Society

Coronavirus blamed for over 40,000 job losses

Jul 30 (NHK) - Japan's labor ministry says more than 40,000 people nationwide have lost or will lose their jobs due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The ministry says 40,032 people became unemployed between late January and July 29 after they were dismissed or did not have their contracts renewed.

At least 15,000 of them are non-regular workers, including temporary staff and part-timers.

The number of people who lost jobs due to the virus outbreak has topped 10,000 for three straight months, from May to July.

Job losses are especially severe in the accommodation and restaurant sectors, and they are also increasing in the manufacturing sector.

Officials say that as of Tuesday, over 610,000 firms had filed applications for government subsidies to retain jobs amid the economic adversity caused by the pandemic. Nearly 500,000 of them have been approved.

The ministry says it will continue to urge businesses to make use of the subsidy program to keep their workers.

Typhoon No. 26 Brings Heavy Rain and Strong Winds to Okinawa

Typhoon No. 26 was located over the Bashi Channel as of 9 a.m. on November 12th, moving north at a speed of about 10 kilometers per hour. Moist air from the storm is feeding into a stationary front near Okinawa, leading to the development of rain clouds and prompting warnings for heavy rainfall in Okinawa and the Amami region.

Mother of 12-Year-Old Thai Girl Caught In Prostitution Gets Arrest Warrant

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Suica Penguin to Retire in 2026

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Bear Attacks Car in Hokkaido

A series of bear encounters across Japan is causing growing alarm, with several prefectures reporting aggressive behavior and issuing emergency shooting orders. In one incident last week in Hokkaido, a bear charged at a car and growled as it pursued the vehicle, forcing the driver to reverse to escape, with claw marks later found on the hood.

Japan Mulls Vouchers to Ease High Food Prices

The government is moving to include the use of “okome-ken,” or rice vouchers, in its upcoming package of economic measures. The vouchers can be used to purchase rice and other food items and have already been distributed by several municipalities as part of local initiatives to offset rising living costs.

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