The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
-----------
Japan's ruling bloc approves next-gen fighter jet exports
TOKYO - Japan's ruling parties agreed Friday to relax the country's strict defense equipment transfer rules to allow the export of next-generation fighter jets set to be jointly developed with Britain and Italy, senior party members said.
Kisaburo Tokai and Yosuke Takagi, the Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner the Komeito party's respective policy chiefs, told reporters that they shared and understood "the necessity" of making the fighter jets available for export at a meeting earlier in the day.
----------
Nissan, Honda begin EV tie-up talks amid competition from Tesla, BYD
TOKYO - Nissan Motor Co. and Honda Motor Co. said Friday they have agreed to start a feasibility study for a strategic partnership in electric vehicle production and software technologies in a bid to cut costs and improve competitiveness in the face of powerful overseas rivals such as Tesla Inc. and China's BYD Co.
The Japanese automakers are considering collaborating on EV components, including electric drive systems, and the development of software as well as complementing their respective product line-ups, they said.
----------
3 lower house by-elections to be held on April 28
TOKYO - Three by-elections to fill vacant seats in the House of Representatives will be held on April 28, it was announced Friday, with a political funds scandal eroding public trust in Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
Official campaigning for the first national elections since the funds scandal was unveiled late last year is scheduled to start on April 16, with approval ratings for Kishida's Cabinet having plunged to their lowest levels since it was launched in October 2021.
----------
Japan court allows aging Fukui nuclear reactor to continue operations
OSAKA - A Japanese court on Friday decided a nuclear reactor that started running over 40 years ago in central Japan could continue operations, upholding a lower court ruling that rejected residents' calls to halt the unit over safety concerns.
The Osaka High Court decided against an injunction to halt the No. 3 unit of Kansai Electric Power Co.'s Mihama power plant in Fukui Prefecture, saying the court believes it poses "no specific danger."
----------
No evidence of reported SDF chopper crash found in Oita Prefecture
OITA, Japan - Firefighters in Oita Prefecture received a report Friday that a Self-Defense Forces helicopter had crashed, but after conducting a search the government of the southwestern Japan prefecture found no evidence of an accident.
The Joint Staff Office also said it has confirmed the status of all SDF aircraft and has received no reports of an accident.
----------
Baseball: Shohei Ohtani shares 1st photo with wife before Seoul Series
INCHEON, South Korea - Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers shared a photo of his wife on social media for the first time Friday as the team boarded a plane bound for Seoul ahead of the two-game, season-opening series against the San Diego Padres.
The Dodgers posted the photo of the two-way star on their official X account with the woman identified as Ohtani's "wife" in the caption.
----------
Japan Cabinet OKs new foreign trainee program to promote longer stays
TOKYO - Japan's Cabinet approved Friday bills to reform the controversial foreign trainee program as the aging country seeks to encourage foreign workers to stay longer through a new system focused on developing skills and protecting rights.
Likely to start in 2027, the new program would allow trainees to switch workplaces in the same industry on certain conditions and gain skills needed for transitioning to a system that opens a path to permanent residency.
----------
Sumo: Terunofuji loses 3rd in row, prospects Onosato, Takerufuji lead
OSAKA - Yokozuna Terunofuji fell to his third straight defeat at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament on Friday as the highly touted Onosato and Takerufuji kept their perfect records to share the lead after six days.
Terunofuji (2-4) opened with a right-handed slap to the face of No. 3 maegashira Takanosho (2-4) but to little effect, and quickly found himself on the back foot at Edion Arena Osaka. The rank-and-filer swung the body of the grand champion before driving forward and Terunofuji had no strength to stay inside the ring.
Video: Bowlers in Pyongyang
