The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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LDP panel to seek faction disbandment in event of funds law violation
TOKYO - A reform panel of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party will propose introducing a system enabling the party to request a faction to disband if found violating the political funds control law, sources close to the matter said Monday.
In its interim report, expected to be released later this week, the panel will also recommend that the party toughen its penalties on lawmakers in the event of arrest or indictment for violating the same law, according to the sources.
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Taiwan raises over $17 million donation for Japan quake
TAIPEI - Taiwan has raised over NT$540 million ($17.2 million) from the private sector in a fundraising campaign to help Japan recover from a powerful earthquake three weeks ago that killed more than 200 people, the island's Health and Welfare Ministry said Monday.
During the two-week campaign through last Friday, a total of NT$541,589,468 was raised, with more than 134,000 donations made to the program, according to the ministry. Separately, Taiwan's government has offered Japan 60 million yen ($405,000) to assist with the disaster.
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Elementary, junior high schools reopen as quake recovery continues
KANAZAWA, Japan - All elementary and junior high schools in the central Japan areas hit hardest by a powerful quake three weeks ago were back operating on Monday, in a sign some aspects of life in the badly damaged area are returning to normal.
In Ishikawa Prefecture, the final two schools in the city of Suzu and all nine schools in the town of Noto resumed classes, meaning students are back at all 20 elementary and junior high schools that were closed in the municipalities in the wake of the temblor.
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ICAN chief urges Japan to recognize nuke ban, not fear U.S. reaction
TOKYO - The head of international anti-nuclear group ICAN said Monday that Japanese leadership should not fear the U.S. government's reaction and move to recognize the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons as the ban marks its third anniversary.
"It's silly to be frightened of the risk coming from what the Americans think about observing or joining the treaty," Melissa Parke, executive director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, said in an interview with Kyodo News.
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Women's sumo tourney to launch in Feb. with backing from Hakuho
TOKYO - A new sumo tournament aimed at boosting women's involvement in the ancient sport will take place in Tokyo on Feb. 11 with the support of former yokozuna Hakuho, organizers of the event said Monday.
About 200 female wrestlers, from first graders to high school students, plan to compete in the inaugural Dream Girls Cup at Sumida Futsal Arena. The organizers hope it will help make more women familiar with sumo from childhood and build the sport's fan base.
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Sumo: Top-division debutant Onosato stays among leaders on Day 9
TOKYO - Rookie sensation Onosato overpowered former sekiwake Meisei to keep his share of the lead and clinch a winning record Monday at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.
The much-hyped No. 15 maegashira from Ishikawa Prefecture shares the top rung at 8-1 with sekiwake Kotonowaka and No. 14 Onosho, while lone yokozuna Terunofuji is one win back alongside ozeki Kirishima and Hoshoryu at 7-2.
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TSE to require top-tier listed firms to make disclosures in English
TOKYO - Tokyo Stock Exchange Inc. has decided to require firms listed on its top-tier Prime Market to disclose financial results in English in addition to Japanese in a bid to attract more investment from foreigners.
The policy, which will impact around 1,600 firms from March 2025, comes amid complaints from foreign investors that not enough data is provided in English and that some major firms fail to release information in English at the same time as information in Japanese.
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Japan Moon explorer loses power few hours after successful landing
TOKYO - A Japanese lunar explorer equipped with precision navigation technology lost power a few hours after successfully landing on the Moon over the weekend as it was unable to generate power from the Sun, the country's space agency said Monday.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said it managed to retrieve data regarding the details of the touchdown of the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon, or SLIM, which has been a key focus of the mission, as the agency sought to manage a pinpoint landing with an unprecedented precision of 100 meters from its intended target.
Video: Evacuation drill held on Yakushima Island off Kyushu
