Hello and welcome to today’s news from Japan Daily News on December 18th, 2023. In a tragic incident, a car collision with a police vehicle in Chikugo City, Fukuoka Prefecture, resulted in a fatal vehicle fire. The car, which was carrying a company employee, was found to contain 80 cassette bombs that ignited and caused the fire. The police are investigating the possibility of arson. Meanwhile, the discovery of documents related to the base used by the former Japanese military for balloon bomb attacks during the final stages of World War II sheds light on the detailed installation plans and the efforts of local residents to restore the land after the war.

In other news, the autobiography ‘窓ぎわのトットちゃん’ written by actress Toriko Kuroyanagi has been officially recognized by the Guinness World Records as the most widely published autobiography, with over 25 million copies sold worldwide.

Moving on to international news, a ballistic missile, possibly launched by North Korea, was detected outside Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the Sea of Japan. The missile, estimated to have a range of approximately 400 kilometers and a maximum altitude of around 50 kilometers, is believed to be a short-range ballistic missile. Fortunately, no reports of damage to Japanese vessels or aircraft have been received.

As for the weather, strong winds and snowfall are expected in the Japan Sea region, particularly in northern and eastern Japan. The Japan Meteorological Agency is cautioning against the potential impact on transportation, as well as the risk of gales and high waves.

In the realm of elderly care, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has decided to postpone the increase in usage fees for caregiving services. The ministry recognizes the need to carefully consider the impact on the elderly due to rising prices.

Lastly, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Thai Prime Minister have agreed to explore the establishment of a dialogue framework to support Japanese manufacturers involved in the production and sale of electric vehicles in Thailand. And now for the weather. Today in Tokyo, the weather will be partly cloudy with a high of 10°C and a low of 7°C. There is a 0% chance of rain and the UV index is 3. Visit JapanDailyNews.com for the news, yen exchange rates, and a daily Japanese proverb.