日: 2024年5月9日

1. Russians have commemorated the former Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany with a ceremony in the capital Moscow Victory Day celebrations were held across Russia amid the country’s invasion of Ukraine. Russia marked the 79th anniversary of the World War Two victory on Thursday in ceremonies and military parades held in more than 20 cities. 2. A group of non-regular workers looking for pay hikes in Japan says nearly half the firms involved have not agreed to their demands at spring wage negotiations. The group said at a news conference on Thursday that about 30,000 workers demanded 10-percent or more wage increase from 107 employers. Fifty-five percent of the companies have responded so far. But the group said the average increase is only 3 to 4 percent, and the remaining 48 firms have yet to agree to boost salaries.
3. Japanese figure skater and Olympic medalist Uno Shoma has announced his retirement from competition. The 26-year-old made the announcement on Instagram on Thursday. He won a silver medal in the men’s singles in the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics and took bronze in the 2022 Beijing Games. He also won two world championships in a row in 2022 and 2023. In the message, Uno expressed his gratitude for people who have supported him as a competitor until today.

1. Toyota Motor has posted a record group operating profit topping 5 trillion yen, or 34.5 billion dollars, for fiscal 2023, the highest-ever figure for a listed Japanese company. 2. The second round of a Japanese government-backed subsidy program to support tourism in quake-hit areas in central Japan has begun. This round, which began on Tuesday, only covers Ishikawa Prefecture. The government introduced the program earlier this year to help areas affected by the Noto Peninsula earthquake that struck on New Year’s Day. 3. Two rival companies in Japan have joined hands to develop a mosquito spray to fight the growing spread of dengue fever in Southeast Asia and elsewhere. Kao Corporation teamed up with Earth Corporation to combine expertise and shorten the development period for the product. The companies say the spray uses a fine mist to saturate the wings and bodies of mosquitoes to prevent them from flying.

1. Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to start a new six-year term as president on Tuesday. Putin, who triumphed in a presidential election held last March, is being sworn in at an inauguration ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow. Since being elected president for the first time in 2000, Putin has held power either as president or prime minister for more than 20 years. His fifth term will last until 2030.
2. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has strongly urged Israel and Hamas not to miss an opportunity to agree on a truce and hostage-released deal. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Guterres said that he had earlier in the day made a “very strong appeal to the government of Israel and the leadership of Hamas in order to go an extra mile to materialize an agreement that is absolutely vital.”
3. A wine tasting site in central Japan’s Yamanashi Prefecture saw tourism numbers surge past pre-pandemic levels during the spring holiday season. Katsunuma Budou no Oka, or Grape Hill, is a tourist site in Koshu City, a noted wine area. It has about 200 wines available for tasting.