The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
----------
Japan, U.S. concerned over China bid to undermine rules-based order
TOKYO - Japanese and U.S. foreign and defense chiefs on Friday shared their concerns about China's attempts to "undermine the rules-based order" and challenges they pose to the region and world, vowing to cooperate in deterring and responding to "destabilizing activities."
In a joint statement issued after their virtual "two-plus-two" talks, the ministers highlighted the "importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait" while opposing any unilateral actions threatening Japan's administration of the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, controlled by Japan but claimed by China.
----------
Japan decides to place 3 prefs. under COVID quasi-emergency
TOKYO - Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Friday three Japanese prefectures hit by surging COVID-19 cases will be placed under a quasi-state of emergency, in line with requests by their governors, who linked the recent sharp gains to U.S. military bases.
The quasi-emergency declarations for Okinawa, Yamaguchi and Hiroshima will be effective from Sunday to Jan. 31, allowing the prefectures to bolster anti-coronavirus measures and request that dining establishments shorten their business hours as health experts warn of Japan's sixth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
----------
Cambodian PM becomes 1st foreign leader to visit Myanmar since coup
PHNOM PENH/YANGON - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen arrived in Myanmar on Friday marking the first visit by a foreign leader to the Southeast Asian country since the military ousted the civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi and seized power in February 2021.
As this year's chair of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Cambodia is seeking to make progress on ending the political turmoil in the member country while military authorities appear in no hurry to loosen their grip on power.
----------
Nearly 400 in Tokyo sent to hospitals after falling due to snow, ice
TOKYO - Nearly 400 people in Tokyo were sent to hospitals on Thursday and Friday after slipping and falling due to ice and snow on the streets, as the capital saw its first heavy snowfall in four years, authorities said.
Central Tokyo had 10 centimeters of snow by Thursday evening, with disrupted traffic restoring to normal on Friday. The mercury dropped to minus 3.5 C in central areas of the capital on Friday morning, although temperatures rose again by the afternoon due to sunny weather and traffic conditions gradually returned to normal.
----------
North Korea will not participate in Beijing Winter Olympics, blames U.S.
BEIJING - North Korea said Friday that it has decided not to participate in the upcoming Beijing Olympics and Paralympics, blaming the United States' attempts to prevent "the successful opening of the Winter Games."
North Korea also said the global spread of COVID-19 has motivated it to skip the sporting event. It did not send a team to last summer's Tokyo Games, citing the coronavirus pandemic.
----------
Japanese billionaire Maezawa to explore Mariana Trench
TOKYO - Yusaku Maezawa, the billionaire entrepreneur who last month became the first Japanese civilian to travel to the International Space Station, said Friday he now plans a trip to the Mariana Trench, the deepest location on Earth.
Maezawa revealed the exploration project at a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo, saying that "it's been almost decided what kind of submarine will be used and how long the trip will be." Details of the plan will be announced later, he added.
----------
Japan's 7-Eleven in China fined for describing Taiwan as country
BEIJING - Japanese retailer Seven & i Holdings Co.'s China-based 7-Eleven convenience store business has been fined for describing Taiwan as an independent country on its website, Chinese authorities said Friday.
The authorities also criticized the company for displaying maps that do not contain Chinese names for the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands, claimed by Beijing, as well as for several islets in the South China Sea.
----------
Japan's parliament to convene regular session Jan. 17
TOKYO - The Japanese parliament is set to convene a regular Diet session from Jan. 17, lawmakers said Friday, with ruling and opposition parties expected to debate the fiscal 2022 budget among other legislation ahead of an upper house election this summer.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno conveyed the government's proposed timing for the session to senior members of the steering committees of both chambers. Unless extended, the session will run through June 15.
