated regularly] Retrial begins for murder of junior high school girl 39 years ago in Fukui
2025-03-06 14:10:00
A retrial of a 59-year-old man who was convicted and imprisoned for the murder of a junior high school girl in Fukui City 39 years ago has begun at the Kanazawa branch of the Nagoya High Court. The man has consistently maintained his innocence since his arrest and has decided to seek acquittal in court.
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Supreme Court to acquit two former TEPCO vice presidents in nuclear accident case
2025-03-06 14:09:00
In the trial where three former executives of Tokyo Electric Power Company were forcibly indicted on charges of professional negligence resulting in death and injury in connection with the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident 14 years ago, the Supreme Court on the 6th rejected the appeal by the prosecutor's designated lawyer, stating that "it cannot be admitted that a tsunami exceeding 10 meters could have been predicted," and the two former vice presidents were found not guilty. The former chairman passed away in October last year, and the indictment was dropped.
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The House of Representatives Constitutional Review Committee will meet on the 13th to discuss maintaining parliamentary functions in an emergency
2025-03-06 14:01:00
At a meeting of the House of Representatives' Constitutional Review Committee, the ruling and opposition parties agreed to hold the first review meeting of the current Diet on March 13 to discuss topics such as maintaining Diet functions in the event of a state of emergency.
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Hokkaido's New Chitose Airport temporarily closes runway due to deer intrusion, affecting some flights
2025-03-06 13:42:00
On the morning of the 6th, two deer entered the runway at New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido, causing the runway to be temporarily closed. As a result, some flights were redirected or delayed.
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Prime Minister Ishiba considers high-cost medical care system after hearing opinions from those involved
2025-03-06 12:53:00
On the 6th, the House of Councillors Budget Committee held deliberations on the new fiscal year budget proposal. Regarding the increase in the upper limit of the high-cost medical care system burden, the ruling Komeito Party pointed out that there was a lack of understanding from the public. In response, Prime Minister Ishiba explained that the form of the system after August next year would be reconsidered after listening to the opinions of those involved and others, and asked for understanding.
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Some insurance associations for Myna Health Insurance Cards will not issue a certificate of eligibility unless you apply.
2025-03-06 12:27:00
For those who do not have a My Number health insurance card, the government says that when their health insurance card expires, each insurance association will automatically issue a "qualification confirmation letter." However, it has been discovered that some insurance associations have announced that they will not issue this qualification confirmation letter unless an application is made. The government says that there is a "possibility of insufficient publicity," and will be looking into the situation.
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Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau employee arrested for invading women's restroom at station and committing lewd acts
2025-03-06 12:13:00
A 35-year-old employee of the Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau was arrested by the Metropolitan Police Department for allegedly entering a women's restroom at Tokyo Metro's Nihonbashi Station and committing lewd acts on a woman. He has denied the charges during questioning.
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Tohoku Shinkansen train: coupling comes off during operation, service suspended between Tokyo and Shin-Aomori
2025-03-06 12:12:00
According to JR East, at around 11:30 a.m. today, a coupling came off on the Tohoku Shinkansen train traveling between Ueno and Omiya, causing the train to stop. The train is currently undergoing inspection. Due to the inspection, the Tohoku Shinkansen has suspended operations on both lines between Tokyo Station and Shin-Aomori Station since around 11:30 a.m. The Hokuriku Shinkansen has also suspended operations on both lines between Tokyo Station and Nagano Station. Additionally, the Joetsu Shinkansen has suspended operations on both lines between Tokyo Station and Niigata Station.
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South Korean military "fighter jet mistakenly dropped a bomb" damage to house, 2 seriously injured, 5 slightly injured
2025-03-06 12:09:00
According to the South Korean military, a South Korean Air Force fighter jet accidentally dropped eight bombs outside a firing range during training in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, at around 10 a.m. on the 6th. According to the fire department, two nearby houses and a church were damaged, and two people were seriously injured and five were slightly injured. The fighter jet was taking part in joint training with the army, and the South Korean military is currently investigating the exact cause.
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Long-term interest rates: 10-year government bond yields reach 1.5% range, highest since 2009
2025-03-06 11:31:00
Long-term interest rates continue to rise sharply in the domestic bond market, and on the 6th, the yield on 10-year government bonds, a representative indicator, rose to the 1.5% range, the highest level since 2009, due to rising interest rates in the United States and the view that the Bank of Japan will continue to raise interest rates in the future.
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Atomic bomb survivors and high school students demonstrate at the United States nuclear weapons convention
2025-03-06 11:23:00
In New York, where the Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is being held, atomic bomb survivors and high school students visiting the area held a demonstration calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons.
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The United States holds unprecedented direct talks with Hamas over the release of US hostages held in Gaza
2025-03-06 10:24:00
The Trump administration has revealed that it is negotiating directly with the Islamic organization Hamas over the release of American hostages being held in the Gaza Strip. It is extremely unusual for the United States to make direct contact with Hamas, which it designated as a terrorist organization in the 1990s.
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Aichi Toyota Factory "Dust collector explodes" 1 person unconscious
2025-03-06 10:07:00
According to the fire department, at around 8:00 a.m. on the 6th, an employee reported that a dust collector inside the building had exploded at a factory in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture. Firefighters arrived at the scene and confirmed the situation, but it was found that at least three people were injured, one of whom was unconscious. This factory is the Fujioka factory of Chuo Spring, a spring manufacturer that is a business partner of Toyota Motor Corporation, where an explosion occurred in 2023 that injured two people. As a result, Toyota's production lines at nine factories, including those of its group companies, were halted.
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Inquest of Prosecution: One investigator not indicted in wrongful export case unjustified
2025-03-06 07:21:00
In a wrongful conviction case involving a chemical machinery manufacturer in Yokohama, two investigators from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's Public Security Bureau were charged with criminal offenses for allegedly destroying interrogation records, among other things, but were not indicted. The Prosecutor's Office has decided that the decision not to indict one of the investigators was unjust. The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office will conduct a reinvestigation and make a new decision.
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Over 100 vacant homes in public housing for disaster victims in Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima: NHK survey
2025-03-06 07:13:00
The 11th of this month marks 14 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake. An NHK survey has found that there are over 100 public housing units in Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures where people who lost their homes in the disaster live, with their belongings left untouched after their residents have died or moved into facilities. There is a risk that the number of "hidden vacant homes" where no one is living but no one can move in will increase in the future, and measures are needed.
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CIA Director: "Trump Administration's intelligence support suspension expected to resume"
2025-03-06 07:08:00
CIA Director Ratcliffe said the Trump administration has suspended not only military but also intelligence assistance to Ukraine, but indicated he expects aid to resume.
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President Zelensky: "Positive move" to reschedule talks with US
2025-03-06 07:05:00
On the 5th, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said regarding future dialogue with the Trump administration in the United States, "There is positive movement and I hope to see initial results next week," suggesting some progress has been made toward rescheduling the talks.
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Deputy Chief of Staff of the Ukrainian President: "Peace without justice cannot last"
2025-03-06 06:31:00
In an exclusive interview with NHK, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Ukrainian Presidential Administration Mudra said, "Peace without justice cannot last," and emphasized that in order to achieve a ceasefire, discussions should be held not only on the security guarantees Ukraine is seeking from the United States and other countries, and on territorial integrity, but also on pursuing Russia's responsibility.
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President Macron: "Considerations on expanding France's nuclear deterrent to Europe"
2025-03-06 06:17:00
On the 5th, French President Macron, in a televised address regarding the situation in Ukraine, stated that he was considering beginning to consider extending France's nuclear deterrent power to Europe, citing the imminent threat posed by Russia.
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US spokesman: "Mexico, Canada auto tariffs postponed for one month"
2025-03-06 06:07:00
The White House announced that, at the request of automakers, automobiles would be exempt from the 25% tariffs imposed on imports from Canada and Mexico that went into effect on the 4th for one month.
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Retrial of man serving time in prison for murder of junior high school student in Fukui 39 years ago begins today
2025-03-06 06:07:00
The first hearing of the retrial of a 59-year-old man who was convicted and imprisoned for the murder of a junior high school girl in Fukui City 39 years ago will be held on the 6th at the Kanazawa branch of the Nagoya High Court. The man has consistently maintained his innocence since his arrest and has decided to seek acquittal in court.
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China's National People's Congress emphasizes expanding domestic demand amid intensifying trade friction with the US
2025-03-06 05:39:00
At the National People's Congress, which began in China on the 5th, the government set a target of 2020 economic growth of around 5%, the same as last year, and outlined its economic management policy. As trade friction with the United States intensifies, the government is making it clear that it will focus on expanding domestic demand and prop up the slowing economy with aggressive fiscal spending.
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Ofunato forest fire: Rain and snow expected on the 6th Firefighting efforts continue on the ground
2025-03-06 05:02:00
On the 5th, heavy rain fell in Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture, where a forest fire is occurring, for the first time since the fire started, and no new spread of the fire was confirmed during the day. Rain and snow are expected to fall in Ofunato City on the 6th into the evening, and firefighters are continuing their firefighting efforts on the ground to put the fire out.
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