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

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Japan PM Takaichi's Cabinet support rate dips to 55.8%, lowest since launch

TOKYO - The approval rate for Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's Cabinet slipped to 55.8 percent, the lowest point since she took office last October, a Kyodo News poll showed Sunday, amid lingering uncertainty in the resource-poor country over the economic fallout from the Middle East conflict.

In the weekend telephone survey, which took place after the United States and Iran reached a preliminary peace deal under which Tehran agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, 54.7 percent of respondents saw no need to send the Japanese Self-Defense Forces to the key waterway to help ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels, while 36.6 percent thought otherwise.

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N. Korea sports minister could make rare Japan visit for Asian Games

SEOUL - North Korea's sports minister Kim Il Guk is listed as the head of its delegation to the Asian Games to be held in central Japan later this year, multiple diplomatic sources said Sunday, suggesting he may travel to Japan.

If the trip is realized, it will likely be the first time in around eight years that an incumbent North Korean minister visits Japan. The last such visit was also made by Kim, who was also sports minister at the time.

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Japan to back disaster safety tech development, eyes 2 tril. overseas sales

TOKYO - The Japanese government plans to support the development of disaster prevention technology, such as the remote operation of heavy machinery, and push for its use both domestically and overseas, officials said Sunday.

Under Japan's growth strategy, to be compiled in the summer, the government hopes to set a target to double the country's overseas sales within the disaster prevention sector to about 2 trillion yen ($12 billion) by 2030 from 2024.

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Football: Ueda hits brace as Japan thrash Tunisia in historic match

GUADALUPE, Mexico - Ayase Ueda bagged a brace, with Daichi Kamada and Junya Ito joining him on the scoresheet, as Japan cruised past Tunisia 4-0 on Saturday in the 1,000th match in World Cup history.

Hajime Moriyasu's 18th-ranked Japan put in a convincing performance against world No. 45 Tunisia in front of 51,243 at Estadio Monterrey in Mexico as they moved up to four points in Group F after two matches, taking a big step toward a place in the round of 32.

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Japan's Takaichi breaks bread to assuage party malcontents

TOKYO - Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has been spending more time socializing with senior ruling party members over lunches and dinners in recent months, in an apparent overture to ease internal dissatisfaction with her leadership style.

The outreach came as Takaichi's surprise move to call a snap election earlier this year and her push, despite the already tight parliamentary schedule because of the poll, to have the fiscal 2026 state budget enacted on time had apparently ruffled the feathers of some ruling party members.

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Japan audio analysis lab creates buzz for music putting babies to sleep

CHIBA, Japan - A Japanese institute that analyzes audio for courtroom evidence has found viral success with musical sounds it created to help put babies to sleep.

The General Incorporated Association Institute of Audio Communication Laboratory Chiba developed the music as part of a project to support parents struggling with crying babies. It began the initiative after encountering cases of child abuse linked to stress, depression and nervous breakdowns in its work for the courts.

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Baseball: Ohtani homers in return to Dodgers lineup after birth of 2nd baby

LOS ANGELES - Shohei Ohtani got straight back into the swing of things for the Los Angeles Dodgers after missing a game for the birth of his second child, blasting his 16th home run in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles.

Ohtani delivered a solo shot to center field in the ninth inning to complete a 1-for-4 outing at Dodger Stadium.

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Football: J-League top-division club Marinos name Corica as new manager

TOKYO - J-League first-division club Yokohama F Marinos on Sunday named Steve Corica, who guided New Zealand's Auckland FC to the Australian A-League Championship in the 2025-26 season, as their new manager.

A former Australian international, Corica played for J1 club Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the 2000-2001 season.