Main news(2025/05/28)
More than 20 Japanese arrested by Cambodian authorities, reports of fraud
2025-05-28 18:55:00
In northwest Cambodia near the border with Thailand, dozens of foreigners have been detained by local authorities, and it has been learned from interviews with people involved that at least 20 of them are believed to be Japanese. There is also information that the building in which the arrests were made was used as a base for specialized fraud, and the Japanese police are rushing to clarify the situation.
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New law passed to address AI risks and promote research, development and use
2025-05-28 16:48:00
A new law to promote research, development, and utilization of AI while addressing the risks posed by AI was passed by a majority vote at the House of Councilors plenary session on the 28th.
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Revised Disaster Countermeasures Basic Act passed in the House of Councillors plenary session to strengthen disaster prevention system
2025-05-28 16:10:00
In order to strengthen disaster prevention systems, the revised Basic Act on Disaster Management, which includes provisions requiring local governments to publicly disclose the status of their disaster supply stockpiles and establishing a registration system for volunteer groups, was passed by a majority vote in the House of Councilors plenary session.
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Gasoline prices drop to the 170 yen range since December last year thanks to government subsidies
2025-05-28 15:53:00
The national average retail price of regular gasoline was 177.6 yen per liter as of the 26th, down 4.5 yen from the previous week. This is the first time the price has been in the 170 yen range since December last year, due to the government's fixed-price subsidy program that began last week.
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Saitama Tokorozawa Illegal Part-time Job Robbery Case Trial: 9-year prison sentence sought for perpetrator
2025-05-28 15:40:00
In a trial for a robbery and assault case in which a group of four illegal part-time workers broke into a house in Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture, last October, the prosecution sought a nine-year prison sentence for the 43-year-old defendant who was the perpetrator, saying, "He rashly applied for the illegal part-time job in the hopes of making some easy money.This was an extremely heinous crime, and there were no extenuating circumstances."
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Second civil trial in Okawara Chemical Machinery false accusation case also orders national and metropolitan governments to pay compensation
2025-05-28 14:07:00
In the second trial of a civil case involving a wrongful conviction in which the president of Yokohama-based chemical machinery manufacturer Okawara Chemical Machinery and two others were arrested by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's Public Security Bureau on suspicion of illegal exports and subsequently found to be innocent, the Tokyo High Court, following on from the first trial, acknowledged the illegality of the investigation by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's Public Security Bureau and the prosecutors' office, and handed down a ruling ordering the national and prefectural governments to pay compensation.
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Ishin Party calls on LDP and Komeito to jointly submit bill to abolish provisional gasoline tax rate
2025-05-28 13:01:00
Tax policy discussions were held between the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito Party and the Japan Restoration Party, with the Restoration Party calling for a joint submission of a bill to make it clear that the provisional gasoline tax rate will be abolished from July of this year, and the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito Party conveyed their intention to take the bill back and consider it.
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Students protest at Harvard University, calling for the repeal of measures on behalf of international students
2025-05-28 11:55:00
At Harvard University in the United States, American students held demonstrations in protest of the Trump administration's measures to revoke the admissions of international students, and called for the measures to be revoked on behalf of international students who feared they would face negative consequences if they spoke out.
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Kawasaki Defendant indicted for abandoning a corpse, etc., re-arrested on suspicion of stalking
2025-05-28 11:55:00
It has been learned from an investigation that the police have decided to re-arrest a former boyfriend who was indicted on charges of abandoning a body for abandoning a woman's body at his home in Kawasaki City on suspicion of violating the Stalking Prevention Law, as he had repeatedly stalked the woman before she went missing. The police will be further investigating the circumstances surrounding the woman's death and the stalking.
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Pension reform bill: LDP and public sector jointly submit amendment to bill, now under deliberation in House of Representatives Health, Labor and Welfare Committee
2025-05-28 10:22:00
Regarding bills related to pension system reform, following an agreement between party leaders on the 27th, the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito Party, and Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan jointly submitted an amendment to the Diet that includes measures to raise basic pensions, and the bill has begun deliberations in the House of Representatives Health, Labor and Welfare Committee.
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Shohei Ohtani hits his 20th home run in three consecutive games, hitting 20 or more home runs for the fifth consecutive year
2025-05-28 08:42:00
Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers in Major League Baseball started as the leadoff hitter and designated hitter in the game against the Guardians on the 27th, and hit his 20th home run in three consecutive games in the third at-bat of the fourth inning. This is the fastest time he has reached 20 home runs this season across both leagues. Ohtani also hit 20 or more home runs in a season for the fifth consecutive year, breaking his own record as the longest streak by a Japanese player.
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Matsuyama thought it was a "model gun" and bought it, but one bullet accidentally went off.
2025-05-28 07:47:00
On the evening of the 27th, a bullet accidentally went off from what looked like a handgun that had been bought from a customer at a specialty store in Matsuyama City, thinking it was a model gun. A hole was made in the partition inside the store, but no one was injured.
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4-month-old boy dies in Matsudo, Chiba - Mother reported "drowned in bathtub"
2025-05-28 07:42:00
In the early hours of the 28th, a call was made to the police from a home in Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture, reporting that a child had been drowned in the bathtub. A four-month-old boy was taken from the home to the hospital, but was confirmed dead. The call was made by the mother, and the police are currently questioning her in detail.
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"Trump Administration temporarily suspends new student visa interview applications" report
2025-05-28 07:34:00
American media reported that the Trump administration has ordered the suspension of new student visa interview applications for people hoping to study at universities in the United States. This could have a widespread impact on people hoping to study in the United States.
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Tokyo High Court handed down second instance ruling in civil trial today for Okawara Chemical Machinery false accusation case
2025-05-28 07:10:00
On the 28th, the Tokyo High Court will hand down a verdict in the second trial of a civil trial involving three men, including the president of a chemical machinery manufacturer in Yokohama, who were arrested by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's Public Security Bureau on suspicion of illegal exports, and whose innocence was later discovered. The case has taken an unusual turn, with a serving police officer criticizing the investigation in court, saying, "There were problems. The charges were brought because of the greed of the person with the decision-making power," and the court's decision is attracting attention.
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Sumo wrestler Onosato to be promoted to Yokozuna - Speech at the ceremony to be announced [Breaking news]
2025-05-28 06:55:00
Ozeki Onosato, who won the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament for the second consecutive tournament, will be promoted to the 75th Yokozuna today. He will be the first Japanese-born wrestler to become Yokozuna in eight years.
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Tokyo construction site explosion: On-site inspection today, investigation into cylinder circumstances
2025-05-28 06:37:00
On the 27th, an explosion occurred at a construction site in Edogawa Ward, Tokyo, injuring 10 people. It is believed that a flammable gas cylinder buried underground may have been damaged during construction, causing the leaked gas to ignite. The Metropolitan Police Department will begin investigating the scene from the 28th to find out the exact cause of the explosion, as well as the circumstances surrounding the burial of the cylinder.
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Germany to allow long-range attacks with weapons provided to Ukraine, Russia criticizes
2025-05-28 06:27:00
In response to German Chancellor Merz's indication that he would allow the Ukrainian military to launch long-range attacks on Russia using weapons provided by Germany, a spokesman for the Russian presidential office said, "If true, this is an extremely dangerous decision," and criticized it as going against efforts toward a ceasefire.
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Pension reform bill includes measures to raise basic pensions, set to be passed in current Diet session
2025-05-28 06:13:00
Regarding the bill related to pension system reform, the Liberal Democratic Party, the Komeito Party, and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan agreed at a meeting of party leaders to amend the bill to include measures to raise the basic pension level. The amendment is expected to pass the House of Representatives on the 30th and be enacted in the current Diet session.
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Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Akazawa leaves for ministerial negotiations with the US on the 29th to consider further proposals
2025-05-28 06:02:00
Regarding the tariff measures of the Trump administration, Minister of Economic Revitalization Akazawa is scheduled to leave for Washington on the 29th to take part in ministerial negotiations. While further proposals are being considered to gain the understanding of the US side, there are also proposals from within the government to hold new negotiations in conjunction with an international conference to be held in France next week if no compromise is seen in the negotiations.
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Accepting applications to purchase stockpiled rice temporarily suspended; preparations to start selling in early next week accelerated
2025-05-28 05:28:00
On the night of the 27th, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries temporarily suspended accepting applications for purchases of government stockpiled rice under discretionary contracts due to a flood of applications from retailers. Meanwhile, retailers who have already signed contracts are accelerating preparations to start sales in the first half of next week.
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