The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Kishida Cabinet support rate drops to 40.2%, lowest since launch
TOKYO - The Japanese Cabinet's public approval rating dropped to 40.2 percent, a new low since its launch last year, the latest Kyodo News survey showed Sunday, as the ruling Liberal Democratic Party struggles to defuse jitters over its controversial links to a religious group and a planned state funeral later in the month for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
The rating for the Cabinet of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is a sharp drop from over 63 percent shortly after the ruling party's sweeping victory in the upper house election in July and 54.1 percent in the last survey in August.
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Strong typhoon Nanmadol makes landfall in southwestern Japan
TOKYO - A large and powerful typhoon made landfall in Japan's southwestern region of Kyushu, with the weather agency warning of unprecedented winds and waves, and calling for the highest level of caution.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said Typhoon Nanmadol continued to move slowly northward over Kyushu after making landfall in Kagoshima Prefecture and could travel along the Honshu main island in the coming days. A number of trains and flights have been canceled.
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M6.8 quake jolts southeastern Taiwan, 2 trapped in building collapse
TAIPEI - A magnitude-6.8 earthquake struck southeastern Taiwan on Sunday, leaving a trail of destruction on the island's east coast, where two people remain trapped in a collapsed building.
The quake occurred at 2:44 p.m. in Taitung County's Chishang Township at a depth of 7 kilometers, according to the Seismology Center of the Central Weather Bureau.
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Group of Japanese firms may join Toshiba buyout bidder
TOKYO - A Japanese investment fund seeking to buy out Toshiba Corp. is asking a group of Japanese companies to join hands to clear the second round of bidding for the troubled conglomerate, people close to the matter said Sunday.
By teaming up with domestic companies, the Tokyo-based fund, Japan Industrial Partners, could gain an advantage over other bidders, including U.S. investment fund Bain Capital, in clearing government screening of offers for Toshiba, which is deemed crucial to Japan's national security because of its nuclear power and defense businesses.
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FOCUS: Hopes grow for win-win effect of inbound tourism in Japan, weak yen
TOKYO - Japanese policymakers expect that a further reopening of Japan's borders to foreign visitors will breathe life into inbound tourism that had been hit by COVID-19 travel restrictions.
The hope is that a weaker yen will be an additional boost, providing a win-win situation for foreign tourists, who would be compelled to splurge by taking advantage of the currency effect, and for Japan, where the negative side of the yen's slide, especially against the U.S. dollar, has become all the more visible.
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Japanese, Australian firms collaborate on world's tallest timber tower
TOKYO - Construction firms from Japan and Australia have started work on a 182-meter-high skyscraper in central Sydney in a collaboration to build what will be the world's tallest hybrid-timber building using an eco-friendly wood product.
Tokyo-based Obayashi Corp. and Sydney-based Built Pty Ltd. plan to complete construction on the 39-story "Atlassian Central" in 2026, to be used for offices, accommodation and retail outlets, the companies said recently in press releases.
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Baseball: Ohtani picks up 13th win, Suzuki on paternity list
ANAHEIM, California - Two-way star Shohei Ohtani pitched seven shutout innings and helped his own cause with an RBI double, leading the Los Angeles Angels to a 2-1 win over the Seattle Mariners on Saturday.
Ohtani (13-8) extended his MLB career-high win total to 13 as he scattered three singles, with eight strikeouts and one walk in a 107-pitch outing at Angel Stadium.
