Society

Japan job dismissals over coronavirus top 3,000

Apr 29 (NHK) - The number of people in Japan who have been fired or otherwise had their employment terminated due to the coronavirus outbreak has surged to over 3,000.

Japan's labor ministry says 3,391 people nationwide lost their jobs, or were expected to, from the end of January through Monday. More than 2,000 did so in the past month.

As many as 12,395 companies have fired or laid off workers, or are considering taking such measures. Many are tourism and hotel businesses, which have been hit hard by decreasing numbers of foreign and domestic travelers.

Another 249 companies fired more than 30 employees from January to March for financial reasons, for a total of 9,620 lost jobs.

The firms include 113 manufacturers, 54 wholesalers and retailers, 16 hotels and restaurants and 15 medical care and welfare service firms.

Ishiba Shigeru elected LDP leader

Ishiba Shigeru has been elected leader of Japan's main ruling Liberal Democratic Party. The former LDP Secretary-General is now virtually assured of becoming the next prime minister. (NHK)

Hakamada Case Ends With Acquittal After 58 Years

The Hakamada case, a decades-long legal struggle, ended with an acquittal for Iwao Hakamada (88), who, along with his sister Hideko, fought for 58 years. Hakamada was suspected of the 1966 murder of a miso company executive’s family.

Japan launches information-gathering satellite on H2A rocket

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New Red Lights for Japan's Police Cars

Japan's National Police Agency is introducing new patrol cars equipped with red lights designed to assist people with hearing impairments, flashing differently depending on whether the vehicle is on an emergency run or a routine patrol.

Over 300 New Geoglyphs Discovered by Yamagata University in Nazca

Yamagata University, which has been conducting research on the Nazca geoglyphs in Peru, announced the discovery of over 300 new geoglyphs, depicting a variety of subjects, including humans and animals.

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