The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Number of young women to halve in 40% of Japan localities by 2050
TOKYO - More than 40 percent of Japanese municipalities are likely to see the number of their young female residents drop by more than half in the 30 years through 2050 as the country's population rapidly declines, a study by private-sector experts' panel showed Wednesday.
The panel on population strategy warned that the sharp fall in the number of women in their 20s to 30s, regarded as the core generation that bears children, in the 744 municipalities suggests that those localities may be severely impacted.
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Fukushima treated water discharge resumes after power outage
TOKYO - The discharge of treated radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea resumed after being temporarily suspended Wednesday due to a partial power outage, the plant operator said.
Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. said it believed the power outage, which occurred around 10:43 a.m., was caused when a power cable at the Daiichi plant was damaged during excavation work.
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Japan launches new alert system as heat stroke deaths rise
TOKYO - Japan's Environment Ministry launched a special heat stroke alert system Wednesday as part of efforts to address the increasing number of deaths due to the summer heat in recent years.
When the alert is issued, municipalities will open designated facilities such as libraries and community centers to residents as "cooling shelters." The system will be in effect through Oct. 23 this year.
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Antony Blinken starts China trip to stabilize ties amid tensions
SHANGHAI - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken kicked off a three-day visit to China on Wednesday to hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and other senior officials in a bid to stabilize bilateral ties amid tensions over a host of issues.
The top U.S. diplomat arrived in Shanghai, returning to the Asian country for the first time in 10 months. Blinken may meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing during his stay.
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Japan's IHI rigged data for over 4,000 engines at least since 2003
TOKYO - Japanese leading engine maker IHI Corp. said Wednesday a subsidiary has falsified fuel efficiency data for 4,361 engines, mostly for ships, produced at least since 2003 for the domestic and overseas markets.
The data-rigging was found at IHI Power Systems Co.'s plants in Niigata and Gunma prefectures, with data doctored during tests to make their fuel economy look better, IHI said.
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Ex-Japan PM Aso meets Trump in New York ahead of Nov. election
NEW YORK - Former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso met with Donald Trump on Tuesday in New York, at a time when leaders and senior officials of some countries have been building rapport with the former U.S. president ahead of the November election.
Aso, vice president of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, was a longtime ally of the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who built a strong personal relationship with Trump when the two led their respective countries.
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Nikkei stock index surges over 2% on tech gains
TOKYO - The Nikkei stock index jumped over 2 percent Wednesday, boosted by technology shares on hopes for upbeat earnings from U.S. companies, with sentiment further lifted by advances on other Asian markets.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 907.92 points, or 2.42 percent, from Tuesday at 38,460.08. The broader Topix index finished 44.50 points, or 1.67 percent, higher at 2,710.73.
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Yen drops to 155 range, new 34-yr low against U.S. dollar
LONDON - The yen weakened to the 155 range against the U.S. dollar in London on Wednesday, hitting a fresh 34-year low, amid expectations the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates elevated for longer than projected.
The Japanese currency briefly fell below 155 for the first time since in June 1990.
Video: Victims remembered two years after boat accident in Hokkaido
