Tokyo, Dec. 12 (Jiji Press)–Over 1,000 municipalities in Japan have ordinances in place calling for measures to support crime victims, the central government said Friday. The number of such municipalities rose by 236 from a year earlier to 1,083 as of April.

Washington, Dec. 11 (Jiji Press)–The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday avoided taking sides over rising tensions between Japan and China over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on a possible Taiwan contingency. Trump “believes that the United States should

Tokyo, Dec. 12 (Jiji Press)–The Bank of Japan’s “tankan” quarterly survey for December, due out Monday, is expected to show narrow improvements in business sentiment among both major Japanese manufacturers and nonmanufacturers, estimates by 11 private think tanks have shown. The think

(Adnkronos) – For the first time, Thailand confirms civilian casualties due to the new escalation on the border with Cambodia. Three civilians were killed in the clashes, said Thai Defense Ministry spokesman Surasant Kongsiri to The Nation newspaper. Nine soldiers died, according

Tokyo, Dec. 11 (Jiji Press)–Japan Innovation Party (Nippon Ishin no Kai) leader Hirofumi Yoshimura on Thursday sounded negative about ending his party’s coalition with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party even if a bill regarding a reduction in House of Representatives seats is

(Adnkronos) – Bangladesh to vote on February 12. Voters will be called to the polls for parliamentary elections and to express themselves in the referendum on reforms, on the so-called ‘July Charter’. These will be the first consultations since the protests that

(Adnkronos) – Russia has announced the capture of Siversk, in eastern Ukraine, considered one of the last defensive strongholds hindering the advance towards the major cities of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. The fall of the populated area would represent a significant step for

(Adnkronos) – One person has died due to an explosion in the Darnytskyi district of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. Ukrinform reports this based on confirmation from the Police.  “According to initial reports, one person died and another was injured due to the

(Adnkronos) – Danish intelligence has classified – for the first time – the United States as a security risk, marking a historic turning point in the assessments of one of Washington’s closest European allies. In its newly published annual report, the Danish

(Adnkronos) – Italy and India want to boost growth by ramping up their business dealings in each other’s countries, increasing investment and creating an “innovation hub” in the Asian economic powerhouse, foreign minister Antonio Tajani stated on Thursday.   “In India, 700

(Adnkronos) – The former president of Bolivia, Luis Arce, has been arrested in La Paz as part of an investigation into alleged corruption. The government of the South American country announced this. The investigation refers to the period when Arce was Minister

(Adnkronos) – In Austria, girls under 14 will no longer be allowed to wear the Islamic veil, the hijab, inside schools. The Vienna Parliament decided this by approving the measure with a large majority. The proposal has already been challenged by activists

Tokyo, Dec. 11 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s government and ruling parties are in the final stages of discussions on introducing a new tax relief system to promote companies’ research and development activities for cutting-edge technologies, it was learned Thursday. The aim is to foster

(Adnkronos) – After more than two and a half years, Emergency’s pediatric center in Mayo, Sudan, reopened its doors. It had been closed in April 2023 after the start of the war due to a lack of safety conditions for staff and

(Adnkronos) – Italy’s state investment agency Simest and the Indian Chamber of Commerce signed an accord on Thursday to propel economic growth by bolstering cooperation between Italian and Indian companies and supporting bilateral investments in both countries.  The Memorandum of Understanding aims

Seoul, Dec. 11 (Jiji Press)–South Korea’s Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a lower court ruling that ordered Nippon Steel Corp. to pay a total of 100 million won, or about 11 million yen, in damages to South Korean plaintiffs for wartime labor,

Taipei, Dec. 11 (Jiji Press)–Taiwanese police plan to send back to Thailand the mother of a Thai girl who was forced to engage in illegal work at a massage parlor in Tokyo, it was learned Thursday. The mother arrived in Taiwan in

(Adnkronos) – Italy and India want to achieve trade worth 20 billion euros a year by 2029, foreign minister Antonio Tajani confirmed at a joint press conference in Mumbai on Thursday with industry and trade minister Piyush Goyal.  “As (India’s) prime minister

Tokyo, Dec. 11 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s three megabanks plan to provide loans totaling up to around 2 trillion yen in stages from fiscal 2027 to Rapidus Corp., which aims to mass-produce cutting-edge chips, Jiji Press learned Thursday. This would mark the first private-sector

Tokyo, Dec. 11 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Fisheries Agency and others announced measures Thursday to address the mass deaths of farmed oysters in the western prefectures of Hiroshima, Okayama and Hyogo, all facing the Seto Inland Sea. The measures include financially supporting affected oyster

(The second paragraph should have read, “…Japan Innovation Party…,” instead of as sent. A substitute story follows.) (Update) Japan Lower House OKs FY 2025 Extra Budget Tokyo, Dec. 11 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s House of Representatives on Thursday passed the government’s draft supplementary budget

Tokyo, Dec. 11 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s policy toward China lacks strategy, University of Tokyo professor Tomoko Ako said Thursday, at a time when tensions between the two countries are rising due in part to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remark over a possible

Hachinohe, Aomori Pref., Dec. 11 (Jiji Press)–A 70-meter-high steel tower of NTT East Inc. in Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture, has been found damaged after a powerful earthquake that struck Monday night, prompting the government of the city to order 48 nearby households to

(Adnkronos) – The planned India-Middle East Economic Corridor (IMEC) to foster connectivity and economic integration between Asia and Europe is “a priority for Italy”, which is striving “to achieve this goal quickly”, foreign minister Antonio Tajani said in Mumbai on Thursday.  

(Adnkronos) – Pakistan’s former intelligence chief, Faiz Hameed, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison on charges of violating state secrets and abusing his authority. This was announced by the Islamabad army. Hameed led Pakistani intelligence during the government of then-Prime

Tokyo, Dec. 11 (Jiji Press)–A series of earthquakes with magnitudes of 7 or 8 may occur after a 7.5-magnitude quake struck off the east coast of Aomori Prefecture, part of Japan’s Tohoku northeastern region, on Monday, a research institute has said. Fumiaki

Tokyo, Dec. 11 (Jiji Press)–Nearly 40 pct of people in Japan support Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent remarks on a Taiwan contingency, which angered China, a Jiji Press survey showed Thursday. In the interview survey, 39.5 pct of respondents said that the

(Adnkronos) – Italy’ foreign minister Antonio Tajani on Thursday sent congratulations to Switzerland’s former president and foreign minister, Ignazio Cassis, on his appointment as vice-president of the government.  “Congratulations to @ignaziocassis on his appointment as Vice President of the Swiss Federal Council,”

Tokyo, Dec. 11 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi is considering visiting the Middle East, including Israel and the Palestinian region, in mid-January 2026, informed sources said Thursday. During the visit, Motegi is expected to meet with senior government officials and exchange

Tokyo, Dec. 11 (Jiji Press)–The powerful earthquake that struck off Aomori Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Monday night has highlighted problems nursing homes there face in coping with disasters. After the quake, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued an advisory that warns of a