The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Tokyo reports under 30,000 new COVID cases for 1st time in 4 days
TOKYO - The Tokyo metropolitan government reported 28,112 new coronavirus cases Sunday, ending a three-day streak of cases exceeding the 30,000 mark amid a seventh wave of infections linked to the spread of the BA.5 Omicron subvariant.
The tally was down from the 32,698 new cases logged the previous day, with the Japanese capital reaching a new all-time high of 34,995 on Friday.
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WHO declares monkeypox outbreak global health emergency
GENEVA - The World Health Organization on Saturday declared the outbreak of monkeypox a global health emergency, the highest level of alert, as cases continue to rise.
The WHO reconvened its emergency committee on monkeypox for the second time in a month Thursday to assess the outbreak and its implication on public health.
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FOCUS: Unification Church ties to lawmakers emerges as major political issue
TOKYO - The Unification Church's links to Japanese lawmakers has emerged as a major political issue ahead of an extraordinary parliamentary session in the fall, following the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, with opposition parties moving to probe such ties including within their own ranks.
Abe's assailant has said he held a grudge against the religious group because large donations his mother had made to it ruined his family, and he thought Abe was linked to the group, according to investigative sources.
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Russia attacks Ukraine's Odesa port day after grain deal
KYIV - Russian missiles struck Ukraine's Black Sea port of Odesa on Saturday, the Ukrainian military said, a day after the two countries agreed on a deal to allow the resumption of grain shipments blocked by the conflict.
Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said the strikes on the key grain-exporting port were a "spit in the face" of Turkey and the United Nations, which mediated the deal that could ease a food crisis triggered by soaring commodity prices.
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Baseball: Ohtani hits 20th homer as Halos rebuff calls to trade star
ATLANTA - Shohei Ohtani blasted a solo home run in the Los Angeles Angels' 7-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves on Saturday, but the reigning American League MVP's 20th bomb of the year was overshadowed by headlines about his trade status.
Clubs have been calling the Angels to express interest in acquiring Ohtani, but the Halos "have no plans to move the superstar" before the Aug. 2 trade deadline, MLB.com reported.
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Fencing: Japan wins bronze in women's team sabre at worlds
CAIRO - The Japanese women's sabre team secured its first podium finish at the world championships on Saturday after edging Spain 45-43 in the bronze medal match.
Japan, featuring individual gold medalist Misaki Emura, beat the United States in the quarterfinals before losing to France 45-43 in the semifinals. Hungary beat France in the final.
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Sumo: Ichinojo wins first Emperor's Cup following loss by Terunofuji
NAGOYA - Ichinojo claimed his maiden Emperor's Cup at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday, winning his final match against fellow rank-and-filer Ura before the joint overnight leader, lone yokozuna Terunofuji, lost to ozeki Takakeisho.
The two Mongolian-born contenders were deadlocked at 11-3 entering the final day of the 15-day tournament at Dolphins Arena, where a succession of wrestlers had been forced to withdraw from competition by the coronavirus.
