The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
Foreign visitors to Japan top 3 mil. in March, single-month record
TOKYO - The number of foreign visitors to Japan soared 69.5 percent from a year earlier to over 3.08 million in March, the first time the tally exceeded the 3 million mark in a single month, boosted by tourists drawn to cherry blossoms and by Easter holidaymakers, government data showed Wednesday.
The amount of money spent by overseas travelers in the country also grew to a record 1.75 trillion yen ($11.3 billion) for the January- March quarter, the highest ever for a three-month period, on the back of a weak yen, according to the Japan Tourism Agency.
----------
Record exports cut Japan's FY 2023 trade deficit to 5.89 tril. yen
TOKYO - Japan's trade deficit in fiscal 2023 shrank around 70 percent from a year earlier to 5.89 trillion yen ($38 billion), as robust U.S.-bound auto shipments lifted overall exports to a record high, government data showed Wednesday.
The resource-poor nation has seen a drop in the value of energy imports in recent months, while the continued growth of exports to the United States has helped to offset slackening demand from China.
----------
U.S. seeks tripling of tariff rate on steel imports from China
WASHINGTON - The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden said Wednesday it will seek to triple the tariff rate on steel and aluminum imports from China, in an attempt to deal with what it sees as its "unfair practices" and protect American workers.
Senior administration officials said Biden will touch on the plan when he delivers a speech in the afternoon at the United Steelworkers headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a key battleground state in the presidential election in November.
----------
G7 foreign ministers to condemn Iran's attack on Israel
CAPRI, Italy - The Group of Seven foreign ministers will strongly criticize Iran's missile and drone attack on Israel and vow to make efforts to defuse the tense situation in the Middle East at a meeting this week, a diplomatic source said Wednesday.
In a communique to be issued Friday when the G7 ministers wrap up their three-day talks on the Italian island of Capri, they will "unequivocally condemn in the strongest terms Iran's direct and unprecedented attack" against Israel and show their "full solidarity and support" to it, according to the source.
----------
Football: Marinos edged 1-0 at Ulsan in ACL semifinal 1st leg
ULSAN, South Korea - Yokohama F Marinos went down 1-0 away to South Korea's Ulsan Hyundai on Wednesday in the first leg of the Asian Champions League semifinals.
Making their first appearance at this stage of the competition, the 2022 J-League champions Marinos had plenty of shots but lacked a cutting edge against the two-time reigning K League champions at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium.
----------
Toyota to recall over 130,000 Prius hybrid cars due to door glitch
TOKYO - Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday it is recalling a total of 135,305 units of the Prius hybrid car in Japan, citing a rear door handle glitch.
The automaker said it would halt production and stop taking orders at its dealerships until it is ready to resolve the issue. The company notified Japan's transport ministry of the recall plan the same day.
----------
Japan, South Korean leaders agree to deepen ties, including with U.S.
TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol agreed during phone talks Wednesday to further promote bilateral and trilateral cooperation together with the United States, following his recent visit to Washington.
Kishida also said he affirmed with Yoon on the close communication between the two countries, including at the leader level, in the first such call after the South Korean leader's ruling party suffered a crushing setback in a general election on April 10.
----------
Reactor fitting falls off at quake-hit central Japan nuclear plant
TOKYO - A metal fitting used on a reactor at the Shika nuclear power plant has fallen off, apparently affected by a strong earthquake that struck central Japan in January, according to a report presented at a regulator meeting Wednesday.
The part had been used to secure a metal tube covering a system responsible for driving the control rods in the No. 1 reactor at the plant in Ishikawa Prefecture, hit by the magnitude-7.6 quake on New Year's Day.
----------
Reports of violence, abuse of power in sports hit record 485 in 2023
TOKYO - A total of 485 complaints about violence and abuse of power were reported in fiscal 2023, a record high since the statistic began to be kept in 2014, the Japan Sport Association said Wednesday.
The JSA's analysis concluded that the figure, up 30 percent from 2022's record of 373, is due to the association's campaign to curb harassment in sports and a growing awareness of the consultation services it provides.
Video: Honda takes aim at China's EV market with new models
