• newsinsightplus.com
• 1990s
• 2022Top
• March 19, 2024
• 0 Comments

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityBusinessMarket DataEconomyYour MoneyCompaniesTechnology of BusinessCEO SecretsArtificial IntelligenceJapan finally raises interest rates as inflation wish comes truePublished25 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Japan has been hoping to see inflation for decadesBy Peter HoskinsBusiness reporterJapan’s central bank has raised the cost of borrowing for the first time in 17 years. The Bank of the Japan (BOJ) increased its key interest rate from -0.1% to a range of 0%-0.1%. It comes as wages have jumped after consumer prices rose.In 2016, the bank cut the rate below zero in an attempt to stimulate the country’s stagnating economy. The hike means that there are no longer any countries left with negative interest rates.Expectations that the BOJ would finally raise rates had been growing since governor Kazuo Ueda took office in April last year.The latest official figures showed that even though the rate of price rises has been slowing, Japan’s core consumer inflation held at the bank’s 2% target in January.The decision to finally hike rates hinged on the country’s major corporations increasing wages for their workers to help them cope with the rising cost of living, Nobuko Kobayashi from consulting firm EY-Parthenon told the BBC.Earlier this month, Japan’s biggest companies agreed to raise salaries by 5.28% – the biggest wage hike in more than three decades. Wages in the country had flatlined since the late 1990s as consumer prices rose very slowly or even fell. But the return of inflation could be both good and bad news for the economy, Ms Kobayashi says.”Good, if Japan can stimulate productivity and domestic demand. Bad, if inflation stays externally-driven by things like war and supply chain disruptions.”In February, Japan’s main stock index the Nikkei 225 hit an all-time closing high, surpassing the previous record set 34 years ago.This month, the country had avoided falling into a technical recession after its official economic growth figures were revised.The revised data showed gross domestic product (GDP) was 0.4% higher in the last three months of 2023 compared to a year earlier.During the pandemic, central banks around the world slashed interest rates as they attempted to counteract the negative impact of border closures and lockdowns.At the time some countries, including Switzerland and Denmark, as well as the European Central Bank, introduced negative interest rates.Since then central banks around the world, like the US Federal Reserve and the Bank of England, have been aggressively raising interest rates to curb soaring prices.Related TopicsInternational BusinessInflationJapanPayMore on this storyJapan avoids recession as growth figures revisedPublished11 MarchJapan economy gets major boost from weak currencyPublished15 August 2023Can the next Bank of Japan boss fix its economy?Published14 February 2023Cost of living: The shock of rising prices in JapanPublished9 June 2022Top Stories’Only God can change this place’: Haitians see no end to spiralling violencePublished2 hours agoUS reports death of senior Hamas military leaderPublished4 hours agoPutin hails Crimea annexation after claiming election winPublished1 hour agoFeaturesThe Papers: Kate ‘pictured in public’ and ‘key’ Rwanda voteWhy Gillian Anderson found it scary to play Emily MaitlisGaza faces famine during Ramadan, the holy month of fastingIs TikTok really a danger to the West?The highs and lows of First Minister Mark DrakefordBridgerton’s Nicola Coughlan: I hate vanity on screenPredicting Putin’s landslide was easy, but what comes next?No choice for Ukrainians: More Putin means more warThe US Navy’s relentless battle against Houthi attacksElsewhere on the BBCIs there a link between gardening and your gut?Michael Mosley learns how getting grubby in the garden can improve your overall healthAttributionSoundsThe most famous waterway in the Americas is running dryThe Global Story explores the impact on the international shipping industryAttributionSoundsThe moment a Russian warship sank in the Black SeaThe vessel was destroyed by a Ukrainian drone near the Kerch BridgeAttributioniPlayerAre The Beatles Ireland’s greatest band?Steven Cockcroft and Jason Carty explore the Fab Four’s connection with the Emerald IsleAttributionSoundsMost Read1Kate ‘pictured in public’ and ‘key’ Rwanda vote2Why Gillian Anderson found it scary to play Emily Maitlis3Rwanda bill amendments overturned in Commons vote4Trump unable to get $464m bond in New York fraud case5’Only God can change this place’: Haitians see no end to spiralling violence6US reports death of senior Hamas military leader7Potholes leave nations’ roads at ‘breaking point’8Putin hails Crimea annexation after claiming election win9Katie Price declared bankrupt for second time10Prince William back to work on homelessness project

[ad_1] The move marks the first time the country’s central bank has raised interest rates for 17 years.

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• newsinsightplus.com
• 1.Hopes
• 2024I
• March 11, 2024
• 0 Comments

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityBusinessMarket DataEconomyYour MoneyCompaniesTechnology of BusinessCEO SecretsArtificial IntelligenceJapan avoids technical recession as economic growth figures revisedPublished6 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Despite avoiding recession Japan still faces economic uncertaintyBy Peter HoskinsBusiness reporterJapan has avoided falling into a technical recession after its official economic growth figures were revised.The revised data shows gross domestic product (GDP) was 0.4% higher in the last three months of 2023 compared to a year earlier.Provisional figures released last month indicated the second consecutive quarter of economic contraction.Two quarters in a row of an economy shrinking is typically considered the definition of a technical recession.But the revised figures still came below expectations, as some economists had forecast an upward revision to fourth quarter GDP of around 1%.Hopes that the country had skirted a recession were boosted last week when figures from the Ministry of Finance showed a sharp rise in the amount companies invested in their businesses.However, the figures from Japan’s Cabinet Office on Monday showed private consumption, which makes up about 60% of the economy, fell by 0.3% for the period.Japan’s uneven economic performance may see another contraction in the current quarter due to the impact of issues including a slowdown of neighbouring China’s economy and a suspension of production at car maker Daihatsu.The upward revision to the fourth quarter GDP came as expectations are growing that the country’s central bank could soon raise interest rates.The Bank of Japan has held rates at -0.1% since it cut borrowing costs below zero in 2016 as it tried to boost spending and investment.Negative rates make the yen less attractive to global investors, which has pushed down the currency’s value.Japan’s main stock market index, the Nikkei 225, was around 2.5% lower on Monday morning.More on this storyJapan unexpectedly slips into a recessionPublished15 FebruaryTop StoriesKate says she edited Mother’s Day photoPublished16 minutes agoLive. Oscars 2024: Oppenheimer sweeps awards with best picture and actor winsThe outfits: Best actress Emma Stone and others show off classic stylesPublished9 hours agoFeaturesSeven of the best moments from the OscarsBarbie, Oppenheimer & a wardrobe mishap? The Oscars in 60 seconds. VideoBarbie, Oppenheimer & a wardrobe mishap? The Oscars in 60 secondsThe full list of winners at the Oscars 2024’I was tricked into buying a holiday caravan as a full time home’My abusive ex-boyfriend was given a verbal warningIs Europe doing enough to help Ukraine?Geoff Norcott: Should my son bother going to uni?Listen: Oscars Newscast Special. AudioListen: Oscars Newscast SpecialAttributionSounds’HMRC gave me £49,000 relief, but wants it back’Elsewhere on the BBCPractical, passionate and hilarious conversationsJoanna Lumley and Roger Allam return with their award-winning comedy playing a long-married coupleAttributionSounds’I will lie on my deathbed wishing I’d done more’Former spin doctor Alastair Campbell on what he’s learned from his life so farAttributionSoundsHow accurate are fitness trackers?Greg Foot gets sweaty in the name of science to find out!AttributionSoundsFrom iron age roundhouses to Victorian mansions…Rachel Hurdley uncovers what walls tell us about how we liveAttributionSoundsMost Read1Kate says she edited Mother’s Day photo2Ex-Tory MP Lee Anderson defects to Reform3Palace faces questions over Kate image4Seven of the best moments from the Oscars5Buyers mis-sold caravans as full-time homes6Oscars red carpet fashion: Stars turn on the style7Vinyl and air fryers added to inflation measure8Kate picture heats up rumours instead of quelling public curiosity9Brianna’s mother meets mum of daughter’s killer10Haiti spirals to collapse as gangs tighten grip

[ad_1] Data released last month indicated the country’s economy had shrunk for a second quarter in a row.

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• newsinsightplus.com
• 1970s.Exactly
• 1975By
• February 27, 2024
• 0 Comments

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityAsiaChinaIndiaSatoshi Kirishima: DNA test confirms dying man was one of Japan’s most wantedPublished8 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, National Police AgencyImage caption, Satoshi Kirishima is alleged to have planted a bomb which destroyed part of a building in Tokyo in 1975By Flora DruryBBC NewsA DNA test has revealed a dying man who claimed to be one of Japan’s most wanted criminals was telling the truth.Satoshi Kirishima made his confession in January, telling police “I want to meet my death with my real name”.Officials have now confirmed the 70-year-old was indeed Kirishima, a member of a militant group behind several deadly bombings in the 1970s.Exactly how he remained at large for so long – despite his face adorning posters across Japan – is unclear.Kirishima is suspected of helping plant and detonate a homemade bomb that destroyed part of a building in Tokyo’s Ginza district on 18 April 1975, according to local media. At the time, he belonged to the East Asia Anti-Japan Armed Front, a radical, left-wing organisation believed to be behind several bombings against companies in Japan’s capital Tokyo in the 70s.Kirishima reportedly went on the run the same year. He is alleged to have been involved in four other attacks the group carried out.Authorities have hunted him ever since, a picture of the long-haired, bespectacled 20-something appearing on posters outside police stations across the country for decades.Yet despite his image being widely publicised, neighbours were seemingly caught unawares when his identity was revealed last month, with one describing him to Mainichi newspaper as a “calm and serious” man – albeit with a tendency to play guitar in his room after a few drinks.Kirishima, who had been going under the name Hiroshi Uchida, had reportedly lived in the city of Fujisawa, on the western edge of Tokyo, for almost 40 years.He told police he had worked day labour jobs before ending up working at a construction company, Japan’s Asahi newspaper reported.But it seems he had neither a driver’s licence nor any health insurance when he appeared at the hospital seeking treatment for terminal cancer.And it was only at that point he revealed his real identity, with staff then alerting police.Police say he was able to recount details about both his family and the East Asia Anti-Japan Armed Front only he would have known during interviews in the days before his death on 29 January. He also denied some of the allegations, a source told Kyodo News agency.A Tokyo police spokesperson confirmed to AFP news agency that the DNA test had now further backed up his claims, with the case files involving Kirishima being sent to the Tokyo District Public Prosecutor’s Office.However, police will also continue to investigate whether or not anyone helped Kirishima stay undetected for all this time, according to Kyodo News.Related TopicsJapanMore on this storyJapan bomber may have been found after 50 yearsPublished26 JanuaryTop StoriesLive. Inside Gaza: Follow a day in the lives of Gazans as war nears five-month markPrince William pulls out of memorial service due to ‘personal matter’Published52 minutes agoHunt considers National Insurance cuts at BudgetPublished49 minutes agoFeatures’Who will call me Dad?’ Tears of Gaza father who lost 103 relativesWhy firms are racing to produce green ammoniaSecondary school places: What parents need to knowWalkers spot ‘breathtaking’ cloud inversionsThe young refusing to become Myanmar’s ‘human shields’Plane aborts Heathrow landing due to strong winds. VideoPlane aborts Heathrow landing due to strong winds’Daily life is a struggle without my ADHD medicine’How dangerous is vaping and what is the disposable vape ban?Listen: No Apology by Lee Anderson. AudioListen: No Apology by Lee AndersonAttributionSoundsElsewhere on the BBCSixth time lucky!The journey to hosting the Winter Olympics for Canadian ski resort Whistler BlackcombAttributionSoundsWho will be the next person to walk the moon?NASA plans to send a mission to the moon for the first time in over a half a centuryAttributionSoundsFrom musical pressure to creative differences…Music critic Pete Paphides tells the story behind Fleetwood Mac’s TuskAttributionSoundsHow did a booming computer manufacturer go bust?Commodore computers were huge in the 1980s, so why couldn’t the business adapt and survive?AttributionSoundsMost Read1Prince pulls out of memorial service2Hunt considers National Insurance cuts at Budget3’I don’t want Dad to be remembered for how he died’4Sheen donates £5k for boy with genetic condition5Two bodies found in search for missing Sydney couple6Walkers spot ‘breathtaking’ cloud inversions7Paparazzo accuses Taylor Swift’s father of assault8Police called to Willy Wonka event after refunds demanded9Gills Aloud? Tiny fish found making very big noise10Anderson refuses to rule out joining Reform UK

[ad_1] Alleged bomber Satoshi Kirishima’s deathbed confession came after 49 years on the run.

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• newsinsightplus.com
• 11s
• 2021One
• February 25, 2024
• 0 Comments

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityAsiaChinaIndiaJapan naked festival: Women join Hadaka Matsuri for first timePublished51 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, ReutersImage caption, Women joined the festival for the first time in its 1,250 year historyBy Shaimaa KhalilTokyo correspondentThe sea of chanting, nearly-naked men tussle, push and shove towards the shrine. “Washoi! Washoi!” they yell – let’s go, let’s go.It is scene that has barely changed in the 1,250 years the Hadaka Matsuri, or the Naked Festival, has been taking place at the Konomiya Shrine, in central Japan.But this year there is a change – a big one.Away from the men’s huddle, a group are about to become the first women to ever take part.The women gathered here know they are making history. Finding room in traditionally male-dominated spaces is difficult anywhere, but in Japan – which last year ranked 125 out of 146 on the World Economic Forum’s gender gap index – it is particularly hard.Not that they weren’t always there.”In the background, women have always worked very hard to support the men in the festival,” explains Atsuko Tamakoshi, whose family has been working at the Konomiya festival for generations.Image source, ReutersImage caption, Some in the community have suggested that it remain a men-only eventBut the idea of actually taking part in the festival – which sees the men attempt to drive away evil spirits, before praying for happiness at the shrine – seems to have never come up before.According to Naruhito Tsunoda, there has never been an actual ban. It’s just that no one had ever asked.And when they did, the answer was easy.”I believe the most important thing is for there to be a fun festival for everyone. I think God would be happiest about that too,” he told news agency Reuters.Not everyone in the community was as accommodating though.”There were many voices that were concerned (about us taking part) – saying, ‘What are women doing in a men’s festival?’, ‘This is a men’s festival, it’s serious’,” Tamakoshi, a 56-year-old grandmother, explains.”But we were all united in what we wanted to do. We believed that God would watch over us if we were sincere.”The women waiting for their turn are indeed sincere. What they are not is naked.Instead many are wearing “happi coats” – long, purple robes – and white shorts, as opposed to the men’s loincloths, while carrying their own bamboo offerings. They won’t be part of the big scramble which accompanied the men’s rush to the shrine, or the clambering over one another to touch the Shin Otoko, or the ‘male deity’ – a man chosen by the shrine. Touching him, as the tradition goes, is meant to drive evil spirits away.It doesn’t take away the significance of this moment.”I feel that times have finally changed,” Yumiko Fujie tells the BBC. “But I also feel a sense of responsibility.”Image source, ReutersImage caption, A lot of the women at the festival saw the change in policy as a significant momentThese women, however, are not just breaking gender barriers with their participation. They are also keeping the tradition alive.This week, another naked festival – held at Kokuseki Temple in Japan’s north – said this would be the last one they would hold. There simply were not enough young people to keep the festival going.Japan has one of the fastest ageing populations on earth. Last year, for the first time, more than one in 10 people were aged 80 or older. Meanwhile, its birth rate stands at just 1.3 per woman, with only 800,000 babies born last year.The moment has come for the women to make their way to the shrine.They stand in two parallel lines and carry the long bamboo sticks wrapped in intertwined red and white ribbons.Atsuko Tamakoshi is leading the way – blowing her whistle to prompt the rhythmic chant they’ve heard the men say for decades. ‘Washoi Washoi,” the women shout.Image caption, Atsuko Tamakoshi is one of the women who joined the naked festival for the first timeThe women focus on the movements and speed which they’ve practiced for weeks. They know they have to get this right. Aware that the eyes of the media and the spectators are on them they’re also smiling a mix of nerves and excitement. There are supportive cries from the watching crowd, some shouting “Gambatte” or ‘keep going!’, as they push through the freezing temperatures.They enter the Konomiya Shinto shrine’s courtyard and, like the men, they’re sprayed with cold water. It seems to energise them even more.After their offering is accepted, the women end the ceremony with the traditional salutation of two bows, two claps and one final bow.And then, the enormity of the moment sets in. The women erupt into cheers, they jump around and hug each other crying. “Arigatogozaimasu! Arigato!” Thank you! Thank you! They say to each other and the crowd now applauding them.”I got so teary,” Michiko Ikai says. “I wasn’t sure I could join, but now I feel a sense of achievement.”As they make their way out of the shrine, the women are stopped by members of the public who want to take pictures with them and media outlets who want to interview them. They happily oblige.Image caption, Those who took part say they felt an immense sense of pride in doing so”I’ve done it. I’m so happy,” Mineko Akahori tells the BBC. “I’m really grateful that as a woman, I could participate for the first time.”Her friend and teammate Minako Ando adds that simply “becoming the first to do something like this is just great”.”Times are changing,” says Hiromo Maeda. Her family has been running a local inn which has hosted some of the male festival-goers for the last 30 years. “I think our prayers and wishes are the same. It doesn’t matter if it’s a man or a woman. Our passion is the same.”For Atsuko Tamakoshi, who has played such a key role in the day, there is a moment to reflect on what they have all achieved together. She’s both emotional and relieved.”My husband has always taken part in this festival,” she tells the BBC. “And I was always the spectator. I’m now filled with gratitude and happiness.”Related TopicsWomenJapanMore on this storyJapan on the brink due to falling birth rate – PMPublished23 January 2023The Tokyo mayor battling ‘boys’ club politics’Published7 March 2023Japan was the future but it’s stuck in the pastPublished20 January 2023Japan’s huge army of under-employed ex-housewivesPublished29 August 2021One in 10 Japanese now aged 80 or olderPublished19 September 2023Top StoriesLive. Trump defeats Haley in South Carolina primaryTories suspend MP over ‘Islamists’ commentsPublished5 hours agoSNP to push for fresh Gaza debate in ParliamentPublished34 minutes agoFeatures’Bodyguards for MPs’ and Starmer turns on ToriesYour pictures on the theme of ‘on the horizon’Inside the long-abandoned tunnel beneath the ClydeHow a gay TV drama changed people’s livesThe winners and nominees at the SAG AwardsThe Creator’s Gareth Edwards on shaking up HollywoodThe ‘strange’ story of man who killed a familyIs this the most chaotic by-election ever? On the campaign trail in RochdaleTwo years into Russia’s invasion, exhausted Ukrainians refuse to give upElsewhere on the BBCExperience Apollo 11’s adventure first-hand!Discover the awe-inspiring journey of Apollo 11 and its crew with newly released cockpit audioAttributioniPlayerWhat is it really like to be a monk?’To be a monk is something very vast, very high and very beautiful’AttributioniPlayer’I smashed all my trophies’Bradley Wiggins opens up about his mental health and imposter syndromeAttributioniPlayerThe sound effect that became the ultimate movie in-jokeIt’s used in everything from Toy Story to Reservoir Dogs, but what is the Wilhelm Scream?AttributioniPlayerMost Read1Four women and a girl killed in Vienna in 24 hours2After 1,250 years women join Japan’s (nearly) naked festival3RMT leader backs Corbyn for general election4SAG Awards: The red carpet in pictures5’Bodyguards for MPs’ and Starmer turns on Tories6Tories suspend MP over ‘Islamists’ comments7US and UK carry out new strikes on Yemen’s Houthis8The blind Ukrainian amputee whose wife’s voice kept him alive9SNP to push for fresh Gaza debate in Parliament10Navalny’s body returned to mother, spokeswoman says

[ad_1] Women take part despite some in the community suggesting it should remain a men-only event.

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• newsinsightplus.com
• 2022Can
• 2022Top
• February 22, 2024
• 0 Comments

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityBusinessMarket DataEconomyYour MoneyCompaniesTechnology of BusinessCEO SecretsArtificial IntelligenceJapan’s main stock index closes above 1989 record highPublished9 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, EPA-EFE/REX/ShutterstockImage caption, The Nikkei 225 topped the 39,000 mark during Thursday’s tradingBy Mariko OiBusiness reporterJapan’s main stock index has hit an all-time closing high, surpassing the previous record set 34 years ago.The Nikkei 225 rose 2.19% on Thursday to end the trading day at 39,098.68.That topped the previous record closing high of 38,915.87 set on 29 December 1989, the last day of trading that year.Asian technology shares were boosted after US chip giant Nvidia revealed strong earnings, driven by demand for its artificial intelligence processors.Global investors are returning to the benchmark index thanks to strong company earnings, even as the country’s economy has fallen into a recession.The weakness of the Japanese currency has also helped to boost share prices of Japan’s exporters as it makes their products cheaper in overseas markets.The Nikkei 225 hit its previous record high after years of soaring stock and property prices.Less than three years after that peak the benchmark index had lost almost 60% of its value as the Japanese economy was engulfed in an economic crisis.Since then the Japan has struggled with little or no economic growth and falling prices, known as deflation.Deflation is bad for an economy as persistent price declines mean that consumers tend to hold off from buying big ticket items due to the expectation that they will be cheaper in the future.Last week, official figures showed that the Japanese economy had unexpectedly slipped into recession in the last three months of 2023.The country’s gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by a worse-than-expected 0.4% in the last three months of 2023, compared to a year earlier.It came after the economy shrank by 3.3% in the previous quarter.The figures from Japan’s Cabinet Office also indicate that the country has lost its position as the world’s third-largest economy to Germany.The latest figures were the first reading of Japan’s economic growth for the period and could still be revised.Two quarters in a row of economic contraction are typically considered the definition of a technical recession.Related TopicsJapanMore on this storyJapan unexpectedly slips into a recessionPublished7 days agoWhat is happening to the Japanese yen?Published28 October 2022Can the next Bank of Japan boss fix its economy?Published14 February 2023Cost of living: The shock of rising prices in JapanPublished9 June 2022Top StoriesSpeaker under pressure after chaotic Gaza votePublished1 hour agoUS hospital halts IVF after court says embryos are childrenPublished5 hours ago’I’m sad for everyone who’s been killed’: How two years of war changed RussiaPublished34 minutes agoFeaturesHroza, Ukraine’s village of orphansThe Papers: ‘Fury in Commons’ and ‘King’s tears’Sahil Omar: The real story behind a fake criminalThe sacrifices key to Kenya’s late marathon legendHow AI is helping the search for extraterrestrial lifeWhy US politicians are on a pilgrimage to Taiwan’Recovering from food addiction is like walking a tiger’Olivia Colman on why sweary letters were original trollingMoment giant Antarctica drone takes off. VideoMoment giant Antarctica drone takes offElsewhere on the BBCFive geological wonders from around the worldFrom the very tip of the North Pole to the southernmost point of the AmericasAttributionBitesizeWhich classic did Elbow cover?The band join the BBC Concert Orchestra in the BBC Piano RoomAttributionSounds’We have built the world, perhaps inadvertently, for men’Philanthropist Melinda French Gates on what she’s learned from her life so farAttributionSoundsA tasty swap that could really improve our healthMichael discovers the benefits of incorporating wholegrains into our dietAttributionSoundsMost Read1Speaker under pressure after chaotic Gaza vote2Whale song mystery solved by scientists3US hospital halts IVF after court says embryos are children4’Fury in Commons’ and ‘King’s tears’5Biden’s dog bit Secret Service agents 24 times6Historical sites in Afghanistan ‘bulldozed for looting’7Baby loss certificates introduced in England8Firms must make ‘adjustments’ for menopausal woman9’I’m sad for everyone who’s been killed’: How two years of war changed Russia10Police force ‘failed’ women who were killed

[ad_1] The benchmark Nikkei 225 closed at 39,098.68 on Thursday, surpassing the all-time high set 34 years ago.

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• newsinsightplus.com
• 11s
• 1980.Economist
• February 15, 2024
• 0 Comments

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityBusinessMarket DataEconomyYour MoneyCompaniesTechnology of BusinessCEO SecretsArtificial IntelligenceJapan unexpectedly slips into a recessionPublished12 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, EPA-EFE/REX/ShutterstockBy Mariko OiBusiness reporterJapan has unexpectedly fallen into a recession after its economy shrank for two quarters in a row.The country’s gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by a worse-than-expected 0.4% in the last three months of 2023, compared to a year earlier.It came after the economy shrank by 3.3% in the previous quarter.The figures from Japan’s Cabinet Office also indicate that the country may have also lost its position as the world’s third-largest economy to Germany.Economists had expected the new data to show that Japan’s GDP grew by more than 1% in the fourth quarter of last year.The latest figures were the first reading of Japan’s economy growth for the period and could still be revised.In October, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecast that Germany was likely to overtake Japan as the world’s third-largest economy when measured in US dollars.The IMF will only declare a change in its rankings once both countries have published the final versions of their economic growth figures. It began publishing data comparing economies in 1980.Economist Neil Newman told the BBC that the latest figures show that Japan’s economy was worth about $4.2tn (£3.3tn) in 2023, while Germany’s was $4.4tn.This was due to the weakness of the Japanese currency against the dollar and that if the yen recovers, the country could regain the number three spot, Mr Newman added.At a press conference in Tokyo this month, the IMF’s deputy head, Gita Gopinath, also said an important reason for Japan potentially slipping in the rankings was the yen falling by about 9% against the US dollar last year.However, the weakness of the yen has helped to boost the share prices of some of Japan’s biggest companies as it makes the country’s exports, such as cars, cheaper in overseas markets.This week, Tokyo’s main stock index, the Nikkei 225, crossed the 38,000 mark for the first time since 1990, when a collapse in property prices triggered an economic crisis. The Nikkei 225’s record high of 38,915.87 was set on 29 December 1989.The latest GDP data may also mean that the country’s central bank may further delay a much-anticipated decision to raise the cost of borrowing.The Bank of Japan introduced a negative interest rate in 2016 as it tried to boost spending and investment.Negative rates make the yen less attractive to global investors, which has pushed down the currency’s value.More on this storyJapan economy gets major boost from weak currencyPublished15 August 2023What is happening to the Japanese yen?Published28 October 2022Can the next Bank of Japan boss fix its economy?Published14 February 2023Top StoriesIsrael launches deadly air strikes in LebanonPublished3 hours agoOne dead and 21 injured in Super Bowl parade shootingPublished1 hour agoUkraine claims sinking of Russian ship off CrimeaPublished9 hours agoFeaturesThe Papers: ‘Worst antisemitism for 40 years’ and ‘NHS nurses crisis’Denise Welch: I’ve had to come to terms with my pastFace to face with inmates in El Salvador’s mega-jailSwatting call an ‘assassination attempt’ – politicianFrench migration row engulfs island in Indian OceanFuture data centres may have built-in nuclear reactorsMoment Russian ship struck by Ukrainian drones. VideoMoment Russian ship struck by Ukrainian dronesFull cemeteries and empty homes: Ukrainians struggle two years after invasionTough week tests Starmer’s leadershipElsewhere on the BBCExperience Apollo 11’s adventure first-hand!Discover the awe-inspiring journey of Apollo 11 and its crew with newly released cockpit audioAttributioniPlayerWhat holds us back from exercising as we age?James Gallagher explores the mental and physical barriers that may stop usAttributionSoundsOne of the most densely populated places on earthUncover the hidden systems and armies of people running Hong KongAttributioniPlayerThe surprising health benefits of sleeping moreCould going to sleep one hour earlier dramatically improve your mood and health?AttributionSoundsMost Read1One dead and 21 injured in Super Bowl parade shooting2’Worst antisemitism for 40 years’ and ‘NHS nurses crisis’3Nightclub boss blames lack of students for closures4Top Republican warns of new national security threat5Man poisoned couple and rewrote will – court told6Children of US mum arrested in London were shot7Israel launches deadly air strikes in Lebanon8X took payment from terrorists, campaigners say9UK antisemitic hate crimes hit new high – report10Ukraine claims sinking of Russian ship off Crimea

[ad_1] The figures also indicate that Japan has also lost its position as the world’s third-largest economy.

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• newsinsightplus.com
• 14yearold
• 1963AttributionSoundsThe
• January 29, 2024
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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityAsiaChinaIndiaJapan: Moon lander Slim comes back to life and resumes missionPublished11 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, JaxaImage caption, Artwork: Jaxa has become the fifth national space agency to land on the MoonBy Kelly NgBBC NewsJapan’s Moon lander has resumed operations after being shut for a week due to a power supply issue.The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said it re-established contact with the lander Sunday night, indicating that the glitch had been fixed.Its solar cells are working again after a shift in lighting conditions allowed it to catch sunlight, the agency said.It could not generate power when it landed on 20 January as the solar cells pointed away from the sun.With the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (Slim) spacecraft, Japan became only the fifth country to achieve a soft touchdown on the moon after the US, the former Soviet Union, China and India.The last of the Moon menThe race to unravel the mysteries of Moon’s south poleHow important are India’s Moon mission findings?The spacecraft ran on battery power for several hours before authorities decided to turn it off to allow for a possible recovery of electricity when the angle of sunlight changed.In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Jaxa shared a photograph taken by Slim of a nearby rock that it said resembled a toy poodle.The lander will analyse the composition of rocks in its search for clues about the origin of the moon, Jaxa said.Slim landed at the edge of an equatorial crater known as Shioli, within 55 m (180 ft) of its target in a crater. Jaxa described it as an “unprecedented pinpoint landing”.The landing technology could allow future exploration of hilly moon poles seen as a potential sources of fuel, water and oxygen, the agency said.The Slim mission came after several earlier attempts by Japan failed, including one by the start-up iSpace, which saw its lunar lander crash when its onboard computer became confused about its altitude above the Moon.Jaxa could not immediately say until when Slim will operate on the moon. It has previously said the lander was not designed to survive a lunar night. A lunar night, which is when the surface of the moon is not exposed to the sun, lasts about 14 days.Statistically, it has proven very hard to land on the Moon. Only about half of all attempts have succeeded.Prior to Japan, India was the most recent nation to join the elite club of countries that have achieved this. Its Chandrayaan-3’s rover touched down near the lunar south pole in August 2023 – an area on the Moon’s surface that no-one had reached before.Earlier this month, a US spacecraft launched by a private operator ended its lunar mission in flames over the Pacific. In August last year, Russia’s first lunar spacecraft in decades crashed into the Moon after spinning out of control.Related TopicsAsiaJapanExploration of the MoonSpaceThe MoonMore on this storyJapan hopes sunlight can save stricken Moon landerPublished6 days agoThe last of the Moon menPublished10 JanuaryThe year India reached the Moon – and aimed for the SunPublished28 December 2023Top StoriesThree US troops killed in Middle East drone attackPublished1 hour agoDisposable vapes to be banned over fears for children’s healthPublished7 hours agoDeath in the Channel – what led a 14-year-old to make fatal journeyPublished3 days agoFeatures’It’s a dream come true to work with Zayn Malik’The bus route that costs £124 per passengerDeath of US troops ratchets up pressure on BidenWhen will the Bank start to cut interest rates?The Papers: ‘Iran war’ fears and ‘two more teens killed’ BBC confronts man who abused boy in secretive Christian churchKey UN Gaza aid agency runs into diplomatic stormCould the UK’s ‘pre-war generation’ become a citizen army?What is Ofsted and how do inspections work?Elsewhere on the BBC’One of the best-known artefacts from ancient Egypt’Discover the woman who inspired the Bust of NefertitiAttributionSoundsShe’s not swiping for soulmates…Preview the brand new supernatural drama coming to iPlayer on January 31stAttributioniPlayerOne of the world’s toughest ice races…Leffert Oldenkamp recounts the gruelling Elfstedentocht of 1963AttributionSoundsThe surprising health benefits of doing the plankMichael Mosley explores whether it outshines crunches or sit-ups…AttributionSoundsMost Read1Crisis-hit China Evergrande ordered to liquidate2Disposable vapes to be banned for child health3Footballer Kyle Walker: I’m sorry for my actions4Boys, 15 and 16, killed in stabbing attack named5Three US troops killed in Middle East drone attack6’Iran war’ fears and ‘two more teens killed’7Japan Moon lander wakes up and resumes mission8Young drivers risk fraud to save on insurance cost9The bus route that costs £124 per passenger10Labour MP suspended over Gaza genocide remarks

[ad_1] The lander has begun sending photos, including that of a nearby rock shaped like a “toy poodle”.

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