Kawasaki, Kanagawa Pref., June 4 (Jiji Press)–Sakie Yokota, mother of a Japanese abductee to North Korea, has called for the early return of her daughter in an interview ahead of the sixth anniversary of her husband’s death on Friday. “I talk to

Tokyo, June 4 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government will set a new target of more than halving potential damage from a possible major earthquake directly beneath Tokyo, it was learned Thursday. According to a draft of its revised basic plan for emergency countermeasures,

Tokyo, June 4 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government’s fiscal 2026 supplementary budget bill cleared the House of Representatives Budget Committee on Thursday and the full Lower House later in the day. The lower chamber of the Diet approved the extra budget bill by

Tokyo, June 4 (Jiji Press)–A foreign exchange market intervention is the “ultimate means of sending a message” to market participants, Japanese Vice Finance Minister for International Affairs Atsushi Mimura said during a recent interview with Jiji Press. Such intervention should be used

(Adnkronos) – In Albania, protests are intensifying against the construction of a luxury resort, a project supported by Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, after opponents rejected the prime minister’s offer to “discuss solutions.” Yesterday, for the third consecutive day, thousands of people

(Adnkronos) – Israel has struck several locations in southern Lebanon with drones, despite the recently signed ceasefire. This was reported by the Lebanese National News Agency, adding that one of the attacks caused casualties. The IDF stated that it conducted an operation

Tokyo, June 4 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government’s fiscal 2026 supplementary budget bill cleared the House of Representatives Budget Committee on Thursday. The full Lower House is expected to approve the extra budget bill later in the day by a majority vote with

Tokyo, June 4 (Jiji Press)–Japan signed a memorandum of cooperation with Thailand on Tuesday for the proper implementation of Japan’s new skill development and employment program for foreign workers, the Immigration Services Agency said Thursday. The new program, which starts in April

By Waka Ota Tokyo, June 4 (Jiji Press)–The Vietnam Festival 2026 was held in central Tokyo last weekend, allowing Japanese locals and Vietnamese residents to enjoy Vietnamese cuisine, traditional water puppet shows, and stage performances by Erik and other popular Vietnamese singers.

Tokyo, June 4 (Jiji Press)–Tokyo stocks turned sharply lower Thursday amid renewed tensions in the Middle East, with the key Nikkei 225 stock average briefly losing over 1,400 points. The index of 225 selected issues listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s Prime

Tokyo, June 4 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party is considering cutting 45 proportional representation seats in the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Diet, the country’s parliament, a senior LDP official said Thursday. At a meeting of the LDP’s

Tokyo, June 4 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Thursday proposed a revision to the law on national referendums for amending the country’s Constitution. At a meeting of the Commission on the Constitution of the House of Representatives, the lower chamber

Tokyo, June 4 (Jiji Press)–Nissan Motor Co. said Wednesday that it is considering building cars for Chinese automaker Chery at its Sunderland plant in Britain. The Japanese automaker said it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Chery International UK to consider

Tokyo, June 4 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Thursday hinted at reducing government subsidies aimed at keeping gasoline prices at around 170 yen per liter. During discussions on the government’s draft fiscal 2026 supplementary budget at the House of Representatives

Tokyo, June 4 (Jiji Press)–The number of improper DNA analysis cases conducted by a former Saga prefectural police forensic employee rose to 239 from 130 identified in an internal probe, Japan’s National Police Agency said Thursday. The NPA released a report on

Kobe, June 4 (Jiji Press)–A body found in a river in Hyogo Prefecture was identified as that of the 42-year-old wanted suspect in a murder case that took place in the western Japan prefecture last month, the Hyogo prefectural police said Thursday.

Tokyo, June 4 (Jiji Press)–Major Japanese home appliances retailer Yamada Holdings Co. and industry peer Edion Corp. said Thursday that they are considering integrating their operations. Yamada is already the leading player in the industry, and combined consolidated sales at the company

Naha, Okinawa Pref., June 4 (Jiji Press)–Shuri Castle’s main hall in Okinawa Prefecture will reopen to the public on Nov. 23 after years of restoration work following a fire, the Japanese government’s local bureau in the southernmost prefecture said Thursday. The Cabinet

Tokyo, June 4 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government’s upcoming annual defense report is expected to call on the country to deal with China, which continues opaque military buildups, through its overall national strength and cooperation with its ally and other like-minded countries. After

Tokyo, June 4 (Jiji Press)–Major Japanese home appliances retailer Yamada Holdings Co. and industry peer Edion Corp. said Thursday that they are considering integrating their operations. Yamada is already the leading player in the industry, and combined sales at the company and

Tokyo, June 4 (Jiji Press)–Tokyo stocks turned down sharply in early Thursday trading, with the benchmark Nikkei 225 average briefly tumbling more than 1,100 points. At 9:38 a.m., the index of 225 selected issues listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s Prime section

Tokyo, June 4 (Jiji Press)–Japan Business Federation Chairman Yoshinobu Tsutsui has stressed the importance of “steadily boosting” growth potential of the country’s economy. For that purpose, the country needs to build an “investment-driven economy” through corporate capital spending, research and development investment,

(Adnkronos) – Foreign minister Antonio Tajani and Norway’s trade and industry minister Cecilie Myrseth will on Monday open the Italy-Norway Business Forum, which is being attended by business community representatives, the foreign ministry said in a statement.  Following Tajani and Myrseth’s addresses,

Tokyo, June 3 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is planning to visit Britain, Italy and France from June 13 through June 18, government sources said Wednesday. The trip, during which she will attend a Group of Seven summit in France, will

Tokyo, June 3 (Jiji Press)–Radiation levels have fallen to around the national average in about 70 pct of Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan, the Secretariat of the Nuclear Regulation Authority said Wednesday. As of last December, air radiation levels in these Fukushima areas

Tokyo, June 3 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Emperor Naruhito attended the opening ceremony of the Island States Ocean Summit in Tokyo on Wednesday. The conference, the first international meeting focused on oceans and island nations, was held as island countries face mounting challenges linked

(Adnkronos) – Nine Palestinians from Gaza are set to study advance art, music and choreography while eight others will continue their university studies in Italy after arriving in the country on Tuesday, the foreign ministry said in a statement.  The 17 Gazans

(Adnkronos) – Israeli authorities have given the green light for the construction of 2,162 housing units in three settlements in the West Bank. The Times of Israel reports that the expansion of the settlements was approved by the Higher Planning Council of

(Adnkronos) – The Pentagon has hired Elias Irizarry, a former participant in the January 6, 2021 Capitol riots and subsequently convicted, for a position in the office dealing with classified military operations and counterterrorism. Informed sources told the Washington Post that the

(Adnkronos) – At least 11 officers and a police dog were injured during violent protests that erupted last night in Southampton, southern England, according to Hampshire and Isle of Wight police. Tensions flared near a police station, where a demonstration related to