Japanese business leaders have been expressing what they hope to see from Suga Yoshihide, who was elected as the new leader of the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Monday.

The chairman of the Japan Business Federation, Nakanishi Hiroaki, says he wants Suga to stop the further spread of coronavirus infection, while also working on economic recovery.

The Tokyo Metropolitan government says it confirmed 80 new cases of the coronavirus on Monday.

It's the first time the daily figure has dropped below 100 since September 7. But officials are again urging thorough infection prevention measures, saying the pace of decline in the numbers is slowing down.

The Japanese government plans to expand catch limits to more types of fish in its surrounding waters. The aim is to make the country's commercial fishing industry more sustainable.

The government has drafted a plan that calls for new limits on 15 types of marine resources, including yellowtail and red sea bream.

Japan's main ruling party has elected Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide its new leader. The 71-year-old politician is virtually assured to succeed Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, who announced last month his intention to step down to deal with his health.

Suga said, "I would like to proceed with regulatory reforms by defeating such things as bureaucratic sectionalism, vested interests, and blind adherence to precedent. And I want to form a cabinet that will work hard for the people."

Families of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea have urged the new leader of the governing Liberal Democratic Party, Suga Yoshihide, to make progress in resolving the issue.

Some of the relatives spoke to the media after Suga was elected LDP president on Monday. He is most likely to succeed outgoing Prime Minister Abe Shinzo this week.

The operator of the damaged nuclear power plant in Fukushima, northeastern Japan, plans to build a taller seawall to help protect against future high seismic sea waves.

The move comes in response to the projection made in April by a government panel on the scale of tsunami that could be triggered by a massive quake along the Japan Trench in the deep sea off northeastern Japan.

Japan's Defense Minister has instructed his ministry and Self-Defense Force personnel on what to do in the event they encounter unidentified flying objects, or UFOs.

Kono Taro issued the instructions on Monday.

Japan's main ruling party has elected Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide its new leader.

The 71-year-old politician is virtually assured to succeed Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, who announced last month his intention to step down to deal with his health.

NHK has learned that British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca plans to resume clinical trials of a coronavirus vaccine in Japan soon, following their resumption in Britain.

Sources close to the firm say the trials will restart this week at the earliest at multiple locations in Japan, with about 250 people aged 18 or older taking part.

Japan's main ruling party has elected Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide its new leader.

The 71-year-old politician is virtually assured to succeed Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, who announced last month his intention to step down to deal with his health.

A major US carrier, United Airlines, is closing a flight attendant base in Japan. The move comes at a time when the carrier is suffering poor business performance due to the coronavirus pandemic.

United Airlines and a union representing its flight attendants say a decision has been made to close the base at Narita Airport near Tokyo at the end of September.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide has been elected the new leader of the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party. He is expected to win a vote in the Diet on Wednesday to become prime minister.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide said on Monday that it is extremely important to build broad, stable relations with other countries, based on the Japan-US alliance at the core and with an eye on the overall international situation.

Suga is expected to win the presidency of the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party later in the day to succeed outgoing Prime Minister Abe Shinzo.

NHK has learned that someone used an IP address to repeatedly access illegally-opened accounts for mobile phone carrier NTT Docomo's cashless payment service last month.

The Docomo service allows people who register their bank account information to make purchases and transfer money.