Tokyo, Aug. 14 (Jiji Press)–Combined net profits at listed Japanese companies soared 64 pct year on year in April-June, thanks to strong demand related to artificial intelligence and semiconductors, the weaker yen and the reduced impact of U.S. tariffs, according to a

Tokyo, Aug. 14 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi will visit Australia and India for five days from Monday, Japan’s Defense Ministry said Friday. In Australia, Koizumi is expected to meet with his Australian counterpart, Richard Marles, and discuss ways to deepen

New York, Aug. 13 (Jiji Press)–The United Nations on Thursday called for restraint by all parties concerned following a visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to one of four western Pacific islands held by Russia and claimed by Japan. “This is a

(Adnkronos) – The Ukrainian army launched a drone attack overnight against the Leningrad Oblast, Russia, damaging the port infrastructure of Ust-Luga. Regional governor Alexander Drozdenko reported this. Located west of St. Petersburg, Ust-Luga is one of Russia’s largest ports on the Baltic

(Adnkronos) – The American ambassador in Tokyo stated that he recognizes Japan’s “sovereignty” over the Kuril Islands, visited yesterday by Russian President Vladimir Putin and disputed with Japan. “The United States maintains unwavering support for Japan, its most important ally, and recognizes

(Adnkronos) – Eighteen people were injured, two of them seriously, after a passenger train derailed yesterday in southern England, trapping passengers inside overturned carriages. The South East Coast Ambulance Service stated that two people sustained “serious injuries,” while another 16, with “less

Tokorozawa, Saitama Pref., Aug. 14 (Jiji Press)–Japanese manga artist Kazuyoshi Takeda, author of a series that depicts a World War II battle on the western Pacific island of Peleliu, emphasized the importance of learning about war so as not to repeat past

Tokyo, Aug. 14 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Environment Ministry plans to set up an office in fiscal 2027 to help the country ensure stable procurement of critical minerals such as rare earths and rare metals, Jiji Press has learned. Japan, which heavily depends on

Tokyo, Aug. 14 (Jiji Press)–Japanese companies are promoting efforts to prevent employees from suffering heatstroke as temperatures passed 40 degrees Celsius at some locations in the country this summer. General contractor Obayashi Corp. employees work at construction sites from 7 a.m. to

Tokyo, Aug. 14 (Jiji Press)–Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to one of the four northwestern Pacific islands at the center of a long-standing territorial dispute between Moscow and Tokyo may have been intended to shore up his popularity at home ahead

Hikawa, Kumamoto Pref., Aug. 14 (Jiji Press)–A temporary pet care service has been offered to pet owners in areas devastated by a powerful earthquake that last month hit Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, as some evacuation centers refuse to admit their beloved animals.

Seoul, Aug. 14 (Jiji Press)–South Korean President Lee Jae-myung on Friday sent a message to a ceremony to commemorate so-called former comfort women that included neither criticism of nor demands on Japan, reflecting his policy of placing importance on ties with the

Tokyo, Aug. 14 (Jiji Press)–Overnight stays by foreign visitors in Japan reached an estimated 179.92 million in 2025, up 55.6 pct from the prepandemic level in 2019, with 39 of the country’s 47 prefectures recording levels above those seen before the COVID-19

Tokyo, Aug. 14 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s internal affairs ministry will scrutinize how some local governments are offering foreign wine in return for donations made under the country’s “furusato nozei” program, which offers tax relief to donors. Some local governments are treating imported wine

Chiba, Aug. 14 (Jiji Press)–Heavy rain in Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo, left four people dead and another in cardiopulmonary arrest before subsiding in the small hours of Friday, according to the prefectural disaster response headquarters. The Japan Meteorological Agency downgraded Level

Tokyo, Aug. 14 (Jiji Press)–Crested ibises, a species designated as a special national natural treasure in Japan, took to the skies over the Noto region of Ishikawa Prefecture, central Japan, in May, marking the first release of the birds on Honshu, the

Washington, Aug. 13 (Jiji Press)–The U.S. government supports Japan’s sovereignty over four Russian-held northwestern Pacific islands claimed by Japan as the Northern Territories, a U.S. State Department spokesperson told Jiji Press on Thursday. Asked about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s first visit Thursday

Naha, Okinawa Pref., Aug. 14 (Jiji Press)–With only a month left to go until the Sept. 13 Okinawa gubernatorial election, neither of the two main potential candidates has been able to secure decisive support in the closely watched race for the leader

Tokyo, Aug. 14 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prosecutor-General Ryuji Kawahara has said in an interview with Jiji Press that he is eager to promote public prosecutors’ use of a plea bargaining system. “It is the position of the prosecution, as a law-enforcement agency, to

Tokyo, Aug. 13 (Jiji Press)–One person died and another is in a state of cardiopulmonary arrest due to torrential rain that hit the eastern Japan prefecture of Chiba on Thursday afternoon. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued Level 5 emergency heavy rain warnings

(Adnkronos) – The Israel Defense Forces (Idf) have struck a company commander of Hamas’ military wing in the Khan Yunis area. The terrorist, the Israeli army reports in a Telegram post, “had planned to carry out terrorist attacks against Idf troops operating

(Adnkronos) – Iran has reported environmental damage in the Strait of Hormuz after an oil slick reached the southern coasts of Qeshm Island, demanding compensation from those responsible. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stated that the spill has “degraded the waters”

(Adnkronos) – Air India pilots will undergo mandatory drug tests starting today, after a commander involved in a serious flight incident reportedly tested positive for cannabis. This is reported in an internal document, seen by AFP.  Current regulations require airlines to randomly

Kumamoto, Aug. 13 (Jiji Press)–The Kumamoto prefectural government said Thursday that the Kyushu Expressway will be fully reopened to traffic for ordinary vehicles Friday morning, more than two weeks after the July 28 powerful earthquake. The expressway in the Kyushu southwestern region

Tokyo, Aug. 13 (Jiji Press)–The Japan Meteorological Agency issued an emergency heavy rain warning for 16 cities in Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo, on Thursday evening. The cities are Chiba, Ichihara, Sakura, Yotsukaido, Yachimata, Inzai, Shiroi, Ichikawa, Funabashi, Matsudo, Narashino, Kashiwa, Yachiyo,

(Adnkronos) – The Sudanese capital Khartoum, for the second consecutive day, is targeted by drone attacks launched by paramilitaries. An Afp agency journalist and witnesses reported this.   Since April 2023, a conflict has been ongoing in Sudan, pitting the Army against

(Adnkronos) – The presence of a suspected explosive device at Treuchlingen station, south of the German city of Nuremberg, in Bavaria, has blocked railway traffic in the region. Special police forces inspected the object found on the tracks by a technician at

Tokyo, Aug. 13 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government is considering covering revenue losses at local governments resulting from a planned consumption tax cut, according to informed sources. As local governments use consumption tax revenues for social security services, the central government intends to

Ginowan, Okinawa Pref., Aug. 13 (Jiji Press)–Okinawa International University President Hajime Asato called for the immediate closure of the U.S. Marine Corps’ Futenma air station, at a gathering Thursday to mark 22 years since a U.S. military helicopter crashed into the premises

(Adnkronos) – The X account of Yemen’s Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Saree, has been suspended. “We suspend accounts that violate X rules,” reads the message when trying to access the account, which until yesterday was used to claim Houthi “operations.” The Houthis