The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Japan Princess Mako marries commoner after years of controversy
TOKYO - Japan's Princess Mako married her commoner boyfriend Kei Komuro on Tuesday, the Imperial Household Agency said, the union coming after years of controversy over a financial dispute involving his mother that led the couple to forgo traditional ceremonies associated with a royal marriage.
Princess Mako, a niece of Emperor Naruhito, abandoned her royal status and became Mako Komuro under a family registry with her university sweetheart as the agency submitted legal paperwork to register the couple's marriage on their behalf Tuesday morning, four years since their relationship was made public.
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Former S. Korean President Roh Tae Woo dies aged 88
SEOUL - Former South Korean President Roh Tae Woo, an army general-turned politician, died Tuesday afternoon, Seoul National University Hospital said. He was 88.
Roh, who served as president between 1988 and 1993, was recently hospitalized after his health deteriorated, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported, citing his aides.
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Kishida urges gov't panel to craft proposals for "new capitalism" soon
TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Tuesday he instructed a government economic policy panel to compile "urgent proposals" by early November to flesh out his signature "new capitalism" vision.
The proposals will include promoting the development of advanced technologies for digitalization and decarbonization and economic security issues, including securing semiconductor supplies as "top priorities," Kishida told the panel's first meeting.
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Over 70% fully vaccinated in Japan, among top 3 in G-7
TOKYO - Over 70 percent of Japan's population has been fully inoculated against COVID-19, government data showed Tuesday, ranking the country among the top three in the Group of Seven nations after an initially slow vaccine rollout.
Of Japan's population of 125 million, 70.1 percent had received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, according to the government.
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Former princess Mako Komuro says marriage "necessary choice"
TOKYO - Former princess Mako Komuro, who married commoner Kei Komuro on Tuesday, said their marriage was a "necessary choice" and she wants to lead a "peaceful life" in a new environment after years of public controversy over a family financial dispute.
Speaking to the press after registering their marriage, the former princess said she understands there are differing opinions about their union and apologized to people who were affected. But she said it was necessary for them to "live while cherishing and protecting our feelings."
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China's PM eager to boost cooperation with ASEAN amid U.S. tensions
BEIJING - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday voiced willingness to bolster cooperation with ASEAN member states, as its security tensions with the United States have been escalating over regional issues including the South China Sea.
Li participated in an online meeting with leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, in which he apparently called for an early conclusion of talks on a so-called code of conduct with ASEAN to avert clashes in the South China Sea.
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Australia sets target for net zero emissions by 2050 ahead of COP26
SYDNEY - Australia has set an official target to reach net zero emissions by 2050, but will not increase its goal for 2030, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced Tuesday.
The country, one of the world's highest per capita emitters of greenhouse gasses, has been under mounting global pressure to take stronger action on emissions reduction ahead of a U.N. climate change summit that starts in Glasgow, Scotland, on Sunday.
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ASEAN begins summit without Myanmar representative
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN - ASEAN leaders kicked off their annual summit meeting on Tuesday without a representative from Myanmar after the group excluded the country's military leader over the member country's political turmoil following a coup earlier this year.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations invited a senior Foreign Ministry official as a "nonpolitical representative" instead, but Myanmar's military authorities balked at the exclusion, hinting they may boycott the summit altogether.
