U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel signs a condolence book at the headquarters of the Japanese ruling Liberal Democratic Party in Tokyo on July 14, 2022, following former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s assassination during upper house election campaigning on July 8. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Japan to hold state funeral this fall for slain ex-PM Abe
TOKYO – Japan will hold a state funeral this fall for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was fatally shot last week on the campaign trail, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Thursday.
The funeral, expected to be fully state-funded, will be dedicated to Abe for the “excellent leadership and implementation skills” he showed during his eight years and eight months in office that made him the longest-serving Japanese prime minister, Kishida said, although opposition party lawmakers quickly warned not all people support the plan.
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Japan’s total COVID cases top 10 mil. as cases surge
TOKYO – Japan’s cumulative COVID-19 infections topped 10 million cases Thursday, with the country logging over 90,000 new cases for the second straight day, but the government has indicated there are no plans to impose restrictions at this point.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, at a press conference, stressed the need for “maximum caution” while keeping the economy going at the same time, adding that the government will “use our strengthened (COVID-19) response capability” to stem the seventh wave of coronavirus infections.
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Biden says in Israel U.S. will never allow Iran to acquire nukes
WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden on Thursday pledged during a meeting with his Israeli counterpart Yair Lapid that the United States will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons and will work with other partners to confront threats posed by Tehran.
Biden, who is on his first trip to the region since taking office last year, and Lapid also met virtually with leaders from the United Arab Emirates and India to deepen economic ties between the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific.
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Pacific leaders vow to deepen regional unity amid China’s rise
SUVA – Leaders from across the Pacific on Thursday pledged to strengthen unity in their first face-to-face meeting in three years as China’s influence increases in the region.
In wrapping up the Pacific Islands Forum Meeting in the Fijian capital of Suva, representatives from 16 of the group’s 17 members launched the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, its new long-term guiding principles for cooperation in key areas, including regionalism, people-centered economic development and climate change.
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Sumo: Ichinojo overpowers Terunofuji to take sole lead at Nagoya
NAGOYA – No. 2 maegashira Ichinojo outmuscled yokozuna Terunofuji to keep his record perfect and take the sole lead on Thursday after five days of action at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.
Four rank-and-file wrestlers are chasing Ichinojo at 4-1, while two demotion-threatened ozeki, Shodai and Mitakeumi, both lost as they continue their underwhelming performance at Dolphins Arena.
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Japan actress Anne named as WFP goodwill envoy on food crisis
TOKYO – Japanese actress Anne was appointed as a goodwill ambassador for the U.N. World Food Program on Thursday, on a mission to raise public awareness about 828 million people in the world starving amid a food crisis.
The population accounting for more than 10 percent of the world’s total is suffering from food shortages caused by climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic and price surges due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to the WFP. Anne will work for bringing attention to the issue of hunger, the organization said.
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Panasonic to invest up to $4 bil. on new EV battery factory in U.S.
OSAKA – The battery manufacturing unit of Panasonic Holdings Corp. said Thursday it plans to build a new facility specializing in the production of electric vehicle batteries in the U.S. state of Kansas, an investment expected to reach up to around $4 billion.
The Panasonic Energy Co. project, which will use an incentive approved by the Kansas state government, reflects rapidly growing demand for EVs amid a global push to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The company expects to supply the batteries to U.S. EV manufacturing giant Tesla Inc.
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Italian PM offers resignation, Cabinet to face confidence vote
ROME – Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi offered his resignation Thursday as his government has lost support from the anti-establishment Five Star Movement, which is part of a coalition regime along with other parties.
But Italian President Sergio Mattarella refused to accept the resignation, calling instead for a parliamentary resolution, meaning the Draghi Cabinet is likely to face a confidence vote.
