December 19, Tuesday, 2023

1. Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has pledged to regain public trust as Tokyo prosecutors raided the offices of the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s Abe and Nikai factions over a fundraising scandal. But Kishida said he will retain in his Cabinet two ministers from one of the party factions under scrutiny.
2. Prosecutors in Tokyo have begun raiding the offices of two factions of the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party in connection with a political fundraising scandal. It is alleged that the factions failed to report the receipt of political funds in violation of the Political Funds Control Law. 3. Bank of Japan policymakers had no Christmas surprise for financial markets in their final meeting of the year. The central bank said it will leave its ultra-easy monetary policy unchanged after the two-day meeting ended on Tuesday. The vote among policymakers was unanimous.