Society

Japan sticks with bleak economic assessment

Aug 28 (NHK) - Japan's government says the economy is still in a severe situation in August, although it's showing signs of picking up. That assessment is unchanged from the month before as the country grapples with the pandemic.

In its monthly economic report, the government says exports have been starting to rise, led by strong growth in car shipments to the US and China. It says production is also showing signs of recovery in some industries.

Personal consumption also appears to be increasing. The government said the same last month.

But officials say companies continue to face large declines in earnings, and that employment remains weak.

The government says it will keep a close eye on whether the recovery in exports continues. In June and July, it had revised its assessment upward.

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

A Japanese government information-gathering satellite has successfully been put into a planned orbit around Earth. (NHK)

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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New Red Lights for Japan's Police Cars

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