TOKYO - The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Diet battles, diplomatic challenges await Takaichi after 1st yr as PM
TOKYO - Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi marked one year in office on Wednesday, facing tough parliamentary deliberations ahead on key policy items and mounting diplomatic and security challenges while public support for her Cabinet shows signs of weakening.
The anniversary comes amid the lingering fallout from the effective ouster of a scandal-hit minister, potentially eroding public trust in politics and Takaichi's Liberal Democratic Party in the crucial months leading up to unified local elections next spring.
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More data breaches reported by Japan prefectural police forces, companies
TOKYO - The personal information of officers and other employees at 22 prefectural police forces in Japan may have leaked following a recent data breach at disaster information services firm Arcadia Inc., National Police Agency officials said Wednesday.
The possible leak affecting nearly half of the country's 47 prefectural police forces comes amid a string of similar incidents at Japanese companies in various industries.
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Japan farm minister returns controversial donation, fixes funds report
TOKYO - Japan's farm minister said Wednesday he has returned a controversial donation and corrected the necessary political funds report amid claims the donation violated the public offices election law, in the latest allegations against a member of the Cabinet.
The move by Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Arata Takebe came after he said he would confirm the facts relating to a report from weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun claiming his local ruling Liberal Democratic Party branch office received a donation in the 2024 lower house election from a company undertaking public works.
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Foreign visitors' spending in Japan hits record 7 tril. yen in Jan.-Sept
TOKYO - Spending by foreign visitors to Japan hit a record 7.06 trillion yen ($45 billion) in the nine months through September, the Japan Tourism Agency said Wednesday.
The spending, which includes shopping and accommodation costs, rose 1.9 percent from the same period a year earlier.
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Record-late 30 C heat grips wide swathe of Japan
TOKYO - A wide swath of Japan faced sweltering heat on Wednesday, with temperatures in some regions recording the latest day in the year to top 30 C, prompting many to switch back to summer clothes for the day.
Hyuga in southwestern Japan's Miyazaki Prefecture and Kofu in Yamanashi Prefecture, west of Tokyo, saw the mercury rise to 33.6 C and 33.5 C, respectively, but temperatures are expected to fall on Thursday.
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Japan, India mull foreign, defense ministerial talks in mid-Nov.: sources
TOKYO - Japan is making arrangements to hold foreign and defense ministerial talks with India in mid-November in Tokyo, sources familiar with the planning said Wednesday.
The envisaged meeting in the "two-plus-two" format reflects a growing need for the two nations to deepen cooperation to ensure maritime as well as economic security, in the face of China's growing assertiveness.
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Japan gov't arranging Vietnam President Lam speech in parliament: source
TOKYO - The Japanese government is arranging for Vietnamese President To Lam to address Japan's parliament during his visit to Tokyo in early November, a source close to the matter said Wednesday.
Lam, who also heads Vietnam's ruling Communist Party, is scheduled to visit Japan from Nov. 8 to Nov. 11 for talks with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, during which they are expected to discuss ways to cooperate on securing stable energy supplies and issue joint statement, the source said.
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Former timelesz member Inomata not indicted in assault case
TOKYO - Tokyo prosecutors have decided not to indict Shuto Inomata, a former member of popular boy band timelesz who was arrested last month on suspicion of assaulting a female acquaintance, talent agency Starto Entertainment Inc. said Wednesday.
The agency, which terminated Inomata's exclusive contract at the end of September, reiterated its apology to the victim, fans and others affected by the incident.
