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The “blue pond” in Biei in Hokkaido, northern Japan, is lit up on Nov. 13, 2024. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Japan PM leaves for South America to attend APEC, G20 summits
TOKYO – Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba embarked Thursday on his first trip to South America since taking office, where he will attend summits of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Peru and the Group of 20 economies in Brazil.
On the fringes of the gatherings, Ishiba, who became prime minister on Oct. 1, plans to hold talks with his counterparts from China, South Korea and the United States, among other countries.
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Japan, Britain to launch economic version of “two-plus-two” talks
TOKYO – Japan and Britain are considering to launch an economic version of the “two-plus-two” talks, a ministerial framework focused on foreign and security affairs, sources familiar with the matter said Thursday, ahead of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House next year.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and his British counterpart Keir Starmer are expected to discuss the idea of a new framework when they meet on the sidelines of the Group of 20 economies’ two-day summit from Monday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, according to the sources.
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Biden-Xi farewell talks set for Lima on Nov. 16 with Trump in the wings
WASHINGTON – U.S. President Joe Biden will hold a farewell meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Lima on Saturday on the sidelines of an annual multilateral summit, senior administration officials said, as deep differences remain over a range of issues ahead of Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
It will be their first in-person meeting in a year, with the U.S. officials saying Wednesday that Biden will take stock of efforts during his time in office to “responsibly manage” the intense competition between the two countries so as to prevent it from veering into confrontation or conflict.
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Japan rules out ending death penalty despite panel’s call for review
TOKYO – The Japanese government on Thursday ruled out abolishing the death penalty, rejecting calls by domestic legal experts for a review amid international pressure to end executions.
“The government thinks it is not appropriate to abolish” the death penalty, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told a press conference. “The death penalty is unavoidable for a person who has committed an extremely grave and atrocious crime.”
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Japan extra Diet session eyed for Nov. 28 to pass budget
TOKYO – An extraordinary parliamentary session will likely begin on Nov. 28 to allow for deliberation on a supplementary budget needed to fund new inflation-relief measures proposed by the government of Japanese Prime Mister Shigeru Ishiba, an administration official said Thursday.
The government plans to provide cash handouts — likely 30,000 yen ($194) each to low-income households exempt from resident tax, and an extra 20,000 yen per child to child-rearing families — and give subsidies to lower energy prices, in its latest bid to ease the pain of inflation.
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Palau’s Surangel Whipps eyes U.S. defense system after China missile test
KOROR, Palau – Palau’s reelected President Surangel Whipps said Tuesday he may ask the United States for a Patriot missile defense system, citing a recent Chinese missile test as a “direct threat” to the Pacific island nation.
Under the Compact of Free Association, an agreement allowing U.S. funding and military access to Palau, Whipps, 56, said the United States is responsible for defending his country of around 18,000 people.
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Trump taps Sen. Rubio, “friend” to U.S. allies, as secretary of state
WASHINGTON – U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said Wednesday he will nominate Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, a prominent hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, for secretary of state, calling him a “true friend” to Washington’s allies.
Rubio, who has served in the Senate since 2011, has advocated reinforcing U.S.-Japan relations in the face of increased security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region posed by China and North Korea.
Video: The “blue pond” in Biei, Hokkaido
