The actions include support to boost domestic production, alternative procurement and to help technological developments to reduce use of the materials

The boom started after March 21 when South Korea lifted a seven-day mandatory quarantine for fully vaccinated travellers arriving from most countries

Output rose 0.1% in February from the previous month, data showed, as growing production of vehicles and transport equipment offset a decline in chemicals

While oil prices have slipped from the highs seen earlier from Russia’s war in Ukraine, a weakening yen is likely to keep upward pressure on imported fuel costs

The ban on Russia-bound precious metal reflects Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's resolve to impose further sanctions against the country

The launch is the first such test since South Korea and the US agreed last year to end decades of restrictions on Seoul's ballistic missile and rocket development

The government lifted coronavirus restrictions but households remain guarded about rising prices, which have been driven by the Ukraine war and the yen's sharp weakening

A soft yen was long seen as a boon to Japan's economy, but the country may need to rethink a fundamental assumption of its economic approach

Japan and the US agreed to keep in close contact on currency issues, Japan's top currency diplomat said on Tuesday after the yen's decline to six-year lows against the dollar

Firms in South Korea face the risk of delayed payments from Russian owners, as Seoul has supported sanctions that ban major Russian banks from the Swift International payments network

Yokohama Rubber said on Friday it plans to pay 265 billion yen ($2.18 billion) for all outstanding shares in Sweden's Trelleborg Wheel Systems, as it moves to expand its business

While the BOJ had made no decision yet whether to issue its own digital currency, its governor told parliament it was proceeding with experiments