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

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Japan eyes extending COVID-19 emergency in Tokyo, other areas

TOKYO - The Japanese government is eyeing an extension of the COVID-19 state of emergency for Tokyo, neighboring and some other prefectures past its Sept. 12 end date, having deemed the strains on the health system have not eased enough to lift restrictions on business activity, sources said Monday.

The emergency declaration could be extended by around two to three weeks, the sources said. But with Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga having announced his resignation, it could be stretched by about one month to allow his successor as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, to be chosen Sept. 29, to decide when the measure ends.

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Japan business lobby seeks to end quarantine for vaccinated arrivals

TOKYO - Japan's largest business lobby on Monday called for the government to promptly consider exempting overseas arrivals who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 from quarantine while also shortening the current 14-day quarantine period to a maximum of 10 days.

The proposals, which urge the government to be proactive in restarting economic and social activities once the recent resurgence of the coronavirus has abated, were submitted by Masakazu Tokura, chairman of the Japan Business Federation, to Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.

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Man dies in Japan after receiving dose of recalled Moderna vaccine

TOKYO - A 49-year-old man in Japan died last month after he was administrated a dose of Moderna Inc.'s COVID-19 vaccine that was among batches later recalled from use by its distributor in the country, the health ministry said Monday.

Moderna and Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. said last Wednesday they would recall three lots of the vaccine after stainless steel contaminants were found in some vials.

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Japan's Emperor Naruhito begins move to palace 2 yrs after ascension

TOKYO - Emperor Naruhito and his family began moving to their new residence on the grounds of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo Monday, more than two years after ascending the throne, the Imperial Household Agency said.

Since the emperor was enthroned on May 1, 2019, the day after his father Akihito stepped down as emperor, the first abdication in about 200 years, renovations and other preparations have been under way to prepare for the move.

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Tokyo's daily COVID cases below 1,000 for 1st time since mid-July

TOKYO - Tokyo confirmed 968 daily coronavirus cases on Monday, marking the first time since July 19 the count has fallen below 1,000, but concerns persist over the rapid spread of the highly contagious Delta variant.

The daily figure was down significantly from the 1,853 cases confirmed Sunday, although infection numbers tend to be lower on Mondays as fewer hospitals and clinics are open on weekends.

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Taliban claim control of whole country, say war is over

ISLAMABAD - The Taliban declared the war in Afghanistan over on Monday after claiming to have wiped out last pocket of armed resistance, while they vowed to form a new government soon.

"War is ended," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told a press conference in Kabul, local broadcaster TOLONews reported three weeks after the Islamist group swept to power in the Afghan capital.

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Japan's Paralympic team head says athletes' efforts bore fruit

TOKYO - The head of Japan's Paralympic team said Monday the 51 medals the host nation won at the world's largest sporting event for athletes with impairments was a "big achievement" and a result of all of its members giving out everything they had.

At a small ceremony held in Tokyo, a day after the closing of the Paralympics, the delegation flag was returned to the Japanese Paralympic Committee, officially marking the end of the team's participation in the 13-day games, staged following a one-year postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Japan defense chief goes on board British aircraft carrier

YOKOSUKA, Japan - Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi on Monday went on board the British aircraft carrier the Queen Elizabeth in Japan at the U.S. Navy base in Yokosuka, southwest of Tokyo.

Kishi's inspection of the state-of-the-art carrier is intended to demonstrate the robust ties between the two nations as Tokyo and London deepen their defense cooperation in response to China's military buildup and assertive territorial claims.

==Kyodo

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