IN BRIEF (Page 24)

Japan

Kan positioning for July election

Japan's main opposition party on Wednesday lost a symbolic no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Naoto Kan's cabinet as Kan looked set to rush into a national election to capitalize on a jump in ratings. The ruling Democratic Party of Japan's support rates have bounced since Kan took over from his unpopular predecessor Yukio Hatoyama, improving the party's chances in a likely July 11 vote for parliament's upper house.