The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Taiwan ruling party's Lai declares victory in presidential race
TAIPEI - Taiwan's Vice President Lai Ching-te, who heads the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, declared victory in Saturday's presidential election, after his two opposition party rivals conceded defeat.
In the race closely watched by the world amid China's unrelenting pressure on the self-ruled democratic island, Lai's victory means the DPP has secured a third consecutive four-year term, an unprecedented run of success in the period since the direct leadership poll was introduced in 1996.
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Japan voices hope Taiwan issues to be resolved "peacefully"
The Japanese government expressed hope Saturday that issues surrounding Taiwan will be resolved "peacefully by dialogue," shortly after Vice President Lai Ching-te, who heads the ruling, independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party, declared victory in the island's presidential election.
Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa expressed congratulations on the "smooth implementation of the democratic election" and Lai's victory in a statement, saying Japan expects Taiwan will continue to "contribute to the peace and stability in the region."
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Japan, U.S. agree to work closely on China issues, for Taiwan peace
WASHINGTON - The top diplomats of Japan and the United States agreed Friday that the two countries will cooperate closely in dealing with issues relating to China and on the importance of peace and stability around Taiwan.
Following a meeting in Washington, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa also told reporters that she agreed with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to work toward the "success" of a state visit later this year to the U.S. capital by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
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Kishida to visit quake-affected areas Sun. to assess damage
TOKYO - Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will visit earthquake-devastated areas in Ishikawa Prefecture on Sunday to assess the damage firsthand, the government said.
In his first trip to the quake-hit region on the Sea of Japan coast since a magnitude-7.6 temblor occurred on New Year's Day, Kishida will speak with local residents staying at evacuation centers as well as exchange views with local government officials.
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U.S. records confirm 12 U.S. soldiers died from Hiroshima A-bomb
A recently discovered U.S. official document has confirmed that 12 American soldiers were killed in the 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima, making it the first known acknowledgment by the United States of how many of its captured military personnel died then.
A copy of the Dec. 20, 1948 report, titled "Death of 12 American fliers as a result of the atomic bombing on (Hiroshima)," had been written as part of an investigation into Japanese war crimes during World War II and whether the soldiers, who were Japan's prisoners of war, had been subject to abuses.
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Former Nihon Univ. board chairman Tanaka dies at 77
TOKYO - Hidetoshi Tanaka, a former board chairman at Nihon University, one of Japan's biggest universities, and known as an amateur sumo wrestler, has died, sources close to the matter said Saturday. He was 77.
A former student yokozuna at the university, where he entered in 1965 and started working following graduation, Tanaka in 1983 became director of the university's sumo club and trained many sumo wrestlers who went on to become famous in that sport.
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Fujitsu responsibility in focus in redress over U.K. postal scandal
LONDON - Fujitsu Ltd. is under scrutiny in Britain as to whether the Japanese electronics firm should compensate post office operators falsely accused of embezzlement from the 1990s into the 2010s because of glitches in its accounting system.
The system problem, which caused the balances at postal stores to appear lower than the actual amounts and suggested the operators were stealing money, was already confirmed in 2019. Postal services minister Kevin Hollinrake said 93 convictions have since been overturned.
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Rugby: Japan to play Italy, Georgia in July
TOKYO - Japan's national rugby team will play home test matches in July against Italy and Georgia, the country's governing body said Saturday.
The Brave Blossoms, who have brought back Eddie Jones as head coach after their pool-stage exit at the 2023 World Cup, will play Georgia on July 13 at Yurtec Stadium Sendai and Italy eight days later at Sapporo Dome.
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Baseball: Imanaga greets fans, media in Chicago after joining Cubs
CHICAGO - Japanese left-hander Shota Imanaga wasted little time endearing himself to Chicago Cubs fans Friday at his introductory press conference.
The Cubs a day earlier announced their signing of the 30-year-old free agent, who was posted by the Central League's DeNA BayStars after eight years with the Yokohama-based club.
Video: Man arrested after holing up in hotel with hostage
