The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Japan government plans to seek court order to dissolve Unification Church
TOKYO - The Japanese government plans to seek a court order to disband the Unification Church, a government source said Saturday, a move that comes after a months-long probe into the religious group over allegations of soliciting financially ruinous donations from members and other questionable practices.
Scrutiny of the group intensified after former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was fatally shot during an election campaign speech last year over his perceived links to the entity, an incident which also brought to light its connections with many ruling party lawmakers.
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Japan foreign minister to visit 4 Southeast Asian nations from Oct. 8
TOKYO - Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa is planning to visit Brunei, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand from Oct. 8 as Japan prepares for a summit with ASEAN leaders later this year, Japanese government sources said Saturday.
In light of China's increasing assertiveness in the South and East China seas, Kamikawa is expected to confirm with her counterparts the importance of ensuring international order based on the rule of law and realizing a free and open Indo-Pacific.
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Asian Games: Zhang defeats Watanuki for men's tennis gold, Paris spot
HANGZHOU, China - Japan's Yosuke Watanuki missed a chance to qualify for next year's Paris Olympics tennis tournament with a straight-sets loss to Chinese giant killer Zhang Zhizhen in the men's singles final at the Asian Games on Saturday.
Zhang, who upset then world No. 5 Casper Ruud of Norway in the second round of this year's U.S. Open, defeated Watanuki 6-4, 7-6(7) to earn his gold medal and Olympic berth.t its connections with many ruling party lawmakers.
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U.S. gov't shutdown almost certain as last-ditch plan rejected
WASHINGTON - A U.S. government shutdown appeared almost inevitable Friday after a faction of far-right Republicans in the House of Representatives rejected the party's own stopgap funding bill.
A day before Saturday's deadline to fund the federal government, the last-ditch bill, including spending cuts, proposed by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was defeated by 21 Republican dissidents and all Democrats, who regarded it as too extreme. The vote was 198-232.
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Construction of Japan's tallest skyscraper begins near Tokyo Station
TOKYO - Construction of a new skyscraper, set to be Japan's tallest building with a height of about 390 meters, has begun near Tokyo Station, developer Mitsubishi Estate Co. said.
The Torch Tower, expected to be completed in March 2028, will surpass the 330-meter Azabudai Hills Mori JP Tower, currently the tallest building in the country located in Tokyo's Minato Ward.
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Baseball: Shohei Ohtani's jersey tops sales among all MLB players
LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani set another milestone Friday when he finished the season with the most popular player jersey in Major League Baseball.
Ohtani, who made the top 10 in 2018 and 2021, is the first Japanese player to reach No. 1 in the tally, based on jersey sales through MLB's online store since Opening Day.
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Video: Harvest moon seen across Japan
