Tokyo, Feb. 12 (Jiji Press)–Japan is considering drawing up a national intelligence strategy as part of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s plan to strengthen the country’s intelligence capabilities, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said Thursday. “In order to make Japan strong and prosperous

Tokyo, Feb. 12 (Jiji Press)–A rate check by the U.S. Federal Reserve that is believed to be the factor behind the yen’s abrupt strengthening against the dollar late last month was conducted at the request of the Japanese government, informed sources told

Tokyo, Feb. 12 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Dai-ichi Life Holdings Inc. said Thursday that it has confirmed 1,155 cases of unauthorized data transfers by 64 employees seconded from affiliated insurance companies to 28 agents, including banks. The information taken from the insurance agents without

Tokyo, Feb. 12 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s transport ministry plans to provide subsidies for measures designed to ease airport congestion caused by an increase in inbound tourists as part of efforts to address overtourism and create a more comfortable travel environment. Specifically, the ministry

Tokyo, Feb. 12 (Jiji Press)–Japanese motorcycle manufacturers are rushing to develop new power sources aimed at reducing carbon emissions. While executives believe that motorcycles eventually will go electrified, the technology faces many hurdles. “There’s no doubt in my mind that electrification would

Tokyo, Feb. 12 (Jiji Press)–A surge in cocoa bean prices and consumer inflation in Japan are having an impact on 67.5 pct of women who buy chocolates for Valentine’s Day gifts, a survey showed Thursday. High prices of cocoa beans, the basic

Tokyo, Feb. 12 (Jiji Press)–Takeshi Shina and Junya Ogawa, former members of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, on Thursday filed their candidacies for Friday’s leadership election of the Centrist Reform Alliance, which was formed last month by the CDP and Komeito.

Tokyo, Feb. 12 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government will provide financial assistance to projects involving multiple prefectures aimed at promoting industry and tourism to fuel regional economic growth. Seven regions had been working on such cooperation projects as of Feb. 5. A project

Tokyo, Feb. 12 (Jiji Press)–The number of crime cases recognized in Japan in 2025 rose 4.9 pct from the previous year to 774,142, up for the fourth straight year, the National Police Agency said Thursday. The number exceeded that in 2019, the

Tokyo, Feb. 12 (Jiji Press)–Asahi Breweries Ltd. said Thursday that its sales of beer and quasi-beer products in January fell 11 pct in value from a year before, as the company has been reducing shipments following a cyberattack on its parent company

Tokyo, Feb. 12 (Jiji Press)–Tokyo police sent papers on two members of Third Senior High School of Nihon University’s baseball team to prosecutors including for allegedly making a female student send an obscene video, investigative sources said Thursday. The video is believed

Tokyo, Feb. 12 (Jiji Press)–Producer prices in Japan rose 2.3 pct in January from a year earlier due mainly to higher rice and copper prices, but the pace of increase slowed from a 2.4 pct gain in the previous month, the Bank

Tokyo, Feb. 12 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average hit a new record intraday high above 58,000 on Thursday morning, with semiconductor issues drawing purchases on the back of their U.S. peers’ overnight rises. At 9:48 a.m., the Nikkei index of

Tokyo, Feb. 11 (Jiji Press)–Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday that it will begin sales of its first locally produced electric vehicle in the United States. A new EV model of the Highlander, a large SUV, is scheduled for release in the North

Tokyo, Feb. 12 (Jiji Press)–Tokyo police are planning to send papers on two members of Third Senior High School of Nihon University’s baseball team to prosecutors on charges including making a female student send obscene images, investigative sources said Thursday. Of the

(Adnkronos) – Minority Christians have always helped stabilise and “balance” the Middle East, “sowing the seeds of peace”, Italy said on Wednesday, vowing solidarity with Christian schools in the region.  ‘We will continue to stand alongside Christian schools in the Holy Land

(Adnkronos) – Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney declared today that the entire country is in mourning after the shooting in the town of Tumbler Ridge, where 10 people died and another 27 were injured.   “The nation weeps with you. Canada stands

(Adnkronos) – A reshuffle is expected in some of Germany’s key diplomatic missions: according to government sources cited by ‘Der Spiegel’, the reallocated posts include those of ambassador to Tel Aviv, Moscow, Mexico City, Madrid, Beijing, New Delhi, and Brasilia. According to

(Adnkronos) – Federal authorities have suspended all flights to and from El Paso International Airport for 10 days due to unspecified “special security reasons”. The Federal Aviation Administration’s notice, which caught local authorities and airlines by surprise, specified that the measure, which

(Adnkronos) – The United States will send 200 soldiers to Nigeria to train the African country’s army in the fight against Islamist militants, weeks after President Donald Trump accused the Nigerian government of failing to protect Christians from terrorist attacks. The Wall

(Adnkronos) – The U.S. House of Representatives has rejected the rule that would have prohibited members from holding snap votes to abolish tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. The measure was defeated by 214 votes against and 217 in favor, with the

(Adnkronos) – Italy deplores ongoing attacks by Israeli settlers against Christians in the West Bank and rejects Israel’s recent moves to cement its control of the occupied Palestinian territory, foreign minister Antonio Tajani said on Wednesday.  “We have always strongly condemned attacks

Tokyo, Feb. 11 (Jiji Press)–The death toll from heavy snow across Japan since Jan. 21 has reached 46, with local authorities urging caution against accidents during snow removal work. According to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, snow-related deaths had been confirmed

(Adnkronos) – The European Union should “take a step forward” and “decide as much as possible by majority vote,” Italy’s foreign minister Antonio Tajani said on Wednesday, underling that Rome “has no clear position” on the issue, however.  “On EU institutional reforms,

Tokyo, Feb. 11 (Jiji Press)–Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday that it will begin sales of its first locally produced electric vehicle in the United States. A new EV model of the Highlander, a large SUV, is scheduled for release in the North

(Adnkronos) – Ukraine’s parliament and voters must approve any peace accord with Russia, although any potential deal to end the four-year-old war would be “welcome”, Italy’s foreign minister Antonio told Sky Tg24 on Wednesday.  “Clearly, in the event of an agreement between

Tokyo, Feb. 11 (Jiji Press)–Junya Ogawa and Takeshi Shina, former members of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, expressed their intentions on Wednesday to run in a leadership election of the Centrist Reform Alliance, which was formed by the CDP and Komeito

(Adnkronos) – US federal prosecutors failed to secure the indictment of six Democratic lawmakers who had urged military personnel to “refuse illegal orders,” drawing the ire of President Donald Trump, who had called for the imprisonment – even suggesting the death penalty

Singapore, Feb. 11 (Jiji Press)–The dollar briefly dived below 153 yen in Asian trading on Wednesday amid wariness over possible yen-buying intervention by Japanese authorities. Dollar selling continued from overnight New York trading, when data suggesting a U.S. economic slowdown was released.

Tokyo, Feb. 11 (Jiji Press)–Akio Toyoda, chairman of Toyota Motor Corp., has been named a 2026 inductee to the U.S. Automotive Hall of Fame. Toyoda will be the fourth member of the company’s founding family to receive the honor, following Kiichiro, Eiji