Tokyo, Nov. 13 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government and the ruling parties are considering a plan to raise the so-called departure tax from the current 1,000 yen per person to 3,000 yen or more by the end of fiscal 2026 to fund measures

Tokyo, Nov. 13 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government has drafted a comprehensive economic package as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is pursuing “responsible and active fiscal policy.” On Thursday, the government presented the draft to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. It plans to adopt

Nara, Nov. 13 (Jiji Press)–The mother of Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, who is charged with the 2022 murder of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Nara, western Japan, apologized for the crime committed by her second son as she appeared in court as

(Adnkronos) – Premier Giorgia Meloni and her Albanian counterpart Edi Rama were set to sign a an economic cooperation accord in Rome on Thursday during the first inter-government summit between Italy and Romania.  Besides the economic cooperation agreement, the two countries were

Shizuoka, Nov. 13 (Jiji Press)–Maki Takubo, former mayor of Ito, Shizuoka Prefecture, plans to run in the Dec. 14 mayoral election following her removal from office over her academic background scandal, sources familiar with the matter said Wednesday. Takubo, 55, is expected

(Adnkronos) – Italy praised Iraq for the parliamentary polls held across the country on Wednesday – in which Iraqi premier Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s coalition emerged as the winner – stating that it wants to boost economic and regional security cooperation.  “Congrats to

Okayama, Nov. 13 (Jiji Press)–The Okayama branch of Hiroshima High Court ruled Thursday that the July election for Japan’s House of Councillors was held in a state of unconstitutionality due to vote-value disparities. It is the ninth ruling to find that the

Tokyo, Nov. 13 (Jiji Press)–The approval rating for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s cabinet stands at 63.8 pct, the second highest for a fledgling Japanese administration, the results of a Jiji Press poll showed Thursday. The rating is surpassed only by the 72.8

Tokyo, Nov. 13 (Jiji Press)–About 60 pct of respondents support a proposal by Japan’s ruling camp for a 10 pct cut in the number of seats in the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of parliament, a Jiji Press opinion poll showed.

Tokyo, Nov. 13 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government and the ruling coalition are considering a plan to raise the so-called departure tax from the current 1,000 yen per person to 3,000 yen or more to fund measures against overtourism, informed sources said Thursday.

Tokyo, Nov. 13 (Jiji Press)–Amid a rise in cybersecurity risks, the head of Australia’s QBE Insurance Group Ltd. on Thursday emphasized the need for cyber insurance. Group CEO Andrew Horton said that cybersecurity risks have “dramatically changed” over the past 20 years

Tokyo, Nov. 13 (Jiji Press)–A Jiji Press public opinion poll showed Thursday that 75.1 pct of respondents highly rated Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s summit diplomacy with the United States, China and South Korea thus far. Those who gave low scores accounted

Tokyo, Nov. 13 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government said Thursday that it will provide support to households and medical workers struggling with elevated prices as part of a planned economic package. “What is important is to implement necessary policies and budgets without hesitation

New York, Nov. 12 (Jiji Press)–Group of Seven foreign ministers reaffirmed their cooperation in responding to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East, at their two-day meeting in Canada’s Niagara region that ended Wednesday. “An immediate ceasefire is

Kyoto, Nov. 13 (Jiji Press)–The Kyoto prefectural police department on Thursday arrested a 61-year-old former policeman of the western Japan prefecture on suspicion of defrauding an elderly person with dementia out of her bank card and bankbook. The former officer, Masato Takeuchi,

Ishinomaki, Miyagi Pref., Nov. 13 (Jiji Press)–A new winery facility is set to open Saturday in a northeastern Japan district heavily damaged by the March 2011 tsunami, raising hopes that it will help liven up the struggling community. Moriumius Marine & Food,

Tokyo, Nov. 13 (Jiji Press)–The approval rating for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s cabinet stood at 63.8 pct, the second highest for a fledgling Japanese administration, the results of a Jiji Press poll showed Thursday. The rating was surpassed only by the 72.8

Tokyo, Nov. 13 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi on Wednesday criticized a social media post by Chinese diplomat Xue Jian that slammed remarks made by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi over Taiwan. The post was “extremely inappropriate,” Motegi said at an online

Tokyo, Nov. 13 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Thursday that it is difficult at the moment to specify a schedule for carrying out reform of political donations from corporations and other organizations. “This is an issue related to freedom of

Tokyo, Nov. 13 (Jiji Press)–Asahi Breweries Ltd. said Thursday that its sales dropped by nearly 10 pct in October from a year earlier, after parent Asahi Group Holdings Ltd. was hit by a cyberattack on Sept. 29 that caused a computer system

Tokyo, Nov. 13 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s producer prices in October rose 2.7 pct from a year earlier, reflecting higher prices for food and copper, the Bank of Japan said Thursday. The producer price index, which measures the cost of goods traded between businesses,

Shizuoka, Nov. 13 (Jiji Press)–Japanese police on Thursday sent public prosecutors papers on actor Ryoko Hirosue, 45, for alleged negligent driving resulting in injury in a car accident on an expressway in April. Her car rear-ended a large trailer truck in a

Kyoto, Nov. 13 (Jiji Press)–The Kyoto prefectural police department on Thursday arrested a 61-year-old former officer of the police department in the western Japan prefecture and a woman on suspicion of defrauding an elderly dementia patient out of her bank card and

Akita/Takizawa, Iwate Pref., Nov. 13 (Jiji Press)–Japanese police deployed teams of officers to the country’s northeast on Thursday to cull bears to protect locals amid a wave of attacks. The police have revised rules to enable officers to use rifles to kill

Tokyo, Nov. 13 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi has pledged to continue supporting Ukraine’s reconstruction in cooperation with the international community, including the framework of the Group of Seven major powers. Also at a 20-minute meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii

Tome-Acu, Brazil, Nov. 12 (Jiji Press)–An agricultural method in the Amazon rainforest region spread by Japanese immigrants in northern Brazil has attracted attention as a way of preventing global warming. Teeming with rich biodiversity, the Amazon rainforest is known as “the lungs

Paris, Nov. 12 (Jiji Press)–Tottori Governor Shinji Hirai promoted sake and folk crafts from his western Japan prefecture in Paris over two days through Wednesday. The visit to the French capital was arranged based on Hirai’s wish for his prefecture to deepen

Incheon, South Korea, Nov. 13 (Jiji Press)–Japanese and South Korean governors have affirmed the importance of working together in addressing an array of issues of mutual concern. At a joint meeting of Japan’s National Governors’ Association and the Governors Association of the

Tokyo, Nov. 13 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party), have agreed to reach a conclusion by year-end on a proposed hike in patients’ out-of-pocket expenses for prescription medicines similar to over-the-counter

(Adnkronos) – A 5.7 magnitude earthquake struck the Paphos region in western Cyprus. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) announced that the earthquake’s epicenter was recorded at a depth of 14 kilometers. The tremor was strong enough to be felt in parts of