The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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90-day reprieve from U.S. reciprocal tariffs "positive": Japan
TOKYO - U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to pause his so-called reciprocal tariffs for 90 days is a "positive development," Japan's top government spokesman said Thursday, though Tokyo will continue to urge Washington to roll back other tariff measures.
The abrupt reprieve, announced by Trump hours after reciprocal tariffs on U.S.-bound shipments took effect on Wednesday, gave financial markets immediate relief, with the Nikkei stock index rebounding sharply in Tokyo.
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Nikkei ends over 2,800 points higher, 2nd-biggest rise in history
TOKYO - The Nikkei stock index ended Thursday with its second-biggest point gain in history, over 2,800 points, as excessive concerns eased after U.S. President Donald Trump vowed to pause some tariffs imposed on trading partners, including Japan.
The benchmark 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average rose 2,894.97 points, or 9.13 percent, from Wednesday to close at 34,609.00. The broader Topix index was up 190.07 points, or 8.09 percent, at 2,539.40.
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China imposes 84% retaliatory tariffs on U.S. as trade war escalates
BEIJING - China on Thursday imposed retaliatory tariffs of 84 percent on all U.S. goods after President Donald Trump raised total U.S. duties on all Chinese items to 125 percent in a further escalation of the trade war between the world's two largest economies.
The measure was unveiled Wednesday evening as Beijing warned it would "fight till the end" if the United States imposed additional trade imposts. The Asian powerhouse originally planned to slap new duties of 34 percent in response to the United States' so-called reciprocal tariffs but increased the rate in a tit-for-tat move.
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Japan, Britain PMs discuss impact of U.S. tariffs on economy, trade
TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and his British counterpart Keir Starmer on Thursday held "extensive" and "in-depth" discussions on economic issues, the Japanese government said, amid concerns over the impact of U.S. tariffs on economic growth and trade.
During a roughly 30-minute telephone conversation, Ishiba and Starmer agreed to continue cooperating in tackling global challenges, as they touched on the situation in Ukraine along with other topics related to Europe and the Indo-Pacific.
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Japan to conduct 1st domestic land-to-ship missile training in June
TOKYO - Japan will conduct its first-ever surface-to-ship missile training within the country in June, the Ground Self-Defense Force said Thursday, amid efforts to beef up its defense capabilities in the face of China's assertiveness in the region.
During the exercise, the GSDF will use Type-88 guided missiles aimed at targets at sea, fitting them with inert practice rounds that do not explode on impact.
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S. Korea's opposition front-runner Lee launches presidential bid
SEOUL - Lee Jae Myung, the front-runner in South Korea's upcoming presidential election according to opinion polls, announced his candidacy for the race Thursday, a day after he resigned as leader of the main opposition Democratic Party.
In a video message, Lee said he hopes to create a world that "allows people to live not just a life free of suffering but a truly happier life," stressing that he will address the concentration of wealth if elected.
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Japan, U.S. to hold patrol in Okinawa after sexual assault cases
NAHA, Japan - U.S. forces and Japanese police will hold a joint patrol in Okinawa Prefecture next week after a number of sexual assault cases involving U.S. military personnel came to light last year, a Japanese government source said Thursday.
The first joint patrol is scheduled for the night of April 18 in the city of Okinawa and will be the first such patrol in the southern island prefecture since 1974. Local government officials and residents will also participate.
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Google's Waymo to begin data collection in Tokyo for autonomous taxis
TOKYO - Waymo LLC, the self-driving vehicle unit of Google parent firm Alphabet Inc., said Thursday it will begin collecting data for running autonomous taxis in Tokyo during manned test rides from next week, in its first public trials outside the United States.
A fleet of 25 vehicles equipped with cameras and radar will collect map data on Tokyo's streets to assist in developing an autonomous driving system tailored to Japan's traffic laws. One of the cars was demonstrated to the press in central Tokyo.
Video: Japanese transport aircraft carrying medical relief supplies arrives in Mandalay
