Main news(2025/03/20)
Hamas retaliates against Israel with rocket attack on commercial city
2025-03-20 22:47:00
On the 20th, the Islamic organization Hamas claimed to have attacked Israel's largest commercial city, Tel Aviv, with rockets. It said it was in retaliation for the Israeli military's killing of residents in the Gaza Strip. In response, the Israeli military announced that it had confirmed that three missiles had been fired from the Gaza Strip toward Israel, intercepting one of them and that the remaining two had landed in vacant land. Regarding the Gaza Strip, the Israeli military carried out a large-scale airstrike on the 18th of this month, and the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas that came into effect in January of this year is in danger of collapsing.
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On the 12th day of the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament, Ozato and Takayasu maintain their two losses
2025-03-20 21:29:00
The 12th day of the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament. Ozeki Onosato won the match against Maegashira Sonfuji, both of whom also had two losses, and Maegashira Takayasu defeated Sekiwake Oho to keep his two losses. The two wrestlers were tied for first place with two losses in the race to win the championship.
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Fire in a house in Ami Town, Ibaraki, one dead, one unconscious and in critical condition
2025-03-20 21:17:00
On the afternoon of the 20th, a fire broke out in Ami Town, Ibaraki Prefecture, burning down a house. Two people, a man and a woman, were rescued and taken to the hospital, but the man died and the woman is in a critical condition and unconscious, according to the fire department. The police and fire department are investigating the cause of the fire while confirming the identity of the victims.
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Israeli military attacks in Gaza continue, increasing casualties; Hamas to send negotiating team
2025-03-20 19:24:00
In the Gaza Strip in Palestine, Israeli military attacks are continuing, with more than 70 people reportedly killed as of the early hours of the 20th. The Islamic organization Hamas is reportedly planning to send a negotiating team on the 20th in an attempt to maintain the ceasefire, and it appears that tense negotiations are continuing as the number of casualties continues to rise.
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Thai police arrest Japanese man, suspected leader of special fraud group
2025-03-20 19:07:00
Thai police have announced that they have arrested a Japanese man in the capital, Bangkok, who is believed to be the leader of a Southeast Asian-based specialized fraud ring. Japanese police have obtained an arrest warrant for the man on multiple charges, and he is expected to be deported to Japan in the future.
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Soccer World Cup final qualifying: Endo, Mitoma, Kubo, and others in the starting lineup [Breaking news]
2025-03-20 18:58:00
The Japan national soccer team will face Bahrain tonight in the seventh match of the World Cup Asian final qualifying round at home. A win in this match will guarantee an eighth consecutive appearance in the finals, but even if it is a draw, it will depend on the results of other matches. The starting line-up was just announced, and includes key players such as Wataru Endo, Kaoru Mitoma, and Takefusa Kubo. Defender Hiroki Ito will be making his first appearance in the final qualifying round after returning from a broken leg. We will bring you the latest information on the match, scheduled to start at 7:35pm at Saitama Stadium.
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High school baseball tournament: Toyo University Himeji beats Iki to advance to the second round
2025-03-20 18:07:00
In the third game on the third day of the Senbatsu High School Baseball Tournament, Toyo University Himeji High School from Hyogo defeated Iki High School from Nagasaki, which was making its first appearance under the 21st Century枠, 7-2 to advance to the second round.
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North Korea criticizes Japan for "deploying missiles capable of counterattacks" and "creating new conflicts"
2025-03-20 17:49:00
North Korea's Foreign Ministry has criticized the Japanese government's domestically produced missiles, which it plans to deploy by the end of March next year and which will also be used as a "retaliatory capability," saying they will "create a new spark for military conflict in Northeast Asia."
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Three new candidates run in split election for Akita Prefectural Governor [Full text and video of speeches]
2025-03-20 17:30:00
The Akita Prefectural Governor election has been announced due to the expiration of the current governor's term, and three new candidates are running.
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Prince Hisahito visits Emperor Showa's mausoleum to announce his high school graduation
2025-03-20 16:03:00
Prince Hisahito, the eldest son of Prince and Princess Akishino, visited the tomb of Emperor Showa in Hachioji, Tokyo, to report that he had graduated from high school.
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Gift certificate issue: People's Party leader Tamaki: "Prime Minister Ishiba should explain at the Political Ethics Committee soon"
2025-03-20 15:04:00
Regarding the issue of the distribution of gift certificates by Prime Minister Ishiba and former Prime Minister Kishida, Democratic Party for the People leader Tamaki stated that this issue is taking up time in the Diet and is affecting discussions of important policies, and stressed that Prime Minister Ishiba should appear before the Political Ethics Committee as soon as possible and explain his past actions as well.
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SoftBank Group to acquire American semiconductor design company for approximately 970 billion yen
2025-03-20 14:56:00
SoftBank Group has announced that it will acquire an American semiconductor design company with strengths in the AI field for $6.5 billion, or approximately 970 billion yen.
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EU Defense White Paper released for the first time - Plans to strengthen defense capabilities to counter Russian threats
2025-03-20 13:48:00
The European Union (EU) has published its first white paper that includes a policy to strengthen defense capabilities in order to counter the threat from Russia, and has set out a policy to prioritize the development of air defense systems and to support the defense industry in the region. (Reporter Hiroki Yamada, London bureau; Reporter Sachiyo Sugita, Brussels bureau)
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High school baseball tournament: Nishinippon Junior College wins against Ogaki Nihon University High School and advances to the second round
2025-03-20 12:15:00
In the first game of the third day of the Senbatsu High School Baseball Tournament, Nishinippon Junior College High School from Fukuoka defeated Ogaki Nihon University High School from Gifu 6-0 to earn their first win in the tournament and advance to the second round.
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Oyster landing suspended due to forest fire in Ofunato, shipping delayed, a blow
2025-03-20 12:10:00
In Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture, where oyster farming is thriving, forest fires have forced the suspension of oyster landings, meaning that some oysters grown for this season will not be shipped in time, which is a blow to farmers.
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US report: "Department of Defense considering canceling plan to strengthen US forces in Japan"
2025-03-20 11:54:00
As the Trump administration moves to downsize federal government agencies, CNN reported that the Department of Defense is considering canceling plans to strengthen its military presence in Japan as part of its review of its organization and posture.
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30 years since the Tokyo subway sarin gas attack: Memorial ceremony held at Kasumigaseki Station
2025-03-20 11:38:00
On the 20th, it will be 30 years since the Aum Shinrikyo "Tokyo subway sarin attack" in which 14 people were killed and approximately 6,300 people were injured. At Kasumigaseki Station on the Tokyo subway, bereaved families and others mourned the victims.
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Students from Japan Aviation High School in Ishikawa who evacuated to Tokyo postpone plans to return to Noto
2025-03-20 11:12:00
It has been learned from an interview with the school that the Ishikawa Japan Aviation High School in Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture, where many of the students have evacuated to Tokyo due to the Noto Peninsula earthquake, will postpone plans to return some of the students to Noto by next month, due to the risk of the school building collapsing in a major earthquake. The school will consider reinforcing or rebuilding the building, which could delay the plan by several years.
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EU considers emergency import restrictions on aluminum, plans to propose new measures for steel products as well
2025-03-20 10:00:00
The European Union (EU) has announced an action plan to consider emergency import restrictions to prevent the inflow of aluminum from outside the EU in the wake of the tariff measures imposed by the Trump administration in the United States. It is also planning to propose new measures for steel products and is rushing to respond.
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IOC General Assembly opens, Bach to become honorary president, election to decide successor on 20th
2025-03-20 07:12:00
The IOC (International Olympic Committee) general assembly opened on the 19th, and it was decided that President Thomas Bach, who will retire at the end of his term in June 2025, will then become honorary president. An election to decide the successor to the presidency will be held on the evening of the 20th (Japan time), and the new leader will be chosen from among seven candidates, including Morinari Watanabe, the first Japanese to run for office.
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Fed postpones rate cut, keeps policy interest rate unchanged for second consecutive meeting
2025-03-20 06:44:00
The US Federal Reserve Board held a meeting to decide on monetary policy and announced on the 19th that it had decided to postpone any interest rate cuts and to keep the policy interest rate unchanged. However, the outlook presented by participants at the meeting showed rising prices and a slowing economy, and they expressed concern about the impact of the Trump administration's tariff hikes.
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Morning drama heroine passes the baton from "Omusubi" to "Anpan"
2025-03-20 06:25:00
Ahead of the broadcast of "Anpan" on the 31st of this month, replacing NHK's serial drama "Omusubi," a baton-passing ceremony for the heroine was held.
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Opposition parties plan to pursue case over gift certificates given to attendees of former Prime Minister Kishida's meeting while in office
2025-03-20 06:16:00
Following the case of Prime Minister Ishiba, it was revealed that former Prime Minister Kishida also distributed gift certificates to attendees of meetings with parliamentary vice-ministers during his term in office. The opposition parties, including the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, plan to continue pursuing the matter, saying that this reveals the LDP's overall tendency to neglect issues related to politics and money.
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Trump proposes US ownership of nuclear power plant in Ukraine
2025-03-20 03:55:00
On the 19th, the White House revealed that in a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, President Trump told him that U.S. ownership of Ukrainian nuclear power plants would be the best way to protect nuclear power plants and support Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
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Thirty years since the Tokyo subway sarin gas attack: Victims and surviving families call for lessons to be passed on
2025-03-20 01:35:00
On the 20th, it will be 30 years since the Aum Shinrikyo "Tokyo subway sarin gas attack," in which 14 people died and 6,300 people were injured. As the number of generations who do not know about the incident increases, victims and their families are calling for the lessons of the incident, which failed to prevent an unprecedented terrorist attack, to be passed down and passed on to future generations.
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