TOKYO, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) — The following are major news items in leading Japanese newspapers on Friday:

The Daily Yomiuri

– Prosecutors indicted two former secretaries of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama without arrest Thursday over falsified fund reports in violation of the Political Funds Control Law.

At a press conference later in the day, Hatoyama apologized over the falsification of his political fund reports that led to indictments for two of his former secretaries, but said he has no plans to step down.

The Japan Times

– Kirin Holdings Co. and Suntory Holdings Ltd. are arranging to merge around April 2011 and are expected to make an official announcement of the basic agreement in January, sources said Thursday.