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☆ World's first wooden satellite, developed in Japan, heads to space
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-05 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

KYOTO, Japan — The world’s first wooden satellite, built by Japanese researchers, was launched into space Tuesday in an early test of using timber in lunar and Mars exploration. Scientists at Kyoto University show LignoSat, the first satellite made from wood, in May. STR / Jiji Press / AFP - Getty Images file“Early 1900s airplanes were made of wood,” said Kyoto University forest science professor Koji Murata. “A wooden satellite should be feasible, too.”Wood is more durable in space than on Earth because there’s no water or oxygen that would rot or inflame it, Murata added. A wooden satellite also minimizes the environmental impact at the end of its life, the researchers say.

Persons: ”, Takao Doi, Doi’s, Koji Murata, ” Wood, Murata, Doi, ” Doi, LignoSat, Kenji Kariya Organizations: Kyoto University, homebuilder Sumitomo Forestry, International, SpaceX, Space Shuttle, NASA, LignoSat, Jiji Press, Getty, Elon, Station, Sumitomo Forestry Tsukuba Research Institute Locations: KYOTO, Japan, Kyoto

☆ Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Japanese anti-nuclear weapon group Nihon Hidankyo
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-11 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Alex-Smith-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Alexander Smith | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded Friday to a Japanese anti-nuclear weapon group comprising survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Nihon Hidankyo was given the award “for its efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons,” the Norwegian Nobel Committee said. "The nuclear powers are modernizing and upgrading their arsenals; new countries appear to be preparing to acquire nuclear weapons; and threats are being made to use nuclear weapons in ongoing warfare," the committee said. In terms of conventional warfare, this peace prize was awarded in a year with more active conflicts than at any time since World War II. Getting a Nobel Peace Prize is by no means a guarantor that the efforts of its recipient have or will be successful.

Persons: Nihon Hidankyo, Toshiyuki Mimaki, ”, Tomoyuki Mimaki, JIJI Press, Vladimir Putin, Israel, Narges Mohammadi, Ales Bialiatski Organizations: Norwegian Nobel, Little, Nihon, JIJI, Getty, Center for Civil Liberties Locations: Japanese, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Norwegian, United States, Ukraine, Tokyo, Gaza, “, Japan, North Korea, India, China, Pakistan, Iran, East, Europe, Sudan, Ukrainian

☆ How Japan’s Shinkansen bullet trains changed the world of rail travel
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-01 | by ( Ben Jones | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

This was the dawn of Japan’s “bullet train” era, widely regarded as the defining symbol of the country’s astonishing recovery from the trauma of World War II. A map of Japan's high-speed rail lines. Japan’s high-speed rail revolutionFast train: Japan's distinctive Shinkansen "bullet trains" have been plying the country's high-speed railways since 1964. Toru Yamanaka/AFP/Getty Image TGV: France's answer to the Bullet Train, the Train à Grand Vitesse, began operating between Paris and Lyon in 1981. Mehdi Fedouach/AFP/Getty Images China's rail expansion: China has now eclipsed the rest of the world when it comes to high-speed rail.

Persons: Yoshikazu Tsuno, Jiji Press, Toru Yamanaka, Mehdi Fedouach, Wang He, ”, Christopher P, Hood Organizations: CNN, Olympic Games, Hitachi, Toshiba, Mount, Getty, Mount Fuji, Tokyo, Lions, Hulton, Keystone, Jiji, West Japan Railway, Ltd, Fuji, Vitesse, Lyon, JR EAST, Eurostar, JR EAST Japan, “ Locations: Tokyo, Osaka, Japan, Shin, Kobe, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Nagano, AFP, North America, Europe, Korea, Russia, Honshu, Kyushu, Hokkaido, Sanrio, Paris, China, France, Spain, Belgium, South Korea, United Kingdom, Morocco, France’s, Bordeaux, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Taiwan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, London, Brussels, Amsterdam, India, Thailand, Wuhan, Western Europe, Nagoya, British

☆ Record rains bring flooding and landslides to Japan’s quake-stricken region
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-22 | by ( Lex Harvey | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Japan’s weather agency issued its highest emergency warning for Ishikawa prefecture Saturday, urging residents to take extreme precautions in what it said is the heaviest rainfall the region has ever experienced. At least six people are missing, Ishikawa authorities said, and tens of thousands of people have been forced to evacuate, according to NHK. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, four workers who were doing earthquake restoration work in Wajima city have gone missing. People remove mud to dislodge a car following flooding in Wajima city, Ishikawa prefecture on September 22, 2024. Yuichi Yamazaki/AFP/Getty ImagesA collapsed bridge is seen following heavy rain in Wajima city, Ishikawa prefecture on September 22, 2024.

Persons: Ishikawa, Yuichi Yamazaki, JIJI Press Organizations: CNN, Ishikawa prefecture, NHK, Ministry of Land, Transport, Getty, JIJI Locations: Japan, Suzu, It’s, Noto, Ishikawa, Infrastructure, Tourism, Wajima, Earthquakes, Ishikawa prefecture, AFP

☆ 'Pulling a Joe Biden': Reactions to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's resignation
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-14 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | In Ying-Shan-Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks to reporters following North Korea's missile launch on April 13, 2023. JIJI Press | AFP | Getty ImagesJapanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is stepping down in September, a move that sparked a broad range of reactions from government officials and analysts. Still, Izumi thanked Kishida for his hard work, adding "Prime Minister Kishida, you must have been under a lot of pressure." "The prime minister is a true friend of the United States and Japan has become a true global partner for America," U.S. "I pay tribute to my friend Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

Persons: Fumio Kishida, Japan's, Kishida, Joe Biden, he's, William Pesek, Biden, Izumi, Japan Rahm Emanuel, Kishida's, Emanuel, Anthony Albanese, Japan Shihab Alfaheem, Amir Anvarzadeh Organizations: Japan's, JIJI Press, AFP, Getty, Liberal Democratic Party, Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, LDP, Japan, America, U.S, Alliance, Australian, Asymmetric Advisors Locations: United States, Japan, Australia

☆ Meta shows aggressive spending on AI is already paying off in big earnings beat
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-31 | by ( Jim Cramer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

While there are still concerns about the company's aggressive AI spending, we believe these investments will pay off in the long run. Both trends were cited as the main drivers behind Meta's revenue outperformance in the quarter. Zuckerberg added that AI is opening the door to new experiences and opportunities, especially with Meta AI, which is powered by the company's large language model that is often referred to as Llama. Zuckerberg said he believes Meta AI will be the most used AI assistant in the world by year end. Management now sees capex in the range of $37 billion to $40 billion, up from its prior range of $35 billion to $40 billion.

Persons: China's ByteDance, — Zuckerberg, Zuckerberg, we'll, Ray, Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Jim, Mark Zuckerberg Organizations: Revenue, LSEG, China's, Meta, Investment, Facebook, Realty Labs, VR, Management, CNBC, Press, AFP, Getty Locations: United States, U.S, Tokyo

☆ Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida apologizes to people forcibly sterilized under former eugenics law
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-17 | by ( Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Tokyo CNN —Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has formally apologized to a group of plaintiffs who were forcibly sterilized under the country’s decades-long former eugenics law following their lengthy campaign for justice. At least 25,000 people were sterilized under the law, Kishida told a meeting at his official residence of about 130 survivors, many now elderly and in wheelchairs, public broadcaster NHK reported Wednesday. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida apologizes during a meeting with the plaintiffs and their supporters at his official residence in Tokyo on July 17, 2024. Besides an official apology, the plaintiffs have also demanded a compensation law that would benefit all survivors, even those who haven’t filed lawsuits. “I heard the apology directly from the prime minister to the victims, but I think we could have heard it earlier,” said Koji Niisato, an attorney for plaintiffs, according to NHK.

Persons: Fumio Kishida, Kishida, “, ” Kishida, Kikuo Kojima, ’, ” “, ”, JIJI Press, haven’t, Koji Niisato Organizations: Tokyo CNN — Japan’s, NHK, Protection, JIJI, Getty, Eugenics, “ Locations: Tokyo, Japan

☆ Japan data suggests possible yen intervention of around $22 billion
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-12 | by ( Matt Clinch | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A fresh market projection by the Bank of Japan on Friday hints at a possible intervention of around $22 billion into the currency markets as the country tries to prop up the ailing yen . The Japanese currency popped 3% against the dollar late Thursday as the market responded to surprisingly soft U.S. inflation data. On Friday, daily current account balance data from the Bank of Japan projected that a drain of 3.17 trillion yen ($20 billion) will occur on July 16. This compares to an earlier forecast for a surplus of around 400 billion yen, according to news agencies the Nikkei and Reuters, leaving a surprise 3.57 trillion yen ($22.49 billion) gap in the finances. This is expected to have been spent on currency intervention on Thursday, with foreign exchange transactions taking two working days to settle.

Persons: Masato Kanda, wasn't Organizations: Bank of Japan, Reuters, Nikkei, Ministry of Finance, Jiji Press, CNBC Locations: Tokyo

☆ Japan's yen surges after U.S. inflation data as traders monitor possible intervention
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( Matt Clinch | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

People stand outside a money changer looking at the rates of the Japanese yen against foreign currencies, along a street in central Tokyo on April 29, 2024. The dollar lost around 2% against the Japanese yen on Thursday as the market was suddenly jolted by fresh inflation U.S. data. The dollar rose as the U.S. reacted to its lowest CPI (consumer price index) reading in more than three years. But it comes at a time when traders are on high alert for more yen intervention from Japanese authorities as they try to prop up its ailing currency. Masato Kanda, the vice-minister of finance for international affairs of the Ministry of Finance, told Jiji Press that he was not in a position to comment on any possible intervention.

Persons: Kit Juckes, Marc Ostwald, Masato Kanda, wasn't Organizations: U.S, Reuters, Societe Generale, CNBC, ADM Investor Services, CPI, Ministry of Finance, Jiji Press Locations: Tokyo, London, JPY

☆ Japan is sending a 'sugar baby' to prison for 9 years for defrauding men out of $1M and selling a manual on how to do it
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A 25-year-old Japanese 'sugar baby' has been sentenced to nine years in prison. A court ruled that Mai Watanabe defrauded men she met on dating apps out of more than $1 million. AdvertisementA 25-year-old "sugar baby" was handed a nine-year prison sentence for defrauding men she met on dating apps out of more than $1 million, and selling a manual on how to carry out similar scams. Mai Watanabe, also known as "itadaki joshi Riri-chan," which translates as "sugar baby Riri," was sentenced by the Nagoya District Court on Monday, The Japan Times reported. Being a sugar baby can be financially rewarding.

Persons: Mai Watanabe, Watanabe, —, itadaki joshi, they're Organizations: Service, Japan Times, Nippon, Kyodo, Press, Federal Trade Commission, FTC Locations: Nagoya, Tokyo's Kabukichō, swindling

☆ Starship’s monumental third flight ends unexpectedly
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Instead, the company utilizes flight tests to gather crucial data and make improvements before the next vehicle rolls out for liftoff. Defying gravityThe SpaceX Starship spacecraft lifts off from the Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, on Thursday. Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty ImagesStarship’s eventful third test flight achieved multiple milestones before ending prematurely and likely breaking apart. The spacecraft was expected to splash down in the Indian Ocean at the end of its hourlong flight, but SpaceX lost Starship’s signal shortly after the vehicle reentered Earth’s atmosphere. However, the third flight of Starship flew longer and higher than either of the previous tests.

Persons: Chandan Khanna, axolotls, Stephen Dalton, ”, Randal Voss, Jiji Press, James Webb, “, Ashley Strickland, Katie Hunt Organizations: CNN, NASA, SpaceX, Getty, Starship, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, NASA’s, Golden Records, Clipper, Japan Monkey, Jiji, Gorillas, James Webb Space Telescope, CNN Space, Science Locations: South Texas, Texas, Boca Chica , Texas, Turkey, Xochimilco, Inuyama, United States, Columbia , South Carolina, Panama, —, Scarborough , England

☆ Bank of Japan expectedly retains its ultra-loose policy, cuts core inflation estimate
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Bank of Japan governor Kazuo Ueda gestures as he speaks during a press conference following a monetary policy meeting at the Bank of Japan's headquarters in Tokyo on July 28, 2023. The Bank of Japan on July 28 eased its grip on its ultra-loose monetary policy in a small step towards normalisation as inflation accelerates and the yen comes under pressure against other major currencies. (Photo by JIJI Press / AFP) / Japan OUT (Photo by STR/JIJI Press/AFP via Getty Images)The Bank of Japan expectedly retained its ultra-loose monetary policy at its first meeting this year, while cutting its core inflation forecast for the next fiscal year. All the economists surveyed by Reuters expected the Japanese central bank to maintain its negative rate policy this month — making the BOJ the world's only central bank with negative rates. The central bank also marginally increased the core CPI inflation estimate for fiscal 2025 to 1.8% from 1.7% forecast earlier.

Persons: Kazuo Ueda, Bank of Japan expectedly, BOJ Organizations: Japan, Bank of Japan's, The Bank of Japan, JIJI Press, Getty, Bank of Japan, Reuters Locations: Tokyo, AFP, Japan

☆ Harvard's president resigning means more drama for other universities
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-03 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

In today's big story, we're looking at the resignation of another Ivy League president and the knock-on effect it'll have on education in the US. The big storyIvy League issuesBrian Snyder/ReutersClaudine Gay's tenure as Harvard president wasn't long, but it won't be forgotten. Alan Garber, Harvard's provost and chief academic officer, will serve as interim president, the school's board announced. Gay is the second Ivy League president to step down in less than a month, following in the footsteps of former Penn president Elizabeth Magill. Harvard president Claudine Gay Kevin Dietsch/Getty ImagesGay and Magill's departures highlight the tension between businesses and prestigious universities and the former's influence over the latter.

Persons: —, Bob Marley, John Wick, Brian Snyder, Claudine Gay's, wasn't, Gay, Alan Garber, Harvard's, Elizabeth Magill, Magill, Sally Kornbluth, Bill Ackman, Claudine Gay Kevin Dietsch, Business Insider's Paul Squire, Lucas Jackson, Tesla, Goldman, Tyler Le, it's, Warren Buffett, Greta Thunberg, Florence Pugh, Mel Gibson, J.R.R, Tolkien, Eli Manning, Max Willcocks, Dan DeFrancesco, Diamond Naga Siu, Hallam Bullock, Jordan Parker Erb, Hayley Hudson, Lisa Ryan Organizations: Service, Ivy League, Business, Harvard, Ivy, Penn, Gay, MIT, GOP, Big Tech, Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, Meta, Boston Consulting Group, Cushman & Wakefield, LinkedIn, SAP, Verizon Consumer Group, EV, Elon, Jiji Press, Japan Airlines, New York Locations: China, Jisoo, New York, San Diego, London, Edinburgh

☆ The Beatles created a painting together while on tour in Japan. It sold at auction for $1.7 million
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-21 | by ( Radhika Marya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The Beatles arrive at Tokyo's airport for their brief tour of Japan in 1966. Each corner of the painting reflects a personal touch, with plenty of variety in shapes, colors and even the paints used. Jiji Press/AFP/Getty Images/FileAfter its completion, the painting was acquired by Tetsusaburo Shimoyama, an entertainment industry executive who was then the chairman of Tokyo’s Beatles fan club. “Images of a Woman” was part of Christie’s “Exceptional Sale,” a yearly auction event held in New York, London and Paris. The Beatles perform during a concert at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo in 1966.

Persons: ”, Casey Rogers, ” Rogers, “, it’s, …, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Beatle, Robert Whitaker, Brian Epstein, Lennon, McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Christie’s, Harrison, Starr, Rogers, Jiji Press, Tetsusaburo Shimoyama, Takao Nishino, Nishino, Beatlemania, “ they’re, ’ Organizations: CNN, Beatles, Japan’s, Nippon Budokan, Tokyo Hilton, Keystone, Jiji, Getty, ”, Budokan Locations: Tokyo, New York, Japan, France, London, Paris, San

Tokyo CNN —A suspected gunman has barricaded himself in a post office in central Japan after two people were wounded and apparent gunshots heard in a hospital nearby, authorities said Tuesday. One doctor and one male patient were injured in the incident at a hospital in Toda city, Saitama prefecture, near Tokyo, police told CNN. The male suspect, believed to be between ages 50 and 70, fled the scene and barricaded himself in the Warabi post office, about 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) from the hospital, according to police. Toda Mayor Fumihito Sugawara confirmed on social media that a man “suspected of carrying a gun” was barricaded in at the post office and warned residents not to go near the area. The area around a post office where a suspected gunman has barricaded himself in Warabi, Saitama prefecture on October 31, 2023.

Persons: Toda, Fumihito Sugawara, JIJI Press, Shinzo Abe Organizations: Tokyo CNN, CNN, JIJI, Getty Images Police, NHK Locations: Japan, Toda, Saitama prefecture, Tokyo, Warabi, Nara

☆ After two failed attempts in the past year, Japan could be next in line to land on the moon
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Charmaine Jacob | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

An H2-A rocket carrying a small lunar surface probe and other objects lifts off from the Tanegashima Space Centre on Tanegashima island, Kagoshima prefecture on September 7, 2023. Last month, Japan's Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched a lunar exploration spacecraft from its Tanegashima Space Center. Japan also discarded efforts to land its Omotenashi spacecraft on the moon in November after failing to stabilize communication. Japan's success this time around could be a leap for space exploration more broadly. "It shows that they are learning from their mistakes — a very important aspect of space exploration," said Behar, who is also Phillip and Sarah Gotlieb Memorial Chair at the Technion–Israel Institute of Technology.

Persons: Kari Bingen, Bingen, Smart Lander, SLIM, Ehud Behar, Norman, Helen Asher, Behar, Phillip, Sarah Gotlieb, We've Organizations: Press, Afp, Getty, Japan, Aerospace Security, International Security, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Japan's Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA, SpaceX, Cape Canaveral Space Force, Anadolu Agency, Helen Asher Space Research, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Artemis Accords, Artemis, Capital, Nurphoto Locations: Tanegashima, Kagoshima prefecture, Japan, Cape Canaveral , Florida, India, China, U.S, Bingen, South, Shanghai

☆ Japan released treated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear disaster into the ocean. Experts say it's safe, but one would avoid the fish.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Rupendra Brahambhatt | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Japan said it plans to release 1 million metric tons of treated radioactive water into the Pacific. Nuclear experts said the discharge is safe but one said he'd avoid eating fish near Fukushima. The water is from its Fukushima nuclear power plant that, in 2011, underwent a meltdown and is considered one of the biggest nuclear tragedies in history. AdvertisementAdvertisementAfter the 2011 disaster, the radioactive water leaked into the plant's basements where it was collected and later stored in tanks. Why treated radioactive water is 'quite safe'This isn't the first time humans have released water from nuclear plants into a larger body of water.

Persons: Rafael Mariano Grossi, Kathryn Higley, Aldo Bonasera, Higley, Wang Wenbin, Wenbin, there's, JUNG YEON, Bonasera Organizations: Service, Electric Power Co, REUTERS, Kyodo, TEPCO, Tokyo Electric Power, Oregon State University, Texas, Power, Getty, World Health Organization, Greenpeace Locations: Japan, Fukushima, China, Hong Kong, Russia, South Korea, Fish, Seoul, California, Coast

Japan’s Kyushu region has been experiencing heavy rainfall since the beginning of the month and Monday saw record-breaking levels, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. Harumi Ozawa/AFP/Getty ImagesResidents maneuver through a flooded street in the city of Kurume, Fukuoka prefecture, on July 10, 2023. JIJI Press/AFP/Getty ImagesJapan is not the only country currently grappling with intense rainfall. While heavy rainfall events will always happen, scientists say that climate change means they are becoming more severe. A warmer atmosphere is able to store more water, leading to more intense rainfall when it falls.

Persons: Harumi Ozawa, Kazuhiro Nogi, JIJI Press, ”, Richard Allan, Stefan Uhlenbrook, It’s, Uhlenbrook, they’re, ” Uhlenbrook Organizations: CNN, Disaster Management Agency, Japan Meteorological Agency, Getty, Reuters, JIJI, Japan, UK’s University of Reading, World Meteorological Organization Locations: Japan, Japan’s Kyushu, Chugoku, Kyushu, Karatsu, AFP, Kurume, Fukuoka prefecture, Fukuoka, Oita prefectures, Tanushimarumachi, India, Delhi, New York, New York , Vermont , Massachusetts, Maine

☆ Chipmakers look to Japan as worries about China grow
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he welcomed and expected more investment from global chipmakers, after meeting top executives on Thursday before a Group of Seven summit. Growing Taiwan and US tensions with China have brought serious challenges to the semiconductor industry. “I am very pleased with your positive attitude towards investment in Japan, and would like the government as a whole to work on further expanding direct investment in Japan and support the semiconductor industry,” Kishida said. Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida meets executives of major global chipmakers ahead of a G7 summit. In particular, Kumamoto prefecture in southwestern Japan is quickly becoming a hotbed for tech investment from companies including TSMC and Fujifilm Holdings Corp (FUJIF).

TOKYO, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T), the world's biggest automaker, said on Wednesday it would accept a union demand for the biggest base salary increase in 20 years and a rise in bonus payments, as Japan steps up calls for businesses to hike pay. As one of Japan's biggest employers, Toyota has long served as a bellwether of the spring labour talks, which are in full swing at major companies. The All Toyota Workers' Union is set to hold a media briefing later on Wednesday. "We will boost consumption and expand domestic demand by promoting efforts toward structural wage increases," Kishida said at a lower house budget committee session on Wednesday. Video game maker Nintendo Co Ltd (7974.T) said earlier this month that it planned to lift workers' base pay by 10%, despite trimming its full-year profit forecast.

☆ Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda dismisses near-term chance of exiting easy policy
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-26 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Haruhiko Kuroda, governor of the Bank of Japan, speaks during a news conference at the central bank's headquarters in Tokyo on Dec. 20, 2022. Yuya Yamamoto | Jiji Press | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesBank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda on Monday brushed aside the chance of a near-term exit from ultra-loose monetary policy but voiced hope that intensifying labor shortages will prod firms to raise wages. "Labor market conditions in Japan are projected to tighten further, and firms' price- and wage-setting behavior is also likely to change," Kuroda said. "In this sense, Japan is approaching a critical juncture in breaking out of a prolonged period of low inflation and low growth," he said. The BOJ shocked markets last week with a surprise widening of the band around its 10-year yield target.

☆ The US is finally sending Patriot air defenses to Ukraine, but officials warn that it's not 'a silver bullet'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The US announced on Wednesday that it would provide Ukraine with a Patriot air-defense system. The Patriot system is highly capable, but officials caution that there's only so much it can do. The Patriot battery and accompanying munitions are part of a $1 billion package announced on Wednesday as a presidential drawdown, meaning its contents will be pulled directly from US stocks. Washington has previously pledged to send National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems, Hawk air-defense systems, and Avenger air-defense systems. A Patriot battery typically has eight launchers, each capable of firing four to 16 interceptor missiles depending on the type being used.

☆ Japan may build 2 huge warships to counter the growing missile threat from North Korea
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Benjamin Brimelow | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

That has led Japan to examine its missile defense, which relies on specially designed warships. The launches have forced Japan to examine its unique ballistic-missile defense system, which relies heavily on specially equipped warships to intercept incoming missiles. US Missile Defense Agency/Heather CavaliereJapan began developing its current BMD system in 2004. US Navy/MCS3 Quinton A. LeeThe Aegis-equipped BMD ships are the most important part of Japan's BMD system. US Navy/MCS Seaman Aleksandr FreutelThere are advantages to relying on maritime-based platforms for missile defense.

☆ China stepping up actions hurting Japan's sovereignty, PM Kishida says -Jiji
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

SEOUL, Nov 13 (Reuters) - China is continuously, and increasingly, taking actions that infringe on Japan's sovereignty, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has said, Jiji Press reported on Sunday. Kishida's remarks came during a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, the news agency added. Reporting by Ju-min Parkand Sakura Murakami; Editing by Clarence FernandezOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Currency intervention is costly and could fail to influence the yen's value in the huge global foreign exchange market. Analysts say Japan may face difficulty winning backing for intervention unless volatility becomes highly excessive. Investors see solo action by Japan being far less effective than concerted intervention. Last month, Japanese authorities sold dollars and bought yen in a market intervention for the first time since 1998, spending 2.8 trillion yen ($19.2 billion) to slow a rapid slide in the yen that was considered a threat to the economy. read moreAs for dollar-buying, yen-selling intervention, Japan has stayed out of the market since 2011 when the devastating earthquake and tsunami triggered the worst nuclear disaster in Fukushima since Chernobyl.

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