Tokyo, Jan. 26 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Monday showed a willingness to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping amid bilateral tensions over her remarks on a Taiwan contingency. “I’m positive” about meeting with Xi, Takaichi said during a debate

Tokyo, Jan. 26 (Jiji Press)–A former member of Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force reached a final settlement on Monday in a damages lawsuit she filed over sexual assault by five then GSDF members. The settlement, reached at Yokohama District Court, includes the government’s

(Adnkronos) – The “heinous” killing of thousands of civilians by Iran’s security forces during the crackdown on anti-government protests which began last month “demand a clear response, Italy said on Monday.  “The losses suffered by the civilian population during the protests demand

Tokyo, Jan. 26 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Supreme Court has confirmed a lower court ruling in favor of the state in a damages lawsuit filed by 27 children of hibakusha atomic bomb survivors in Hiroshima. The top court’s First Petty Bench issued the decision

(Adnkronos) – The former president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, accused of crimes against humanity in connection with his war on drug trafficking, will be questioned on February 23 by judges of the International Criminal Court. This was announced today by the

(Adnkronos) – Two British citizens, suspected of being far-right activists who came to France to participate in an illegal protest against migrants, have been arrested and taken into custody. Local authorities told AFP.   The two men, who filmed live on social

(Adnkronos) – Italian major will begin operations at the Bahr Essalam project by end-March with production capacity of up to 100 million cubic feet of gas per day, while a second project is due to come online by July-September, the Libyan Observer

Tokyo, Jan. 26 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, also president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, said Monday that she will resign immediately if the coalition of the LDP and the Japan Innovation Party fails to win a majority in the

Tokyo, Jan. 26 (Jiji Press)–The Conservative Party of Japan will call for a drastic review of government policies on foreign nationals and a permanent zero consumption tax rate on foods, party head Naoki Hyakuta said in a recent media interview. As the

Tokyo, Jan. 26 (Jiji Press)–Online piracy and counterfeit products related to Japanese anime, games and other content caused estimated damage of 10.4 trillion yen in and outside the country in 2025, an industry ministry survey showed Monday. The government aims to increase

(Adnkronos) – At least 18 people are dead and 24 are missing after a ferry sank in the southern Philippines with 350 people on board. The coast guard reported that the ferry had issued a distress signal four hours after departing from

Tokyo, Jan. 26 (Jiji Press)–Restaurant sales in Japan rose 7.3 pct in 2025 from a year before, increasing for the fourth consecutive year, the Japan Foodservice Association said Monday. Spending per customer climbed, as many restaurants raised prices of menu items due

Tokyo, Jan. 26 (Jiji Press)–Mizuho Fukushima, leader of the Social Democratic Party, intends to highlight the minor opposition party’s stance of concentrating on bettering people’s lives in Japan in the upcoming election for the House of Representatives. “At a time when soaring

Tokyo, Jan. 26 (Jiji Press)–Japanese opposition party Reiwa Shinsengumi will make abolishing the consumption tax a key pillar of its policy pledges for the Feb. 8 election of the House of Representatives, the lower parliamentary chamber, its co-chief Mari Kushibuchi said in

Osaka, Jan. 26 (Jiji Press)–Osaka District Court on Monday found two former Osaka prefectural police officers guilty of assaulting individuals during a site search related to a major illegal sex worker scouting group in Japan. Judge Akira Kato sentenced Chikara Tokinaga, 51,

Tokyo, Jan. 26 (Jiji Press)–The dollar fell below 154 yen in Tokyo trading Monday morning to hit its lowest level in about two and a half months, amid speculation about a possible coordinated yen-buying intervention by Japanese and U.S. authorities. Later, the

Nagoya, Jan. 26 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority on Monday began an on-site inspection of Chubu Electric Power Co.’s headquarters over earthquake risk data fraud linked to the firm’s Hamaoka nuclear power plant in Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan. During the inspection of

Tokyo, Jan. 26 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama on Monday declined to comment on possible joint currency market interventions by Japanese and U.S. authorities. “There is nothing I can say at this point,” Katayama told reporters after the dollar plunged below

Tokyo, Jan. 26 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government Monday approved Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc.’s new business turnaround plan, including cuts of 3.1 trillion yen in costs over the decade from fiscal 2025. TEPCO said the cost cuts will be achieved through

Tokyo, Jan. 26 (Jiji Press)–The dollar fell below 154 yen in Tokyo trading Monday morning to hit its lowest level in about two and a half months, amid speculation about a possible coordinated yen-buying intervention by Japanese and U.S. authorities. The greenback

Tokyo, Jan. 26 (Jiji Press)–Tokyo police sent papers to prosecutors Monday on a former specially appointed associate professor at the University of Tokyo’s graduate school for allegedly receiving bribes in exchange for favors related to a joint research project. The Metropolitan Police

Fukui, Jan. 26 (Jiji Press)–A 35-year-old independent candidate has been elected governor of Fukui Prefecture, central Japan, after his predecessor resigned for sexual harassment against prefectural government workers. Takato Ishida, a former official at Japan’s Foreign Ministry, won his first term in

Nago, Okinawa Pref., Jan. 26 (Jiji Press)–Nago Mayor Taketoyo Toguchi, supported by advocates of a controversial U.S. base relocation project, won his third term in Sunday’s mayoral election in Nago in the southernmost Japan prefecture of Okinawa. This will deal a major

Tokyo, Jan. 26 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average briefly tumbled more than 1,000 points to sink below 53,000 early Monday morning, as selling hit a wide range of issues amid the yen’s surge against the dollar. At 9:05 a.m., the

Tokyo, Jan. 26 (Jiji Press)–Local governments across Japan are stepping up efforts to tackle abusive behavior by residents and other individuals, introducing measures such as response manuals and assigning former police officers to government offices. According to a survey conducted in 2024

Nago, Okinawa Pref., Jan. 25 (Jiji Press)–Incumbent candidate Taketoyo Toguchi, supported by advocates of a controversial U.S. base relocation project, is certain to win Sunday’s mayoral election in Nago in the southernmost Japan prefecture of Okinawa. This will deal a major blow

Tokyo, Jan. 25 (Jiji Press)–Yoshihiko Noda and Tetsuo Saito, co-leaders of the new opposition Centrist Reform Alliance, said in a joint interview on Sunday that their party will aim to secure more seats than its pre-election strength in Japan’s House of Representatives.

Tokyo, Jan. 25 (Jiji Press)–As Japan’s ruling bloc and the opposition Centrist Reform Alliance both advocate for lowering the consumption tax on food to zero ahead of the Feb. 8 House of Representatives election, smaller political parties have also announced policy pledges

(The third paragraph from the bottom should have read, “…Samizo,” instead of as sent. A substitute story follows.) People Bid Farewell to Ueno Zoo Pandas on Final Viewing Day Tokyo, Jan. 25 (Jiji Press)–Ahead of Tuesday’s departure for China of the only

Tokyo, Jan. 25 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Communist Party leader Tomoko Tamura has said that a consumption tax reduction, a proposal in the party’s policy pledges for the upcoming general election, should be implemented together with financing measures such as a tax hike on