Tokyo, Feb. 18 (Jiji Press)–Labor unions at major Japanese automakers, including Toyota Motor Corp., on Wednesday submitted their pay increase demands for this year’s “shunto” labor-management negotiations. Some unions lowered their demands from last year, as the industry faces headwinds from U.S.

(Adnkronos) – Italy backs the acceleration of Albania and Montenegro’s European Union membership bids and “also those of all other candidate countries,” foreign minister Antonio Tajani told reporters in Tirana on Wednesday.  ‘We are absolutely in favour of speeding up negotiations for

(Adnkronos) – The potential for economic cooperation between the Adriatic and Balkan regions is “immense” and Italy has made the Balkans “a priority area” for its internationalisation action plan, foreign minister Antonio Tajani said on Wednesday,  “The potential for economic cooperation between

Tokyo, Feb. 18 (Jiji Press)–Attention is being paid to whether Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will be able to implement her plan to cut consumption tax to zero for food, following the launch of her second administration Wednesday. Takaichi will face a

(Adnkronos) – Corridor VIII, the infrastructure axis that will link the Adriatic Sea to the Black Sea, is a “crucial strategic priority” for Italy, foreign minister Antonio Tajani told a press conference in Albania’s capital, Tirana on Wednesday.  The rail, road project

Tokyo, Sept. 13 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi launched her second cabinet on Wednesday, maintaining all members from the first cabinet, after being re-elected prime minister earlier in the day. Takaichi’s first cabinet resigned en masse in the morning. She was

Naha, Okinawa Pref., Feb. 18 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force has decided to cancel the dispatch of a V-22 Osprey transport aircraft to the Iron Fist joint exercise with the U.S. Marine Corps in Okinawa Prefecture, Jiji Press learned Wednesday. The

(Adnkronos) – The Corridor VIII strategic infrastructure project linking the Adriatic to the Black Sea is crucial to propel Italy’s surging exports and also to Nato, foreign minister Antonio Tajani told a meeting in Albania’s capital, Tirana on Wednesday.  “We are a

(Adnkronos) – Ten skiers are missing after an avalanche occurred yesterday in California. Local authorities announced this, specifying that the avalanche hit Castle Peak, in the Sierra Nevada, in the northern part of the state.  A group of 16 skiers, including four

Tokyo, Feb. 18 (Jiji Press)–The estimated number of visitors from mainland China to Japan plunged 60.7 pct from a year earlier to 385,300 in January, the Japan National Tourism Organization said Wednesday. The January decline accelerated from 45.3 pct in December, as

(Adnkronos) – Nine people in total were arrested yesterday in France as part of the investigation into the beating of young Quentin Deranque on Saturday in Lyon. Of these, six are suspected of having taken part in the assault; the other three,

Tokyo, Feb. 18 (Jiji Press)–The estimated number of visitors from mainland China to Japan plunged 60.7 pct from a year earlier to 385,300 in January, the Japan National Tourism Organization said Wednesday. The January decline accelerated from 45.3 pct in December, as

Tokyo, Feb. 18 (Jiji Press)–The Centrist Reform Alliance launched its new leadership team on Wednesday, as the Japanese opposition party seeks to rebuild unity after suffering a rout in the Feb. 8 general election. Junya Ogawa, who was elected the centrist party’s

Aomori, Feb. 18 (Jiji Press)–Tohoku Electric Power Co. on Wednesday submitted a set of corrective measures following improper performance tests for antiterror equipment at the Higashidori nuclear plant in northeastern Japan. The testing irregularities at the power station in the village of

Tokyo, Feb. 18 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s transport ministry will provide incentives for logistics service providers to cooperate in the long-distance transportation of cargo, as it aims to advance work style reform for truck drivers. The idea is to allow drivers to pass their

Tokyo, Feb. 18 (Jiji Press)–The Diet, Japan’s parliament, on Wednesday re-elected Liberal Democratic Party President Sanae Takaichi as prime minister. Takaichi retained her position through votes in both Diet chambers. She was elected outright in the House of Representatives, the all-important lower

Washington, Feb. 17 (Jiji Press)–U.S. President Donald Trump revealed Tuesday that Japan will invest 36 billion dollars in three energy and mineral projects in the United States in the first-round execution of its 550-billion-dollar investment commitment. “Today, I am pleased to announce

Tokyo, Feb. 18 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s House of Representatives, the all-important lower chamber of the Diet, the country’s parliament, on Wednesday named Liberal Democratic Party President Sanae Takaichi as prime minister. The decision was made through a vote at a plenary meeting during

Tokyo, Feb. 18 (Jiji Press)–A Japanese team led by St. Luke’s International Hospital has said that two women have successfully given birth using transplanted ovarian tissues that had been frozen before they underwent cancer treatment. As balancing cancer treatment and pregnancy has

Tokyo, Feb. 18 (Jiji Press)–The amount of illegal drugs confiscated by Japanese customs authorities in 2025 increased 15 pct from the previous year to 3,211 kilograms, topping 3 tons for the first time in six years, the Finance Ministry said Tuesday. The

Tokyo, Feb. 18 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s customs-cleared trade deficit narrowed 58 pct in January from a year before due mainly to growing exports to China, the Finance Ministry said Wednesday. Japan’s overall exports rose 16.8 pct to 9,187.5 billion yen, marking the fifth

Tokyo, Feb. 18 (Jiji Press)–The International Monetary Fund on Wednesday urged Japan to avoid cutting the consumption tax, as such a move would increase fiscal risks. “The authorities should avoid reducing the consumption tax, an untargeted measure that would erode fiscal space

Tokyo, Feb. 18 (Jiji Press)–Japanese convenience store chain Lawson Inc. will expand into India, seeing high growth potential in the world’s most populous country, officials have said. The company plans to establish a local subsidiary within fiscal 2026, which ends in February

Milan, Feb. 17 (Jiji Press)–Japan rewrote its record Winter Olympics medal haul on Tuesday, after adding a bronze medal in the women’s speed skating team pursuit at the Milan-Cortina Games. With the latest feat, Japan has garnered 19 medals–four gold, five silver

Hiroshima, Feb. 18 (Jiji Press)–The main tower of Hiroshima Castle will close on March 22 due to aging, marking the end of public access inside the building after it was destroyed by the 1945 U.S. atomic bombing and restored as a symbol

Tokyo, Feb. 18 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s cabinet resigned en masse on Wednesday morning. Takaichi, who also heads the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, became the first female prime minister of the country in October last year. With her initiative, the

Tokyo, Feb. 18 (Jiji Press)–False information spread during the campaign for the Feb. 8 general election in Japan was perceived as true by about 80 pct of voters who encountered it, according to a university survey. The online survey was conducted by

(Adnkronos) – Italy will work with the United Nations in war-ravaged Gaza “at all times and in all circumstances”, foreign minister Antonio Tajani said Tuesday in the Senate after telling lawmakers the country will be an observer on US president Donald Trump’s

(Adnkronos) – The stalemate continues in the investigation into the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie from Tucson, Arizona. Among the main pieces of evidence is the doorbell camera video from the home, which shows a man approximately 1.75-1.78 meters tall, wearing a

(Adnkronos) – The State Duma in Russia has approved a bill authorizing the FSB to force operators to disconnect telecommunication services in Russia where the government approves it. The government had submitted the bill to the lower house of Parliament last November.