Tokyo, Oct. 23 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese Trade Union Confederation, or Rengo, said Thursday it plans to demand pay increases of 5 pct or more in “shunto” annual spring wage negotiations for the third straight year next year. The umbrella body for labor

Tokyo, Oct. 23 (Jiji Press)–New Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Thursday met with the families of Japanese citizens abducted to North Korea decades ago and vowed to seek support from U.S. President Donald Trump to resolve the abduction issue. Takaichi, who

Tokyo, Oct. 23 (Jiji Press)–Japanese stocks dropped in Tokyo trading on Thursday as investors became risk-averse amid concerns over a possible escalation in U.S.-China trade tensions. The benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average fell 666.18 points, or 1.35 pct, from Wednesday to close

Tokyo, Oct. 23 (Jiji Press)–Mazda Motor Corp. said Thursday it has strengthened collaboration with Nippon Steel Corp. in vehicle development and materials procurement, aiming to cut costs while securing vehicles’ safety performance. The step came as Mazda sought to make its supply

Japan Chain Stores Association Oct. 23 Yr/Yr Change Total 1,006,027 M. Yen Up 2.4 pct Foodstuffs 721,322 Up 1.6 Clothing 38,436 Down 7.4 Sundries 92,175 Up 0.9 Furniture and Interior Goods 54,812 Up 5.4 Home Electric Appliances 2,281 Up 1.5 Note: Year-on-year

Osaka, Oct. 23 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s University of Osaka has awarded the title of distinguished honorary professor to Shimon Sakaguchi, specially appointed professor at the university who is one of the three winners of this year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Sakaguchi,

Tokyo, Oct. 23 (Jiji Press)–The steering committee of Japan’s House of Representatives decided Thursday that new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will deliver a policy address at the lower chamber of parliament Friday. The decision was made at a meeting of executives of

Tokyo, Oct. 23 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government on Thursday expressed its understanding of the United States’ decision to impose new sanctions on major Russian oil companies. “We recognize that the sanctions are intended to get Russia to stop its invasion of Ukraine

(In the story “Man Gets 8 Years for Sexual Assault of Daughter,” moved on Wednesday, the fourth paragraph from the last should have read, “…her father’s…,” instead of as sent. A substitute story follows.) Toyama, Oct. 22 (Jiji Press)–A Japanese court sentenced

Tokyo, Oct. 23 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government’s planned supplementary budget will secure sufficient funding to implement necessary projects, new Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said on Wednesday. “A sufficient scale is necessary to accomplish objectives, and it doesn’t matter whether it is large

Tokyo, Oct. 23 (Jiji Press)–The steering committee of Japan’s House of Representatives decided Thursday that new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will deliver a policy address at the lower chamber of parliament on Friday. The decision was made at a meeting of executives

Tokyo, Oct. 23 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese agriculture ministry plans to resume purchases of rice for the government’s stockpiling, starting with next year’s harvest, following a pause prompted by the shortage of rice in the country since summer 2024, people familiar with the

Seoul, Oct. 23 (Jiji Press)–North Korea “successfully tested” hypersonic missiles Wednesday, the country’s state-run Korean Central News Agency reported Thursday. The “important weapon system” was tested by North Korea’s Missile Administration, the KCNA said, adding that the missiles hit the targets set

Washington, Oct. 22 (Jiji Press)–U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday issued a statement welcoming the inauguration of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, saying he hopes for even stronger bilateral relations. “We look forward to working with her government to further

Tokyo, Oct. 23 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government plans to amend the law on the protection of personal information to introduce administrative fines for business operators that repeatedly commit serious violations. During the ordinary session of parliament earlier this year, the government held

Tokyo, Oct. 23 (Jiji Press)–New Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has voiced his eagerness to ease the country’s rules on defense equipment exports. At his first press conference as defense minister Wednesday, Koizumi said he is willing to revise the three principles

Tokyo, Oct. 23 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average tumbled more than 900 points briefly Thursday morning. At 9:06 a.m., the Nikkei stood at 48,399.05, down 908.74 points, or 1.84 pct, from Wednesday. Amid concerns over rekindled trade friction between the

Tokyo, Oct. 23 (Jiji Press)–Concerns over a surge in egg prices are increasing in Japan as this season’s first case of highly pathogenic avian influenza at a poultry farm in the country was confirmed Wednesday. Egg prices are coming close to a

(Adnkronos) – With a resolution adopted with 458 votes in favour, 18 against and 84 abstentions, MEPs meeting in plenary called for support for the EU’s commitment to Belarus, firmly condemning the repression carried out by the regime of Alexander Lukashenko and

(Adnkronos) – New immigration tragedy off the coast of Tunisia. According to what an AFP spokesperson for the Mahdia city prosecutor’s office reported, 40 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa – including some minors – died in the shipwreck of the boat they were

Tokyo, Oct. 22 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan reached a broad agreement on Wednesday to have newly elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi deliver a policy speech in the House of Councillors, the

(Adnkronos) – The Spanish government will publish next month the list of symbols of the Francoist dictatorship that must be removed from public spaces, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced. The publication will coincide with the upcoming 50th anniversary, on November 20, of

(Adnkronos) – Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene has announced her resignation due to divergences within the government regarding the amount of military spending included in the next budget. In a Facebook post, Sakaliene spoke of “fundamentally different conceptions on the matter of

(Adnkronos) – Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic spoke of a ”terrorist act” referring to what happened in front of the Parliament in Belgrade, where a 70-year-old man shot wildly, seriously injuring a 57-year-old passerby, now hospitalized. The assailant, who was later arrested by

Tokyo, Oct. 22 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government appointed a total of 54 state and parliamentary vice ministers on Wednesday, including seven lawmakers involved in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s slush fund scandal. The appointment of the seven LDP members, approved at an

Tokyo, Oct. 22 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, its new coalition partner, Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party), and the previous partner, Komeito, agreed Wednesday to increase subsidies to lower retail gasoline prices. The agreement, reached at a meeting of

Tokyo, Oct. 22 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government held an international conference on mine clearance in Ukraine in Tokyo on Wednesday. The conference participants agreed to accelerate aid to Ukraine by training personnel involved in mine removal and investing in technological development. “It’s

Tokyo, Oct. 22 (Jiji Press)–New Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s economic policy stance has raised concerns that it could discourage the Bank of Japan from raising its policy interest rate, potentially weakening the yen and driving up import prices. Takaichi has vowed

Osaka, Oct. 22 (Jiji Press)–Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party) leader Hirofumi Yoshimura denied Wednesday that his party and its coalition partner, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, will coordinate on the selection of election candidates. “Constituency coordination is not strictly necessary,”

Tokyo, Oct. 22 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will highlight responsible and active fiscal spending to boost people’s incomes in her upcoming policy address to the Diet, it was learned Wednesday. According to a speech draft, Takaichi will pledge to strategically