TOKYO - The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Best-selling Japanese mystery author Keigo Higashino dies of cancer at 68
TOKYO - Keigo Higashino, a hugely popular Japanese author known for his numerous mystery novels including "The Devotion of Suspect X," died of colon cancer on Thursday, his publishers said Monday. He was 68.
A native of Osaka in western Japan, Higashino started writing novels while working as an engineer at what is now known as auto parts maker, Denso Corp. His work was also popular in other Asian countries such as South Korea and China on par with the likes of fellow Japanese author Haruki Murakami.
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GSDF officer indicted over Chinese Embassy trespass, threats
TOKYO - A Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force officer was indicted Monday for unlawfully entering the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo with a kitchen knife and threatening staff in March, prosecutors said.
Kodai Murata, a 24-year-old second lieutenant assigned to the GSDF's Camp Ebino in Miyazaki Prefecture, southwestern Japan, underwent psychiatric evaluation for about three months before the indictment. The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office apparently concluded he could be held responsible for his actions.
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Foreign bank mulls loans to Japanese firms to construct gas plant in U.S.
TOKYO - A foreign bank is considering loans to Japanese companies for the construction of a natural gas plant in the United States, a project among those agreed under Tokyo's $550 billion investment commitment to Washington in exchange for tariff relief, Japanese Finance Ministry officials said Monday.
Japanese firms need to secure U.S. dollars to proceed with the project under Tokyo's deal struck with the United States last year involving the massive dollar-denominated pledges.
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Gov't, prefecture ordered to pay family of man acquitted of 1985 murder
FUKUOKA - A Japanese court on Monday ordered the central government and Kumamoto Prefecture to pay damages totaling 23 million yen ($141,000) to the surviving family of a man who was convicted of a 1985 murder in southwestern Japan before eventually being acquitted in a retrial.
The Fukuoka High Court said the interrogation conducted by the local police prior to Koki Miyata's arrest was illegal as it was based on preconceptions, aimed at eliciting a confession, and exceeded the limits of what was permissible for questioning on a voluntary basis.
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4 dead after house fire in southwestern Japan
SAGA, Japan - Four people including two children died in a fire that broke out in a house in southwestern Japan early Monday morning, local police said.
Police are confirming the identities of the victims, who are believed to be Tetsuya Kishikawa, 51, his wife Chiaki, 41, and children Mei and Ai, 12 and 8, respectively. The family lived in the two-story wooden house in Imari, Saga Prefecture.
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Indonesian central bank governor resigns
JAKARTA - Bank Indonesia Governor Perry Warjiyo has resigned from his position, the country's state secretary said Monday, in a sudden move that could affect the country's fiscal stability.
Prasetyo Hadi told a press conference at the central bank that Warjiyo, who had been the central bank's governor since 2018, had resigned "for personal reasons" without elaborating.
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Taiwan honors Japan lawmaker Furuya with medal for boosting bilateral ties
TAIPEI - Taiwan President Lai Ching-te on Monday conferred the Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon on Beijing-sanctioned Japanese ruling lawmaker Keiji Furuya in recognition of his contributions to strengthening relations between Japan and Taiwan, which the mainland claims as its territory.
Referring to Furuya as an "old friend," Lai said during a ceremony at his office Taiwan has long witnessed the lawmaker's efforts such as promoting Tokyo's support for Taiwan's international participation and helping the island's people have their place of origin recorded as Taiwan, instead of China, in the Japanese family registry system.
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Sumo: Aonishiki resets sights on yokozuna after memorable Nagoya win
NAGOYA - Ukrainian star Aonishiki once again set his sights Monday on reaching the highest rank of yokozuna after lifting his third Emperor's Cup at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament, battling through left foot injuries.
The 22-year-old was demoted from ozeki to sekiwake ahead of this month's tournament at IG Arena, but he only needed 11 days to pick up the 10 wins he required for an immediate return to the second-highest rank before going all the way to seize the title on Sunday.
