Tokyo, 28 October, /AJMEDIA/
Japan to approve new economic package as inflation, weak yen bite
TOKYO – Japan on Friday will unveil a fresh economic package that will include 29.1 trillion yen ($199 billion) in government spending, featuring steps to alleviate the pain of accelerating inflation and lift the economy out of the doldrums amid COVID-19, Russia’s war against Ukraine and a weaker yen.
Faced with faltering public support, the government of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is reducing household utilities bills as a major pillar of the package, as people tighten their purse strings due to higher fuel costs and more expensive food and everyday goods.
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Japan’s Sept. jobless rate rises to 2.6%
TOKYO – Japan’s unemployment rate stood at 2.6 percent in September, up from 2.5 percent the previous month, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said Friday.
The job availability ratio rose 0.02 point from August to 1.34 in September, meaning there were 134 job openings for every 100 job seekers, according to separate data from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.
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Japan to triple civilian transport ships for Self-Defense Forces
TOKYO – Japan is set to triple the number of its contracted civilian ships for priority use to compensate for the Self-Defense Forces’ transport capability shortfall in times of military contingencies, including heightened tensions across the Taiwan Strait, sources close to the matter said Thursday.
The government, which plans to increase the number of its contracted civilian vessels from the current two to around six, also plans to conduct research into constructing temporary piers to facilitate the smooth transport of supplies to remote islands where SDF bases are located.
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U.S. keeps nuke option against non-nuclear attacks amid China rise
WASHINGTON – The U.S. administration of President Joe Biden said Thursday it will consider using nuclear weapons only in “extreme circumstances,” leaving room for resorting to the destructive armament against both nuclear and non-nuclear attacks.
The Nuclear Posture Review, released for the first time since 2018, underscored the difficulty the Biden administration faces in pursuing a more restrictive nuclear declaratory policy amid China’s military buildup, Russia’s war on Ukraine and North Korea’s ongoing weapons development.
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Baseball: Yoshida blasts Buffaloes back into Japan Series tie
OSAKA – Masataka Yoshida belted two home runs, including a ninth-inning walk-off blast that tied the Japan Series, as the Pacific League’s Orix Buffaloes beat the Central League’s Yakult Swallows 6-4 in Thursday’s Game 5.
The series between Japan’s two repeat league champs, a rematch of last year’s clash won in six games by Yakult, stands at two wins apiece with one tie.
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S. Korea to take part in Japanese naval fleet review in Nov.
SEOUL/TOKYO – South Korea said Thursday it will take part in Japan’s international fleet review to be held next month near Tokyo, in the latest sign that President Yoon Suk Yeol’s government is willing to improve its ties with Japan, after they had soured over wartime labor disputes and other issues.
The decision to accept the Japanese invitation to the Nov. 6 event, to be held in Sagami Bay off Kanagawa Prefecture at a time of heightened regional tensions, including on the Korean Peninsula, reflects Seoul’s desire to prioritize matters with “security implications,” South Korea’s Defense Ministry said.
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Nissan mulls acquiring up to 15% stake in new Renault EV venture
TOKYO – Nissan Motor Co. is considering investing up to 15 percent in a new electric vehicle venture Renault SA plans to set up, sources familiar with the matter said Thursday.
The investment plan comes as the two companies are discussing a plan for Renault to reduce its stake in Nissan from 43 percent to 15 percent amid a partnership review, which has recently entered its final stage.
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Chinese search provider Baidu unveils new AI-powered EV
BEIJING – Chinese internet search giant Baidu Inc. unveiled Thursday a new electric vehicle powered by artificial intelligence featuring some self-driving functions that were developed through a joint venture with Chinese automaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group.
The sport utility vehicle “ROBO-01,” manufactured by the venture is equipped with autonomous driving technology, in which the vehicle can perform steering to some degree on expressways and open roads, and a voice-activated system. There is no gear shift lever in the car.
