TOKYO - The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Japan eases arms export rules to enable weapons sales
TOKYO - The Japanese government revised limits on defense equipment exports Tuesday to enable the sale of weapons overseas, its top spokesman said, as it seeks to boost security cooperation with partner countries.
The changes, approved by the Cabinet and the National Security Council, mark a significant shift in defense policy for a country that has touted itself as a "peace-loving nation" under its war-renouncing Constitution since its defeat in World War II.
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Japan PM sends offering to war-linked Yasukuni shrine for spring rite
TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sent a ritual offering to Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo on Tuesday as the shrine, viewed by China and South Korea as a symbol of Japan's wartime militarism, started its three-day spring festival.
Takaichi, who regularly visited the shrine before taking office last October, is unlikely to do so during the festival this time, a source close to her said, as worsened ties with China following her November remarks on how Japan might respond to a Taiwan emergency show little sign of improvement.
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3 SDF members dead after explosion during training in southwestern Japan
OITA, Japan - The unintentional explosion of a tank shell at the Ground Self-Defense Force's training range in southwestern Japan left three of its members dead and another member injured on Tuesday, the GSDF said.
The accident occurred at around 8:40 a.m. during a tank exercise at the GSDF's Hijudai training range in Oita Prefecture. A tank shell exploded before it was fired.
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Haneda airport experiences traffic control glitch, flights delayed
TOKYO - Haneda airport in Tokyo suffered a glitch in its air traffic control system on Tuesday morning, causing flight delays and cancelations, the transport ministry said.
The trouble, which occurred at around 7:15 a.m., appears to have prevented transmissions of Haneda's flight plans to other airports in the country, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism said.
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Nearly 750 km of Japan's corroded sewer pipes require action
TOKYO - A total of 748 kilometers of sewer pipes across Japan were found to require repairs or other action due to severe corrosion or damage, the government revealed Tuesday, based on municipal inspections.
Just over a quarter, or 201 km, were identified as requiring urgent measures within one year as of the end of February, according to inspections requested by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. These locations span all prefectures except Yamanashi.
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Japan to invest 1 trillion yen into recycling metals, plastics by 2030
TOKYO - Japan plans to invest around 1 trillion yen ($6.3 billion) by 2030 to develop a circular economy for recycling resources such as metals and plastics, an action plan compiled by the government showed Tuesday.
The initiative, which would see investment sourced from both the public and private sectors, also aims to reduce Japan's reliance on overseas resources and contribute to the country's economic security.
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Baseball: Ohtani extends on-base streak to 52 games in win over Rockies
DENVER - Two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani logged his 52nd consecutive game reaching base safely on Monday, extending the longest streak by a Japanese-born major leaguer and closing in on the Los Angeles Dodgers franchise record in a 12-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies.
Ohtani, who also owns the longest active streak in Major League Baseball, continued his bid for history with a third-inning single to right field off Rockies starting pitcher Jose Quintana (0-2).
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Football: Kobe eliminated from ACLE with semifinal loss to Al Ahli
JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia - Yoshinori Muto gave Vissel Kobe the lead in the 31st minute, but second-half goals from Galeno and Ivan Toney secured Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli a 2-1 victory over the Japanese side in the Asian Champions League Elite semifinals on Monday.
Michael Skibbe's Kobe were aiming to reach their first continental final at the expense of defending champions Al Ahli, featuring former Manchester City playmaker Riyad Mahrez and ex-Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy among several big names at King Abdullah Sports City Hall Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
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VIDEO: M7.7 quake jolts northeastern Japan
