TOKYO - The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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China may have taken issue with Japan workers' processed rare-earth items
BEIJING - Chinese customs authorities may have taken issue with attempts by two Japanese workers of Fuji Electric Co. to ship abroad processed rare-earth items amid China's tighter export controls on such products, sources familiar with the matter said Thursday.
The two were detained separately in May in the northeastern port city of Dalian for allegedly violating a Chinese law regarding the smuggling of prohibited imports or exports.
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Over 10 injured as M7.2 quake hits northeastern Japan, traffic disrupted
TOKYO - An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.2 struck northeastern Japan on Thursday, injuring more than 10 people, disrupting bullet train services and forcing schools to temporarily close.
There was no danger of a tsunami from the 7:30 a.m. quake that occurred off the Pacific coast of Iwate Prefecture at a depth of 44 kilometers, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. It measured upper 6 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 in Hashikami and lower 6 in Hachinohe, both in Aomori Prefecture.
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Over 10 taken to hospital after school bus, vehicles collide in Osaka Pref.
OSAKA - More than 10 people were taken to the hospital Thursday after a multi-vehicle collision involving a school bus in Osaka Prefecture, western Japan, with its driver being arrested, local authorities said.
Police said those sent to hospital suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Takashi Chichikawa, 67, was arrested on the spot on suspicion of negligent driving causing injury.
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Taiwan legislative speaker seeks U.S. backing as he meets with lawmakers
TAIPEI - Taiwan Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu attended a reception in Washington on Wednesday with over 30 bipartisan U.S. lawmakers and called for continued support from Congress for the self-ruled island's participation in international organizations, according to his office.
Han told the reception that Taiwan is "a beacon of democracy" in the Chinese-speaking world but "remains relatively isolated and faces a difficult international situation," according to a statement from the Legislative Yuan. Participants of the event included former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
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Japan aims to double women in STEM by 2040, provide subsidies to schools
TOKYO - The Japanese government said Thursday that it will aim to double the proportion of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields by 2040 and provide aid to universities actively working to improve gender parity.
The 2026 basic policies on gender equality highlighted labor shortages in science and engineering and the lack of female representation in 17 strategic fields the government has designated for investment, including semiconductors and artificial intelligence.
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Police begin DNA testing of remains from 1942 western Japan mine accident
OSAKA - Yamaguchi prefectural police have begun DNA tests on remains of victims of a 1942 undersea coal mine accident off western Japan that killed 47 Japanese and 136 Koreans, the prefectural police chief said Thursday.
Taishi Akimoto told the prefectural assembly that the police, who have preserved the recovered remains, last week handed samples to South Korean government officials for DNA analysis.
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Sony to end sales of aibo dog robot in Japan
TOKYO - Sony Group Corp. said Thursday it will stop selling its iconic aibo dog robot in Japan once stocks run out, as part of a "review" to optimize the company's future business services.
Sony will continue to offer necessary services, including providing replacement parts and repairs, while continuing to market the interactive, artificial intelligence-equipped pet robot in the United States.
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Gov't to expand probe on condo transactions to foreigners residing in Japan
TOKYO - The Japanese government plans to expand its probe into the buying and selling of condominiums by foreigners to those residing in the country in fiscal 2027 or later, sources familiar with the matter said Thursday.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism for the first time conducted a survey last year on condominium transactions in major metropolitan areas involving people who have their addresses abroad, amid concerns that speculative purchases by foreign buyers were driving up condominium prices.
