Tokyo, May 29 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Defense Ministry said Friday that four Self-Defense Force members will take part in NATO’s mission to provide security aid and training to Ukraine. In the Germany-based Ukraine mission, the members will participate in noncombat activities such as

Tokyo, May 29 (Jiji Press)–The Diet, or Japan’s parliament, on Friday enacted health insurance system reform bills that call for, among others, raising patients’ out-of-pocket expenses for prescribed drugs with ingredients and effects similar to those of over-the-counter drugs. Starting next March,

Tokyo, May 29 (Jiji Press)–Major food makers in Japan plan to raise prices for 1,078 items in June, with the number topping the threshold of 1,000 for the first time in two months, a survey by Teikoku Databank Ltd. showed Friday. The

Tokyo, May 29 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government expressed concern about the impact of a sharp increase in private-sector rice imports on domestic rice production in an annual white paper adopted Friday. The fiscal 2025 white paper on food, agriculture and rural areas

Tokyo, May 29 (Jiji Press)–The Diet, Japan’s parliament, enacted a bill Friday that paves the way for the creation of an investment screening body similar to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, or CFIUS. The bill to amend the

Tokyo, May 29 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s industrial production in April grew 0.8 pct from the previous month, the first rise in three months, thanks to strong output of general-purpose and business machinery, preliminary industry ministry data showed Friday. The seasonally adjusted production index

Tokyo, May 29 (Jiji Press)–The core consumer price index for central Tokyo in May advanced 1.3 pct from a year before, up for the 57th straight month, internal affairs ministry data showed Friday. The core consumer price index, which excludes volatile fresh

Tokyo, May 29 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell 0.2 percentage point from the previous month to 2.5 pct in April, the first improvement in two months, the internal affairs ministry said Friday. The improvement likely reflected progress in re-employment among

New York, May 28 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Ambassador to the United Nations Kazuyuki Yamazaki brushed aside Russia’s criticism against Japan’s defense buildup in a resumed U.N. session in New York on Thursday. The Russian allegation that Japan’s “remilitarization” is undermining the U.N.-centered international

Tokyo, May 29 (Jiji Press)–The Diet, Japan’s parliament, enacted on Friday a bill to raise the caps on fees for foreign nationals’ applications related to residence status by up to 30-fold. The revision to the immigration control and refugee recognition law was

Tokyo, May 29 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s total population, including foreign residents, fell by a record 3,096,575 in the past five years, a national census survey conducted last year showed Friday. Japan’s population as of Oct. 1, 2025, stood at 123,049,524, the internal affairs

Tokyo, May 29 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s total population, including foreign residents, fell by a record 3,096,575 in the past five years, a national census survey conducted last year showed Friday. Japan’s population as of Oct. 1, 2025, stood at 123,049,524, the internal affairs

Tokyo, May 29 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s three megabanks are expected to obtain access to a new artificial intelligence model of OpenAI, the U.S. company behind generative AI chatbot ChatGPT, according to informed sources. The banks–MUFG Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. and Mizuho Bank–plan

(Adnkronos) – The European Union is looking at possible European initiatives to stablise southern Lebanon after the UN’s peacekeeping mission (UNIFIL) ceases operations at the end of December and starts to withdraw its personnel over the following year, Italy’s top diplomat, Antonio

(Adnkronos) – Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has confirmed his support and solidarity with the government of Cyprus , a European Union member state targeted by an Iranian drone strike on a UK air base on the island in March, saying Rome wants

Tokyo, May 28 (Jiji Press)–Some Japanese companies, including Fujitsu Ltd. and Asahi Kasei Corp., are considering investing in a new firm established by SoftBank Corp. and others to develop Japanese-made artificial intelligence, it was learned Thursday. The companies are considering a plan

Tokyo, May 28 (Jiji Press)–The leaders of Japan and the Philippines agreed at their summit in Tokyo on Thursday to upgrade their countries’ relations to a “quasi-alliance,” aiming to counter China’s increasing military activities, a common concern for both countries. During their

(Adnkronos) – As Iran targeted a United States air base in Kuwait Thursday after the US claimed to have hit an alleged Iranian drone operation near the crucial Strait of Hormuz conduit – amid a shaky ceasefire agreed in early April –

Tokyo, May 28 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and visiting Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. agreed Thursday that the two countries will kick off negotiations to conclude a general security of military information agreement, or GSOMIA, with the aim of strengthening

Tokyo, May 28 (Jiji Press)–Tokyo police arrested Shunichiro Sato, a member of Japan’s national volleyball team for men, on Thursday on suspicion of cannabis possession in violation of the narcotics control law, investigative sources said. The Metropolitan Police Department alleges that Sato,

Tokyo, May 28 (Jiji Press)–Electricity bills are expected to rise at nine of Japan’s 10 major power utilities in June, driven by rising crude oil prices amid the tense situation in the Middle East. Monthly bills for an average household will rise

Tokyo, May 28 (Jiji Press)–Lawson Inc. opened a small supermarket offering fresh produce and other goods at reasonable prices in Kodaira, Tokyo, on Thursday, the first such outlet run by the major Japanese convenience store chain. The supermarket, named “L Minimart,” aims

(Adnkronos) – Italy’s ambassador to the Holy See Francesco Di Nitto and the Vatican’s secretary for relations with states and international organizations Paul Gallagher, signed a bilateral accord on Thursday to build an innovative agrivoltaic system at Santa Maria di Galeria, 35

Tokyo, May 28 (Jiji Press)–Combined global vehicle sales at eight major Japanese automakers fell 1.3 pct in April from a year earlier to 1,936,042 units, according to data released by the companies on Thursday. The decrease followed a rise in sales a

Tokyo, May 28 (Jiji Press)–Combined global vehicle sales at eight major Japanese automakers fell 1.3 pct in April from a year earlier to 1,936,042 units, according to data released by the companies on Thursday. The decrease followed a rise in sales a

(Adnkronos) – “There will never be any denuclearization of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.” This was stated by a spokesman for the North Korean Foreign Ministry, firmly rejecting the joint statement of the Quad – the security forum that brings together

(Adnkronos) – “There will never be any denuclearization of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.” This was stated by a spokesman for the North Korean Foreign Ministry, firmly rejecting the joint statement of the Quad – the security forum that brings together

Tokyo, May 28 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s transport ministry called on railway firms and other infrastructure operators Thursday to take measures against the misuse of high-performance artificial intelligence models, including Claude Mythos of U.S. startup Anthropic. The instructions were made at a meeting with

Tokyo, May 28 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s transport ministry called on railway firms and other infrastructure operators Thursday to take measures against the misuse of high-performance artificial intelligence models, including Claude Mythos of U.S. startup Anthropic. The instructions were made at a meeting with

(Adnkronos) – “Complete and total” endorsement from Donald Trump for Nikol Pashinyan ahead of the crucial legislative elections on June 7. “Armenia’s Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, a great friend and great leader, is making his country strong, rich, and very secure! Nikol