Tokyo, Dec. 12 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s industry ministry said Friday that its affiliated National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, or AIST, will establish a research and development base for advanced semiconductors in Chitose, Hokkaido, northernmost Japan. The facility will be available

Tokyo, Dec. 12 (Jiji Press)–Petroleum Association of Japan President Shunichi Kito has warned against a misconception that gasoline prices will plummet due to the year-end abolition of the provisional gasoline tax surcharge. There has been “no turmoil” during the phased increase in

Tokyo, Dec. 12 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth agreed in their phone talks on Friday that their countries will maintain close communication and coordination following China’s use of military radar on Japanese Air Self-Defense Force

Tokyo, Dec. 12 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government and ruling parties are considering finalizing details of a plan to address tax revenue gaps between Tokyo and other local governments at the end of next year, people familiar with the matter said Thursday. Government

Tokyo, Dec. 12 (Jiji Press)–Japan issued tsunami advisories for the Pacific coast of Hokkaido and Aomori, Iwate and Miyagi prefectures from northern to northeastern Japan after another offshore earthquake shook the regions late Friday morning. Around 11:44 a.m., a quake with an

Stockholm, Dec. 11 (Jiji Press)–The two Japanese winners of this year’s Nobel prizes expressed deep emotions as they recalled Wednesday’s award ceremony at a press conference in Stockholm the following day. “It was a great honor,” said Shimon Sakaguchi, a 74-year-old distinguished

Tokyo, Dec. 12 (Jiji Press)–Japan issued tsunami advisories for the Pacific coast of Hokkaido and Aomori, Iwate and Miyagi prefectures from northern to northeastern Japan after another offshore earthquake shook the regions late Friday morning. Around 11:44 a.m., a quake with an

Tokyo, Dec. 12 (Jiji Press)–The number of “kodomo shokudo” community cafeterias that provide free or low-cost meals mainly to needy children in Japan has reached a record 12,601 this fiscal year, according to a survey by a nonprofit organization. The total rose

Hachinohe, Dec. 12 (Jiji Press)–A Japan Meteorological Agency advisory on possible future earthquakes, issued in the wake of Monday’s powerful quake off Aomori Prefecture, northeastern Japan, has led to cancellations of hotel bookings and suspensions of fishing operations. The advisory, which will

Tokyo, Dec. 12 (Jiji Press)–Over 1,000 municipalities in Japan have ordinances in place calling for measures to support crime victims, the central government said Friday. The number of such municipalities rose by 236 from a year earlier to 1,083 as of April.

Washington, Dec. 11 (Jiji Press)–The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday avoided taking sides over rising tensions between Japan and China over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on a possible Taiwan contingency. Trump “believes that the United States should

Tokyo, Dec. 12 (Jiji Press)–The Bank of Japan’s “tankan” quarterly survey for December, due out Monday, is expected to show narrow improvements in business sentiment among both major Japanese manufacturers and nonmanufacturers, estimates by 11 private think tanks have shown. The think

(Adnkronos) – For the first time, Thailand confirms civilian casualties due to the new escalation on the border with Cambodia. Three civilians were killed in the clashes, said Thai Defense Ministry spokesman Surasant Kongsiri to The Nation newspaper. Nine soldiers died, according

Tokyo, Dec. 11 (Jiji Press)–Japan Innovation Party (Nippon Ishin no Kai) leader Hirofumi Yoshimura on Thursday sounded negative about ending his party’s coalition with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party even if a bill regarding a reduction in House of Representatives seats is

(Adnkronos) – Bangladesh to vote on February 12. Voters will be called to the polls for parliamentary elections and to express themselves in the referendum on reforms, on the so-called ‘July Charter’. These will be the first consultations since the protests that

(Adnkronos) – Russia has announced the capture of Siversk, in eastern Ukraine, considered one of the last defensive strongholds hindering the advance towards the major cities of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. The fall of the populated area would represent a significant step for

(Adnkronos) – One person has died due to an explosion in the Darnytskyi district of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. Ukrinform reports this based on confirmation from the Police.  “According to initial reports, one person died and another was injured due to the

(Adnkronos) – Danish intelligence has classified – for the first time – the United States as a security risk, marking a historic turning point in the assessments of one of Washington’s closest European allies. In its newly published annual report, the Danish

(Adnkronos) – Italy and India want to boost growth by ramping up their business dealings in each other’s countries, increasing investment and creating an “innovation hub” in the Asian economic powerhouse, foreign minister Antonio Tajani stated on Thursday.   “In India, 700

(Adnkronos) – The former president of Bolivia, Luis Arce, has been arrested in La Paz as part of an investigation into alleged corruption. The government of the South American country announced this. The investigation refers to the period when Arce was Minister

(Adnkronos) – In Austria, girls under 14 will no longer be allowed to wear the Islamic veil, the hijab, inside schools. The Vienna Parliament decided this by approving the measure with a large majority. The proposal has already been challenged by activists

Tokyo, Dec. 11 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s government and ruling parties are in the final stages of discussions on introducing a new tax relief system to promote companies’ research and development activities for cutting-edge technologies, it was learned Thursday. The aim is to foster

(Adnkronos) – After more than two and a half years, Emergency’s pediatric center in Mayo, Sudan, reopened its doors. It had been closed in April 2023 after the start of the war due to a lack of safety conditions for staff and

(Adnkronos) – Italy’s state investment agency Simest and the Indian Chamber of Commerce signed an accord on Thursday to propel economic growth by bolstering cooperation between Italian and Indian companies and supporting bilateral investments in both countries.  The Memorandum of Understanding aims

Seoul, Dec. 11 (Jiji Press)–South Korea’s Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a lower court ruling that ordered Nippon Steel Corp. to pay a total of 100 million won, or about 11 million yen, in damages to South Korean plaintiffs for wartime labor,

Taipei, Dec. 11 (Jiji Press)–Taiwanese police plan to send back to Thailand the mother of a Thai girl who was forced to engage in illegal work at a massage parlor in Tokyo, it was learned Thursday. The mother arrived in Taiwan in

(Adnkronos) – Italy and India want to achieve trade worth 20 billion euros a year by 2029, foreign minister Antonio Tajani confirmed at a joint press conference in Mumbai on Thursday with industry and trade minister Piyush Goyal.  “As (India’s) prime minister

Tokyo, Dec. 11 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s three megabanks plan to provide loans totaling up to around 2 trillion yen in stages from fiscal 2027 to Rapidus Corp., which aims to mass-produce cutting-edge chips, Jiji Press learned Thursday. This would mark the first private-sector

Tokyo, Dec. 11 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Fisheries Agency and others announced measures Thursday to address the mass deaths of farmed oysters in the western prefectures of Hiroshima, Okayama and Hyogo, all facing the Seto Inland Sea. The measures include financially supporting affected oyster

(The second paragraph should have read, “…Japan Innovation Party…,” instead of as sent. A substitute story follows.) (Update) Japan Lower House OKs FY 2025 Extra Budget Tokyo, Dec. 11 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s House of Representatives on Thursday passed the government’s draft supplementary budget