2025-04-08 23:10:00
On the 8th, the New York stock market saw a widespread buying back of stocks that had fallen sharply in price following the Trump administration's announcement of "reciprocal tariffs," and the Dow Jones Industrial Average temporarily rose by more than $1,300 compared to the 7th.
2025-04-08 23:01:00
The government has begun preparations to release stockpiles of rice for the third time, citing the need for further measures to stabilize the price of rice, which continues to soar. Prime Minister Ishiba and Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Eto are expected to hold final discussions soon and make a decision.
2025-04-08 22:42:00
On the 8th, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy announced at a press conference in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, that two of six Chinese soldiers who were fighting on the Russian side in the Donetsk region in the east of Ukraine had been taken prisoner. He then emphasized that "the Chinese are fighting on Ukrainian territory. This is an urgent matter that we need to discuss with our partner countries," and called for the United States and European countries to keep a close eye on the situation. The Ukrainian side said it would inquire about the two soldiers with the Chinese side through diplomatic channels and investigate the details of the situation.
2025-04-08 22:30:00
On the 8th, one day after the forest fire in Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture, was declared "out," residents expressed relief but also concern about future landslides.
2025-04-08 22:11:00
Defense Minister Nakatani met with NATO Secretary-General Rutte, who is visiting Japan, at the Ministry of Defense and conveyed Japan's intention to participate in NATO's efforts to repair equipment and train soldiers as part of its support for Ukraine.
2025-04-08 21:31:00
On the 6th, a medical evacuation helicopter carrying a patient was found capsized off the coast of Iki, Nagasaki Prefecture, resulting in the deaths of three people. The aircraft was equipped with a device that automatically sends out a distress signal if it received a strong impact, but the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, which is supposed to receive the signal, did not receive it, according to an interview with a related person. The Japan Coast Guard and others plan to recover the aircraft and conduct a detailed investigation.
2025-04-08 21:29:00
It has been revealed that the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department has referred a male employee in his 50s, who served as head of the internal audit department of the holding company that owns the Mainichi Shimbun, to the public prosecutor's office on suspicion of child prostitution and other offences for allegedly giving cash to a girl under the age of 18 to engage in sexual acts and send obscene selfies.
2025-04-08 20:56:00
A 24-year-old former announcer for Okinawa's Ryukyu Broadcasting has been indicted on charges of assault for allegedly giving a colleague a drink laced with a drowsiness drug.
2025-04-08 20:04:00
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that they had fired warning shots after about 10 North Korean soldiers crossed the military demarcation line between North and South Korea at around 5 pm on the 8th. The North Korean soldiers then returned to the North Korean side, and the South Korean military is continuing to monitor them.
2025-04-08 19:11:00
On the 6th, a helicopter transporting a patient from Tsushima in Nagasaki Prefecture to a hospital in Fukuoka City made an emergency landing in the ocean, killing three of the six people on board. We have compiled what is known so far based on interviews with the helicopter operator, SGC Saga Airlines, Fukuoka Wajiro Hospital, which is contracted to operate the helicopter, the Japan Coast Guard, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
2025-04-08 18:56:00
It has been learned that a venture company spun out of Osaka University, which is developing cell sheets made from iPS cells to be used in the treatment of heart disease, has applied to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare for approval to manufacture and sell them. According to the company, if approved by the government, it will be the world's first treatment using iPS cells, and attention will be focused on whether the effectiveness will be recognized in the review.
2025-04-08 18:40:00
NHK has learned that the World Health Organization (WHO) is short about 260 billion yen in Japanese yen even after cutting its budget from the original plan by 20% from next year due to the suspension of funding by the Trump administration. The WHO is increasingly concerned that it may be slow to respond to the next pandemic.
2025-04-08 18:01:00
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries announced the average prices of major vegetables sold at supermarkets last week. Cabbage, which had been more than twice the average price for some time, was 1.5 times the average.
2025-04-08 17:56:00
The pertussis epidemic, which mainly infects children and causes persistent severe coughing, continues, with 578 cases reported by medical institutions nationwide in the week up to March 30, the highest number since statistics began being collected using the current method. Specialist societies are calling for infants to receive routine vaccinations as soon as they reach two months of age, as they are at high risk of developing severe symptoms.
2025-04-08 17:40:00
Regarding the issue of online casinos spreading to the sports world, Sports Agency Commissioner Murofushi stated his intention to raise awareness among sports organizations and others to ensure proper awareness of illegal gambling and strict compliance.
2025-04-08 16:38:00
Last month's Economy Watchers Survey, which asks working people about their impressions of the economy, showed that both indices showing the current state and outlook for the economy fell from the previous month due to the impact of rising prices and growing concerns about U.S. tariff policy.
2025-04-08 16:30:00
In 2040, 15 years from now, the number of people aged 65 or older is estimated to be 39.28 million, accounting for more than 30% of the population. However, the demand for nursing care services has already started to decline in mountainous areas and areas with declining populations. A study group of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has put together a proposal that suggests that a new compensation system should be introduced in these areas.
2025-04-08 16:05:00
The U.S. Navy's large unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, the MQ4C, will be deployed again to Kadena Air Base in Okinawa Prefecture within the next few weeks, the Okinawa Defense Bureau explained to the prefecture on the 8th.
2025-04-08 15:50:00
Following the major earthquake that occurred in central Myanmar, an Air Self-Defense Force transport plane departed Japan on the afternoon of the 8th to deliver medicines and other supplies to medical teams working on the ground.
2025-04-08 15:30:00
A fire broke out in a forest in Akiota Town, Hiroshima Prefecture, on the morning of the 8th, and firefighting efforts are underway. So far, no one has been injured, but the town has issued evacuation orders to 17 people in 11 households.
2025-04-08 15:06:00
An American biotechnology company has attracted attention by announcing that it has "revived" the dire wolf, a carnivorous animal similar to wolves that is thought to have become extinct about 13,000 years ago, using genome editing technology to manipulate genes.
2025-04-08 14:58:00
The 90th memorial service for the faithful dog Hachiko, known for waiting for his owner to return after he passed away, was held in front of the Hachiko statue in Shibuya, Tokyo on the 8th.
2025-04-08 14:47:00
In response to the large-scale forest fire in Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture, Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Murakami announced that he would establish a new panel of experts to analyze the factors that led to the spread of the fire and to consider how to carry out effective firefighting activities.
2025-04-08 12:12:00
In response to the accident on the 6th, when a medical evacuation helicopter transporting a patient was found capsized off the coast of Iki, Nagasaki Prefecture, resulting in the deaths of three people, the National Transport Safety Board visited the helicopter operating company in Saga City on the morning of the 8th and is investigating the maintenance status of the aircraft.
2025-04-08 11:59:00
Following the impeachment of former President Yoon Seok-yeol, who declared "emergency martial law," the South Korean government formally decided at a cabinet meeting on the 8th to hold the presidential election on June 3rd. From now on, the ruling and opposition parties will begin to select candidates in earnest.
2025-04-08 11:18:00
US President Trump posted on his social media that if China does not withdraw its countermeasures against the "reciprocal tariffs," an additional 50% tariff will be imposed on China from the 9th. In response, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce released a statement, indicating that if the additional tariffs are implemented, they will take countermeasures and fight back thoroughly. We will report on developments related to the "Trump tariffs" on April 8th (Japan time) in a breaking news report.
2025-04-08 10:58:00
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said it had received notice from the US government suggesting it would cut off food aid to 14 countries, and expressed strong concern that the move was "tantamount to a death sentence for millions of people facing starvation."
2025-04-08 10:47:00
The Japanese government has decided to extend its own sanctions against North Korea, which are due to expire next week, for another two years, taking into account North Korea's continued nuclear and missile development, as well as the abduction issue.
2025-04-08 10:10:00
In response to the US tariff measures, the government held its first meeting of the comprehensive task force, consisting of all cabinet ministers. Prime Minister Ishiba instructed the government to work together to respond, including through diplomatic negotiations to request a review of the measures and by providing support to domestic industries.
2025-04-08 09:59:00
On the Tokyo Stock Exchange on the 8th, buy orders swelled immediately after trading began, with the Nikkei Stock Average rising by more than 1,600 yen. On the 7th, the Nikkei Stock Average recorded a closing price drop of more than 2,600 yen, the third largest in history, but on the 8th, there was a lot of buying back of stocks that had fallen sharply. In addition, regarding the US tariff measures, Prime Minister Ishiba and President Trump held a telephone conversation on the night of the 7th, and agreed to continue discussions by appointing a cabinet member in charge, which has created expectations for future discussions and led to buy orders.
2025-04-08 09:16:00
Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers started as the leadoff hitter and designated hitter in the game against the Nationals on the 7th, and hit his fourth two-run home run of the season in the second at-bat of the third inning with the team trailing by two runs. This was Ohtani's first home run in four games since hitting a walk-off home run against the Braves on the 2nd of this month.
2025-04-08 08:54:00
On the 7th, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said to the Trump administration in the United States that she had proposed "zero tariffs on industrial products for both sides," making clear that she had made a concrete proposal to avoid trade friction.
2025-04-08 08:08:00
US President Trump posted on his social media that if China does not withdraw its countermeasures against the "reciprocal tariffs," he will impose an additional 50% tariff on Chinese products from the 9th.
2025-04-08 07:35:00
A female suspect who was arrested in the early hours of the 8th for injuring a nurse at a hospital in Shizuoka Prefecture identified herself as actress Hirosue Ryoko. Police believe she is the actress and are continuing to confirm her identity while investigating the details of the incident.
2025-04-08 05:41:00
In a case involving Kawasaki Heavy Industries providing goods to the crew of the Maritime Self-Defense Force submarines with slush funds created through fictitious transactions, the Osaka Regional Taxation Bureau has revealed that the company has concealed more than 1.3 billion yen in income over the six years up to last year, according to interviews with people involved. The Regional Taxation Bureau's investigation also uncovered non-reporting of earnings by affiliated companies overseas, bringing the total amount of unreported earnings to 4 billion yen.
2025-04-08 05:22:00
The Dodgers, who won the World Series last season in Major League Baseball, paid a courtesy visit to the White House on the 7th, and President Trump praised Shohei Ohtani, saying he was "like a movie star."
2025-04-08 05:16:00
On the 6th, a medical evacuation helicopter carrying a patient was found capsized off the coast of Iki, Nagasaki Prefecture, resulting in the deaths of three people. According to investigators, there was no communication from the helicopter to the control tower or other authorities to inform of an emergency or other abnormality. The Japan Coast Guard is currently investigating the details of where the trouble occurred between takeoff and the emergency landing at sea.
2025-04-08 04:29:00
Regarding Nippon Steel's plan to acquire U.S. Steel, a major steel manufacturer, which former U.S. President Biden has issued a ban order on, President Trump has signed a document instructing the U.S. government's Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to reexamine the acquisition plan.
