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9 Dicembre 2025

Quake-Hit Aomori Residents Worried over Aftershock Warning

Hachinohe, Aomori Pref., Dec. 9 (Jiji Press)–Many local residents on Tuesday voiced their concerns over a warning of possible powerful aftershocks after spending a sleepless night following a strong earthquake that mainly struck northeastern Japan. The temblor occurred off the east coast
9 Dicembre 2025

EU: Italy needs a ‘politically stronger’ Europe says Tajani

(Adnkronos) – Italy “cannot compete” alone in the global economy but needs “a politically stronger European Union,” foreign minister Antonio Tajani told a meeting of small-to-medium sized companies in Rome on Tuesday.  “We cannot do without Europe, we cannot compete alone as
9 Dicembre 2025

Tokyo Police Use AI to Spot Shady Online Job Offers

Tokyo, Dec. 9 (Jiji Press)–Tokyo’s Metropolitan Police Department said Tuesday it has introduced an artificial intelligence tool that automatically gathers and analyzes social media posts that appear to offer “dark” part-time jobs. If a post on X, formerly Twitter, is deemed to
9 Dicembre 2025

Ukraine-Russia war: Italy backs Kiev, wants ‘just peace’

(Adnkronos) – Italy is “working hard” for a “just” peace to end Russia’s deadly war against Ukraine, the country’s top diplomat said Tuesday, echoing Pope Leo’s remarks after meeting the embattled former Soviet republic’s president Volodymyr Zelensky at Castel Gandolfo near Rome. 
9 Dicembre 2025

BOJ’s Ueda Vows to Increase Bond Purchases if Necessary

Tokyo, Dec. 9 (Jiji Press)–The Bank of Japan will increase its purchases of government bonds if long-term interest rates rise exceptionally rapidly, BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda said Tuesday. Long-term interest rates have been rising at a somewhat rapid pace recently, Ueda said
9 Dicembre 2025

Takaichi Vows Appropriate Action on Rapid Yen Fall

Tokyo, Dec. 9 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Tuesday that the government will respond appropriately to excessive foreign exchange rate movements, including the yen’s rapid depreciation. “We will take appropriate measures as necessary against excessive fluctuations and disorderly movements (on
9 Dicembre 2025

Japan Prefectures Asked to Pay Half of Free School Meal Costs

Tokyo, Dec. 9 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s ruling camp and opposition party Komeito proposed Tuesday that the central and prefectural governments each bear half the cost of making elementary school meals free from April next year. The ruling bloc of the Liberal Democratic Party
9 Dicembre 2025

Unification Church’s Japan Head to Resign

Tokyo, Dec. 9 (Jiji Press)–Tomihiro Tanaka, Japan head of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, widely known as the Unification Church, will resign from the post, the organization said on its website Tuesday. Masaichi Hori, former Japan vice head, will
9 Dicembre 2025

U.S. Lawmakers Urge Trump to Support Japan amid China’s Coercion

Washington, Dec. 8 (Jiji Press)–Two Democrats in the U.S. Congress urged President Donald Trump on Monday to support Japan in the face of China’s escalating economic and military coercion against the U.S. ally. Beijing’s actions “threaten Japan’s economic stability and undermine broader
9 Dicembre 2025

Benin, several dead during attempted coup

(Adnkronos) – Several people died in Benin during the attempted coup thwarted over the weekend. This was announced by the government of the West African country after an emergency meeting. On Sunday morning, “violent clashes” broke out between coup plotters and the
9 Dicembre 2025

Japan’s Takaichi Eager to Legislate Maiden Name Use

Tokyo, Dec. 9 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Tuesday expressed eagerness to advance legislation to give legal validity to the use of maiden names. Speaking before the Budget Committee of the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of parliament, Takaichi
9 Dicembre 2025

Power Line Fire Occurs between Hokkaido, Mainland Japan

Tokyo, Dec. 9 (Jiji Press)–A power line connecting the northern Japan island of Hokkaido and the country’s Honshu main island caught fire, Japanese industry minister Ryosei Akazawa said Tuesday. According to the power line operator, Electric Power Development Co., the fire, which
9 Dicembre 2025

Long-Term Interest Rates Rising Slightly Fast: BOJ Ueda

Tokyo, Dec. 9 (Jiji Press)–Japanese long-term interest rates have been rising at a somewhat rapid pace recently, Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said Tuesday. The BOJ “will increase its purchases of Japanese government bonds and take other measures flexibly in an
9 Dicembre 2025

Japan Rejects China’s Claim on Radar Use

Tokyo, Dec. 9 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government on Tuesday disputed Beijing’s insistence that the use of radar by Chinese military aircraft on Japanese fighter jets was a “normal measure” to ensure flight safety. “Even when radar is used for area searches to
9 Dicembre 2025

Japan to Create Ministerial Post for Intelligence

Tokyo, Dec. 9 (Jiji Press)–Japan plans to create a ministerial post for intelligence-related matters as part of efforts to enhance its ability to collect and analyze domestic and foreign information, government officials said Tuesday. The minister would supervise an envisioned national intelligence
9 Dicembre 2025

“Demon Slayer” Nominated for Golden Globe Award

Silicon Valley, Dec. 8 (Jiji Press)–The latest film in the “Demon Slayer” franchise was nominated for a Golden Globe in the best animated motion picture category on Monday. The first chapter of the “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba–Infinity Castle” trilogy is one
9 Dicembre 2025

Mizuho to Raise Long-Term Prime Rate to 2.6 Pct

Tokyo, Dec. 9 (Jiji Press)–Mizuho Bank said Tuesday that it will raise its long-term prime lending rate for December to 2.6 pct from the current 2.45 pct, due to higher bond yields and other factors. The move, effective Wednesday, will be the
9 Dicembre 2025

G-7 Ministers Agree to Diversify Rare Earth Supply Chains

Tokyo, Dec. 9 (Jiji Press)–Finance ministers from the Group of Seven major powers have released a joint statement reaffirming cooperation to diversify global supply chains for rare earth minerals. “We will continue to collaborate with international allies and industry partners to reduce
9 Dicembre 2025

S. Korea’s National Assembly Speaker Hopes to Visit Japan

Seoul, Dec. 9 (Jiji Press)–South Korean National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik has expressed his hope to visit Japan at an early date to boost exchanges between the two countries’ lawmakers. “I hope to exchange views frankly about developing future-oriented bilateral relations” with
9 Dicembre 2025

Japan Govt Proposes Numerical Criteria for Dangerous Driving

Tokyo, Dec. 9 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Justice Ministry on Tuesday proposed numerical criteria for dangerous driving offenses, including on vehicle velocities past speed limits and blood alcohol levels, under a planned revision to the law on punishment for such acts. The ministry submitted