Tokyo, May 9 (Jiji Press)–Isseikai, a group led by former lawmaker Ichiro Ozawa of the opposition Centrist Reform Alliance, has opened an office near the parliament building in Tokyo. Ozawa, who lost his seat in the February election of the House of

Osaka, May 9 (Jiji Press)–Nicotine-vaping devices, collectively known as “nicopuff” in Japan, are gaining popularity among young people, although they are unapproved and their sales are prohibited in the country. Nicopuff, which heats a nicotine-containing scented liquid to produce vapor, involves “the

Sapporo, May 9 (Jiji Press)–A group of Ainu indigenous people in Hokkaido, northern Japan, has started a lawsuit demanding that the remains of 279 Ainu ancestors held by a state facility be returned to their descendants. The suit was filed Friday with

Tsu, Mie Pref., May 9 (Jiji Press)–The Mie prefectural government in central Japan is considering not restoring the nationality requirement for its fiscal 2026 employment examinations, officials have said. The prefecture considers the reinstatement unfeasible at least for now, as it is

Tokyo, May 9 (Jiji Press)–At a time when the Nikkei 225 stock average is hitting record highs, Japanese police are warning of online investment scams, particularly fake websites that display large profits and encourage additional investments. “There are probably victims who are

(Adnkronos) – Italy’s government hopes that US president Donald Trump does not withdraw troops from Germany and elsewhere in Europe amid a widening rift between the Trump administration, Nato allies and other partners in Europe, foreign minister Antonio Tajani said on Friday. 

(Adnkronos) – In their talks in Rome on Friday with United States secretary of state Marco Rubio, Italy’s premier Giorgia Meloni and foreign minister Antonio Tajani underlined that a “robust” agreement is needed with Iran “to guarantee peace and stability”, foreign minister

(Adnkronos) – The leader of the French Rassemblement National, Jordan Bardella, is reportedly at the center of an investigation launched by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (Eppo) into the alleged misappropriation of EU funds related to “media training” sessions. Politico reports this,

(Adnkronos) – The Virginia Supreme Court today rejected the new electoral map that would have given Democrats an advantage in four House districts, thus inflicting a very tough defeat on the party ahead of next November’s midterm elections.   The Virginia Supreme

(Adnkronos) – The State Department has announced the start of a review of the 53 Mexican consulates in the United States, the latest sign of growing tensions between the Trump administration and Mexico, a close and traditional US partner. The State Department

(Adnkronos) – Iran is still examining the United States’ proposal to end the conflict and will announce its decision “once the evaluation is complete.” This was stated by Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei in an interview with Tasnim news agency.  Baghaei

(Adnkronos) – Poland is the first country to have signed, today, an agreement with the European Commission to finance the modernization of its armed forces and the arms industry, receiving a loan of almost 44 billion euros under the Safe program, of

(Adnkronos) – The hostage-taking that occurred on Friday in a bank in Sinzig, western Germany, ended without injuries, but one or more perpetrators managed to escape. German police reported this to AFP.  According to Koblenz police, special forces stormed the building and

Sydney, May 8 (Jiji Press)–New Zealand Defense Minister Chris Penk has announced plans to compare the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force’s upgraded Mogami-class frigates with Britain’s Type 31 frigates, as replacements for New Zealand’s aging frigates. New Zealand is expected to make a

(Adnkronos) – Italy’s foreign minister Antonio Tajani on Friday paid homage to Leo XIV a year to the day since he became pope, praising the first US pontiff’s “strong commitment to peace” and to dialogue, which he said has given hope to

(Adnkronos) – Italy and the United States are “united by an unbreakable bond” and Rome fully backs diplomacy as “the only way” to de-escalate the damaging Middle East conflict and ensure freedom of navigation, foreign minister Antonio Tajani stated on Friday after

Tokyo, May 8 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Sony Group Corp. said Friday that it has reached a basic agreement with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., the world’s largest chip foundry, to form a strategic partnership for the joint development and production of next-generation image sensors.

Tokyo, May 8 (Jiji Press)–Tokyo Kiraboshi Financial Group Inc. said Friday that it will complete the repayment of 40 billion yen in public funds injected into its predecessor by the Tokyo metropolitan government ahead of schedule. The parent of Kiraboshi Bank had

Tokyo, May 8 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, agreed Friday to strengthen bilateral relations, mainly in the economic field, as this year marks the 70th anniversary of the two nations’ diplomatic ties. In a video

Tokyo, May 8 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese and South Korean governments are planning to conduct a joint search and rescue exercise around the second week of June, informed sources told Jiji Press Friday. The exercise is seen to be carried out by Japan’s

(Adnkronos) – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says he takes “responsibility” for the electoral results of the party he leads, Labour, in England. “They are very bitter, and there’s no way to sugarcoat it,” he declares, speaking to the press, according to

(Adnkronos) – There are “several robbers and hostages inside the bank” in Sinzig, a town in western Germany, halfway between Bonn and Koblenz, where the group of robbers barricaded themselves this morning. Local police announced this, specifying that among the hostages is

Tokyo, May 8 (Jiji Press)–Key lawmakers of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party will form a parliamentary group to support Prime Minister and LDP President Sanae Takaichi, informed sources have said. Founding members of the group, which is aimed at strengthening Takaichi’s base

Tokyo, May 8 (Jiji Press)–Sony Group Corp. said Friday it expects to post a record group net profit for fiscal 2026, which began in April, on the back of its robust game and other entertainment operations. The Japanese technology and entertainment conglomerate’s

Kyoto, May 8 (Jiji Press)–Nintendo Co. said Friday that it will raise the suggested retail price of its Nintendo Switch 2 video game console in Japan by 10,000 yen to 59,980 yen on May 25. The Japanese game giant cited soaring semiconductor

(Adnkronos) – Italy’s foreign minister Antonio Tajani held “positive” talks with United States secretary of state Marco Rubio in Rome on Friday that underscored the importance of unity among Western countries and transatlantic relations and looked at Venezuela, Cuba, Africa, the Mediterranean

(The sixth paragraph should have read “…revenues of 12,479.6 billion yen, up 3.7 pct from the previous year… Operating profit also rose, by 13.4 pct to 1,447.5 billion yen.” instead of as sent.) (Update 2) Sony Group Projects Record Net Profit for

Tokyo, May 8 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is considering visiting South Korea later this month for a bilateral summit to reaffirm the two nations’ close ties in fields including security amid the increasingly uncertain international situation, Japanese government sources said

Tokyo, May 8 (Jiji Press)–Outstanding Japanese government debts grew by 1,670.6 billion yen during the first three months of the year to a record 1,343,842.6 billion yen as of the end of March, the Finance Ministry said Friday. The total translates into

Tokyo, May 8 (Jiji Press)–Toyota Motor Corp. said Friday that its net profit in the current business year is expected to fall for the third consecutive year amid the harsh business environment due to the deteriorating situation in the Middle East. For