Maebashi, Gunma Pref., Jan. 13 (Jiji Press)–Former Maebashi Mayor Akira Ogawa secured re-election Monday after giving up the mayoralty of the eastern Japan city over controversial hotel visits with a married municipal official. Ogawa, 43, defeated four other candidates, including lawyer Akira

(Adnkronos) – While all Italian citizens who only have an Italian passport have been released from jails in Venezuela, a total 42 Italian-Venezuelans are still in prison there, almost half of whom are political prisoners, Italy said on Monday.  “We still have

Tokyo, Jan. 12 (Jiji Press)–Japanese agriculture minister Norikazu Suzuki on Monday visited the Japanese unit of U.S. company Oishii Farm Corp., which develops factories to grow fruit and other plants. Suzuki inspected a research and development facility under construction in Hamura, western

Tokyo, Jan. 12 (Jiji Press)–Many retrial requests filed by relatives of former defendants in serious crimes whose convictions had become final face difficulties as petitioners have died or grown very old amid protracted procedures, Jiji Press has learned. Since the end of

(Adnkronos) – Italians Alberto Trentini and Mario Burlo were “very happy” at their release from over a year’s detention in Argentina without charge, foreign minister Antonio Tajani said Monday after premier Giorgia Meloni announced the two men were free in a post

Tokyo, Jan. 12 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is considering the idea of dissolving the House of Representatives for a snap election, informed sources said Monday. The lower chamber of the Diet, her country’s parliament, is likely to be dissolved at

Tokyo, Jan. 12 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is considering the idea of dissolving the House of Representatives for a snap election, informed sources said Monday. The lower chamber of the Diet, her country’s parliament, is likely to be dissolved at

Tokyo, Jan. 12 (Jiji Press)–Japan will send personnel to the Civil-Military Coordination Center, set up to monitor the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement and coordinate humanitarian assistance for the war-torn Palestinian region, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi has said. Motegi, who is

Tokyo, Jan. 12 (Jiji Press)–Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the Japanese opposition Democratic Party for the People, has indicated the possibility that his party may not approve the government’s fiscal 2026 draft budget. Tamaki said, “I will not be able to guarantee” the

Tokyo, Jan. 12 (Jiji Press)–Major Japanese nonlife insurer MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings Inc. plans to consolidate its domestic bases ahead of the planned merger in April 2027 of its key subsidiaries, its president, Shinichiro Funabiki, said in a recent interview. “Without a

Tokyo, Jan. 11 (Jiji Press)–The suspect in the murder of the president of an audio equipment-related company in Tokyo suggested that a bonus cut had led him to attack the victim, investigative sources told Jiji Press on Sunday. Masahiro Yamanaka, 45, who

Tokyo, Jan. 11 (Jiji Press)–Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan leader Yoshihiko Noda on Sunday expressed his determination to achieve a change of government as speculation grows over a possible snap general election. “We will devote our efforts to changing the government,” Noda

Chiba Pref., Jan. 11 (Jiji Press)–A record 15 countries took part in a New Year’s jump training simulating island defense that was conducted at a Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force facility in Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo, on Sunday. The first jump of

Tokyo, Jan. 11 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Sunday expressed deep concern over reports of numerous civilian deaths in Iran amid ongoing protests and clashes with security forces. The Japanese government “is deeply concerned about the worsening situation in Iran,”

Tokyo, Jan. 11 (Jiji Press)–Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. has submitted a new business reconstruction program to the Japanese government, featuring plans to seek partners for its operations related to data centers and decarbonization. Under the new program, presented Friday, TEPCO

Tokyo, Jan. 11 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on a television program aired on Sunday that she aims to expand the coalition framework led by her ruling Liberal Democratic Party, apparently with the opposition Democratic Party for the People in

Tokyo, Jan. 10 (Jiji Press)–A total of 703 people are currently preparing to run in the next election for the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Diet, Japan’s parliament, a Jiji Press survey showed Saturday. Each party will rush to

Tokyo, Jan. 10 (Jiji Press)–A view has emerged within Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi may dissolve the House of Representatives at the beginning of the ordinary parliamentary session to be convened on Jan. 23 for a snap

Tokyo, Jan. 10 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s average rice price hit a new record high since statistics began in March 2022, following a small decline, according to agriculture ministry data. In the week ended last Sunday, the average price of rice sold at about

Tokyo, Jan. 10 (Jiji Press)–A view has emerged within Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi may dissolve the House of Representatives at the beginning of the ordinary parliamentary session to be convened on Jan. 23 for a snap

Tokyo, Jan. 10 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Forestry Agency will introduce a system to quantify the environmental contributions made by companies engaged in forest conservation. By making the contributions “visible,” the agency aims to encourage corporate participation in forest conservation by making it easier

Tokyo, Jan. 10 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s average rice price hit a new record high since statistics began in March 2022, following a small decline, according to agriculture ministry data. In the week ended last Sunday, the average price of rice sold at about

Tokyo, Jan. 10 (Jiji Press)–More than half of people celebrating their coming-of-age ceremonies this year in Japan said they have expectations for the country’s politics, according to an online survey. The proportion of respondents who have expressed expectations for Japanese politics stood

Tokyo, Jan. 10 (Jiji Press)–Tokyo police have arrested a man for allegedly murdering an audio equipment-related company president who was found dead with massive bleeding at an apartment in the Japanese capital’s Ota Ward on Thursday. Arrested by the Metropolitan Police Department

New York, Jan. 9 (Jiji Press)–The dollar surged above 158 yen for the first time since January 2025 in New York trading on Friday, following news reports about a possible snap election in Japan. At 5 p.m., the dollar stood at 157.89-99

Tokyo, Jan. 10 (Jiji Press)–With electric vehicles becoming a realistic option for Japanese consumers thanks to the releases of many new models last year, including more budget-friendly ones, battery recycling holds the key to the further spread of EVs. The Japanese auto

Tokyo, Jan. 10 (Jiji Press)–With electric vehicles becoming a realistic option for Japanese consumers thanks to the releases of many new models last year, including more budget-friendly ones, battery recycling holds the key to the further spread of EVs. The Japanese auto

(Adnkronos) – Ukraine announced that Russia hit two cargo ships off the southern Black Sea coast, killing a Syrian crew member. According to the Minister for Reconstruction, Oleksiy Kuleba, one of the two ships was heading to the port of Chornomorsk to

(Adnkronos) – The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, has called for a “rapid” and “independent” investigation into the deaths that have occurred during the demonstrations that have been shaking Iran for weeks. He stated this in a press

(Adnkronos) – The United States Southern Command (Southcom) has confirmed the seizure of the East Timor-flagged oil tanker Olina, which may be involved in the transport of sanctioned Venezuelan oil. “Once again, this morning our joint forces sent a clear message: ‘there