1. The head of the Unification Church in Japan, now known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, Tanaka Tomihiro, has resigned due to a court order to disband the group.
2. Tanaka expressed deep concern over the psychological pain caused to some individuals by the church's actions and aims to restore public trust.
3. Former vice head Hori Masaichi will take over as the new leader of the group, marking the first time a second-generation follower leads the organization. The Tokyo High Court is expected to make a decision on the disbandment order by the end of March.
1. Researchers at Chiba University, Japan, have developed a nasal vaccine for cervical cancer using a substance derived from the human papillomavirus.
2. The vaccine induces immune cells to attack cervical cancer cells, and it was successful in destroying cancer cells in mice tests and inducing immune cells at the cervix in monkey tests.
3. The researchers aim to test the vaccine's effectiveness on humans, hoping to provide a new method of treatment that doesn't require surgery or radiation therapy.
1. The Japanese government and ruling coalition are considering increasing the departure tax from 1,000 yen to 3,000 yen (approximately $6 to $20).
2. The increased revenue is intended to address issues caused by overtourism in Japan.
3. To help offset this higher charge for Japanese citizens, there are discussions about lowering the cost of obtaining a passport for Japanese nationals.
1. The stalkerware maker Scott Zuckerman, who was banned by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in 2021 for selling invasive spyware, had his request to lift the ban denied.
2. In 2018, a security breach at one of Zuckerman's companies exposed sensitive data of thousands of users, including selfies, text messages, and location information.
3. Despite claims that the FTC's order has made it difficult to run other businesses, TechCrunch reported in 2022 that Zuckerman seemed to be operating another stalkerware company, potentially violating the FTC ban.
1. A Chinese J-15 fighter jet aimed radar at Japanese F-15 aircraft twice on December 9, from approximately 52 kilometers away in the first instance and 148 kilometers away in the second.
2. The incidents occurred southeast of Okinawa's main island, with the Chinese jet taking off from the aircraft carrier Liaoning.
3. China had informed Japan in advance about takeoff and landing exercises on the carrier, but Japan considers directing radar at its aircraft as dangerous, while China maintains it was standard procedure. Japan is analyzing the situation further to understand China's intentions.
1. Japanese Defense Minister Koizumi Shinjiro has raised concerns over Chinese military aircraft directing radar at Japanese fighter jets in international waters near Okinawa, considering it a dangerous act.
2. Japan claims China did not provide flight and navigation information for its navy training activities in advance.
3. In response to the incident, China criticized Japan while claiming that Japan disrupted a military training drill. The US Ambassador to Japan, George Glass, reaffirmed the strong US-Japan alliance in a public statement.
1. On December 9, 2025, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara Minoru contested China's claim that activating radar during flight training ensures flight safety.
2. The dispute stems from a Chinese fighter jet aiming its radar at Japanese Air Self-Defense Force aircraft over international waters near Okinawa Prefecture on Saturday, December 8.
3. Japan believes China's actions went beyond what is necessary for flight safety and constituted a potentially dangerous act.
1. Inoue Tatsuhiko has been appointed as the new president of NHK, a Japanese public broadcaster.
2. The decision was made by the Board of Governors during their meeting on December 9, 2025. They chose Inoue to succeed Nobuo Inaba whose term ends on January 24.
3. Inoue, aged 68, has served in various roles within NHK, including as head of its political news division and programming department. He also served as president and CEO of Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation, an affiliate company. This makes him the first NHK official to become president since 2005. His three-year term begins on January 25, 2026.
1. The UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has reported that a drone attack in February 2025 caused significant damage to the protective steel shield covering the Chornobyl nuclear reactor in Ukraine.
2. The IAEA team found that this damage compromised key safety functions, particularly the confinement capability of the shield. Limited temporary repairs have been conducted so far.
3. The IAEA emphasizes the importance of timely and comprehensive restoration to prevent further degradation and ensure long-term nuclear safety at the Chornobyl site. Ukraine alleges Russia was responsible for the drone attack, while Russia denies this claim.
1. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with European leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, in London on December 9th, 2025.
2. During the meeting, Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of U.S. cooperation for a potential peace deal with Russia. European leaders reaffirmed their support for Ukraine and stated that they stand with Ukraine in seeking a just and lasting ceasefire.
3. The details of the meeting were not disclosed, but it is known that Zelenskyy briefed the European leaders on his recent contacts with U.S. officials, including discussions about security guarantees. However, these talks with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner reportedly failed to resolve differences between Ukraine and Russia regarding the territory issue.
