Blast at auto parts plant in Toyota city kills one
An explosion at Chuo Spring Co.'s plant in Toyota, Japan, has resulted in one death and two injuries, officials reported on Thursday.
Toyota has signed a $2 billion deal to build a wholly-owned electric vehicle plant in Shanghai, as the Japanese automaker strengthens its position in China’s growing EV market during heightened US-China trade tensions.
Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corporation has signed a $2 billion agreement to establish a fully-owned electric vehicle (EV) plant in Shanghai, state media reported on Tuesday. The announcement comes as trade tensions between the United States and China escalate, with tariffs impacting key industries, including automotive and metals.
Toyota reached the deal with the Shanghai municipal government, aiming to enhance its presence in the world’s largest automotive market. According to Beijing-based Xinhua News, the company will invest a total of 14.6 billion yuan (approximately $2 billion) in the new energy vehicle (NEV) project based in Shanghai’s Jinshan district.
The project will focus on the research, development, production, and sales of Lexus-branded EVs and electric vehicle batteries. It follows a similar move by Tesla, which established its Shanghai Gigafactory in the city.
Tatsuro Ueda, chief executive officer of the China Region and chairman of Toyota Motor (China) Investment, said the initiative would introduce advanced technologies, contributing to a leading carbon neutrality model with global influence.
Construction of the plant is scheduled to begin in June, with production expected to start in 2027. While Toyota did not confirm production capacity details on Tuesday, earlier estimates in February suggested an initial output of around 100,000 units per year. The project is expected to create roughly 1,000 new jobs during its early phase.
The announcement follows Honda Motor’s decision to relocate parts of its production to the United States, as Japanese companies adjust to avoid a 24% tariff imposed by the Trump administration. The tariff policy affects automotive, steel, and aluminum products, while negotiations between Tokyo and Washington continue after a 90-day tariff reprieve for all nations except China.
As the US has raised tariffs on Chinese imports to as high as 245%, Beijing has responded with tariffs reaching up to 125% on American goods.
Iranian missiles struck multiple locations across Israel and neighbouring regions early Friday morning, including a Microsoft office complex, according to emergency responders and local media reports.
A high-speed tram derailment in central Gothenburg, Sweden, has left at least eight people injured late on Thursday (19 June), after the vehicle slammed into a snack bar on Avenyn Avenue.
China has unveiled a mosquito-sized bionic drone designed for covert military operations and battlefield reconnaissance, marking a major advance in micro-robotics and stealth technology as part of the country’s growing focus on next-generation warfare capabilities.
The 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit was held June 15–17 in Kananaskis, Alberta, under Canada’s presidency. Prime Minister Mark Carney framed the meeting around priorities of protecting communities, energy and climate security, the digital transition, and future partnerships.
The USS Nimitz is heading to the Middle East amid tensions between Israel and Iran. The U.S. aircraft carrier has a decades-long history in the region, from the 1979 hostage crisis to modern deployments, often serving as a key asset during periods of rising friction with Iran.
Goldman Sachs economists have warned that any significant disruption to oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz could push Brent crude prices over $100 per barrel, potentially causing a sharp rise in transport costs, inflation, and slowing global growth.
The UK government announced plans to cut green levies on thousands of businesses, aiming to reduce soaring energy costs and boost the manufacturing sector, particularly in Labour strongholds.
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Japan’s core inflation rose to a more than two-year high in May, exceeding the central bank’s 2% target for over three years and increasing pressure on the Bank of Japan (BOJ) to resume rate hikes.
Two Nigerian communities will take Shell to trial in the UK in 2027 after winning a court ruling over Niger Delta oil pollution.
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