December 8, Saturday, 2018 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Ms. Fumiko Konoe and Ms. Risa Shimizu

  1. Japan’s ruling coalition has pushed a controversial bill through the Diet with just a few days left before the current session ends. It will allow more foreign workers into the country.
  2. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries has agreed with Russia and other non-OPEC allies to cut crude oil output next year.
  3. China has successfully launched a lunar probe which the country hopes to land on the far side of the moon.

December 7, Friday, 2018 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Ms. Emma Howard and Mr. Raja Pradhan

  1. Japan has for the first time enacted a law allowing private sector companies to obtain the concession to operate water supply services.
  2. Japanese mobile service provider Softbank says a nationwide disruption in its communication network stemmed from errors in Software made by Ericsson.
  3. Russian media report that the country’s military has set up radar sites on several islands, including 4 Russia-held islands claimed by Japan.