TOKYO - The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Japan to launch new body to protect premium crop seedlings amid leaks
TOKYO - The Japanese government will establish a new organization by August to manage plant variety rights, aiming to curb overseas leakage of branded fruits and other crops by monitoring unauthorized cultivation and pursuing lawsuits abroad, according to officials.
A farm ministry survey conducted last year revealed suspicions that seedlings of about 50 varieties of Japanese-developed farm products, including the highly prized citrus Beni Princess, have leaked to China and South Korea and had been sold online without permission.
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At least 27 killed in pub fire in Bangkok
BANGKOK - At least 27 people were killed and over 60 others injured after a fire broke out at a pub in northern Bangkok late Sunday, police said.
The fire erupted before midnight at the packed pub in Bangkok's Chatuchak district and rapidly engulfed the building. Eighteen women and 9 men, aged 20 to 35 years old, died.
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Myanmar foreign minister assures ASEAN counterparts Suu Kyi in good health
BANGKOK - Myanmar Foreign Minister Tin Maung Swe told his counterparts from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations at a meeting in Bangkok on Sunday that ousted pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is in good health and being well cared for.
Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow and Philippine Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro disclosed the information at a press conference following the first informal meeting between ASEAN foreign ministers and their Myanmar counterpart since the February 2021 coup.
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Japan startup SkyDrive showcases high-speed "flying car" demo in Yamaguchi
YAMAGUCHI, Japan - Japanese startup SkyDrive Inc. conducted high-speed demonstration flights of its "flying car" on Monday at a test site in Yamaguchi, western Japan.
The demo was designed to simulate a sightseeing tour over the Seto Inland Sea. The company remotely operated an aircraft that seats three, including the pilot, flying about 2 kilometers, including over water, at a top speed of 86 kilometers per hour.
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Tennis: Japan's Oda wins back-to-back Wimbledon men's wheelchair titles
LONDON - Japanese top seed Tokito Oda successfully defended his Wimbledon men's wheelchair singles crown with a 6-1, 6-1 win over No. 2 seed Alfie Hewett of Britain on Sunday.
With his sweeping victory, the 20-year-old collected his third singles championship at the All England Club and 10th career Grand Slam singles title.
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Baseball: Ohtani hits 350th home run of combined MLB, NPB career
LOS ANGELES - Shohei Ohtani hit a leadoff home run and went 2-for-4 but the Los Angeles Dodgers were unable to avoid a sweep as they fell 5-3 to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday.
The 437-foot (133-meter) fly ball over center field at Dodger Stadium was the 350th home run of Ohtani's career across Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball, as well as his ninth leadoff shot of the season.
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Baseball: Marlins draft Stanford's Japanese slugger Sasaki
PHILADELPHIA - The Miami Marlins selected Japanese slugger Rintaro Sasaki out of Stanford University with the eighth pick in the Major League Baseball draft on Sunday.
The 21-year-old was also the top pick of the SoftBank Hawks in the 2025 Nippon Professional Baseball draft.
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Golf: Iwai falls 1 shot shy of playoff, misses 1st major title in Evian
EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France - Japan's Akie Iwai vied for her first major title on the LPGA Tour until the final hole but fell a stroke short of making the playoff and finished third at the Evian Open on Sunday.
Beginning the final round three shots off the pace, Iwai shot a 2-under par 69 at Evian Resort Golf Club in France to finish with an 18-under total of 266, one shy of South Korea's eventual winner Ryu Hae Ran and Canada's Brooke Henderson.
