Tokyo, Aug. 20 (Jiji Press)–Three former Japanese lawmakers on the opposition side are planning to form a new political organization soon to bring together liberal forces and protect Japan’s pacifist Constitution. Of them, Hiroshi Kawauchi and Tomoko Abe will become co-leaders of

Tokyo, Aug. 20 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Defense Ministry plans to seek a record 8.9 trillion yen in its budget request for fiscal 2027, up from 8,845.4 billion yen for the current fiscal year. The amount of spending, however, is likely to swell further

Washington, Aug. 19 (Jiji Press)–A U.S. Department of State spokesperson Wednesday voiced hopes that Japan and other allies will terminate their support for the International Criminal Court. “We expect our allies to end their support for the ICC, which represents a threat

Tokyo, Aug. 20 (Jiji Press)–The dollar fell below 158.50 yen in Tokyo foreign exchange trading Thursday morning, reflecting a drop in U.S. long-term interest rates. At 10 a.m., the dollar stood at 158.39-41 yen, down from 159.16-17 yen at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Tokyo, Aug. 20 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s education ministry plans to upgrade its portal site for foreign children learning Japanese in fiscal 2027, amid a rise in the number of those needing language instructions in the country, Jiji Press has learned. The portal site,

Tokyo, Aug. 20 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s government plans to mobilize more than 370 trillion yen in combined public- and private-sector investment by fiscal 2040, aiming to lift Japan’s nominal economic growth above 3 pct and real growth above 1

Tokyo, Aug. 20 (Jiji Press)–An international group of researchers, including those from Japan’s Iwate University, has said that cats likely identify one another by distinguishing the unique types and ratios of fatty acids when they smell their urine. The team’s findings were

Tokyo, Aug. 20 (Jiji Press)–An inauguration ceremony for the Japanese team for the upcoming Asian Games was held in Tokyo on Wednesday, a month ahead of the start of the quadrennial sporting event. Akari Fujinami, a wrestler, who is set to serve

New York, Aug. 19 (Jiji Press)–U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is “seriously concerned” about U.S. sanctions on International Criminal Court President Tomoko Akane, U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said Wednesday. The United Nations regards The Hague-based court as “a key pillar of international criminal

Uki, Kumamoto Pref., Aug. 20 (Jiji Press)–Teams of teachers mobilized from across Japan are supporting schools in the southwestern prefecture of Kumamoto, which was hit by a powerful earthquake last month, before they reopen after the summer break. Drawing on their past

Tokyo, Aug. 20 (Jiji Press)–Major Japanese securities companies are providing elementary school students with opportunities to learn about the economy and financial systems during the summer holiday period. At an event held by SMBC Nikko Securities Inc. at its branch in Tokyo’s

Tokyo, Aug. 20 (Jiji Press)–Major Japanese securities companies are providing elementary school students with opportunities to learn about the economy and financial systems during the summer holiday period. At an event held by SMBC Nikko Securities Inc. at its branch in Tokyo’s

(Adnkronos) – Seven people have died, including Italian Michele Sensi-Contugi and his wife Stephany Hollihan Vascones, in a helicopter crash that occurred today in Kenya, near Mount Ololokwe, in Samburu County. Six tourists and the pilot were on board the aircraft. The

(Adnkronos) – Gaza health authorities have identified Dana al-Jamasi, a 13-year-old girl, among those killed today in an Israeli attack on a Hamas police post in Gaza City. ‘The Times of Israel’ reports this.  

Tokyo, Aug. 19 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and his Saudi Arabian counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, on Wednesday agreed on the importance of ensuring free and safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz without additional costs. In their strategic

(Adnkronos) – At least 100 people have died in the collapse of a gold mine on the border between Cameroon and the Central African Republic. The incident occurred around noon on Tuesday in Zamboyé, about 50 kilometers from the city of Baboua.

(Adnkronos) – The official death toll from the devastating earthquake that struck Colombia on August 10 has risen to 312 dead and 4,380 injured. 290 people are still missing, according to updated data released by the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management

Tokyo, Aug. 19 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko arrived in Asuncion, the capital of Paraguay, on Wednesday morning for an official visit to the South American country. The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess are slated to attend

Tokyo, Aug. 19 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko will visit the central Japan prefecture of Aichi for two days from Sept. 19 to attend events related to the Asian Games, the Imperial Household Agency

(Adnkronos) – A head-on collision between a bus and a truck caused the death of at least 21 people in the municipality of Imbituva, in southern Brazil. Local authorities reported this. “Unfortunately, 21 bus passengers died” and four other people were injured,

Tokyo, Aug. 19 (Jiji Press)–Minimum hourly wages are expected to rise more than recommended by a government advisory panel for fiscal 2026 in at least 17 of Japan’s 47 prefectures, a tally showed Wednesday. Of the 30 prefectures that had finalized their

Tokyo, Aug. 19 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed Wednesday that it is important to ensure free and safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil transport waterway, without additional costs, such as

Brussels, Aug. 19 (Jiji Press)–The International Criminal Court on Wednesday slammed the United States’ sanctions against its officials including its President Tomoko Akane of Japan. The sanctions are “a flagrant attack against the independence of an impartial judicial institution,” the ICC said

Tokyo, Aug. 19 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government Wednesday expressed regret over a decision by the United States to impose sanctions against International Criminal Court President Tomoko Akane of Japan. The U.S. sanctions against Akane are “deeply regrettable,” Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told

(Adnkronos) – A helicopter carrying seven tourists has crashed in Kenya. This is what local media report. The incident was confirmed by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) cited by local media. The aircraft crashed in the Mount Ololokwe area, about 250

(Adnkronos) – Idf troops have sealed two more underground tunnels belonging to Hamas, with a total length of over two kilometers, as part of efforts to neutralize the terrorist organizations’ tunnel network in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army announced this on

Tokyo, Aug. 19 (Jiji Press)–Japanese actor Keiko Kishi, known for her role in the hit film “Kimi no Na wa” (What’s Your Name?), died of old age on Aug. 7. She was 93. Born in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, Kishi was one

Tokyo, Aug. 19 (Jiji Press)–A cross-party group of Japanese lawmakers will visit China from Monday through Aug. 27 at the invitation of the Chinese Communist Party’s International Department, people familiar with the matter said Wednesday. The group will include Gaku Hashimoto of

(Adnkronos) – The United Arab Emirates have announced the suspension of all commercial and financial exchanges with Iran, following recent missile attacks carried out by Tehran against their vessels. The announcement comes after a period of relative calm in the United Arab

(Adnkronos) – Four people died and four others were injured in a Russian drone attack on a bus in the city of Kherson, on the front line in southern Ukraine. According to local authorities, “Russian military forces attacked a bus traveling on