**Japan MSDF Chief Contemplates Resignation Over Information Mishandling**
TOKYO - Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force chief is considering stepping down following the mishandling of classified information by personnel on several destroyers, a government source disclosed Saturday.
Admiral Ryo Sakai, chief of staff of the MSDF, has expressed his intention to take responsibility, with the Defense Ministry preparing to take disciplinary action against those involved, including senior officers, in the near future, according to the source.
**Japan PM and Britain's New Leader Agree to Strengthen Bilateral Ties**
TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his newly appointed British counterpart Keir Starmer agreed on Saturday to enhance bilateral relations during their first phone call since Starmer's Labour Party won a sweeping victory in the general election.
The Foreign Ministry quoted Kishida as telling Starmer that Japan will collaborate with Britain to uphold and reinforce a free and open international order based on the rule of law amidst an increasingly complex global security environment.
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**Tokyo-Osaka Bullet Train Services Resume Following Power Outage**
NAGOYA - Bullet train services between Tokyo and Osaka resumed on Saturday after being halted due to a power outage, announced Central Japan Railway Co.
Following the disruption, train operations were severely impacted, leading to congestion at stations along the Tokaido Shinkansen Line, including Nagoya and Shizuoka.
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**Elementary School Boy Drowns During Swimming Class in Western Japan**
KOCHI, Japan - A fourth-grade boy from a primary school in western Japan drowned during a swimming class, as reported by the local education board on Saturday.
The incident occurred before 11 a.m. Friday at a swimming pool in a nearby junior high school, as the elementary school's pool was unavailable due to equipment failure, stated the Kochi city education board.
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**Judo: Canada's Deguchi Sisters Honored in Hometown Send-Off in Japan**
SHIOJIRI, Japan - Christa Deguchi, a two-time women's 57-kilogram world judo champion, and her sister Kelly, both set to compete for Canada at the upcoming Paris Olympics, received a send-off in their hometown of Shiojiri in Nagano Prefecture on Saturday.
Christa, 28, previously represented Japan internationally, securing second place at the 2014 junior worlds, before both sisters switched allegiance to their father's homeland.
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**Basketball: Japan Women Dominate New Zealand in Final Home Warm-Up**
TOKYO - Japan's women's basketball team comfortably defeated New Zealand 92-50 in an international friendly on Saturday, marking their last game on home soil before heading to France for the Paris Olympics.
Maki Takada led with 23 points, followed by Yuki Miyazawa with 16, as the ninth-ranked Japan team concluded a two-game series against New Zealand with consecutive wins, following a 125-57 victory on Thursday at Tokyo's Ariake Arena.
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**Moderate Reformer Pezeshkian Elected as Iran's New President in Runoff**
TEHRAN - Masoud Pezeshkian, a moderate reformist, was elected as Iran's new president in a runoff election following the initial round late last month, succeeding Ebrahim Raisi who died in a helicopter crash in May, announced the Interior Ministry on Saturday.
Pezeshkian's victory over hard-liner Saeed Jalili in Friday's runoff could potentially ease tensions with Western nations and revive the 2015 nuclear deal negotiated during Hassan Rouhani's presidency with Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States.
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**Biden Affirms Commitment to 2024 Presidential Race**
WASHINGTON - U.S. President Joe Biden unequivocally stated on Friday that he will continue his candidacy for a second term, asserting his anticipation of defeating his rival Donald Trump in their rematch this autumn's election.
Biden's declaration at a campaign rally in a crucial swing state came amid mounting concerns about his physical and mental fitness following a lackluster debate performance against Trump last week.