The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Japan to ease COVID-19 restrictions around November
TOKYO - The Japanese government plans to relax COVID-19 curbs on travel, large-scale events and serving alcohol around November provided that most of the eligible population is vaccinated by then, sources with knowledge of the plan said Wednesday.
The easing of restrictions will still take place in areas under a COVID-19 state of emergency if certain conditions, such as vaccination, are met, the sources said, as the government faces growing calls to restart economic activity to help struggling businesses.
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Tokyo's key stock index at 6-month high above 30,000 on hopes for new gov't
TOKYO - The Nikkei stock index rose for the eighth consecutive day on Wednesday to end at a nearly six-month high above the 30,000 threshold, lifted by hopes for a normalization of pandemic-hit economic activities under a new government.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 265.07 points, or 0.89 percent, from Tuesday at 30,181.21, its highest closing since March 18. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange finished 16.23 points, or 0.79 percent, higher at 2,079.61.
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3-way LDP race likely as Kishida makes pledges, Takaichi declares bid
TOKYO - Former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday vowed to reduce wealth disparity in Japan as he unveiled his economic policies for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's leadership race, which is shaping up to be a three-way contest as former communications minister Sanae Takaichi formally announced her bid.
Vaccine czar Taro Kono, who consistently ranks high in opinion polls asking who is most fit to succeed Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, is expected to announce his candidacy in the coming days.
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Japan to extend COVID-19 emergency Thurs. in Tokyo, other areas
TOKYO - The government is looking to decide Thursday on extending the COVID-19 state of emergency in Tokyo and other metropolitan areas where hospitals remain under strain despite gradually falling infections, sources with knowledge of the plan said Wednesday.
The state of emergency currently covering 21 of Japan's 47 prefectures is due to expire on Sunday and Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is set to make a final assessment of where restrictions on business activity should remain in place before announcing the decision at a task force meeting.
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Mizuho Bank suffers ATM system failure, 7th this year
TOKYO - Mizuho Bank experienced a system failure which disrupted about 100 automated teller machines on Wednesday, the Japanese major banking group said, marking the seventh such outage this year.
The failure occurred around 9:20 a.m. due to a "hardware problem," but affected services have been restored, Mizuho Bank said.
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Japanese singer, actor Gackt to take break due to voice disorder
TOKYO - Popular Japanese singer and actor Gackt, who has a strong fan base in Asia and beyond, will suspend his show business activities indefinitely due to a voice disorder, his agency in Tokyo said Wednesday.
The agency said in a statement Gackt fell seriously ill after returning to Japan from overseas on Aug. 6 and that doctors have confirmed it will be "impossible" for him to pursue work using his voice at this point due to dysphonia.
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Hong Kong police arrest organizers of Tiananmen Massacre vigil
HONG KONG - Hong Kong police on Wednesday arrested four members of a pro-democracy group known for its yearly vigil commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown after they refused to cooperate in a national security investigation.
The four members of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, including vice chairwoman Tonyee Chow, were arrested as the group rejected a police demand to provide information on its operations, the group said Wednesday.
