Otsuki, Yamanashi Pref., Dec. 2 (Jiji Press)–Bereaved families and others mourned the nine victims of an expressway tunnel ceiling collapse in central Japan on Tuesday, the 13th anniversary of the disaster. Outside the Sasago Tunnel on the Chuo Expressway in Yamanashi Prefecture,

Tokyo, Dec. 2 (Jiji Press)–The key yield on 10-year Japanese government bonds hit a 17-year high for the second straight day on Tuesday, amid growing speculation about a possible interest rate hike by the Bank of Japan later this month. The 10-year

Tokyo, Dec. 2 (Jiji Press)–Japan on Tuesday held the first ministerial meeting to review tax measures, subsidies and funds, in an effort inspired by the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency. The government has established a department of about 30 people in the

Tokyo, Dec. 2 (Jiji Press)–Nearly half of Japanese people are concerned about a potential Taiwan conflict, a survey by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan showed on Monday. The survey found that 49.6 pct of respondents said what they

Naha, Okinawa Pref., Dec. 2 (Jiji Press)–Two Chinese coast guard ships entered Japanese territorial waters off the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture, southernmost Japan, on Tuesday. As the Haijing vessels attempted to approach a Japanese fishing boat, a Japan Coast Guard patrol

Tokyo, Dec. 2 (Jiji Press)–A new flu virus variant called subclade K is spreading in Japan, a survey by the Japan Institute for Health Security has found. The government-linked organization believes that the spread of the variant may be one of the

Tokyo, Dec. 2 (Jiji Press)–Japanese curry restaurant chain operator Ichibanya Co. aims to launch a full-scale expansion of its Curry House CoCo Ichibanya, or CoCo Ichi, restaurant network across India. The company, headquartered in Ichinomiya, Aichi Prefecture, in central Japan, now operates

Tokyo, Dec. 2 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has vowed to realize the early restart of visits to graves on Russian-controlled northwestern Pacific islands by former Japanese residents of the islands. She made the pledge on Monday after receiving a set

Kuala Lumpur, Dec. 2 (Jiji Press)–Malaysian customs authorities have charged three Japanese men on suspicion of attempting to smuggle large quantities of marijuana into the Southeast Asian nation in violation of the country’s law for cracking down on dangerous drugs. Charged on

Tokyo, Dec. 2 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte have agreed to enhance cooperation between East Asian nation and the alliance of European and North American countries. In their telephone talks Monday, Takaichi emphasized that the security

Fukui, Dec. 2 (Jiji Press)–Tatsuji Sugimoto, governor of Fukui Prefecture, central Japan, has said that he plans to resign Thursday over his sexual harassment against prefectural government workers. Sugimoto, 63, showed his intention to quit at Monday’s meeting of the Fukui prefectural

Tokyo, Dec. 2 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Tsuruha Holdings Inc. and Welcia Holdings Co. have integrated their operations to create a huge drugstore chain boasting annual sales of more than 2 trillion yen. Tsuruha, ranking second in Japan’s drugstore industry, made top-ranking Welcia a

Tokyo, Dec. 2 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Nippon Steel Corp. hopes to narrow down a list of candidate sites by next summer and make a final decision by the end of 2026 on a location for its United States Steel Corp. subsidiary to build

(Adnkronos) – The toll of victims caused by devastating floods and landslides in Indonesia continues to worsen. According to the latest report released by the national disaster agency, at least 593 people are dead, while 468 people are still missing. Furthermore, more

(Adnkronos) – In Saudi Arabia, restrictions on the sale of alcohol to foreign residents have been further eased, just days after the first opening to non-diplomatic buyers. Now, non-Muslim expatriates with a monthly income of at least 50,000 riyals (approximately 11,500 euros)

(Adnkronos) – A tanker carrying Russian oil has been hit off the coast of Senegal, Bloomberg reported. It is the third Russian crude cargo hit in a few days. The explosion aboard the ‘Mersin’ was recorded last November 27.  

(Adnkronos) – The first print issue of the newspaper Al Thawra Al Souriya was published today in Syria, marking the return of state press in the Arab country after five years of suspension. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the publication of newspapers had

(Adnkronos) – Four people have been arrested in South Korea for hacking over 120,000 cameras IP installed in homes and businesses, then using the recorded images to produce sexually explicit material intended for an overseas-based website. The BBC reports, citing local police,

(Adnkronos) – Donald Trump intervenes aggressively in the special elections held tomorrow in Tennessee, accusing the Democratic candidate for the House seat left by Republican Mark Greene, even of “openly despising country music,” an unforgivable sin in the state of Nashville, the

(Adnkronos) – United States president Donald Trump covets the Nobel peace prize and has “the personal motivation” to get Ukraine and Russia to sign a US-drafted peace deal to end their 45-month-old war, Italy’s foreign minister Antonio Tajani said on Monday.  “I

Tokyo, Dec. 1 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s three major shipping firms said Monday they will invest in Miles Co., a ship design company jointly owned by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and Imabari Shipbuilding Co. The three shipping firms are Nippon Yusen K.K., Mitsui O.S.K.

Tokyo, Dec. 1 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government and the ruling camp are considering launching a new investment program for children under the country’s new Nippon Individual Savings Account tax exemption framework, aiming to expand eligibility to those under 18, Jiji Press learned

Jakarta, Dec. 1 (Jiji Press)–Indonesian authorities evacuated seven of the eight Japanese nationals stranded by torrential rains in the province of Aceh on the northern tip of Indonesia’s Sumatra island, flying them to safety on Monday, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

Tokyo, Dec. 1 (Jiji Press)–Seven-Eleven Japan Co. said Monday that it will begin testing the use of a self-driving truck for long-haul product transportation, marking the first initiative of its kind in Japan’s convenience store and supermarket industries. The company hopes that

(Adnkronos) – Italy’s foreign minister Antonio Tajani is tracking the ‘very serious’ cases of three Italian aid workers who were attacked and robbed by Israeli settlers at the house where they were staying near the occupied West Bank city of Jericho, the

Tokyo, Dec. 1 (Jiji Press)–Three major Japanese department store operators on Monday reported year-on-year growth in same-store sales for November, thanks to strong demand for winter clothing amid falling temperatures. Sales rose 5.1 pct at Daimaru Matsuzakaya Department Stores Co., 3.5 pct

(Adnkronos) – Hong Kong police announced that they have so far arrested 13 people as part of the investigation into the fire that last week caused the death of 146 people in a residential complex. “A thorough investigation for manslaughter was immediately

Tokyo, Dec. 1 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government is considering setting up its planned disaster management agency under the cabinet on Nov. 1, 2026, Jiji Press learned Monday. In or after fiscal 2027, the agency will have a local base in an area

Jakarta, Dec. 1 (Jiji Press)–Indonesian authorities evacuated seven of the eight Japanese nationals stranded by torrential rains in the province of Aceh on the northern tip of Indonesia’s Sumatra island, flying them to safety on Monday, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

(Adnkronos) – EU candidate Ukraine must rid itself of the stain of corruption if it wants greater credibility as a democracy, Italy said Monday after Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff and top peace negotiator Andriy Yermak stood down last week amid a