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

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Japan PM says new inflation-relief steps to be drawn up around fall

TOKYO - Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Friday that the government will compile fresh inflation relief steps around this fall, providing cash handouts to low-income households struggling to weather the cost-of-living crisis.

The aid will come on top of government subsidies that Kishida also vowed to retain to cut household utility bills. Rising prices have weighed heavily on consumers despite his emphasis on wealth redistribution via pay hikes.

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200 mil. tons of rare metal rocks found in seabed off Japan island

TOKYO - Over 200 million tons of manganese nodules, seabed mineral concretions rich in rare metals, have been found densely packed in the deep sea off the coast of Japan's easternmost island within its exclusive economic zone, a Japanese survey team said Friday.

The team involving the Nippon Foundation and the University of Tokyo plans to begin trial mining of the nodules found off Minamitori Island, which also contain significant quantities of cobalt and nickel, from 2025 with the aim of commercialization.

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Nissan to close auto plant in China amid intensifying EV price war

TOKYO - Nissan Motor Co. will close its passenger car factory in Jiangsu province, China, people familiar with the matter said Friday, as the Japanese automaker faces intensifying price competition and the rising popularity of electric vehicles made by local brands.

Like its Japanese peers, Nissan has been struggling with declining sales in the world's largest auto market. Limited options in all-electric cars have been a major setback for Japanese companies as China is experiencing a rapid shift to EVs.

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"Soothing" Japan manga Chiikawa strikes chord with youth in China

BEIJING - Cute animal characters from the Japanese manga "Chiikawa" have recently captivated China, thanks to their "soothing" effect, resulting in exceptional merchandise sales amid a stressful environment for many young people in the country.

Chiikawa characters embrace small moments of happiness despite facing everyday challenges, such as living in a modest home or failing to pass an exam. This positive attitude has "struck a chord" with a great number of young Chinese people navigating intense competition, according to local media.

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China warns Taiwan separatists could be given death sentence

BEIJING - China issued guidelines Friday for imposing criminal punishments on "diehard" Taiwan independence separatists, warning they could face the maximum penalty of death, putting pressure on the island's new leader Lai Ching-te whom Beijing views as an independence advocate.

The judicial guidelines took effect upon release, but have little practical effect on the self-ruled democratic island, which China regards as part of its territory.

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U.N. chief urges Russia to uphold sanctions amid closer N. Korea ties

NEW YORK - U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Friday urged Russia as a Security Council member to comply with sanctions previously imposed by the panel on North Korea, in light of a recent mutual defense treaty between the two countries.

"Any relationship of any country with (North Korea), including the Russian Federation, must entirely abide by those sanctions" as approved by the council, Guterres told reporters at the world body's headquarters in New York.

==Kyodo

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