TOKYO - The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Japan, Italy leaders meet to boost tech, critical minerals cooperation
ROME - Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and her Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni met Monday in Rome to discuss deeper cooperation in advanced technologies, economic security and defense.
They are also expected to discuss developments involving the United States and Iran following Sunday's announcement of an agreement aimed at ending hostilities.
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Japan defense force to join parachute drill on Philippine islet near Taiwan
MANILA - The Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force personnel will participate in a parachute drop training in the Philippines' northernmost island province of Batanes that faces Taiwan, Japanese and Philippine defense officials said Monday.
The free fall jump drill is set later this month as part of Kamandag, an annual exercise between the Philippine and the U.S. marines that also invites Japan and South Korea, as well as other countries as observers. This year's iteration with over 2,200 participants runs until July 1.
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Japan to join statement by others on Iran nuclear program
ROME - Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Monday Japan will take part in a joint statement with Britain, France, Italy and Germany on lifting sanctions on Iran if it can show it is taking "clear" steps on its nuclear program.
Speaking to reporters in Rome before a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Takaichi said she had been asked by European leaders to participate in the statement issued following the United States and Iran's agreement on a deal to end their monthslong war.
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Tokyo stocks end at record high after U.S., Iran agree to end war
TOKYO - Tokyo stocks ended at record highs Monday, with the Nikkei stock index closing above 69,000 for the first time after briefly surging over 5 percent, as investor sentiment was lifted after both the United States and Iran said they have agreed on a memorandum of understanding to end their war.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 3,297.46 points, the second largest rise on a closing basis, or 4.99 percent, from Friday at 69,317.50.
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China, Mongolia oppose militarism, taking veiled swipe at Japan
BEIJING - China's top diplomat Wang Yi and his Mongolian counterpart Batmunkh Battsetseg have agreed to "oppose all forms of fascism and militarism," according to a joint communique released Monday by the Chinese Foreign Ministry that appeared to indirectly criticize Japan's defense buildup policies.
Wang and Battsetseg, who met on Saturday in Ulaanbaatar, also said the two countries "reject any words or actions that seek to distort or reverse the course of history," the Chinese ministry said.
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BOJ set to lift policy rate to 31-yr high in absence of chief Ueda+
TOKYO, June 15 Kyodo - The Bank of Japan is expected to increase its key interest rate to a 31-year high at a two-day policy meeting from Monday in the absence of Governor Kazuo Ueda, in response to growing inflation risks from elevated crude oil prices.
Ueda, who has been hospitalized for treatment of a hepatic cyst infection, will miss the meeting, at which policymakers are set to decide on raising the rate to 1.0 percent from 0.75 percent, in what would be the first rate hike since December. The central bank kept the policy rate steady at the three previous sessions.
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Japan mulls minting commemorative anime, character coins
TOKYO - Japan's Finance Ministry is considering minting commemorative coins featuring anime and manga characters, as well as national treasures, to promote Japanese culture and create alternative sources of revenue, ministry officials said Monday.
The ministry may revise the currency law, which currently only permits the use of images pertaining to national interests such as imperial events and the Olympics when minting commemorative coins.
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Former Giants manager Abe not indicted over alleged assault on daughter
TOKYO - Shinnosuke Abe, the former manager of the Yomiuri Giants, has not been indicted over an alleged assault on his daughter, prosecutors said Monday.
Abe's case was referred to prosecutors last week, around two weeks after he was arrested by police.
