The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Japan's Kishida sacks son as executive secretary amid criticism
TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Monday that he will fire his eldest son Shotaro from his role as executive secretary on Thursday, amid growing criticism over inappropriate photographs taken at the premier's official residence during a family function last year.
In the run-up to the closure of the ongoing parliamentary session on June 21, Kishida decided to sack his son in an attempt to minimize damage to his administration as key bills are still under deliberation, ruling lawmakers said.
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Japan concerned by N. Korea plan to launch satellite by June 11
TOKYO - Japan said Monday that North Korea notified it of a plan to launch a "satellite" between Wednesday and June 11, with Tokyo expressing concern it may instead test a ballistic missile in what would be another step towards Pyongyang developing its nuclear and missile capabilities.
Pyongyang said it will outline three maritime danger zones in which objects may fall during the period, with two areas to the west of the Korean Peninsula and one to east of the Philippines, the Japan Coast Guard said. All areas are outside of Japan's exclusive economic zone.
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OECD mulls revising AI guidelines amid rise of ChatGPT, other bots
TOKYO - The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development plans to review its guidelines on artificial intelligence in the wake of the precipitous uptake of generative AI, such as ChatGPT, sources close to the matter said Monday.
The OECD's legally non-binding AI Principles, first adopted in May 2019, promote the technology's use while calling for respecting human rights and democratic values.
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Nikkei ends at new 33-yr high on U.S. debt ceiling deal, weak yen
TOKYO - The Nikkei stock index closed Monday at a fresh 33-year high as news that a U.S. debt ceiling deal has been reached boosted sentiment while a weakening yen lifted export-related issues.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average climbed 317.23 points, or 1.03 percent, from Friday to 31,233.54, its highest finish since July 26, 1990, when Japan was experiencing an asset price bubble. The broader Topix index finished up 14.81 points, or 0.69 percent, at 2,160.65.
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Ex-doctor denies consensual killing of terminally ill woman
KYOTO - A former doctor on Monday denied conspiring with another doctor in the alleged consensual killing of a terminally ill woman with a rare neurological disease in 2019 in Kyoto in western Japan.
The defense team of Naoki Yamamoto told the first hearing of his trial at the Kyoto District Court that the other doctor, Yoshikazu Okubo, acted alone in allegedly administering a fatal dose of sedative to Yuri Hayashi, 51, with her consent. Okubo has also been indicted in the case.
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Tokyo court OKs dismissal of worker at COVID-hit cruise operator
TOKYO - A Tokyo court upheld Monday the dismissal of a worker at the Japan unit of the operator of the Diamond Princess cruise ship who lost his job in a staff downsizing in the wake of a mass coronavirus outbreak aboard the vessel in 2020.
The Tokyo District Court rejected the claim by the former employee of Carnival Japan Inc. in his 30s that his dismissal was without reasonable cause and therefore invalid.
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China plans to land astronauts on the Moon before 2030
JIUQUAN, China - China plans to land astronauts on the Moon by 2030, the China Manned Space Agency said Monday as Beijing aims to become a major space power.
The announcement comes as the CMSA is set to launch a rocket carrying three astronauts Tuesday to its space station to replace three others who have been on board since last November.
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Turkey's Erdogan re-elected as president, extends 20-yr rule
ANKARA - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday won another term as Turkey's leader, narrowly defeating the opposition candidate in a runoff election and extending his roughly 20-year rule defined by increasing authoritarianism.
"Now is the time to unite and integrate around our national goals and dreams," the 69-year-old said in a speech early Monday in Turkey's capital Ankara, after defeating opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, 74, in a tight race amid public frustration over high inflation.
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Video: LGBT event in Osaka
