Tokyo, 24 December, /AJMEDIA/
Biden signs $858 bil. defense bill including funds for Taiwan, allies
WASHINGTON – U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday signed into law an $858 billion defense policy bill set to increase security cooperation with Taiwan by providing billions in aid over the coming years, while continuing to invest in alliances and partnerships amid China’s assertiveness and Russian threats.
The National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2023 through next September authorizes about 10 percent more in spending than last year’s budget, with $11.5 billion eyed for an initiative to enhance U.S. deterrence and defense in the Indo-Pacific.
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North Korea fires at least 1 ballistic missile toward Sea of Japan
TOKYO – North Korea launched at least one ballistic missile toward the Sea of Japan, the Japanese government said Friday, becoming the latest incident in a flurry of weapons tests conducted by Pyongyang that has heightened regional tensions.
The missile was fired at around 4:31 p.m. and fell into waters outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone, with no damage from the projectile or its debris to aircraft or vessels confirmed, according to the Defense Ministry.
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Online survey shows chicken remains top Christmas meal in Japan
TOKYO – Over 80 percent of respondents to a recent online survey by a Japanese shopping information site operator said they plan to celebrate Christmas by eating chicken, with most preferring to buy takeout rather than cook themselves.
The survey conducted by Locoguide Inc., which collected responses from 2,628 users of its Tokubai site between Nov. 25 and Nov. 30, found that fried was the most popular way to enjoy the meat at 33.3 percent, followed closely by roast at 32 percent, and Japanese-style deep-fried “karaage” at 22.8 percent.
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FEATURE: Ex-Nomura exec opens school to help shift Japan’s savings to stocks
TOKYO – Seiji Watanabe’s enchantment with the dynamism of stock trading helped him rise to a senior position at Nomura Securities Co., Japan’s biggest securities house, overseeing sales of Japanese equities to institutional investors.
His deep knowledge of Japanese stocks even made him a go-to person for many money managers worldwide seeking advice on investing in companies such as Toyota Motor Corp. and SoftBank Group Corp.
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Japan’s Kishida eyes visit to Britain, France, Italy in January
TOKYO – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is arranging to visit Britain, France and Italy in the first half of January, hoping to lay the groundwork for a successful Group of Seven nations summit in Hiroshima in May, sources with knowledge of the matter said Friday.
Kishida met with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at last month’s Group of 20 summit in Indonesia, but did not get to hold separate talks with them, the sources said.
Heavy snow across parts of Japan, western cities see record snowfall
TOKYO – Heavy snow covered many parts of Japan on Friday, with some western cities seeing record snowfall due to winter pressure patterns taking hold amid a weather agency warning of traffic disruptions, snowstorms and high waves.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said it expects the rough weather to continue through Sunday, mainly in northern Japan and along the Sea of Japan coast, while western Japan could see possible heavy snow as a cold air mass is expected to stay at least through Saturday.
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Quarter of trainees in Japan told to return home if pregnant: survey
TOKYO – Around a quarter of responding female foreign trainees in Japan said they were told to quit their job and return to their home country if they became pregnant, a survey by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan said Friday.
The questionnaire is the first such conducted by the government focused on inappropriate treatment regarding pregnancy and childbirths. It followed revelations that interns had been told by the organization responsible for their work placement that they should return home if pregnant, often leading to tragic cases.
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Japan PM mulls replacing minister amid growing criticism
TOKYO – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is considering replacing a minister by the beginning of the regular parliamentary session scheduled to start in late January, ruling party sources said Friday, in a move that could see the fourth Cabinet member give up their ministerial post in the span of a few months.
Facing a plunge in the approval ratings for his Cabinet, Kishida may be compelled to dismiss reconstruction minister Kenya Akiba, who has been embroiled in scandals, including one over political funds, the sources said.
