Photo taken on Dec. 3, 2019, shows the headquarters of the World Trade Organization in Geneva. (Kyodo)

The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.

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WHO says new Omicron coronavirus variant is "of concern"

GENEVA - The World Health Organization said Friday a new coronavirus strain detected in South Africa is a highly transmissible "variant of concern" and named it "Omicron."

The emergence of the B.1.1.529 variant, first reported to the WHO from South Africa on Wednesday, has caused authorities around the world to react with alarm and led them to quickly tighten travel restrictions.

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Japan PM says enemy base strike capabilities option to boost defense

TOKYO - Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Saturday that Japan will strengthen its necessary defense power and consider all options including the acquisition of enemy base strike capabilities.

In a speech at a Ground Self-Defense Force base, Kishida expressed concern about North Korea's rapid development of missile technology and China's military expansion.

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Biden expressed hope Japan would increase defense spending to PM Kishida

WASHINGTON - U.S. President Joe Biden expressed his hope that Japan would increase its defense spending during a phone call with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in October, a diplomatic source said, as the two allies deepen their ties amid China's rise.

Biden's remarks came in the wake of Kishida showing eagerness to beef up Japan's defense outlays, which have been kept around 1 percent of the country's gross domestic product in light of the war-renouncing Constitution.

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Sumo: Terunofuji beats Abi to wrap up title with day to spare

FUKUOKA - Yokozuna Terunofuji withstood a spirited effort from upstart No. 15 maegashira Abi on Saturday to secure the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament championship with a day to spare.

The Mongolian-born titan improved to an insurmountable 14-0 at Fukuoka Kokusai Center after being driven to the edge by title challenger Abi, who was making an unexpected bid for the crown in his return to the top division.

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Matsui to stay on as leader of opposition Japan Innovation Party

TOKYO - The Japan Innovation Party on Saturday decided to keep Ichiro Matsui as its leader after party members voted against holding a leadership election.

Party rules state that a decision has to be made on whether to hold a leadership race within 45 days of a national election. The House of Representatives election that was held on Oct. 31 saw the party nearly quadruple the number of its lower house seats.

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Mizuho Bank slapped with business improvement order after system failures

TOKYO - Japan's financial authorities on Friday ordered Mizuho Bank and its parent Mizuho Financial Group Inc. to improve their operations and clarify management responsibility for a series of system failures, in punitive actions that prompted the major financial institution to replace top executives.

The Financial Services Agency ordered them to implement immediate preventive steps and submit additional measures by Jan. 17, while the Finance Ministry ordered the bank to take corrective action for breaching the foreign exchange law following a system problem, the first such order to a bank since the law was revised in 1998.

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EU chief's Japan visit postponed amid COVID variant fears

BRUSSELS - European Council President Charles Michel's visit to Japan has been "postponed," his spokesman said Friday, amid concern over a new coronavirus variant.

The spokesman, Barend Leyts, said on Twitter that the change in plan was due to a member of the council having tested positive for COVID-19. Michel was scheduled to hold talks in Tokyo with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Monday.