Panasonic will recall a total of 640,000 drum-type washer/dryers in Japan and Taiwan.

The closing price of the Nikkei Stock Average was 64,425 yen, falling below 65,000 yen for the first time in a month.

According to a Jiji Press opinion poll in October, the Takauchi Cabinet's approval rating was 42.4%, down 1.7 points from the previous month.

Prime Minister Takaichi said there is no evidence that the Japanese government is conducting espionage activities in Russia.

Prime Minister Takaichi said of Takebe, ``I chose him because I thought he would be able to play an active role, including dealing with the Diet, as an immediate force.''

The government announced that a certification ceremony for the new Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries will be held at 5:30 p.m.

Prime Minister Takaichi has decided to appoint Liberal Democratic Party member Arata Takebe as Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

Yokohama High School pitcher Shoki Oda has announced that he will aim for American baseball instead of playing Nippon Professional Baseball.

Prime Minister Takaichi told reporters, ``I take the responsibility of appointing him very seriously.''

Regarding the reason for his resignation, Yana told reporters, ``I can't cause any more trouble to the Diet deliberations.''

The Japanese government protested against the Russian ambassador to Japan, accusing him of detaining a Japanese national and making unilateral messages.

The Director-General of the European Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs called Russia's Ambassador to Japan Nozdrev to the ministry and offered him information and humanitarian consideration regarding the detention of the Hokkaido Shimbun reporter.

Opposition parties, including Ritsumeikan and Democratic People's Democratic Party, have agreed in principle to submit a resolution to censure Minister Yana of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to the House of Councilors unless he resigns.

Senji Kuroi, a writer representing the ``introverted generation,'' has passed away. He was 94 years old

Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Yana said of his resignation, ``I want to fulfill my responsibilities to the best of my ability.''

Regarding the detention of Japanese nationals by the Russian authorities, the Japanese government has requested the Russian side through diplomatic channels to confirm the facts and provide fair and impartial procedures.

Prime Minister Takaichi revealed that he received a report on the bus issue from Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Yana on the night of the 13th, and said, ``At this point, I cannot answer whether or not it is illegal.''