The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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High court rules 84 A-bomb "black rain" victims eligible for aid
HIROSHIMA - A Japanese high court ruled Wednesday 84 people who were exposed to radioactive "black rain" after the 1945 U.S. bombing of Hiroshima outside an area currently recognized by the government should be eligible to receive state health care benefits.
The Hiroshima High Court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, upholding a lower court decision last year and saying they should receive the same benefits as those provided for atomic bomb survivors who were in the zone where the state has recognized black rain fell.
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Japan PM, IOC chief aim for Tokyo Olympics to foster global solidarity
TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga agreed with the head of the International Olympic Committee on Wednesday to foster global solidarity by holding a successful Tokyo Olympics, despite concerns over a fresh surge of COVID-19 cases in the capital.
Thomas Bach, who is in the country ahead of the games' opening ceremony next week, assured Suga that adequate measures are in place to prevent athletes and staff participating in the Olympics from spreading the coronavirus.
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Japan medical body conditionally approves womb transplants
TOKYO - The Japanese Association of Medical Sciences said Wednesday it has conditionally approved womb transplants to be performed in Japan on a clinical trial basis.
In a report compiled by the association's review panel, it said such transplants will be limited to a small number of cases. The procedure involves transplanting the uterus of a living donor to a woman who lacks a uterus so that she can give birth.
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Refugee team for Olympics delays arrival in Japan due to COVID case
TOKYO - The International Olympic Committee said Wednesday the Refugee Olympic Team will currently not travel to Japan after an official with the delegation tested positive for the coronavirus.
The official had participated in the team's camp in Doha, attended by 26 of the 29 athletes, as well as 11 other individuals, ahead of the opening of the Olympics on July 23, according to the IOC.
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Tokyo reports over 1,000 daily COVID cases, 1st time since May 13
TOKYO - The Tokyo metropolitan government reported 1,149 daily coronavirus cases Wednesday, topping 1,000 for the first time since May 13.
The capital, under a fourth COVID-19 state of emergency, has been facing a resurgence of the virus ahead of the opening of the Tokyo Olympics next week.
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Japan's emperor to declare opening of Tokyo Olympics
TOKYO - Japanese Emperor Naruhito is likely to attend the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics next week and declare the start of the games, an official with knowledge of the planning said Wednesday.
Japan is proceeding with arrangements for his attendance at the ceremony on July 23, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
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U.S. raps China at ASEAN meeting for unlawful claims in S. China Sea
BANGKOK - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, at an online meeting with his ASEAN peers on Wednesday, reiterated Washington's position that it will not accept China's unlawful maritime claims in the South China Sea, according to the State Department.
Blinken also expressed deep concern about a military coup that occurred in Myanmar earlier this year, and called for ASEAN to take coordinated action for the cessation of violence and return to civilian rule in the member country.
