(The fourth paragraph should have read, “…a work in his Detective Galileo series…”, instead of as sent. A substitute story follows.) Popular Japanese Novelist Keigo Higashino Dies at 68 Tokyo, July 27 (Jiji Press)–Popular Japanese author Keigo Higashino, known for his mystery

Tokyo, July 27 (Jiji Press)–A Japanese labor ministry panel failed to reach a conclusion Monday on a hike in the country’s minimum wages for fiscal 2026. The Central Minimum Wages Council, which advises the labor minister, will hold another round of meetings

Tokyo, July 27 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Monday that her administration will shortly submit to parliament a bill proposing a consumption tax cut on food products. At a press conference after an extended session of the Diet, the country’s

Tokyo, July 27 (Jiji Press)–An expert committee of Japan’s Justice Ministry broadly approved a draft report Monday on civil liability for the unauthorized use of the voices of famous individuals through generative artificial intelligence. The report said that voices would be subject

Tokyo, July 27 (Jiji Press)–Fukuoka High Court on Monday ordered the prefectural government of Kumamoto, southwestern Japan, to pay damages jointly with the Japanese government over the wrongful conviction in a 1985 murder case in Kumamoto. Presiding Judge Takeshi Okada overturned a

Tokyo, July 27 (Jiji Press)–Popular Japanese author Keigo Higashino, known for his mystery novels, died of colorectal cancer in the early hours of Thursday. He was 68. Higashino, a native of the western prefecture of Osaka, published his first novel, “Hokago” (After-School

(Adnkronos) – The Sudanese army has regained control of an important highway connecting the capital Khartoum with the strategic city of El-Obeid, which is a logistical hub of great importance in Central Sudan, two military sources told AFP today.  The advance pushed

(Adnkronos) – The second suspect in the Berlin Pride attack, where one person was killed and 29 others were injured on Saturday, has been released. This was announced by German authorities, the day after the alleged perpetrator was killed by police. A

Tokyo, July 27 (Jiji Press)–Japan is considering accepting financing from foreign banks for the construction of natural gas-fired power plants in the United States, which was included in its investment and loan pledge to the U.S. government, the Finance Ministry has said.

(Adnkronos) – Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos said today that it might be time for his country, hard hit by the oil shock caused by the conflict in the Middle East, to reconsider nuclear energy.  “Perhaps it is time to reconsider nuclear energy

Tokyo, July 27 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government plans to create a system in fiscal 2027 to certify mainly small and midsize businesses in rural areas that provide child care support for local communities. It will consider cutting corporate taxes for certified companies

(Adnkronos) – In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), since the beginning of the epidemic, over 3,000 cases of Ebola have been registered, including 1,354 deaths, Congolese authorities reported yesterday. The DRC is facing a surge in infections in the eastern part

(Adnkronos) – Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is already serving a life sentence for insurrection, has been sentenced to 18 months, with a suspended sentence, for spreading disinformation during his 2022 election campaign prior to his attempt to impose

(Adnkronos) – The British Prime Minister Andy Burnham today expressed his intention to reform the social care system (long-term care, disability benefits, etc.), the cost of which has steadily increased in recent years, also hinting at a possible tightening of eligibility requirements

Tokyo, July 27 (Jiji Press)–Several local governments in Japan are advancing efforts to be designated as the country’s secondary capital, following Friday’s enactment of a secondary capital bill. A secondary capital would supplement Tokyo’s functions in the event of a major disaster.

Tokyo, July 27 (Jiji Press)–The Bank of Japan is likely to hold interest rates steady when it meets on Thursday and Friday to see the effect of its recent increase for the time being. The central bank last month raised its policy

Tokyo, July 27 (Jiji Press)–Temperatures reached 40.0 degrees Celsius in the city of Hita, Oita Prefecture, at 3:30 p.m. Monday, marking the first time on record that the Kyushu region of southwestern Japan has seen temperatures at or above the level, according

Tokyo, July 27 (Jiji Press)–Popular Japanese novelist Keigo Higashino died of colorectal cancer in the early hours of Thursday. He was 68. Born in the western prefecture of Osaka in 1958, Higashino made his novelist debut while working as an engineer after

Taipei, July 27 (Jiji Press)–Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te on Monday awarded the Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon to Japanese lawmaker Keiji Furuya, leader of a suprapartisan group of legislators seeking closer ties with Taiwan. During a visit to the presidential

Fukuoka, July 27 (Jiji Press)–Fukuoka High Court on Monday ordered the prefectural government of Kumamoto, southwestern Japan, to pay damages jointly with the Japanese government over the wrongful conviction in the 1985 Matsubase murder case in Kumamoto. Presiding Judge Takeshi Okada overturned

(Adnkronos) – The mayor of Seattle, Katie Wilson, announced the arrest of a suspect in the shooting that killed two people and injured 4 in the city in the northwestern United States, from gunfire that also caused at least four injuries. Wilson

Chiba, July 27 (Jiji Press)–The Ground-Self Defense Force’s Camp Narashino on Monday imposed two- and four-month suspensions on two sergeants, aged 35 and 37, respectively, for using violence against other GSDF members during training in 2023. The two sergeants admitted to the

Tokyo, July 27 (Jiji Press)–The dollar slipped to around 163.50 yen in Tokyo trading Monday after the United States and Iran paused attacks on each other, raising optimism over the Middle East conflict. Yen purchases became dominant as “dollar buying at a

Tokyo, July 27 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Monday that she has no plans to set up a new expert panel to discuss the Imperial succession issue and the possibility of a female or maternal-line Emperor. Takaichi made the remark

Tokyo, July 27 (Jiji Press)–Concerns are mounting over the Shiokaze shortwave radio program for Japanese nationals abducted to North Korea, as the number of radio transmitters is dwindling. The Japanese support group broadcasting the program is calling for an increase in the

Tokyo, July 27 (Jiji Press)–Japanese electronics makers and retailers are enjoying strong demand for portable air conditioners, with some areas, mainly in the Tokai central region, recently experiencing “kokushobi” cruelly hot days, featuring temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius or higher. Such products

Tokyo, July 27 (Jiji Press)–Ocean cargo transport service fees remained elevated in June amid the continuing Middle East turmoil, Bank of Japan data showed Monday. The service price index for the sector in the latest reporting month jumped 52.8 pct year on

Tokyo, July 27 (Jiji Press)–Japan “strongly condemns” the growing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said at a press conference Monday. Specifically, the top Japanese government spokesman cited the dispatch of troops and supplies of weapons

(A typo in the sixth paragraph has been corrected. The seventh paragraph should have read “…on a planned tax cut. …”) No Plans to Set Up New Panel on Imperial Succession Now: Takaichi Tokyo, July 27 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi

Tokyo, July 27 (Jiji Press)–Discussions on a hike in Japan’s minimum wages for fiscal 2026 entered the final stage at a labor ministry panel Monday, but gaps between the labor and management sides remain wide. Members from the labor side at the