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

Tokyo, Oct. 22 (Jiji Press)–A research team led by Kumamoto University has discovered a new species of sea anemone collected from the deep seabed off the coast of Japan. The sea anemone attaches itself to a shell inhabited by a certain species

Tokyo, Oct. 22 (Jiji Press)–The lineup of new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s cabinet, launched Tuesday, appears to reflect her eagerness to foster reconciliation within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, as well as her readiness to pursue hawkish policies. All four of

Tokyo, Oct. 22 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government said Wednesday that U.S. President Donald Trump will visit Japan for three days from Monday. Trump is set to hold his first summit with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who took office on Tuesday, and

Tokyo, Oct. 22 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, faces the difficult task of securing funds to realize her pledge to strengthen defense capabilities further in an increasingly severe security environment. Her Liberal Democratic Party and its new ally, Nippon Ishin

(5th para should have read “According to …,” instead of as sent) Tokyo, Oct. 22 (Jiji Press)–Tokyo police raided Wednesday the head office of Albatross Co. and other places linked to the operator of the high-profile “Momuri” agency to help clients quit

Tokyo, Oct. 22 (Jiji Press)–The personnel committees in all of Japan’s 47 prefectures have recommended higher monthly salaries and bonuses for prefectural officials for fiscal 2025, a tally showed Wednesday. If the prefectural governments follow the recommendations, the average annual income is

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

Tokyo, Oct. 22 (Jiji Press)–FamilyMart Co. said Wednesday that it will offer free images of its teary-eyed characters used on stickers to indicate food products close to expiring. The Japanese convenience store chain will provide illustrations of cartoons pleading “Please help me”

(Adnkronos) – The Louvre reopened its doors to the public today after the days of closure following Sunday’s spectacular robbery. The Parisian Museum was supposed to partially reopen to the public on Monday, but remained closed as a result of the theft

Tokyo, Oct. 22 (Jiji Press)–With the election of Sanae Takaichi as prime minister this week, Japan joined the ranks of countries that have had a woman serve as head of state or government since World War II. As of the end of

Tokyo, Oct. 22 (Jiji Press)–New Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi faces a difficult challenge in maintaining the quality of the country’s medical and nursing care services while lowering related expenses, amid an aging population. Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party), the