The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Japan gives emergency approval to Shionogi's oral COVID-19 drug
TOKYO - Japan's health ministry on Tuesday granted fast-track approval to Shionogi & Co.'s oral COVID-19 drug, making it the country's first domestically-produced oral medicine against the virus.
"Xocova," a medicine for coronavirus patients with mild symptoms, will also become the first drug to be approved under the new emergency approval system established in May.
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Japan begins to probe Unification Church, eyes depriving tax benefits
TOKYO - The Japanese government began investigating the Unification Church on Tuesday, paving the way for requesting a court to consider depriving the controversial group of its status as a religious corporation with tax benefits.
The Cultural Affairs Agency sent its inquiries to the organization, often labeled as a cult, in what was the first case of the "right to question" being exercised under the Religious Corporations Law.
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Gov't panel wants Japan public to pay more for defense buildup
TOKYO - A government panel on Tuesday urged "the whole nation" to shoulder a heavier burden to build up the country's defense capabilities amid growing security challenges, effectively asking for tax hikes instead of new national bond issuances.
In its proposal submitted to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, the panel also upheld the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's contentious plan for Japan to acquire an enemy base strike capability, or a "counterstrike capability," as "essential" for enhancing Japan's deterrence.
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Indonesia quake death toll rises to over 250, 151 others missing
CIANJUR, Indonesia - The death toll from Monday's magnitude 5.6 earthquake on Java Island in Indonesia rose to more than 250 with 151 unaccounted for, according to the country's disaster management agency.
The quake, which struck West Java Province, left 268 people dead and 390 others injured, it said Tuesday.
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OECD sticks to slower growth in 2023, upgrades Japan outlook
TOKYO - World economic growth will slow sharply to 2.2 percent next year from a slightly upgraded 3.1 percent this year, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said Tuesday, amid a global tide of monetary tightening to tame inflation partly blamed for Russia's war.
The Paris-based club of rich economies does not see a global recession as its main scenario, projecting that growth will accelerate toward 2.7 percent in 2024. The outlook for Japan was slightly upgraded for next year, with its economy now forecast to grow 1.8 percent instead of 1.4 percent in the previous report in September.
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Japan space agency gives up on landing Moon probe
TOKYO - Japan's space agency said Tuesday it has given up on landing the country's ultra-small space probe on the Moon after communication with the lander failed to stabilize following its launch last week.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said the Omotenashi lander could not receive transmissions from Earth to correct its trajectory and position, as its solar cells kept facing away from the sun. Attempts to correct its position and orbit were also unsuccessful, the agency said.
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M7.0 quake hits off Solomon Islands, poses no tsunami threat
SYDNEY - An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.0 struck off the Solomon Islands on Tuesday, the U.S. Geological Survey said, adding that the threat of tsunami waves initially forecasted had passed by late afternoon.
The temblor occurred at 1:03 p.m. local time, striking at a depth of 15 kilometers, 57 km southwest of the capital Honiara on Guadalcanal island, according to the USGS.
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Japan ad agency ADK reports bid rigging for Tokyo Olympic test events
TOKYO - Major Japanese advertising agency ADK Holdings Inc. has reported to the fair trade watchdog that it participated in bid rigging for the rights to organize test events for the Tokyo Olympics, a source close to the matter said Tuesday.
ADK came forward after Tokyo prosecutors recently launched an investigation into bid-rigging allegations in connection with the test events, in addition to a scandal involving the alleged receipt by a former games organizing committee executive of nearly 200 million yen ($1.41 million) in bribes from five companies, including ADK.
