The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Japan economy minister to step down over Unification Church: source
TOKYO - Japan's economy minister Daishiro Yamagiwa has decided to step down, as he has been criticized for his dubious relations with the Unification Church, a contentious religious group, a government source said Monday.
The minister's resignation is set to deal another blow to the Cabinet of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, with its approval ratings plunging over the issue and his controversial decision to hold a state funeral for slain former premier Shinzo Abe.
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Japan warns anew of necessary steps against volatility, yen swings
TOKYO - Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki on Monday continued to warn that necessary steps will be taken to counter excessive volatility in the currency market, with the yen's subsequent spike against the dollar causing market speculation that Japanese monetary authorities intervened again.
Japan did not confirm whether another yen-buying, dollar-selling intervention was carried out but its top currency diplomat, Masato Kanda, also said authorities were ready to respond "appropriately" to excess volatility at any time.
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2 rival Koreas exchange warning shots near maritime boundary
SEOUL - North and South Korea exchanged warning shots along a disputed western maritime boundary in the Yellow Sea early Monday, with both sides' armed forces accusing each other of border violations, adding further tension to relations between the two countries.
South Korea's military said it fired a total of 20 warning shots after spotting a North Korean commercial vessel that had crossed the Northern Limit Line, a border drawn by U.S.-led U.N. forces after the Korean War, at around 3:42 a.m.
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FOCUS: Xi's unprecedented 3rd term may prod Japan to review its China policy
TOKYO - With Chinese President Xi Jinping securing an unprecedented third term in power, fears are mounting that Sino-U.S. tensions may escalate further over Taiwan and economic security, forcing Japan to review its Beijing-facing policies.
Calls are growing in Japan for the government of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to reinforce the country's alliance with the United States in a bid to ensure peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region by countering China's increasing influence.
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Japan eyes 26 tril. yen economic package to fight inflation
TOKYO - A new economic package being compiled to help struggling households cope with inflation and support the economy will likely reach 26 trillion yen ($174 billion), a senior ruling party lawmaker indicated Monday.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has instructed officials to draw up a new package focusing on steps to ease the pain of higher prices on households, spurring wage growth and revving up an economy still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.
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China's economy grows 3.9% in 3rd qtr, outlook bearish
BEIJING - China's economy in the July-September period expanded 3.9 percent from a year earlier, with growth gathering pace from the previous quarter following the end of a two-month lockdown in Shanghai, official data showed Monday.
The data, originally due for publication last Tuesday, was released after an unusual delay announced during the ruling Communist Party's congress through Saturday.
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PM Kishida vows to meet with people affected by Unification Church
TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida promised Monday to meet with victims of the Unification Church to hear about their financial sufferings and other problems caused by the religious group.
In a parliamentary session, Kishida said the government is looking into an appropriate way to listen to such victims, including former followers and children of current believers as well as lawyers assisting them.
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South Korean foundation may pay wartime labor damages for Japanese firms
TOKYO - Japan and South Korea are discussing a plan for a foundation funded by contributions from Korean companies to pay compensation for wartime labor to plaintiffs on behalf of Japanese corporate defendants, diplomatic sources said Sunday.
The planned compromise deal follows South Korean court orders for the liquidation of the local assets of Japanese companies to pay the damages. Japan maintains that all claims stemming from its colonial rule were settled "completely and finally" under a 1965 bilateral agreement.
