Japanese scientists say space probe Hayabusa2 has released a capsule toward Earth, which is believed to contain samples from the asteroid Ryugu.

The project team of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, says the release took place at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Japan time.

Japanese scientists say the operation to release a capsule from Japan's space probe Hayabusa2 is proceeding smoothly.

The project team of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, says the release of the capsule, believed to contain sand from the asteroid Ryugu, will take place at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Japan time, at 220,000 kilometers from Earth.

NHK has learned that the Japanese government plans to create a fund aimed at boosting the international competitiveness of the nation's universities.

The money will be for nurturing young researchers and improving facilities.

The team leader of Japan's asteroid explorer Hayabusa2 project says if Hayabusa2's capsule is successfully returned, it will be a historic achievement.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, held a final news conference ahead of the expected return of the capsule, which is believed to contain sand samples from the asteroid Ryugu.

Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide says the government will establish a fund of 2 trillion yen, or over 19 billion dollars, to reduce the nation's greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.

He made the announcement at a news conference on Friday.

Japanese scientists are making final preparations to retrieve a capsule that will be released from Japan's space probe Hayabusa2. The capsule is scheduled to land on a desert in Australia early on Sunday, local time.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, plans to land the capsule, which is believed to contain sand that the probe collected from an asteroid called Ryugu. The landing will take place at around 2:50 a.m. on Sunday, Japan time.

Additional costs for holding next year's Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics will be shared by three parties, with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government shouldering the largest portion.

The Tokyo government, Japan's central government and the Game's organizing committee agreed on the cost sharing plan on Friday.

Former Japanese prime minister Abe Shinzo says he will cooperate with the investigation into alleged political funding violations involving his support group.

Abe spoke to news reporters on Friday about the allegation that the group shouldered part of the costs of annual parties for his supporters.

Officials of Osaka Prefecture, western Japan, are urging residents to refrain from making nonessential outings to help curb a spike in serious coronavirus cases.

The prefecture has raised its own coronavirus alert to its highest level and is asking residents not to go out unless necessary from Friday until December 15.

Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide is pledging to do whatever it takes to contain the new coronavirus.

Suga said, "We must stay vigilant, as the number of new cases and seriously ill patients recently hit record highs. The situation at hospitals is becoming urgent, as serious cases threaten to overwhelm the number of available beds. We are facing a sense of crisis. Protecting the lives and livelihoods of the people -- this is the top priority of my administration."

A court in western Japan has nullified regulatory approval for the operation of two nuclear reactors in the first such decision since regulations were tightened following the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident.

The Osaka District Court on Friday handed down the ruling in a lawsuit over the Number 3 and Number 4 reactors at the Oi nuclear plant in Fukui Prefecture on the Sea of Japan coast.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government says 449 new cases of coronavirus infection were reported on Friday.

This is the third day in a row that the daily case count has exceeded 400 in the Japanese capital.

A research group commissioned by Japan's health ministry will conduct a large-scale survey on the loss of smell as a symptom of COVID-19.

Loss of smell has been reported as one of the various symptoms of the coronavirus disease, but detailed research on it has yet to be conducted in Japan.

Japan's Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide has called on the international community to create a "united world" to overcome the coronavirus crisis.

Suga delivered a speech by video link at the special session of the United Nations General Assembly.