The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Taro Kono still ahead as LDP choice to be next Japan prime minister: poll
TOKYO - Vaccination minister Taro Kono is still seen as the most popular choice among ruling Liberal Democratic Party rank-and-file members to become head of the LDP and hence Japan's prime minister, a Kyodo News poll showed Sunday, ahead of the party's presidential election later this week.
Kono, who was the favorite pick in a previous survey held earlier this month, gained 47.4 percent support in the latest poll, followed by former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida at 22.4 percent.
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Japan PM Suga suggests optimism over lifting COVID-19 state of emergency
TOKYO - Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Saturday sounded optimistic about lifting Japan's state of emergency over the coronavirus pandemic when it expires at the end of this month, saying the COVID-19 situation in the country is improving.
"The situation has certainly taken a turn for the better," Suga told reporters in Washington a day after attending the first in-person meeting of the leaders of Japan, the United States, Australia and India.
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Pakistan OKs visas for Japan-bound Afghan evacuees without passports
ISLAMABAD - The Pakistani government has decided to issue visas to the Afghans that Japan wants to evacuate from Afghanistan, even if they arrive at the border without valid passports or other travel documents, according to Pakistani officials.
The policy is in line with the decision Islamabad has made in principle to grant visas to all Afghans who are being sponsored by an international organization or a state for transfer to a third country.
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North Korean leader Kim's sister eager to improve inter-Korean ties
BEIJING - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's younger sister and close aide said Saturday her country can improve relations with South Korea if the two respect each other, the official Korean Central News Agency said.
Kim Yo Jong said in a statement that only when there is understanding between the two sides, such issues as re-establishing the joint liaison office and holding summits for improving relations would see "meaningful and successful solution one by one at an early date through constructive discussions," according to the report by KCNA.
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3 Japan PM hopefuls call for maintaining nuke fuel recycle program
TOKYO - Three of the four candidates running to become Japan's next prime minister called Sunday for maintaining a nuclear fuel recycling program, as they geared up for a presidential election of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
In a Fuji TV program ahead of Wednesday's election, vaccination minister Taro Kono, the only contender who has pushed for phasing out nuclear power generation, said Japan should change course from fuel recycling "as soon as possible."
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FOCUS: Biden's Indo-Pacific shift under scrutiny as AUKUS alliance is formed
WASHINGTON - Drawing a close to the 20-year war in Afghanistan, U.S. President Joe Biden is turning his eyes on the intensifying competition with China, bringing into play new mechanisms like the "Quad" group of Australia, India, Japan and the United States as well as a security partnership among Australia, Britain and the United States.
But the Biden administration may need more clarity in its Indo-Pacific strategy, which it says will be released in the fall, with the recent launch of the three-way partnership dubbed "AUKUS" triggering a huge diplomatic rift with the oldest U.S. ally France, and questions raised over how the two coalitions will evolve.
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Sumo: Terunofuji crowns yokozuna debut with 5th career championship
TOKYO - Terunofuji completed his sterling debut as sumo's 73rd yokozuna by winning the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday.
The grand champion entered the final day of the 15-day tourney at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan one win ahead of No. 10 maegashira Myogiryu (11-4), whose loss to new sekiwake Meisei (8-7) ensured Terunofuji's title.
