(The second sentence of the fifth paragraph should have read, “…, allowing Hokuriku Shinkansen trains to utilize the Tokaido Shinkansen Line tracks from Maibara to reach Shin-Osaka,” instead of as sent. A substitute story follows.) Ruling Bloc Decides on Hokuriku Shinkansen Route

Tokyo, July 15 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan agreed Wednesday to postpone a House of Councillors special committee vote on a bill to revise the Imperial House Law from the day. The agreement

Tokyo, July 15 (Jiji Press)–The Diet, Japan’s parliament, enacted a bill Wednesday to promote measures for ensuring proper maintenance and management of sewerage facilities in response to the 2025 sinkhole incident in the city of Yashio in Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo.

Tokyo, July 15 (Jiji Press)–A Japanese court Wednesday found a former executive of an event business guilty of violating the antimonopoly law by rigging bids linked to the Tokyo Summer Olympics and Paralympics held in 2021. Tokyo District Court sentenced the 66-year-old

Tokyo, July 15 (Jiji Press)–Organizers are changing schedules for summer festivals and fireworks displays in Japan, hoping to protect people from the intense summer heat and heavy rain. The Sagajoka Sakaenokuni Matsuri festival in the southwestern city of Saga was brought forward

Tokyo, July 15 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s seasonally adjusted core machinery orders in May fell 12.4 pct from the previous month, down for the first time in two months, the Cabinet Office said Wednesday. Private-sector orders excluding those for ships and power equipment, closely

Tokyo, July 15 (Jiji Press)–Many Bank of Japan policymakers voiced concerns about potential side effects of a negative interest rate policy at the central bank’s monetary policy meeting in January 2016, at which its introduction was decided, according to transcripts of the

Tokyo, July 15 (Jiji Press)–Many Bank of Japan policymakers voiced concerns about potential side effects of a negative interest rate policy at the central bank’s monetary policy meeting in January 2016, at which its introduction was decided, according to transcripts of the

Tokyo, July 15 (Jiji Press)–One year has passed since ordinances aimed at preventing customer harassment–defined as unreasonable or excessive demands and other unjust acts directed at employees by customers or business partners–came into effect in Tokyo and other areas. Preventive measures are

Mutsu, Aomori Pref., July 15 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force has shown to the media its naval mine warfare exercises being conducted in Mutsu Bay off the city of Mutsu in Aomori Prefecture, northeastern Japan. “We’re training to be ready to respond

Tokyo, July 15 (Jiji Press)–Two more former Japan Post Co. workers were found to have been involved in bidding fraud at the postal service provider, a survey by the company has revealed. In May, a former Japan Post employee was arrested for

(Adnkronos) – The Immigration and Customs Enforcement has issued a nationwide order to suspend roadside stops until further notice. The decision, reported by CNN and NBC citing informed sources, comes after two immigrants, a Mexican citizen and a Colombian citizen, were killed

(Adnkronos) – Six people have died in the fire that broke out at the Oxy Tower construction site, in Place de Brouckere, in the center of Brussels. This was confirmed late in the afternoon by the Auditorat du travail, the Belgian Public

(Adnkronos) – After a long legal battle with Donald Trump, Jean Carroll collects the over $5 million in damages that the former president was ordered to pay three years ago by a New York court that found him guilty of sexual assault

(Adnkronos) – Italy and Turkey on Tuesday reaffired the “solidity”of bilateral relations during talks between foreign under-secretary Massimo Dell’Utri and Turkey’s ambassador, Elif Ulgen that looked to bolster cooperation on the environment and in the Arctic.  “Today at the foreign ministry I

(Adnkronos) – Italy and the other major western powers on Tuesday called for an immediate halt to attacks on the city of El-Obeid, capital of Sudan’s North Kordofan state, which has reportedly come under repeated drone attacks by the paramilitary Rapid Support

(Adnkronos) – Italy’s humanitarian and diplomatic commitment to major international emergencie – from Gaza to Suda – is being strengthened through increasingly close cooperation between its institutions, United Nations agencies, and businesses, foreign minister Antonio Tajani said Tuesday, underlining that Rome doesn’t

(Adnkronos) – Iran claims that hundreds of foreign ships have requested authorization to cross the Strait of Hormuz from the new authority established by Tehran to supervise passage in the strategic maritime route. The Persian Gulf Strait Authority (Pgsa) stated on X

(Adnkronos) – One hundred and eighty deputies of the Majlis (Iranian parliament), out of a total of 290, have signed a declaration demanding revenge for the Iranian “martyrs” and the “cessation of all forms of understanding or negotiation with the United States”.

Tokyo, July 14 (Jiji Press)–The Centrist Reform Alliance, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, and Komeito are considering including their emphasis on workers in the mission statement and basic policy of a party that would integrate them, informed sources said Tuesday. This

Tokyo, July 14 (Jiji Press)–East Japan Railway Co., or JR East, on Tuesday announced the nickname and design of a successor to its East-i inspection train for Shinkansen bullet train lines, set to be introduced in fiscal 2029. The new train, nicknamed

Tokyo, July 14 (Jiji Press)–Tokyo District Court on Tuesday sentenced a captain of All Nippon Airways to one year and eight months in prison for grabbing the buttocks of a female flight attendant. Judge Takao Okawa said that the defendant, Ryota Mise,

Nagasaki, July 14 (Jiji Press)–A series of international conferences to discuss the management of Pacific bluefin tuna stocks ended in the southwestern Japan city of Nagasaki on Tuesday without adopting Japan’s proposal to expand the catch quota for large fish, due to

Shusha, Azerbaijan, July 14 (Jiji Press)–Major Japanese news agency Jiji Press Ltd. signed an agreement on Tuesday with the Azerbaijan State News Agency, or AZERTAC, to cooperate in the exchange of English-language news content. The agreement was signed at a ceremony in

Tokyo, July 14 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government’s upcoming annual economic and fiscal policy guidelines will affirm its respect for the independence of the Bank of Japan, it was learned Tuesday. The government seems eager to address market concerns that the administration of

(Adnkronos) – Italy’s government opposes any charges on shipping in straits where there are no man-made structures, foreign minister Antonio Tajani said on Tuesday after US president Donald Trump annouced a 20% levy on all cargo vessels to ensure their safe passage

(Adnkronos) – In June, deaths in Germany increased by 32% due to a record heatwave compared to levels recorded in the previous four years. The German statistical institute reports this, explaining that, nationally, between June 22 and 28, approximately 23,900 people died,

(Adnkronos) – Two Emirati oil tankers were hit by Iranian cruise missiles in the southern part of the Strait of Hormuz, in Omani territorial waters, causing the death of one Indian crew member and the injury of eight others, four of whom

Tokyo, July 14 (Jiji Press)–The administration of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is looking at a proposal to have the country’s Government Pension Investment Fund increase its investment in domestic financial assets, amid rising government bond yields and the weakening yen. “We

Hakone, Kanagawa Pref., July 14 (Jiji Press)–Odakyu Hakone Co.’s Royal II “pirate ship” sightseeing boat with a renovated first-class cabin will go into operation on Lake Ashi in the popular tourist town of Hakone in eastern Japan on Saturday. The company expects