NHK has learned that the Japanese government plans to create a fund aimed at boosting the international competitiveness of the nation's universities.
The money will be for nurturing young researchers and improving facilities.
Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide says the government will establish a fund of 2 trillion yen, or over 19 billion dollars, to reduce the nation's greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.
He made the announcement at a news conference on Friday.
Former Japanese prime minister Abe Shinzo says he will cooperate with the investigation into alleged political funding violations involving his support group.
Abe spoke to news reporters on Friday about the allegation that the group shouldered part of the costs of annual parties for his supporters.
NHK has learned that hotels in Tokyo where supporters of former prime minister Abe Shinzo attended parties issued receipts annually to a fund management group that he headed.
Abe's supporters gathered for the parties on the eve of his annual cherry blossom viewing events.
Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu has pledged that Japan will contribute one million dollars to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to help fight the coronavirus pandemic.
Motegi took part in an online meeting on Wednesday with his counterparts from the 10-member ASEAN, China and South Korea.
TOKYO — Nissan is likely to pull out from a venture capital fund it runs with alliance partners Renault and Mitsubishi Motors, as part of the Japanese automaker's drive to cut costs and conserve cash, two sources said.
Nissan will formally take a decision on whether to leave the fund, Alliance Ventures, by the end of this month, the two Nissan insiders told Reuters, declining to be identified because the information has not been made public.
A powerful activist investor has built a stake in SoftBank Group, potentially pressing the Japanese tech giant to make changes to boost its share value.
US media say Elliott Management has amassed a 2.5-billion-dollar-stake in SoftBank Group.That's about 3 percent of the Japanese firm's shares.