The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.

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Japan PM urges ministers to use all tools in new economic package

TOKYO - Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Tuesday instructed his Cabinet ministers to compile a fresh economic package by the end of October, deploying "all possible tools" to mitigate the pain of inflation and support the economy with more pay hikes and investment.

Kishida, who places importance on wealth redistribution, told a Cabinet meeting that the government will "reduce tax and social security burdens on top of providing various benefits," at a time when Japan's fiscal health remains the worst among developed nations.

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Japan's new defense chief Kihara to visit Washington in early October

TOKYO - Japan's new Defense Minister Minoru Kihara is scheduled to visit Washington early next month for a meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, a source close to the matter said Tuesday.

Among the topics expected to be discussed at the talks is what role the United States will play in Japan's operation of its newly authorized "counterstrike capabilities," the ability to strike enemy targets, including missile launch pads, to deter attacks on its territory, the source said.

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Nissan to make all new cars sold in Europe fully electric by 2030

London - Nissan Motor Co. said Monday it will make all of its new models sold in Europe fully electric by 2030 as part of efforts to accelerate a shift away from gasoline-run vehicles and adhere to strict environmental regulations in the region.

"EV is the ultimate mobility solution. More than a million customers have already joined our journey and experienced the fun of a Nissan electric vehicle," CEO Makoto Uchida said in a statement. "There is no turning back now."

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S. Korea's Yoon says use of nukes would spell end of N. Korean regime

SEOUL - South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol warned Tuesday that any use of nuclear weapons by the North Korean regime would spell its end.

Speaking at a ceremony to mark the 75th Armed Forces Day, Yoon said, "The North Korean regime must realize that nuclear weapons will not keep them safe," reiterating that South Korea's military would retaliate immediately.

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Ukraine evacuees eligible for Japan long-term residency from Dec. 1

TOKYO - Japan's immigration agency said Tuesday that foreigners fleeing conflict zones such as war-hit Ukraine will be eligible for long-term resident status with a working visa under a revision to the immigration law, starting from Dec. 1.

The new system is designed to help enable the approval of residence for individuals from conflict zones whose circumstances do not conform to the requirements for refugee approval.

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Japan keeps economic view in Sept., cautious about global outlook

TOKYO - The government on Tuesday maintained its assessment of the Japanese economy as recovering moderately, supported by resilient domestic demand, while it warned of downside risks from slowing Chinese growth and monetary tightening abroad.

The same assessment has been used for the fifth straight month in September. The Cabinet Office upgraded its view on corporate profits for the first time since March 2022, saying they are "improving as a whole." But rising material costs led the view on housing construction to be cut for two months in a row to "weak."

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All options on table to counter excess currency moves: finance chief

TOKYO - Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki said Tuesday all options are on the table in countering excessive movements in the currency market, continuing his verbal warnings as the yen edges closer to 150 against the U.S. dollar.

Suzuki said at a press conference that the monetary authorities of Japan and other nations share the view that excessive volatility is undesirable, and the government is closely watching market developments with a heightened sense of urgency.

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Asian Games: Ikee withdraws from 100-meter free due to conditioning issues

HANGZHOU, China - Japanese swimming star Rikako Ikee withdrew from Tuesday's 100-meter freestyle at the Asian Games due to conditioning issues.

Ikee contracted influenza at the national swimming team's training camp in Hokkaido just before the Games began last Saturday in Hangzhou, China, and is not feeling well yet, according to the team's head coach Takashi Yokoyama.

==Kyodo

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