Tokyo, Nov. 4 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s new digital transformation minister Hisashi Matsumoto has called for a national debate on the utilization of medical data for drug development. “Japan could secure huge national interest by improving its ability to develop drugs,” Matsumoto said in

Anan, Tokushima Pref., Nov. 4 (Jiji Press)–As the number of fatalities from bear attacks in Japan rises to a record high this fiscal year, a company, based in Anan, Tokushima Prefecture, western Japan, has developed a bear repellent spray in the hope

New Delhi, Nov. 4 (Jiji Press)–India can become a hub for international shipping, serving as a base for exports to Africa and the Middle East, Yutaka Ikeda, managing director of Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd.’s Indian arm, said in a

Japan Automobile Dealers Association Nov. 4 Yr/Yr Change Total 247,883 units Down 4.3 pct Over-2,000-c.c. Cars 141,251 Down 8.4 Smaller Cars 73,203 Down 5.3 Trucks 32,737 Up 21.9 Buses 692 Down 13.5 -Brand- Daihatsu 2,180 Down 24.5 Honda 28,634 Down 2.3 Lexus

Japan Light Motor Vehicle and Motorcycle Association Nov. 4 Yr/Yr Change Total 147,306 units Up 2.9 pct Passenger Cars 113,895 Up 7.2 Trucks 33,411 Down 9.6 -Brand- Suzuki 46,734 Down 4.8 Daihatsu 57,817 Up 30.2 Mitsubishi 4,449 Down 27.4 Subaru 1,399 Up

Tokyo, Nov. 4 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Tuesday that her government will draw up a new growth strategy next summer. The government launched a new council comprising experts the same day to accelerate discussions on the strategy, focusing investment

Futaba, Fukushima Pref., Nov. 4 (Jiji Press)–A Fukushima Prefecture town in northeastern Japan eased entry restrictions Tuesday in some areas within the so-called difficult-to-return zone, heavily contaminated due to the 2011 nuclear accident at Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. The relaxed

Tokyo, Nov. 4 (Jiji Press)–Tensions are rising in the Diet, Japan’s parliament, over Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s pick of scandal-mired lawmaker Kei Sato of the House of Councillors, the upper Diet chamber, as deputy chief cabinet secretary. Opposition parties object to Sato

Niigata, Nov. 4 (Jiji Press)–The prefectural government of Niigata, central Japan, said Tuesday that it has confirmed an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza at a poultry farm in the city of Tainai. It marks the third bird flu outbreak confirmed at

London, Nov. 4 (Jiji Press)–An opera exploring the life of Japanese ukiyo-e traditional woodblock print artist Katsushika Hokusai will premiere in Scotland next February. Titled “The Great Wave,” the opera is the latest work by London-based composer Dai Fujikura and a joint

Beijing, Nov. 3 (Jiji Press)–China will extend its short-term visa waiver for Japanese visitors, which is set to expire at the end of December, by one year, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Monday. China also announced similar extensions of its visa-exemption arrangements

Tokyo, Nov. 4 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Defense Ministry will begin a phased deployment of long-range standoff missiles capable of striking from outside an enemy’s range. Starting in fiscal 2025, the ministry plans to field ground-launched versions at Ground Self-Defense Force camps in Hokkaido,

(Adnkronos) – Envoy to Italy Alexey Paramonov is understood to have been called to the foreign ministry after Russia blamed the partial collapse of an historic tower near Roman Forum Monday on the government “wasting” billions of euros of public funds on

(Adnkronos) – The Dutch left-wing coalition formed by the Greens and Labour has chosen 39-year-old Jesse Klaver as its new leader, following the resignation of former European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans, who stepped down after last week’s electoral collapse, in which he

(Adnkronos) – Students in Serbia have ended the occupation of universities, which lasted almost a year and was conducted as part of a protest for democracy and the rule of law triggered in the country by the collapse of the Novi Sad

(Adnkronos) – Three Italian climbers have been hit by avalanches in Tibet in the last few hours in two separate incidents. One compatriot, as reported by the online edition of the local newspaper Kathmandu Post, which does not state his identity, is

(Adnkronos) – A majority of Americans believe that Donald Trump is not committed to defending freedom of expression, protecting a fair judicial system, and preserving free and fair elections. This is what emerges from a Washington Post-Abcnews poll, which nevertheless registers a

(Adnkronos) – Al Qaeda’s branch in the Sahel has claimed an attack against a Malian army convoy and “a Russian contingent” in the Gao region, in the east of the African country. A note released by the Group for the Support of

(Adnkronos) – As tensions between the United States and Venezuela remain high following at least 15 military strikes since September against what the US claims are drug smugglers in the Caribbean Sea, Italy on Monday called the situation “worrying”.   “The situation

(Adnkronos) – Roberta di Lecce is Italy’s new envoy to Ivory Coast, the foreign minister wrote Monday on X, congratulating the diplomat on her posting.  “Congratulations to Roberta di Lecce, new Ambassador of Italy in Côte d’Ivoire, read the post, which contained

(Adnkronos) – Italy views Qatar as a “critical partner” and wants to bolster “strategic dialogue” with the Gulf state, foreign minister Antonio said in an exclusive interview with The Pensinsula newspaper on Monday.  “Qatar is a critical partner for Italy. We want

Tokyo, Nov. 3 (Jiji Press)–Families of Japanese citizens kidnapped by North Korea participated in a national rally in Tokyo on Monday to demand the immediate return of all abductees to Japan. “My sister has been detained for 48 years, and our family

(Adnkronos) – The risk of attacks remains significant in France, increasingly involving young people and minors. This was stated by the French national anti-terrorism prosecutor, Olivier Christen. The terrorist threat “remains very real” in France ten years after the November 13 attacks,

(Adnkronos) – Tens of thousands of civilians have fled cities and villages in Sudan after fighting intensified in a vast region east of Darfur, where the city of El-Fasher was captured by paramilitary forces just over a week ago. The International Organization

(Adnkronos) – A 5.8 magnitude earthquake has struck the Kamchatka region, on Russia’s eastern coast. According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (Gfz), the quake originated at a depth of 28 kilometers below the surface. 

(Adnkronos) – Beijing denies having tested nuclear weapons, after US President Donald Trump stated that China would be among the countries testing nuclear weapons “without saying it”. “China has always adhered to a path of peaceful development, has pursued a ‘no first

Naha, Okinawa Pref., Nov. 3 (Jiji Press)–The Okinawa prefectural police Monday arrested U.S. Marine Corps warrant officer William Ramossort, 37, on suspicion of assaulting a restaurant worker in the prefectural capital of Naha. Ramossort, assigned to the Marine Corps’ Camp Kinser in

Osaka, Nov. 3 (Jiji Press)–Kansai Electric Power Co. will start a survey in early November to assess whether it can build a new nuclear reactor in or near its Mihama nuclear power plant in central Japan, Jiji Press learned Monday. The survey

Tokyo, Nov. 3 (Jiji Press)–Japan has conveyed its wish to hold a summit with North Korea to address the issue of Japanese nationals kidnapped to the country, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Monday. “I want to make a breakthrough and resolve the

Tokyo, Nov. 3 (Jiji Press)–Japan conferred the Order of Culture on eight people including Sadaharu Oh, 85, head of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks professional baseball team, on Monday as the country marked Culture Day. In a ceremony at the Imperial Palace in