Tokyo, May 15 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s health ministry plans to start requiring individuals in March 2027 to bear additional costs out of pocket for OTC-equivalent prescription drugs, which are similar to over-the-counter nonprescription medicines in terms of active ingredients and effects. Under the

Tokyo, May 15 (Jiji Press)–U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will visit Japan from Sunday for four days to attend a U.N. conference, the Japanese government has said. During his stay, Guterres is expected to meet with Emperor Naruhito and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi,

(Adnkronos) – A possible new face-to-face meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during Trump’s visit to China, but no concrete preparations are currently underway. A senior official from the South Korean Foreign Ministry told the

(Adnkronos) – Since last night, Iran has allowed the transit of several Chinese ships through the Strait of Hormuz. This was reported by the Iranian agency Fars in a news item relaunched by the official Chinese agency Xinhua. According to Fars, transit

(Adnkronos) – Mahmoud Abbas has promised to push for reforms for the Palestinian National Authority and the organization of the awaited elections. He did so during the Fatah congress in Ramallah, West Bank. “We renew our commitment to continue working for the

(Adnkronos) – The most massive attack by Russian forces against infrastructure and other civilian targets – 180 of which were damaged – across Ukraine began yesterday morning, after a three-day ceasefire concluded and ill-placed hopes in some misinterpreted words of Vladimir Putin

(Adnkronos) – Iran has not yet received any US visas to allow the national team to participate in the upcoming World Cup, which will be hosted next month by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This was stated by the president of

Tokyo, May 14 (Jiji Press)–Nine Japanese political parties from the ruling and opposition camps agreed Thursday to oblige social media platform operators to take actions to lessen the negative impact of disinformation, misinformation and slander on their platforms in elections. The parties,

Tokyo, May 14 (Jiji Press)–Three major Japanese oil wholesalers have reported double-digit percentage increases in net profit for fiscal 2025, which ended in March, reflecting surging crude oil prices amid the deteriorating situation in the Middle East. Eneos Holdings Inc. posted a

Tokyo, May 14 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Thursday that the government is rushing to take measures against the cybersecurity threats posed by the Claude Mythos artificial intelligence model, describing such efforts as a “race against time.” “Finding vulnerabilities (in

(Adnkronos) – Around 80 young scientists, academics and researchers specialising in “food diplomacy” from all over the world are taking part in an event at Italy’s foreign ministry in Rome on Thursday that will look at the role of agri-food systems in

Tokyo, May 14 (Jiji Press)–Four major Japanese chemical makers have projected profit increases for fiscal 2026, thanks to structural reforms for petrochemical operations and revenue diversification into semiconductor materials. However, two of the four companies did not consider the current turmoil in

Tokyo, May 14 (Jiji Press)–Sharp Corp. said Thursday that it will launch 15 television models equipped with generative artificial intelligence in stages from May 23. The televisions, expected to be priced between about 275,000 yen and 935,000 yen, will allow users to

Tokyo, May 14 (Jiji Press)–Hitoshi Kikawada, Japanese minister for gender equality policy, will visit Shanghai for two days from Thursday, the Japanese government said the same day. In the Chinese city, Kikawada will attend the Women and Economy Forum, a minister-level conference

(Adnkronos) – Ways of bolstering cooperation between Italy and Saudi Arabia including over the oil state’s multi-billion dollar Vision 2030 diversification blueprint and a bilateral strategic partnership signed last year were the focus of talks on Thursday between envoy Carlo Baldocci and

Tokyo, May 14 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi met with Ben Horowitz, co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz, a major U.S. venture capital firm, at the prime minister’s office in Tokyo on Thursday. During the meeting, Horowitz said that the firm, officially AH

Tokyo, May 14 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is planning to visit Britain and Italy ahead of a Group of Seven summit in France in June, government sources said Thursday. This will be Takaichi’s first visit to Europe since taking office

Tokyo, May 14 (Jiji Press)–A Japanese parliamentary panel on Thursday discussed a draft outline of an emergency clause that may be included in the Constitution as part of a planned amendment to the country’s fundamental law. The House of Representatives Commission on

(Adnkronos) – Italy has underlined its solidarity and wish to boost economic and political relations with Kuwait, which has come under repeated attack by Iran during the US-Israel war against the Islamic republic that began in late February and during the shaky

Tokyo, May 14 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will visit South Korea for two days from Tuesday to hold a summit meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung for better bilateral ties, the Japanese government said Thursday. Takaichi and Lee are

Tokyo, May 14 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s economy is projected to have grown at an annualized pace of 1.8 pct in the first three months of the year in inflation-adjusted real terms to mark the second consecutive quarter of expansion, according to average estimates

Tokyo, May 14 (Jiji Press)–The U.N. Development Program’s Africa director has said that African countries should lead the development of critical mineral resources, such as rare earths. In a recent interview with Jiji Press, Ahunna Eziakonwa, UNDP assistant administrator and regional director,

Tokyo, May 14 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Honda Motor Co. on Thursday reported a consolidated net loss of 423.9 billion yen in fiscal 2025, which ended in March this year, amid sluggish demand for electric vehicles in North America. Honda fell into the red

Tokyo, May 14 (Jiji Press)–An oil tanker owned by a group company of Japanese oil distributor Eneos Corp. has passed through the Strait of Hormuz, officials said Thursday. The Eneos Endeavor is expected to arrive in Japan late this month or early

Tokyo, May 14 (Jiji Press)–Bank of Japan policymaker Kazuyuki Masu said Thursday that the central bank should raise its policy interest rate as soon as possible unless the economy shows signs of slowing down. “If statistical data do not indicate clear signs

Tokyo, May 14 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average finished lower Thursday after rewriting its record intraday high in the morning, with some shares losing ground after their earnings announcements. The index of 225 select issues listed on the Tokyo Stock

(Adnkronos) – The former British deputy prime minister Angela Rayner has been cleared by tax authorities in relation to proceedings opened for wrongdoing concerning the payment of house taxes, a circumstance that could pave the way for her to run for the

(Adnkronos) – A Kyiv court has requested pre-trial detention for Andriy Yermak, the former powerful right-hand man of President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is accused of corruption. Local media report that the judges decided to place Yermak in pre-trial detention for 60 days

(Adnkronos) – China will “open its doors even wider” to the world. This is the promise Chinese leader Xi Jinping made while meeting with executives of major US companies during talks in Beijing on the occasion of Donald Trump’s visit. “China’s doors