(Adnkronos) – Approximately 2,400 seafarers remain stranded on over 105 tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, an area closed to maritime traffic. Tim Wilkins, general manager of the tanker transporters’ trade association ‘Intertanko’, told the BBC. On board, Wilkins explained, there is

Tokyo, April 27 (Jiji Press)–The yen’s real effective exchange rate, an indicator of Japan’s international competitiveness, has plunged to historically low levels, bringing about soaring import prices in the country. The Bank for International Settlements’ REER index for the yen came to

Tokyo, April 27 (Jiji Press)–The Japan Meteorological Agency and the Cabinet Office on Monday lifted a special advisory on a possible subsequent earthquake off the northern prefecture of Hokkaido or the Sanriku northeastern region following last week’s 7.7-magnitude quake off Sanriku. The

Tokyo, April 27 (Jiji Press)–Tokyo’s Metropolitan Police Department on Monday arrested a Vietnamese man for allegedly causing a hit-and-run accident in the Japanese capital in January, investigative sources told Jiji Press. The suspect, a 32-year-old demolition worker living in the city of

Tokyo, April 27 (Jiji Press)–Experts commissioned by the Japan Tourism Agency met on Monday to launch a review of dual pricing for tourist sites, in which charges for nonresidents, including inbound tourists, are set higher than those for residents. Based on their

Tokyo, April 27 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average rose on Monday to close above 60,000 for the first time ever, led by gains in semiconductor- and artificial intelligence-related stocks. The index of 225 selected issues listed on the Tokyo Stock

Tokyo, April 27 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Monday that she currently sees no need for the government to compile a fiscal 2026 supplementary budget to implement economic measures in response to the ongoing turmoil in the Middle East. During

Amagasaki, Hyogo Pref., April 25 (Jiji Press)–A memorial ceremony was held Saturday to mourn more than 100 victims of a fatal train derailment accident that occurred in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan, exactly 21 years ago. Bereaved families and others, including those

Morioka, Iwate Pref., April 27 (Jiji Press)–Wildfires in the northeastern Japan prefecture of Iwate have spread further, scorching about 1,600 hectares by 6 a.m. Monday. Local firefighters and other responders in the town of Otsuchi are working to contain the blaze. Evacuation

Tokyo, April 27 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average rose on Monday to close above 60,000 for the first time ever, led by gains in semiconductor- and artificial intelligence-related stocks. The index of 225 selected issues listed on the Tokyo Stock

Tokyo, April 27 (Jiji Press)–Toyota Motor Corp. said Monday that its parent-only global vehicle sales reached a record high in fiscal 2025, thanks to the popularity of its hybrid vehicles, especially in the North American market, despite higher tariffs imposed by the

New York, April 26 (Jiji Press)–Hibakusha, the survivors of the 1945 U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, called for the abolition of nuclear weapons in a demonstration in New York on Sunday, yelling “No more Hiroshima, No more Nagasaki.”

Tokyo, April 27 (Jiji Press)–A strong earthquake rocked the Tokachi region in the northernmost Japan prefecture of Hokkaido on Monday morning, measuring up to upper 5, the fourth-highest level on the Japanese seismic intensity scale. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the

Tokyo, April 27 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government will tighten regulations on the sale of certain over-the-counter drugs in May as part of efforts to prevent overdoses that have been spreading in the country mainly among young women. The revised pharmaceutical and medical

Morioka, Iwate Pref., April 27 (Jiji Press)–Wildfires in the northeastern Japan prefecture of Iwate continued to spread, scorching about 1,370 hectares by 6 a.m. Sunday. The blazes in the town of Otsuchi have drawn roughly 1,500 local firefighters and other responders, but

Tokyo, April 27 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average reached a new record intraday high on Monday morning, led by gains in technology stocks. At 10:04 a.m., the index of 225 issues listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s Prime top-tier section

Tokyo, April 27 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s transport ministry has launched a training program to help people with visual impairments use white canes to navigate railway station platforms safely, as part of efforts to prevent falls and other accidents. With more time needed to

Tokyo, April 27 (Jiji Press)–A strong earthquake measuring up to upper 5, the fourth-highest level on the Japanese seismic intensity scale, rocked the Tokachi region in the northernmost Japan prefecture of Hokkaido on Monday morning. The earthquake with an estimated magnitude of

Naha, Okinawa Pref., April 26 (Jiji Press)–Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki faces wavering support ahead of the Sept. 13 gubernatorial election due to changes in the political landscape as a result of the February general election. While the 66-year-old is aiming to secure

Nagoya, April 26 (Jiji Press)–Major Japanese auto parts supplier Denso Corp. is considering withdrawing its acquisition proposal for major Japanese chipmaker Rohm Co., informed sources have said. Denso, part of the Toyota Motor Corp. group, is finding it difficult to gain support

Tokyo, April 26 (Jiji Press)–Crude oil procured from the United States by Japanese oil distributor Cosmo Oil Co. arrived in Japan on Sunday for the first time as an alternative supply, following the start of U.S. attacks on Iran in late February.

Tokyo, April 26 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Sunday condemned the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner held at a hotel in Washington on Saturday, attended by President Donald Trump. “I was relieved to hear that President Trump was

Tokyo, April 26 (Jiji Press)–Crude oil procured from the United States by Japanese oil distributor Cosmo Oil Co. arrived in Japan on Sunday for the first time as an alternative supply, following the start of U.S. attacks on Iran in late February.

Niigata, April 26 (Jiji Press)–Japanese industry minister Ryosei Akazawa has visited Tokyo Electric Power Holdings Inc.’s Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Niigata Prefecture, central Japan. Akazawa made the visit Saturday after the No. 6 reactor of the plant restarted commercial operations on

Tokyo, April 25 (Jiji Press)–Tokyo police on Saturday arrested a 47-year-old man on suspicion of killing a then-29-year-old woman in an apartment in Tokyo’s Roppongi district in 2018. Arrested by the Metropolitan Police Department was Nobuaki Takahashi, whose address and occupation are

Naha, Okinawa Pref., April 25 (Jiji Press)–Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki on Saturday announced his intention to run in the Sept. 13 gubernatorial election, in hopes of securing his third term as governor of the southernmost Japan prefecture. Speaking at a press conference

New York, April 24 (Jiji Press)–Japanese outdoor clothing maker Goldwin Inc. opened its U.S. flagship store in Manhattan, New York, on Friday as part of efforts to beef up its overseas operations. While the company opened a store in San Francisco in

(Add an apostrophe to the university name in the last paragraph. A substitute story follows.) Japan to Protect Celebrity Voices against AI Use Tokyo, April 24 (Jiji Press)–An expert panel under Japan’s Justice Ministry agreed Friday that the voices of individuals should

Amagasaki, Hyogo Pref., April 25 (Jiji Press)–A memorial ceremony was held Saturday to mourn more than 100 victims of a fatal train derailment accident that occurred in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan, exactly 21 years ago. Bereaved families and others, including those

Tokyo, April 25 (Jiji Press)–Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. is considering appointing Keisuke Yokoo, president of the Japanese government-affiliated Japan Investment Corp., as its next chairman, informed sources said Saturday. If the appointment is approved, the 74-year-old will become the fifth