Here is the latest list of news digests selected by Kyodo News.

———-

North Korea fired new intermediate-range missile over Japan on Oct 4: KCNA

BEIJING — North Korea said the projectile fired over the Japanese archipelago on Oct. 4 was a “new type intermediate-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile” launched as part of military exercises that will took place from the end of September, according to official media. .

The exercises were organized by units responsible for the use of tactical nuclear weapons, the Korean Central News Agency said, after Pyongyang again tested ballistic missiles in the Sea of ​​Japan early Sunday, the last day of exercises.

———-

Japan, Malaysia to cooperate to deal with North Korean threats

KUALA LUMPUR – The foreign ministers of Japan and Malaysia pledged on Sunday to work closely together to respond to North Korea’s missile and nuclear threats.

“The frequent ballistic missile launches (by North Korea) have caused a serious and imminent threat to the security of Japan and the (surrounding) region, and a clear and serious challenge to the international community,” the minister said. of Foreign Affairs Yoshimasa Hayashi at a joint press conference. after meeting his Malaysian counterpart Saifuddin Abdullah in Kuala Lumpur.

———-

Japan ranks last for female staff in higher education in 2020: OECD

TOKYO – Japan had the lowest proportion of female personnel in higher education in 2020 among 32 comparable member countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, at 30%, according to the group’s recent report on education.

Women make up an average of 45% of academic professionals in OECD countries, according to the report released Oct. 3, highlighting how much Japan still has to catch up.

———-

Japan prefecture grants workers leave to care for grandchildren

SENDAI – Japan’s northeast Miyagi prefecture plans to grant civil servants time off to care for their grandchildren as part of efforts to help parents raising children.

The initiative, which is expected to start in January, would be the first such venture among the country’s 47 prefectures, according to the Miyagi government. This reflects a growing number of families where both parents work and where the help of grandparents is needed.

———-

Judo: Japanese Horikawa wins her first world title in women’s 63 kg

TASHKENT — Japan’s Megumi Horikawa won the women’s 63-kilo division at the world judo championships on Sunday in Tashkent for her first world title.

The 26-year-old attacked aggressively, winning all five of her bouts. Her victory in the final against Canadian Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard made her the first Japanese woman to win the weight class since Yoshie Ueno in 2010.

———-

Support for Kishida drops further to 35% in Unification Church dispute

TOKYO — Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s Cabinet approval rating has fallen to 35.0%, its lowest level since its launch last year, a Kyodo News survey revealed on Sunday, as it tries to deal with the Japanese public’s dissatisfaction with rising prices and his party’s policies. ties to the Unification Church.

The support rating, which fell 40.2% in September and 54.1% in August, also indicates that Kishida failed to defuse jitters over the state funeral held last month for the former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.