Tokyo, May 13 (Jiji Press)–SoftBank Group Corp. on Wednesday reported a consolidated net profit of 5,002.2 billion yen for fiscal 2025, up about 4.3-fold from the previous year, marking a new record high for a Japanese company. The previous record of 4,987.9

Tokyo, May 13 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s three megabanks are working to gain access to Claude Mythos, a cutting-edge artificial intelligence model developed by U.S. startup Anthropic, aiming to use it to enhance cybersecurity measures, it was learned Wednesday. On Tuesday, officials of MUFG

(Adnkronos) – For ships to transit the Strait of Hormuz freely and safely is “in the interest of the world”, Italy said on Wednesday, underlining that it will not send a military mission to the Gulf but could take part in an

Tokyo, May 13 (Jiji Press)–Major real estate companies in Japan are warning of possible delays in new condominium handovers due to supply disruptions of construction materials and housing equipment amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Although no actual delays have

Tokyo, May 13 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government will refrain from proposing a bill to legalize the post-marriage use of maiden names during the ongoing parliamentary session, it was learned Wednesday. The Cabinet Committees of both chambers of the Diet, Japan’s parliament, which

Tokyo, May 13 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party will urge regional banks and other local financial institutes to expand their investment banking services, such as providing advice on mergers and acquisitions, Jiji Press learned Wednesday. The call was included in recommendations

Tokyo, May 13 (Jiji Press)–South Korean automaker Kia Corp. on Wednesday unveiled its first Kia PBV store in Japan to the press, planning to open it Friday to sell its PV5 midsize electric van. Kia PBV Japan Corp., set up by trading

(Adnkronos) – Italy’s commitment to ending the globally damaging 10-week-old United States-Israel war against Iran through “dialogue and peace” is inspired by the teachings of Pope Leo XIV, foreign minister Antonio Tajani told lawmakers on Wednesday.  “Italy’s commitment to dialogue and peace,

(Adnkronos) – The happiness index in Russia plummeted in April, reaching a negative peak of 52 points, the lowest in the last 15 years, according to a survey by VTsIOM, the Public Opinion Research Center. In March, the index, calculated based on

(Adnkronos) – “China welcomes President Trump on the occasion of his state visit to China.” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said during a press conference, adding that “China is ready to work with the United States to expand cooperation and manage

(Adnkronos) – The meeting at Downing Street between British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his potential challenger, Health Secretary Wes Streeting, lasted 19 minutes. A meeting, comments the BBC, “very, very brief”, before which it had been leaked that there would be

By Yurina Osaki Tokyo, May 13 (Jiji Press)–One of Japan’s largest Thai cultural exchange events, which has drawn around 300,000 visitors in recent years, was held over the weekend under sunny skies at Tokyo’s Yoyogi Park amid the growing interest among Japanese

Kobe, May 13 (Jiji Press)–Kaori Sakamoto contently recalled the days of being a top figure skater at her retirement press conference on Wednesday. “I feel fulfilled at most, and a little bit empty,” Sakamoto, 26, told the news conference in her hometown

Tokyo, May 13 (Jiji Press)–Japanese composer and jazz pianist Yuji Ono, well known for the theme song of popular Japanese animation series “Lupin the Third,” died of natural causes on May 4. He was 84. A native of Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan,

Tokyo, May 13 (Jiji Press)–The number of corporate bankruptcies in Japan in April involving liabilities of at least 10 million yen rose 6.6 pct from a year earlier to 883, the highest level for the month in 12 years, Tokyo Shoko Research

Tokyo, May 13 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi on Wednesday emphasized the importance of close coordination with the United States over a multilateral effort to ensure safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. “Realistically, it’s important to ensure close communication…with the

Tokyo, May 13 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average rose on Wednesday to close above 63,000 for the first time, aided by the strength of shares related to artificial intelligence technology and data centers. The index of 225 select issues on

Tokyo, May 13 (Jiji Press)–The yield on the most recent issue of 10-year Japanese government bonds, regarded as the country’s benchmark long-term interest rate, rose to as high as 2.600 pct in Tokyo interdealer trading Wednesday morning. The figure was the highest

Tokyo, May 13 (Jiji Press)–Aichi Financial Group Inc. and San ju San Financial Group Inc., regional banking holding companies of central Japan, said Wednesday that they have reached a basic agreement on a business integration set for April next year. The two

Tokyo, May 13 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average rose on Wednesday to close above 63,000 for the first time, thanks to buying of shares in companies that logged robust earnings. The index of 225 select issues on the Tokyo Stock

Tokyo, May 13 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s current account surplus hit a record high for the third consecutive year in fiscal 2025 partly because the trade balance swung back to the black, preliminary data from the Finance Ministry showed Wednesday. The surplus in the

Kyoto, May 13 (Jiji Press)–Major Japanese motor maker Nidec Corp. said Wednesday that improper activities, such as changing materials, manufacturing processes and designs without customer approval, are suspected for some of the firm’s products. There are believed to be more than 1,000

Tokyo, May 13 (Jiji Press)–A Japanese health ministry council on Wednesday approved the public health insurance coverage for a regenerative medicine for Parkinson’s disease produced from induced pluripotent stem, or iPS, cells, effective from May 20. With the approval by the Central

Paris, May 13 (Jiji Press)–The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development suggested in a report Wednesday that Japan’s macroeconomic policies “be calibrated carefully.” As the East Asian economy is shifting toward “a new equilibrium in terms of higher prices and wages,” careful

Tokyo, May 13 (Jiji Press)–The Diet, Japan’s parliament, enacted a bill Wednesday to promote work-style reforms for truck drivers by encouraging the use of systems that allow multiple logistics firms to relay cargo. The bill to revise the logistics streamlining law was

Kyoto, May 13 (Jiji Press)–Immune cells derived from human induced pluripotent stem, or iPS, cells that are genetically modified to produce two specific proteins simultaneously can improve the therapeutic effect against solid cancers, a Japanese group said Wednesday. The findings may lead

Tokyo, May 13 (Jiji Press)–The yield on the most recent issue of 10-year Japanese government bonds, regarded as the country’s benchmark long-term interest rate, rose to as high as 2.600 pct in Tokyo interdealer trading Wednesday morning. The reading was the highest

Tokyo, May 13 (Jiji Press)–Mathias Cormann, secretary-general of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, has expressed concern over the Japanese government’s plan to temporarily lower the consumption tax on food items to zero, calling it not cost-effective. While acknowledging that “we

Kyoto, May 13 (Jiji Press)–Major Japanese motor maker Nidec Corp. said Wednesday that improper activities, such as changing materials, manufacturing processes and designs without customer approval, are suspected for some of the firm’s products. There are believed to be more than 1,000

Osaka, May 13 (Jiji Press)–About one year after launching sweeping management reforms aimed at restoring profitability, major Japanese electronics manufacturer Panasonic Holdings Corp. is entering a decisive stage in its turnaround efforts. Over the past year, Panasonic has worked to revamp its