The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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German navy chief looks to send vessels to Indo-Pacific every 2 years
TOKYO - The chief of the German navy has said he is looking to dispatch vessels to the Indo-Pacific every two years to help maintain peace and order based on international law in the region.
Germany has been enhancing its defense cooperation with Japan and other partners amid China's military buildup and assertive territorial claims in the area.
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Japan reluctant to accept proposal to declare Korean War over
WASHINGTON - Japan has shown reluctance to accept a proposal by South Korea to declare a formal end to the Korean War as a way to entice North Korea to negotiations on its denuclearization, diplomatic sources said Saturday, revealing gaps in the efforts also involving the United States.
Tokyo has been concerned that such a preceding conciliatory move would complicate its position for resolving the issue of past abductions by North Korea of Japanese citizens at the same time as that of the nuclear and missile development programs pursued by Pyongyang in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions, the sources said.
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Japanese singer Hamasaki taken to hospital due to anaphylactic shock
TOKYO - Japanese pop singer Ayumi Hamasaki was taken to hospital Saturday after performing at a concert in Nagoya, with her management later confirming she was suffering anaphylactic shock.
Although Hamasaki, 43, fell unconscious temporarily, her life is not in danger from the severe allergic reaction, Avex Management Inc. said on her official website on Sunday.
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Figure skating: Japan's Kagiyama wins Grand Prix in Turin
TURIN, Italy - Japan's Yuma Kagiyama stormed home in Saturday's free skate at the ISU Grand Prix Gran Premio d'Italia, overcoming a mistake-riddled short program to clinch the men's singles title.
The 18-year-old world championship silver medalist came into the final day seventh after taking multiple tumbles in his short routine, but an outstanding free skate helped him top the table with 278.02 total points.
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Kishida to tap ex-education minister Hayashi as foreign minister
TOKYO - Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has decided to appoint his close aide and former education minister Yoshimasa Hayashi as foreign minister when he launches his new Cabinet next week, a source close to the matter said Saturday.
The appointment, slated for Wednesday, comes as Japan faces a host of diplomatic challenges such as China's assertive territorial claims in the East and South China seas, as well as North Korea's nuclear weapons development and missile launches, on top of strategic competition between the United States and China in the Indo-Pacific.
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At least 92 killed in fuel tanker explosion in Sierra Leone
NAIROBI - At least 92 people died and dozens were seriously injured after a fuel tanker exploded near the capital of Sierra Leone late Friday, media reports said.
The victims included people who were gathering to collect leaking fuel after the tanker crashed with a truck in a suburb of Freetown, the capital of the West African country, according to the reports. The number of deaths is expected to increase.
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Rugby: Japan swept aside by Ireland in opening match of European tour
DUBLIN - Japan opened their European tour in disappointing fashion Saturday, conceding nine tries in a 60-5 rout against Ireland.
Wing Andrew Conway ran in a hat-trick for the hosts, who left nothing to chance as they prepared for a meeting with the All Blacks in a week's time.
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Japanese snow crab fetches $7,000 at auction
FUKUI, Japan - A snow crab fetched 800,000 yen ($7,050) at a fishing port auction in Fukui Prefecture on Saturday, as the fishing season began the same day in the Sea of Japan for the winter delicacy.
The price was a record for a prime male crab marketed by the prefectural government under the "Kiwami" brand. The successful bidder, a local restaurant owner, said he purchased the crab so he could welcome customers with his "head held high."
