Kyodo News Digest: June 13, 2025
KYODO NEWS - 3 minutes ago - 09:11 | All, World, Japan
The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Campaigning begins for Tokyo assembly vote, ahead of upper house race
TOKYO - Official campaigning for the Tokyo metropolitan assembly election kicked off Friday, drawing attention as a prelude to this summer's House of Councillors race, with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's popularity remaining sluggish.
As no party holds a majority in the 127-member assembly, all eyes are on whether Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party can retain its seats, with approval ratings for his Cabinet sometimes dipping below 30 percent, widely viewed as the "danger level."
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Trump says U.S. Steel controlled by him with "golden share"
WASHINGTON - The United States has a "golden share" in United States Steel Corp., President Donald Trump said Thursday, adding it will be controlled by him after Nippon Steel Corp.'s massive investment in the iconic American producer.
"We have a golden share, which I control, or a president controls. Now I'm a little concerned whoever the president might be, but that gives you total control," Trump said at a White House event.
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Over 290 feared dead in India plane crash, 1 survives: reports
NEW DELHI - More than 290 people are believed to have been killed after a London-bound Air India plane crashed shortly after takeoff Thursday in a residential area of the western Indian city of Ahmedabad, Reuters and other media reported.
The Boeing 787-8, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members, was bound for London's Gatwick Airport, the media said, adding that aside from one known survivor, a British passenger, all were feared dead hours after the accident. The aircraft went down five minutes after takeoff at 1:38 p.m. in the Meghani Nagar area.
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Japan conveys strong concern over China jet flying close to SDF plane
TOKYO - The Japanese government said Thursday it has conveyed to China its "serious concern" after a Chinese fighter jet flew unusually close to a Self-Defense Forces patrol plane over the Pacific in the weekend, warning that such activities carry the risk of collisions.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said Japan has demanded that China take steps to prevent similar incidents from happening again, while the top uniformed officer of the SDF said the Chinese fighter "intentionally approached" the Japanese plane.
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G7 summit to open Monday, a day later than planned: Canada official
NEW YORK - The upcoming Group of Seven summit will open Monday in Canada, a day later than planned, a senior official of the host country said Thursday.
The official also hinted that leaders from the major industrial countries will try to adopt shorter, topic-based statements rather than a comprehensive declaration at the end of the forum, which will officially run through Tuesday in Kananaskis.
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Trump says he may raise auto tariffs in near future
WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday he may raise tariffs on auto imports in the near future in a bid to attract more investment in American manufacturing.
"I might go up with that tariff in the not-too-distant future. The higher you go, the more likely it is they build a plant here," Trump said at an event at the White House.
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Japan SDF to resume trainer jet flights after fatal crash in May
TOKYO - The Air Self-Defense Force will resume flights of its T-4 training jets as early as Friday, following a month-long suspension after a fatal crash in central Japan, the ASDF chief of staff said.
Although the cause of the May 14 crash that killed two crew members has yet to be determined, Gen. Hiroaki Uchikura said at a press conference Thursday that T-4 aircraft will be allowed to fly once their safety is confirmed.
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Taiwan gives China captain 3-yr jail term for undersea cable damage
TAIPEI - A Taiwanese court on Thursday handed down a three-year jail term to the captain of a Chinese-crewed vessel for damaging an undersea cable between Taiwan's main island and its outlying Penghu island group in February.
The Taiwan Tainan District Court found that the captain of the Hong Tai 58, sailing under a Togolese flag with a crew of eight mainland Chinese, had instructed crew members to release the ship's anchor while at sea in an area near the undersea cable, and allowed the vessel to sail in a zigzag pattern.
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Kyodo News Digest: June 13, 2025
KYODO NEWS - 1 hour ago - 23:00 | All, World, Japan The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News. ---------- Japan hopes for special treatment as Trump hints at auto tariff hike TOKYO - Japan expects to be treated differently to other countries once it clinches a deal with the United States on tariffs, Tokyo's top negotiator said Friday, after U.S. President Donald Trump signaled a further rise in import levies on cars. "Once bilateral negotiations are finalized, I think Japan will be given special treatment separate from the rule that applies to most countries," Ryosei Akazawa said at Tokyo's Haneda airport prior to his departure for the United States for the sixth round of ministerial-level tariff negotiations. ---------- Over 260 dead in Air India plane crash: reports NEW DELHI - The total number of people killed when a London-bound Air India plane crashed into a residential area in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad has passed 260, local media reported Friday. A day after the crash, which killed 241 passengers and crew aboard, it was confirmed that one passenger had survived. ---------- Ishiba, Trump likely to speak by phone Fri. night: source TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and U.S. President Donald Trump are expected to speak over the telephone on Friday night, a Japanese government source said. The phone call would come before Japan's top negotiator Ryosei Akazawa is slated to hold another round of tariff talks with U.S. officials in Washington. ---------- Japan sets 1% wage growth target to spur economy in new policy plan TOKYO - The Japanese government on Friday approved a policy blueprint focused on wage hikes, setting a target of approximately 1 percent real pay growth annually over a five-year period to encourage consumer spending and sustain economic growth. The latest economic and fiscal policy plan, endorsed by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's Cabinet, outlined a goal of raising Japan's gross domestic product to 1,000 trillion yen ($7 trillion) by around 2040, up from its current level of 600 trillion yen. ---------- China blaming Japan for close air encounters "unacceptable": defense chief TOKYO - Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said Friday it is "unacceptable" that China has blamed Japan for close encounters between Chinese fighter jets and Japanese defense patrol planes over the high seas in the Pacific last weekend. Nakatani's remarks at a press conference came a day after Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said the Japanese side "came close and spied on China's normal military activities," demanding Japan stop such "dangerous actions." ---------- Japan condemns Israel's attack on Iran for "escalating situation" TOKYO - Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said Friday that Japan "strongly condemns" Israel's attack on nuclear and military sites in Iran for "escalating the situation," while pledging necessary diplomatic efforts to prevent a further deterioration. Iwaya told a press conference that it is "extremely regrettable" that Israel took military action despite continuing talks between Washington and Tehran toward a peaceful resolution, demanding that all parties should exercise "utmost restraint." ---------- Japan to ban reselling of rice as cheap stockpiles hit shelves TOKYO - The government decided on Friday to prohibit the reselling of rice purchased at retail shops to ensure that rice reserves recently released at lower prices will stably reach consumers. Under the ban, which will take effect June 23, those who sell rice at a higher price than they paid at supermarkets and online shops will face up to one year in prison, a fine of up to 1 million yen ($6,960), or both. ---------- Japan parliament OKs pension reform law to ensure more contributions TOKYO - Japan's parliament on Friday enacted a pension reform law that will scrap a 1.06 million yen ($7,400) annual income threshold blamed for prompting part-timers to limit their work hours, while opening the way for a future boost to basic pension benefits. The enactment came as a result of a last-minute compromise by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who heads a minority government, as the ruling coalition decided to accept a demand by the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, a major opposition force, to include a pledge to consider boosting the basic pension benefits in the future. Video: Canadian icebreaker Sir Wilfrid Laurier makes special port call during Osaka Expo
