The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.----------Battle to pick next LDP head effectively kicks off, heavyweights join raceTOKYO - The battle to pick the next leader of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party effectively kicked off Monday, with heavyweights such as Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi and former Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi emerging as prominent candidates.Following Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's announcement that he will step down, the LDP is expected to decide soon on the timing of its leadership race, with party sources sayi…READ FULL ARTICLE