Tokyo - Tokyo stocks opened lower Tuesday as investors sold shares to lock in profits from the previous day's gains.

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average, which ended nearly 2 per cent higher Monday, was down 0.71 per cent in morning trading, or 95.04 points, to 13,335.87.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was also down 2.34 points, or 0.18 per cent, at 1,277.66.

On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar was quoted at 110.11-13 yen, up from Monday's 5 pm quote of 109.83-85 yen.

Tokyo  - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Monday the United States would postpone removal of North Korea from a list of state sponsors of terrorism, Japanese media reports said Monday.

Rice apparently confirmed with Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura on the phone that North Korea remains on the list as of Monday.

"I asked if it is correct to understand that the delisting will not take place today because not only has the verification process (of North Korea's nuclear activities) not begun, but the regime and details on how to implement have not been set, and she said yes that would be correct," Komura was quoted as saying.

"It was as we expected," Komura added.

Tokyo  - Stocks opened higher Monday in Tokyo on mainly export-oriented issues on the back of a weak yen and Wall Street's gains before the weekend.

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average soared 225.96 points, or 1.72 per cent, to 13,394.37.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was also up 16.31 points, or 1.29 per cent, at 1,276.24.

On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar was quoted at 109.65-70 yen, down from Friday's 5 pm quote of 109.84-85 yen.

New Delhi  - Indian authorities have issued a birth certificate to a Japanese baby born to an Indian surrogate mother, easing the way for her Japanese father to take her home, news reports said Saturday.

The certificate was issued by the municipal authorities in Anand town of western Gujarat state, where 16-day-old Manji was born, in the name of her father biological Ikufumi Yamada, IANS news agency reported.

Manji, who was shifted to a hospital in another Indian town, Jaipur, days after she was born, is at the centre of a legal wrangle as India does not have any surrogacy laws.

Tokyo - Some 5,400 people gathered at Peace Park in southern Japanese city of Nagasaki Saturday to commemorate the 63rd anniversary of 1945 atomic bombing.

Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa Taue called on the world's leaders to abandon nuclear weapons.

As a nation once devastated by nuclear weapons, "Japan has a mission and a responsibility to take initiative in eradicating nuclear weapons," Taue said.

Tokyo - Indonesian nurses and care-givers planning to train and pursue a career in Japan said Friday they hoped to break down barriers of prejudice for more of their compatriots follow.

"As a group of pioneers (in this project), we are hoping to gradually change Japan's mindset so that more of our counterparts can be easily accepted to work here for a long term," Erli Ridwan, 35, said at a press conference at Tokyo's Japan Press Centre Friday.

Ridwan arrived in Japan Thursday, along with 204 other Indonesian nurses and care-givers to start working in Japan's medical sector.