Photo taken at Tobu Railway Co.'s rail yard in Kuki, north of Tokyo in Saitama Prefecture, shows the new Spacia X limited express train on April 16, 2023. The train will operate from July 15, linking Tokyo's Asakusa Station and Tochigi Prefecture's Nikko national park and Kinugawa hot spring resort. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.

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G-7 to promote world without nuclear weapons: Japan PM Kishida

TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Monday that the Group of Seven leaders will show their resolve to promote a world without nuclear weapons when they meet later this week in Hiroshima.

The G-7 "will send out a strong message to realize a world free of nuclear weapons and will steadily proceed with more realistic and concrete efforts," Kishida said during an interview with Kyodo News and other media outlets at the prime minister's office.

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Thai opposition Move Forward wins poll, challenges pro-military rule

BANGKOK - Thailand's liberal junior opposition Move Forward party garnered the most votes after Sunday's general election, with voters rejecting the incumbent pro-military government of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, which has controlled the Southeast Asian nation for nearly a decade.

But the unexpected win by Move Forward and the second-largest number of seats captured by another opposition, the Pheu Thai party, made up of supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, does not necessarily mean they will lead the next government due to an electoral system that favors a pro-military government.

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Johnny's head apologizes for alleged sexual abuse by late Kitagawa

TOKYO - The president of Johnny & Associates Inc., one of Japan's most powerful talent agencies, on Sunday issued a video and written apology to those who have alleged sexual abuse by its late founder Johnny Kitagawa, in a rare move for the office.

The apology by Julie Keiko Fujishima, a niece of the scandal-tainted former president of the company, came a month after Kauan Okamoto, a Japanese-Brazilian singer and songwriter, claimed Kitagawa sexually abused him on multiple occasions as a young teen.

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Japan gov't spokesman mum on diplomats' call for LGBT rights

TOKYO - Japan's top government spokesperson on Monday avoided commenting on a video by 15 diplomatic missions from mostly Western nations urging Tokyo to take concrete action toward protecting LGBT rights ahead of the Group of Seven summit starting later this week in Hiroshima.

While acknowledging he was aware of the video, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said he would "refrain from commenting" on the message from diplomats of the United States, Europe and Australia, among others, during a session of the lower house's audit committee.

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Finnish envoy to Japan calls security of Asia, Europe "inseparable"

SAPPORO - The Finnish ambassador to Tokyo has called for tighter relations between Japan and her country in the wake of its accession to NATO, describing the security of Europe and Asia as intertwined in the face of geopolitical challenges.

"It is clear that the security environment in Europe and Asia is inseparable," Tanja Jaaskelainen said in an interview with Kyodo News in Sapporo on Friday, adding that Europe "can learn" from Japan when it comes to dealing with the Pacific region.

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Biden to meet Japan PM Kishida on May 18 in Hiroshima: White House

WASHINGTON - U.S. President Joe Biden will hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Thursday in Hiroshima ahead of the Group of Seven summit, the White House said, ending speculation that he may miss attending the meeting in person due to a looming government default at home.

Biden will depart Washington on Wednesday and arrive in the western Japanese city the following day, making it his second visit to Japan since taking office in 2021. The G-7 summit will take place from Friday to Sunday.

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Woman arrested after explosives scare near U.S. consulate in Okinawa

NAHA, Japan - A 44-year-old woman was arrested on Monday after she approached the U.S. consulate general in Okinawa and allegedly said a metal pipe she held contained gunpowder, prompting the police to temporarily restrict traffic in the area.

The police said they arrested Akino Miyagi, a resident of Higashi village in the southern island prefecture, for obstructing official duties by threatening a police officer on guard in front of the consulate saying she would throw the metal pipe. She denies the allegation.

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Gov't sees need to ensure sustainable wage growth in step with BOJ

TOKYO - Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Monday closer macroeconomic policy coordination is needed with the Bank of Japan as the government seeks to examine whether Japan can attain sustainable and stable wage growth and avoid sliding back into deflation.

While the outcome of this year's wage negotiations between labor unions and management is expected to be the best in three decades, Kishida said spurring wage increases remains his administration's "highest priority."

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Video: New Tobu Spacia X limited express train