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Los Angeles – Transgender cartel musical “Emilia Perez” topped this year’s Oscar nominations, earning 13 nods in an announcement on Thursday postponed by the devastating Los Angeles wildfires. French director Jacques Audiard’s Mexico-set musical, released by Netflix, shattered the record for the most Academy Award nominations for a non-English-language movie. It was followed by epic immigrant saga “The Brutalist,” and show-stopping musical adaptation “Wicked,” which each picked up 10 nominations. Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown” and Vatican thriller “Conclave” bagged eight nods apiece. Voting deadlines had to be extended this month, as Los Angeles — the U.S. entertainment capital and home city of the Academy Awards — was devastated by multiple blazes that have killed more than two dozen people and forced tens of thousands to flee. Source link

Japan plans to strengthen pre-screening measures for overseas investors that could potentially cooperate with foreign intelligence gathering efforts, addressing rising national security concerns. The Finance Ministry will introduce new regulations requiring relevant overseas investors to notify the government for pre-approval, before they can invest in 1% or more of Japanese firms’ listed shares. Currently, investors meeting specific criteria and considered low-risk are exempt from these requirements. While the updated regulations will impose an additional step for a broader range of investors, those who pass the screening can still invest in Japanese companies. Source link

The two chambers of parliament plan to resume talks Jan. 31 on measures to secure a sufficient number of imperial family members. The country’s ruling and opposition parties have generally agreed in discussions so far that female members should be allowed to remain in the imperial family after marriage. The focus is now on whether they can find more common ground in the run-up to this summer’s election for the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of parliament. The Upper House and the House of Representatives, the lower chamber, began the discussions last May, also with an eye on coming up with ways to help ensure stable Imperial succession. Source link

Supermarket sales in Japan in 2024 increased 2.7% from the previous year on a same-store basis, up for the fifth consecutive year, the Japan Chain Stores Association said Thursday. Sales at all stores totaled ¥13 trillion. Price increases of rice and vegetables such as cabbage pushed up overall sales while the number of purchased items continued to decrease as customers became thriftier. Food sales, which occupied some 70% of the overall sales, rose 4.4% due to price hikes by manufacturers as well as higher rice and vegetable prices. Sales of home-related items also expanded 4.4% as an increase in the number of people going out boosted cosmetics sales. Brisk sales of emergency supplies also contributed to the rise. In contrast, apparel sales shrank 5.4% as demand fell for coats and other winter clothes due to relatively warm weather between October and December. In December alone, all-store supermarket sales stood at ¥1.3 trillion. Sales climbed 3.0% from a year before on a same-store basis, up for the second consecutive month. Source link

Police said Thursday that they arrested a man for kicking a rabbit, as authorities probe the deaths of more than 70 bunnies on an island well-known for its large rabbit population. The incident took place on Okunoshima island in Hiroshima Prefecture, where more than 1,000 rabbits frolic freely and are fed by tourists, according to its website. Riku Hotta, from east of Kyoto, was “arrested on suspicion of kicking a rabbit” on Tuesday, a police spokesperson. The animal later reportedly died. Media reports said that police are investigating whether the 25-year-old man is also linked to 77 rabbit carcasses discovered on the island since late November. “The cause of death could be an infectious disease, cold weather, or a human-related factor, but it is not clear at this point,” the Environment Ministry said on Monday. “We are investigating the cause in consultation with veterinarians and relevant organizations, while strengthening monitoring” of the situation, the ministry said. Okunoshima island was the site of a poison gas factory during World War II and now houses a museum. With rabbits being known for their high reproduction rates, the island touts itself as a “place to seek good fortune for your own family’s fertility,” according to its website. Source link

Japan might take a leadership role in global free trade if the United States piles on tariffs and rejects multilateral institutions, some analysts and business leaders argue. It could find opportunity in the turmoil while avoiding direct confrontation with its ally. “I think Japan will likely aim to show its presence as a champion of free trade,” said Tomohisa Ishikawa, chief economist at the Japan Research Institute. U.S. President Donald Trump has made tariffs a key policy tool of his administration. He is threatening China, Mexico and Canada with higher rates within days and has contemplated higher levies globally, with countries having a high trade surplus being singled out. Source link

Prices for new condominiums in Tokyo fell in 2024, moderating to a more sustainable growth trend after a big jump a year earlier. The average price of a new apartment for sale in the Japanese capital and surrounding areas slipped 3.5% to ¥78 million ($498,000), according to the Real Estate Economic Institute. It was the first decrease in six years, and came after prices rose nearly 30% to a record high in 2023 when several luxury condos went up for sale. The dip is unlikely to affect the overall trajectory of rising prices for new homes in Tokyo, which is being driven by factors including low supply and higher raw material and labor costs, analysts said. “We should not see the temporary decrease as a peak,” said Tetsuya Kaneko, head of research at real estate company Savills Japan. “The general upward trend is here to stay, especially considering the overall inflationary trend and labor shortage.” The number of new units for sale in the Tokyo metropolitan area fell 14.4% last year to a record low, according to the report released Thursday. Average prices for new condos in central Tokyo dropped 2.6% to ¥112 million. The Bank of Japan is widely expected to raise interest rates on Friday, but its impact on the real estate market is likely to be mild as a crowded banking industry keeps a lid on mortgage costs. “An interest-rate increase would be seen as negative, but its magnitude is offset by the competition among banks,” said Mari Kumagai, head of Japan research at real estate brokerage Cushman & Wakefield. Source link

Washington – The gesture was controversial enough, but now come the subcontroversies: Elon Musk is trolling Wikipedia and encouraging its defunding after a description of his recent flourish, seen by some as a Hitler salute, appeared on the encyclopedic website. The fight pits two of the internet’s best-known tech giants against each other — and highlights the starkly different ethos behind Musk’s X social media site and Wikipedia, founded by American entrepreneur Jimmy Wales. Musk, as the majority owner of X, is behind recent easing of content moderation rules on his social media platform, which has allowed for rampant disinformation, while simultaneously positioning himself as U.S. President Donald Trump’s right-hand man. Source link

SEOUL – South Korea’s anti-corruption agency on Thursday transferred to prosecutors its case against impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, recommending his indictment for insurrection and abuse of power over his brief martial law declaration. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) said it would ask prosecutors to indict Yoon over allegations he was the ringleader of an insurrection, for abuse of his authority and obstructing others from exercising their rights. Yoon, impeached and suspended from power on Dec. 14, has been incarcerated since last week while investigators probe his Dec. 3 attempt to impose martial law — a move that shocked the nation even though it was overturned within hours by parliament. Source link

Glasgow, Scotland – Celtic secured a place in the Champions League knockout stage for the first time in 12 years as Loris Benito’s late own goal led to a dramatic 1-0 win over Young Boys. The Scottish champion had a first-half penalty saved, three goals disallowed and ended with 10 men after Daizen Maeda saw red but held on to ensure it will finish in the top 24 of the 36-team table and reach the playoff round. Celtic climbed to 18th ahead of next week’s trip to Aston Villa. Source link