NEWS

Two European Union assessment missions are scheduled to visit Armenia by the end of the year as part of the EU Visa Liberalisation Action...

A law introducing punishments for desecrating Japan's national flag went into effect Thursday, fulfilling a longtime legislative aim of conservative Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi that has prompted concerns over freedom of expression.  The law states that individuals who publicly damage, remove or defile the national flag, known as the "Hinomaru," in a way that arouses "strong feelings of discomfort or disgust" in others could face up to two years in prison or a fine of up to 200,000 yen ($1,300).  The introduction came after the lack of provisions against national flag desecration was identified as a contradiction to be resolved, as criminal law only punishes individuals who damage foreign states' flags.  It was submitted to parliament as a sponsored bill by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner Japan Innovation Party, along with some opposition parties, with the aim of protecting "public views that the national flag should be treated with respect."  Following parliamentary debate that included opposition pushback on its implications for constitutional rights and concerns that its application may be overly broad, it was enacted in mid-July.  In enforcing the law, the National Police Agency has instructed prefectural police to make careful organizational assessments on whether an act constitutes a violation, and to closely examine the grounds and necessity for making an arrest.  The law states that punishment of an act will be determined based on the circumstances of each case. A supplementary provision states the law will be reviewed around three years from its enforcement, with measures to be taken if required.  An individual who damages their own national flag can still be punished. But scenes depicting flag desecration in live-action films shot in non-public settings, as well as in anime, manga, video games and videos created using artificial intelligence are not subject to punishment under the law.  In discussions about the bill to criminalize damage to the national flag, small paper decorations included with children's meals are not considered to represent the national symbol by socially accepted standards and are therefore not subject to punishment.  A joint statement backed by around 200 constitutional scholars on Aug. 4 called for the bill's repeal, saying it could suppress critical views of the government and that there is little need for the law as Japan sees few incidents of national flag desecration.  Public opinion appears to be more receptive to the law. A Kyodo News opinion poll in late July showed 55.8 percent of respondents viewed the law positively, while 38.9 percent did not. https://japantoday.com/category/national/japanese-flag-desecration-law-goes-into-effect

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze called for further strengthening strategic ties between Azerbaijan, Georgia and Türkiye, saying relations with the two neighbours were developing positively.  Kobakhidze said...

The United States Armed Forces are set to retain control of the Strait of Hormuz, US President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday.  "The USA has total control over the...

Kazakhstan has allocated about $2.36 million to purchase equipment for monitoring the Caspian Sea and equip specialized laboratories, according to the government of Kazakhstan, cited by Report's Kazakhstan bureau.  The funds were allocated from...

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, successfully launched an H3 rocket carrying the Michibiki No. 7 positioning satellite from its Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture at 4:23 a.m. Tuesday.  The satellite reached its planned orbit about 30 minutes later.  The No. 9 rocket was the first H3 unit carrying a practical-use satellite since a launch failure last December. Tuesday’s success means that seven out of the nine H3 units have been successfully launched.  “We made improvements with a determination not to fail again and were able to conduct a launch with enhanced reliability. As a result, we’ve achieved a good outcome,” Makoto Arita, JAXA’s H3 project manager, told a news conference after the launch.  The Michibiki is Japan’s version of GPS, complementing the U.S. GPS satellite network and enabling positioning with a precision of up to several centimeters. The Michibiki No. 1 satellite was launched in 2010.  The government aims to establish a system of seven Michibiki satellites that will allow constant positioning without the need to be complemented by foreign positioning satellites. The system will be expanded to 11 satellites eventually.  However, following the loss of the Michibiki No. 5 satellite due to the H3 launch failure last December, six satellites will be operational for now, including the No. 7 unit launched this time.  The Michibiki No. 7 satellite is about 19 meters wide when its solar panels are deployed. In addition to positioning services, it can distribute emergency information to compatible devices during disasters.  The H3 is a two-stage liquid-propellant rocket developed by JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd.  After the failure of the No. 8 unit last December, JAXA identified the cause as a problem with a parts-joining process for the satellite-mounting section.  After resolving the problem, JAXA successfully launched the No. 6 rocket in June this year. The reliability of the No. 9 rocket was enhanced by adopting a method for joining parts with proven track records.  https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/08/11/japan/science-health/successful-launch-h3-rocket-michibiki

A future gas pipeline to be built as part of the TRIPP project could become a new source of gas for Armenia, Armenian lawmaker...

Kazakhstan's GDP grew by 4.1% in January–July 2026, the country's government press service said, citing preliminary data from the Bureau of National Statistics.  According to Report's...

Speaker of the Polish Sejm Wlodzimierz Czarzasty has noted a deterioration in Polish-Ukrainian relations, Report informs via Ukrainian media.  He made the remarks during an official meeting with Chairman of the Verkhovna...

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called for the resumption of free and safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz in phone talks with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said on Monday, amid stalled U.S.-Iranian negotiations on the conflict.  Oman is engaged in talks with Iran, reportedly over shipping routes through the key trade artery. Haitham responded that Oman would consult with and respect the views of countries that use the waterway, Takaichi told reporters at her office in Tokyo.  The two agreed to coordinate closely toward regional peace and stability, including in the Strait of Hormuz, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.  The effective blockade since the conflict began in late February of the critical waterway for energy transport has fueled supply concerns and sent energy prices surging. Resource-poor Japan relies heavily on the Middle East for crude oil.  "I said that it is important for the free and safe navigation of the Strait of Hormuz to be restored as soon as possible without additional costs," Takaichi said. "To this end, holding talks with the international community, including countries that use the strait, is necessary."  During the roughly 20-minute phone conversation, Haitham provided Takaichi with an update on the current status of consultations with Iran and Oman's position, according to the prime minister.  The first phone talks between the leaders since April came amid uncertainty over the ongoing U.S.-Iran talks.  Amid the impasse, Iran's Supreme National Security Council said Saturday it has made six demands as conditions for reopening the strait, including compensation for damage caused by the fighting.  https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/81932

Russian LNG supplies to Spain totaled 2,088 GWh in July 2026, down from 2,150 GWh in July 2025, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.  Despite the decline, Russia remained among...

This was outlined in a joint statement by the United States, Armenia and Azerbaijan marking the first anniversary of the White House Peace Summit.  “In...

Azerbaijan provided significant assistance to Iran during the war. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said this during a press conference in Tehran. Pezeshkian announced an improvement in...

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps will defend the Strait of Hormuz until the US administration accepts all of Iran's conditions, IRGC spokesperson Hossein Mohebbi...