London, March 19 (Jiji Press)–Leaders from Japan and five European countries on Thursday issued a joint statement criticizing Iran’s de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil shipping route. “We condemn in the strongest terms recent attacks by Iran

(Adnkronos) – Italy on Thursday underlined its opposition to war – as enshrined in the country’s constitution – while remaining “loyal allies” of the United States and leaving open the possibility of helping ensure safe passage for merchant vessels through the Strait

Tokyo, March 19 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Financial Services Agency plans to issue an urgent request to the financial industry to provide financing support to small and midsize businesses in response to the escalating tensions in the Middle East, informed sources told Jiji Press

Tokyo, March 19 (Jiji Press)–The Japan Tourism Agency plans to set up an expert panel to draft guidelines for a dual pricing system charging higher fees at tourist facilities for foreign nationals and visitors from outside the local areas, Jiji Press learned

Washington, March 19 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese and U.S. governments on Thursday canceled a working lunch session planned after a summit between Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House. The summit is likely to be extended

Tokyo, March 19 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government resumed subsidies for oil wholesalers on Thursday, aiming to lower retail gasoline prices to around 170 yen per liter amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. The subsidies were discontinued at the end of last

Tokyo, March 19 (Jiji Press)–Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. said Thursday that the No. 6 reactor at its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Niigata Prefecture, central Japan, is expected to start commercial operation in April at the earliest, later than initially

Kyoto, March 19 (Jiji Press)–Kyoto University professor emeritus Heisuke Hironaka, an acclaimed Japanese mathematician who won the Fields Medal in 1970, died on Wednesday. He was 94. Born in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, Hironaka studied at Kyoto University and then at Harvard

Tokyo, March 19 (Jiji Press)–With only a year to go before the start of the International Horticultural Expo 2027 in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, public awareness of the event remains low, making it urgent to build momentum. As the event will take

Osaka, March 19 (Jiji Press)–Sharp Corp. said Thursday that it will promote Senior Executive Managing Officer Tetsuji Kawamura to president and CEO on April 1. Masahiro Okitsu, the current president and CEO of the Japanese electronics maker, will step down from the

Tokyo, March 19 (Jiji Press)–Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said Thursday that the central bank will examine how higher crude oil prices would put downward pressure on the domestic economy. The BOJ “placed importance on a newly emerged risk scenario stemming

Tokyo, March 19 (Jiji Press)–A 30 pct jump in fuel costs amid surging oil prices could force 24.6 pct of transport companies in Japan to suffer operating losses, according to a survey by Teikoku Databank Ltd. If regular gasoline prices rise from

(Adnkronos) – Some 30 tonnes of essential items for over 1,500 families forced to flee their homes in war-hit Lebanon, including kitchen sets, blankets, hygiene kits and jerry cans, arrived at Beirut airport aboard a flight from the United Nations logistics hub

(Adnkronos) – The Iranian army has threatened to destroy the region’s energy infrastructure, fearing that its facilities will be attacked again by the United States and Israel. “We warn the enemy that it has made a serious mistake by attacking the energy

(Adnkronos) – The Gulf States are calling for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council following Iranian attacks against civilians and energy infrastructure across the Middle East. Ynet News reports this, citing documents seen by Reuters, in which drone

(Adnkronos) – Israeli airline Israir has canceled scheduled flights until the end of March, due to airspace restrictions imposed by the war and limited operations at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. Due to the security situation and directives from the Home

(Adnkronos) – Three explosions were heard in Tel Aviv after an Iranian missile alert. The Israeli army had announced shortly before that it had “identified missiles launched from Iran towards the territory of the State of Israel” and added that the anti-aircraft

(Adnkronos) – The United Nations World Food Programme is keeping up crucial aid to the neediest of over a million people left homeless in Lebanon during the Eid-al Fitr holiday by Israel’s escalating strikes against Hezbollah in retaliation for attacks by the

Tokyo, March 19 (Jiji Press)–The government approved Thursday a bill aimed at creating a new scheme to provide financial support to Japanese companies’ overseas projects deemed critical to Japan’s economic security. The bill to revise the economic security promotion law is intended

Tokyo, March 19 (Jiji Press)–Jun Matsumoto, a former Liberal Democratic Party member of the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of Japan’s parliament, who served as chairman of the National Public Safety Commission, died on Thursday at the age of 75. He

Tokyo, March 19 (Jiji Press)–The Japan Meteorological Agency said Thursday that its sample cherry tree at Yasukuni Shrine in central Tokyo has begun blooming this season. The announcement came five days earlier than average and than last year. Earlier this week, the

Tokyo, March 19 (Jiji Press)–Four major Japanese mobile phone carriers have announced a plan to launch a new service called “Japan Roaming” that will allow users to connect to available lines of other companies if communication failures occur due to large-scale disasters

Tokyo, March 19 (Jiji Press)–Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said Thursday that the central bank will examine how higher crude oil prices would put downward pressure on the domestic economy. The governor made the comment in a press conference held after

Tokyo/Berlin, March 19 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi told a press conference Thursday that he will hold a meeting with his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius, in the city of Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, south of Tokyo, on Sunday. They are expected to

Washington, March 18 (Jiji Press)–Former U.S. Ambassador to Japan William Hagerty has welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remark that her country will do everything possible under its Constitution to ensure safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, which is currently under

Tokyo, March 19 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average briefly shed over 2,000 points Thursday as concerns spread among investors over persistently high crude oil prices amid rising tensions in the Middle East. The index of 225 selected issues listed on

Tokyo, March 19 (Jiji Press)–Japanese police received 98,289 requests for consultations over domestic violence in 2025, up 3.5 pct year on year and hitting the highest level since the 2001 entry into force of the law for preventing such acts, National Police

Tokyo, March 19 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s seasonally adjusted core machinery orders in January fell 5.5 pct from the previous month, after a spike driven by large-scale orders the previous month, Cabinet Office data showed Thursday. The private-sector orders excluding those for ships and

Tokyo, March 19 (Jiji Press)–The number of stalking cases handled by police in Japan in 2025 hit the highest level since the antistalking law took effect in 2000, National Police Agency data showed Thursday. The figure rose by 205 from the previous