The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Japan's justice minister dismissed over gaffes about death penalty
TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Friday dismissed Yasuhiro Hanashi as justice minister after criticism over remarks widely seen as making light of his role in authorizing executions of death-row inmates.
Hanashi's removal dealt a fresh blow to Kishida after another minister was sacked in late October over his suspicious links to the controversial Unification Church, with public approval ratings for the Cabinet plunging recently.
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New Japan consortium on advanced chips to begin production in 2027
TOKYO - A new consortium set up by eight leading Japanese firms, including Toyota Motor Corp. and Sony Group Corp., said Friday it aims to begin domestic production of next-generation semiconductors in 2027.
The recently established Rapidus Corp. said it will be producing 2-nanometer chips that are crucial to Japan's economic security and daily life.
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Japan decides to probe Unification Church, eyes stripping status
TOKYO - The Japanese government decided Friday to investigate the Unification Church, with a view to requesting that a court consider stripping the controversial organization of its status as a religious corporation with tax benefits.
The decision was announced by culture minister Keiko Nagaoka, who explained that the Unification Church has been ordered to pay damages of at least 1.4 billion yen ($9.8 million) in 22 civil lawsuits.
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ASEAN leaders agree to admit E. Timor as 11th member: source
PHNOM PENH - The leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations agreed in principle on Friday to admit East Timor as the 11th member of the group more than a decade after it applied for membership in 2011, an ASEAN source said.
The leaders of 10-member ASEAN also agreed to grant the country observer status until it joins the bloc.
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Outgoing Russian ambassador blames Japan for strained bilateral ties
TOKYO - Outgoing Russian Ambassador to Japan Mikhail Galuzin on Friday blamed Tokyo for strained bilateral relations, as it has largely followed in step with Western countries in imposing sanctions on Moscow over its war against Ukraine.
Dialogue has worsened "due to unfriendly action by the Japanese side" in response to Russia's "special military operation," Galuzin told a press conference, adding that Moscow has been exercising its right to self-defense over what he called "genocide" by Kyiv in Ukraine's disputed eastern Donbas region.
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Seven & i to sell Sogo & Seibu dept. stores to Fortress Investment
TOKYO - Seven & i Holdings Co. said Friday it plans to sell its struggling department store unit Sogo & Seibu Co. to U.S.-based investment fund Fortress Investment Group LLC for around 250 billion yen ($1.73 billion).
Fortress said it will revamp the operator of Sogo and Seibu department stores by teaming up with electrical appliances retailer Yodobashi Camera Co. A plan is under consideration to make Yodobashi a major tenant for the department stores, according to sources familiar with the matter.
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Japan gov't gave 9.55 mil. yen to Unification Church-linked NGO
TOKYO - Japan's Foreign Ministry said Friday it provided around 9.55 million yen ($66,000) in official development assistance to a nongovernmental organization affiliated with the Unification Church in 2018 to build a women's vocational training school in Senegal.
The decision was made because the ministry wanted "to contribute to the advancement of women in society" and "was not aware that the organization was affiliated with the church," according to Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi.
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Japan's Hall of Fame pitcher Murata dies after fire at his house
TOKYO - Japanese Hall of Fame pitcher Choji Murata died after being taken to hospital following a fire at his house in Tokyo early Friday, police said. He was 72.
Murata was found unconscious sitting in a room on the house's second floor, local police and firefighters said, adding some 40 square meters of that floor burned.
