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TOKYO - The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News. TOKYO - Japan is considering increasing overall defense spending by broadening the scope of what counts as "related" expenditures to include space projects and infrastructure initiatives undertaken by government agencies other than the Defense Ministry, sources familiar with the matter said Wednesday. The move is aimed at demonstrating Tokyo's determination to boost defense outlays amid China's military assertiveness and other security challenges, with U.S. President Donald Trump's administration hoping its Asian ally will shoulder more of the regional security burden. TOKYO - Japan's real wages in September fell 1.4 percent from a year earlier, marking the ninth straight month of decline, as pay hikes continued to lag behind persistent inflation, government data showed Thursday. Nominal wages, or the average monthly cash earnings per worker including base and overtime pay, increased 1.9 percent to 297,145 yen ($1,900), rising for the 45th consecutive month, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said. TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Wednesday pledged continued support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia's invasion during her first phone talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy since taking office last month. During the 30-minute conversation, Takaichi said Japan would continue supporting Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction and expressed strong backing for the war-torn nation's efforts to achieve a "just and lasting peace as soon as possible," according to the Foreign Ministry. U.S. Supreme Court appears skeptical of Trump's "reciprocal" tariffs WASHINGTON - U.S. Supreme Court justices on Wednesday appeared skeptical about the legality of President Donald Trump's sweeping "reciprocal" tariffs targeting imports from almost all countries. During lengthy oral arguments, even the court's conservative justices, whose views are close to Trump's Republican administration, cast doubt over whether the president was allowed to bypass Congress to execute the hefty tariffs. China to remove tariffs on U.S. farm imports Mon. following accord BEIJING - China said Wednesday it will remove up to 15 percent additional tariffs on U.S. farm imports next week following an accord on a trade truce reached between President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump in South Korea. The Chinese extra duties on American items such as soybeans, pork and corn, which were introduced in March, will be terminated on Monday, as Trump has signed an executive order to halve the 20 percent extra tariff on Chinese imports slapped over fentanyl beginning the same day. Over 80 dead after Typhoon Kalmaegi barrels through Philippines MANILA - At least 80 people were dead and 75 missing as of Wednesday evening after Typhoon Kalmaegi barreled through the central region of the Philippines, officials said. More than 570,000 people had been forced to flee their homes amid widespread flooding and other damage, with the resort island of Cebu heavily impacted and accounting for more than half of the reported fatalities, data from the Office of Civil Defense showed. AKITA, Japan - The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force on Wednesday began assisting the northeastern prefecture of Akita in its bear-culling operations, following a recent surge in attacks on people, by rendering logistical support. The GSDF signed an agreement with the prefectural government earlier in the day to provide support such as setting up and transporting box traps through Nov. 30, though its personnel will not be shooting bears themselves or even carrying firearms. China delays spacecraft return mission due to debris concern HONG KONG - China's space agency said Wednesday it has postponed the return mission of the Shenzhou-20 crewed spacecraft to Earth after the vessel was suspected of being struck by small space debris, according to state-run media reports. The return of the spacecraft carrying three astronauts was initially scheduled for Wednesday, following their six-month mission at China's Tiangong space station, the official Xinhua News Agency said. The incident occurred days after the trio were joined on board the space station by their replacement crew last week. Video: China International Import Expo opens
