Japan

Tomiko Itooka, Japanese woman who was world's oldest person, dies at 116

Tomiko Itooka, a Japanese woman who was the world's oldest person according to Guinness World Records, has died, an Ashiya city official said Saturday. She was 116. Yoshitsugu Nagata, an official in charge of elderly policies, said Itooka died on December 29 at a care home in Ashiya, Hyogo Prefecture, central Japan. Itooka, who loved bananas and a yogurt-flavoured Japanese drink called Calpis, was born on May 23, 1908. She became the oldest person last year following the death of 117-year-old Maria Branyas, according to the Gerontology Research Group. When she was told she was at the top of the World Supercentenarian Rankings List, she simply replied, Thank you. When Itooka celebrated her birthday last year, she received flowers, a cake and a card from the mayor. Born in Osaka, Itooka was a volleyball player in high school, and long had a reputation for a sprightly spirit, Nagata said. She climbed the 3,067-metre (10,062-foot) Mount Ontake twice. She married at 20, and had two ..

Leaked files show Russia's military preparedness against Japan, South Korea

Leaked documents reveal Russia's military strategy to address its concerns over eastern borders in a potential NATO conflict. This is due to the potential involvement of US assets and regional allies

Noise from music, firecrackers relentless: Japanese tourist on India travel

A Japanese woman shared her India experience, claiming that she was visiting Agra, Rajasthan and Punjab. She complimented India's food and clothing but complained on the "loud environment"

Sun Pharma sells entire stake in Japanese arm to Zaza Industrial Holdings

According to a regulatory filing with BSE, the agreement was signed on December 31, 2024, with the transaction expected to be completed by January 31, 2025

Japan's speaker signs condolence book in memory of former PM Manmohan Singh

On December 31, former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga had visited the Indian Embassy in Tokyo and signed the condolence book

Quad members renew pledge towards working for free, stable Indo-Pacific

India and other Quad member nations on Tuesday renewed their firm commitment to work towards a free and open Indo-Pacific that is peaceful, stable and prosperous. The foreign ministers of the member nations of the grouping made the pledge in a joint statement commemorating the 20th anniversary of Quad cooperation. The foreign ministers said the Quad will work together in responding to the future needs of the Indo-Pacific, an assertion that came against the backdrop of China's increasing muscle-flexing in the region. India, the US, Australia and Japan came together 20 years ago to extend assistance in response to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. The coalition is now known as Quad. "As four partners, we share a vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific that is peaceful, stable and prosperous, underpinned by effective regional institutions," the joint statement said. The Quad foreign ministers also talked about the centrality of 10-nation grouping Association of Southeast

India, China to Germany and UK: How major economies performed in 2024

While India and US have optimistic outlooks going into 2025, Germany and UK may see sluggish growth

Year ender 2024: Devastating tragedies that sent shock waves across world

From earthquakes to mass shootings: Here are the most devastating global tragedies of 2024

Japan cabinet okays record defence budget of $55 bn amidst regional threat

The Japanese Cabinet on Friday approved a record 8.7 trillion yen ($55 billion) defence budget for 2025 as Japan accelerates building up its strike-back capability with long-range cruise missiles and starts deploying Tomahawks to fortify itself against growing threats from China, North Korea and Russia. The Cabinet-endorsed draft defence budget marks the third year of Japan's ongoing five-year military buildup under the national security strategy adopted in 2022. The defense spending is part of the more than 115 trillion yen ($730 billion) national budget bill also a record that requires parliamentary approval by March to be enacted. Japan is preparing to deploy US-made Tomahawks late in the fiscal year 2025 as part of its ongoing effort to acquire strike-back capability with long-range missiles that can hit distant targets. The budget allocates 940 billion yen ($6 billion) for the so-called standoff defence system that also includes long-range missiles, satellite constellation and

Japan's cabinet approves record $730 billion budget for next fiscal year

But record tax revenue is likely to help reduce new bond issuance to 28.6 trillion yen, the lowest since 2008

Taiwan outpaces Asia-Pacific markets with over 30% jump in 2024; what next?

The standout growth in Taiwan's stock market was largely driven by the country's critical role in the global semiconductor supply chain, according to analysts

News updates: All govt programs on Fri cancelled, 7-day mourning in honour of Dr Manmohan Singh

Latest news updates: Catch all the latest news developments from across the world here

Japan Airlines hit by cyberattack; domestic, international flights delayed

Japan Airlines has apologised for the inconvenience caused to passengers and assured that updates would follow as the situation evolves

Japan to unveil record $735 bn budget with ramped-up defence spending

The increase from the current fiscal year's initial annual budget of ¥112.6 trillion is around 2.6 per cent, largely in line with the government's forecast for overall inflation in this fiscal year

Zelenskyy thanks Japan for support, urges protection of Ukraine's infra

Zelenskyy thanked the Japanese Prime Minister for Japan's continued support for Ukraine, particularly in the form of humanitarian and financial aid

Japan's budget to hit record, but with reduced new bond issuance: Report

Tax revenue is projected to rise 8.8 trillion yen from this year's initial estimate to a record 78.4 trillion yen, thanks in part to a recovery in corporate profits, according to the draft

China, Japan agree to talks on security issues as they seek to mend ties

China and Japan agreed on Wednesday to set up talks on often contentious security issues as they seek to improve a relationship driven in recent years by a range of issues, from territorial disputes to the discharge of water from Japan's tsunami-wrecked nuclear power plant. Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, on his first trip to China since assuming the post in October, sounded positive after meetings with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, saying the talks were very candid" and wide-ranging. I feel we were able to build a personal relationship that would lead to the future," he told reporters in the Chinese capital. Wang agreed to visit Japan next year for a high-level economic dialogue including cooperation on the environment, energy conservation and health and nursing care. Japan announced an easing of visa requirements for Chinese visitors, following China's recent decision to allow Japanese to enter without a visa. The two countries also have major ..

KKR and Bain each bid over $5 bn for Seven & i's York Holdings spin-off

KKR offered around 800 billion yen ($5.1 billion) for York Holdings, an entity due to be spun out of the Japanese retailer, two of the people said

Japan's foreign minister seeks to improve bilateral ties during China visit

Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya met with top Chinese leaders Wednesday during his visit to Beijing, the first since the heads of the two countries met at a summit in Peru last month, in an effort to make positive inroads in the bilateral relationship. The two neighbours have had a tense relationship in recent years. At the top of Iwaya's agenda is China's ban on Japanese seafood in response to the release of treated radioactive wastewater into the sea from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, as well as China's increasingly assertive military activity in the East and South China Seas. Iwaya met with China's premier Li Qiang Wednesday as well as Wang Yi, his Chinese counterpart. "Currently the China-Japan relations are at a critical period of improvement and development, said Li, in his remarks. China is willing to work together with Japan to move towards the important direction proposed by the leaders of the two countries. "I want to build a relationship where the peo

US Steel takeover plan has support in steelmaking areas: Nippon Steel Prez

On Monday, a US foreign investment committee referred the decision whether to approve or block the $15 billion deal to US President Joe Biden, who has 15 days to decide