The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Japan looks to promote electronic visas amid inbound tourist recovery
TOKYO - The Japanese government is looking to expand its electronic visa services system to streamline application procedures for foreign visitors amid a resurgence of tourism after the end of coronavirus-related border control measures, according to government officials.
The Foreign Ministry began the online service in March in 11 countries and regions, with China added to the system in June. Among its conveniences, it enables eligible applicants to obtain short-term stay visas without going to their local Japanese embassy or consulate.
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Japan to delay bill blocking sex offenders from working with children
TOKYO - A bill for a new system blocking convicted sex offenders from jobs involving children will not be submitted in an extraordinary parliamentary session expected next month, a government source said Saturday.
The decision to drop the plan comes after a slew of criticism from within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party of the bill's contents, including that more professions should be subject to the system.
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Asian Games open in high-tech Chinese city of Hangzhou
HANGZHOU, China - The 19th Asian Games began Saturday in China's Hangzhou, home to many high-tech companies, with President Xi Jinping attending the opening ceremony at an 80,000-capacity stadium.
Xi declared the opening of this edition of Asia's Olympics, which had been postponed for a year due to the coronavirus pandemic, after a parade of athletes.
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Quad ministers urge U.N. members not to trade weapons with North Korea
NEW YORK - The foreign ministers of Japan, the United States, Australia and India on Friday urged all U.N. members not to trade weapons with North Korea, as Pyongyang has been trying to expand its military collaboration with Russia.
At their talks on the sidelines of the annual session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, the ministers from the four-way grouping, known as the Quad, also agreed to enhance cooperation toward achieving their vision of a "free and open Indo-Pacific."
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BOJ retains dovish stance despite market expectations of policy shift
TOKYO - Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said Friday after the central bank left its monetary easing policy in place that it is still premature to envision a change, be it ending negative interest rates or its yield cap program.
Despite market expectations that the BOJ could pare back monetary stimulus sooner rather than later, it did not signal a shift in its dovish stance, maintaining that stable inflation is not in sight.
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Motor racing: Tsunoda to continue F1 racing with AlphaTauri
TOKYO - Formula One racing team AlphaTauri announced Saturday it will retain drivers Yuki Tsunoda of Japan and Daniel Ricciardo of Australia for the 2024 season.
The 23-year-old Tsunoda is set to race in front of his home fans Sunday in the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit.
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2 Japanese on British firm's list of Nobel-class researchers
TOKYO - Japanese researchers Masashi Yanagisawa and Kazunori Kataoka have been named in a British research company's list of individuals with Nobel Prize class achievements ahead of upcoming announcements of laureates of the prestigious award in Sweden.
Clarivate Plc said Tuesday that the 23 individuals from institutions in five countries were selected based on the number of citations of their scientific papers. It said that since 2002, 71 of its past laureates have successfully gone on to receive Nobel Prizes.
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Unseasonal flu surges across Japan amid lower immunity post-COVID
TOKYO - The number of new influenza cases reported at designated medical institutions in Japan has surged 57% in the past week, health ministry data showed Friday, marking an unusual trend for a virus usually prevalent during winter.
Health experts attribute the prolonged spread of infections to a combination of factors, including low immunity stemming from a fall in new flu cases when government coronavirus measures were in place.
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Rugby: Pumas' win throws Japan's group wide open at World Cup
TOULOUSE, France - Argentina's 19-10 win over Samoa in Pool D of the Rugby World Cup in Saint-Etienne on Friday night would have been watched with much interest at the Japan team hotel in Toulouse.
The victory keeps the Pumas alive in the tournament following their opening-round loss to England and the four points they earned left them just one point behind Japan and Samoa, and five behind England. Chile, the fifth team in the group, are currently without a point ahead of their game Saturday against England in Lille.
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Japanese startup to develop refueling satellite for U.S. Space Force
TOKYO - Japanese startup Astroscale Holdings Inc. said Friday it has won a $25.5 million contract from the U.S. Space Force to develop a satellite capable of providing in-space refueling services to other satellites.
Astroscale, a Tokyo-based company founded in 2013, aims to provide "on-orbit services," such as refueling, that would extend the service life of satellites, and the removal of space debris.
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Video: Revamped digital billboard at Osaka's landmark Tsutenkaku Tower lit up
