Japan’s competition watchdog has ordered Google to stop unfairly pressuring smartphone makers to preinstall its search and browser apps in violation of antitrust law. The move comes as the country seeks to boost competition and protect consumers.
In other news, Japan plans to spend 1.8% of its GDP on defense in 2025, with a target of 2% by fiscal 2027. Defense spending will total 9.9 trillion yen ($70 billion) this year.
Additionally, Japan’s tariff negotiator is set to visit the US for talks from Wednesday, while a government panel has proposed using more tariff-free imported rice for human consumption rather than animal feed.
China has condemned the US over suspected cyberattacks during the Asian Winter Games, and three alleged US National Security Agency agents have been put on a wanted list. The Japanese government is also mourning the death of former US official Richard Armitage.
The country’s prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, kicked off a series of summit-level meetings with foreign dignitaries visiting the World Exposition in Osaka. Finally, three men and a woman have been arrested for allegedly selling explicit AI-created posters via online auctions in Japan.
Source: https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/04/2d04ca5f9a9d-kyodo-news-digest-april-14-2025.html