The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Japan’s Princess Mako meets emperor, empress before marriage
TOKYO – Japanese Princess Mako met with her uncle Emperor Naruhito and aunt Empress Masako on Friday before her controversial marriage to her commoner boyfriend Kei Komuro scheduled for next week.
The princess visited the couple at the Imperial Palace alone in lieu of the “Choken no Gi” rite, an official meeting with the emperor and empress on the occasion of a marriage involving a member of the imperial family. She skipped a series of ceremonies amid public concern over an unresolved financial dispute involving Komuro’s mother.
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Higher energy prices push up Sept. core CPI, 1st rise in 18 months
TOKYO – Japan’s core consumer prices rose 0.1 percent in September, the first year-on-year gain in 18 months, pushed up by higher energy prices at a time when the economy remains fragile as a result of the spread of COVID-19, government data showed Friday.
But the gain in the nationwide core consumer price index, excluding volatile fresh food items, is unlikely to change the view that the Bank of Japan will need to maintain its monetary easing as it is still far off achieving its 2 percent inflation target.
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Tokyo confirms 26 daily COVID-19 cases, fewest since June 2020
TOKYO – Tokyo confirmed 26 daily coronavirus cases Friday, the fewest since June 2020, as the downward trend in infections continues across Japan.
The figure released by the Tokyo metropolitan government was the lowest since June 17 last year, when the capital reported 16 new infections.
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U.S. committed to defending Taiwan if China attacks: Biden
WASHINGTON – The United States is committed to defending Taiwan if China mounts an attack on the self-ruled democratic island, President Joe Biden said Thursday, apparently contradicting Washington’s long-standing policy to keep its stance on the matter ambiguous.
His…