TOKYO - The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Typhoon Jangmi makes landfall in Japan's Wakayama Prefecture
TOKYO - Typhoon Jangmi made landfall in the southern part of Wakayama Prefecture in western Japan on Wednesday morning after dumping rain along the Pacific Ocean side of the country's southwest and west, the weather agency said.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a level 5 flood danger warning, the highest, for Koza River at the southern tip of the prefecture, calling on residents in nearby areas to exercise maximum caution as the river has already started to overflow its banks.
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Rubio says preserving "status quo" is most important for Taiwan's future
WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated Tuesday that there has been no change in Washington's policy toward Taiwan, stressing that preserving the "status quo" is the best way to ensure stability around the self-ruled democratic island.
Rubio's assurance in testimony before a congressional panel came after President Donald Trump said last month that arms sales to Taiwan could be "a very good negotiating chip" in his dealings with China, raising anxieties among U.S. allies in Asia.
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Taiwan seeks consultation with Japan, Philippines on maritime talks
TAIPEI - Taiwan on Tuesday urged Japan and the Philippines to consult with it over their planned maritime boundary negotiations, saying the area involved overlaps with waters where it has rights and interests.
"We will urge both sides to take this fact into full consideration during the process, and not to exclude or harm Taiwan's rights and interests," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hsiao Kuang-wei said at a regular press briefing in Taipei.
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INTERVIEW: Palau pres. defends Taiwan ties amid China pressure, eyes Japan cooperation
TOKYO - The president of Palau on Tuesday defended his small Pacific island nation's diplomatic ties with Taiwan amid pressure from China and called for closer cooperation with Japan on economic development, maritime security and ocean conservation.
In an interview with Kyodo News in Tokyo, Surangel Whipps, co-chairing an international conference of island nations from Wednesday, said small island nations must be free to choose their own international partners.
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Families of Tiananmen victims barred from visiting cemetery: report
BEIJING - Families of those killed in the Chinese military's 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Beijing's Tiananmen Square have been barred from visiting a cemetery to pay respects to their loved ones ahead of the 37th anniversary later this week, U.S. media reported Tuesday.
Radio Free Asia said the Beijing municipal public security bureau issued a notice to members of the Tiananmen Mothers, a group of victims' relatives, prohibiting them from holding a memorial ceremony at Beijing's Wan'an Cemetery on Thursday, reading eulogies or publishing memorial photos.
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Japan PM office starts new social media account amid press access concerns
TOKYO - The Japanese government said Tuesday it will formally launch a social media account covering Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's activities following a month-long trial, amid concerns the premier speaks to the press less than her predecessors.
The account on X is intended to communicate more "flexibly" through content, including candid photos from official engagements and updates from events not open to the press. It has also commented on news reports about the administration and posted messages to foreign dignitaries.
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Calbee rolls out monochrome snack packaging amid ink supply worries
TOKYO - Major Japanese snack maker Calbee Inc. began selling its Kappa Ebisen shrimp crackers in black-and-white packaging this week in Tokyo, a move in response to uncertainty over supplies of oil-derived naphtha stemming from the Middle East conflict.
At a supermarket on Monday, the monochrome Kappa Ebisen bags -- stamped with the words "oil-saving package" -- appeared on the shelves alongside snacks in colorful packaging.
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Japan eyes stricter social media age checks to protect youths
TOKYO - Japan must strengthen the responsibilities of social media operators by requiring them to perform stricter age verification and restrict some features, but a blanket age-based ban, such as those seen in other countries, may not be appropriate, a government panel said Tuesday.
A draft report prepared by the panel of the communications ministry outlined measures to protect underage social media users, aiming to reduce youth dependency on such services to mitigate the burden on their mental and physical health.
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Video: Bear appears in Fukuoka
