The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
----------
G-20 faces tough task to overcome divide amid Ukraine crisis
NUSA DUA, Indonesia - Foreign ministers from the Group of 20 major developed and fast-growing economies faced a tough task of overcoming a divide among member states to address global challenges including food shortages posed by Russia's invasion of Ukraine as they started a two-day meeting on the Indonesian island of Bali on Thursday.
With the members adopting different stances on Moscow's war, there are concerns that rifts between Western countries and other participants such as China, India and the meeting's host Indonesia would widen if some ministers walk out as Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaks.
----------
British PM Boris Johnson to step down: local media
LONDON - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to stand down Thursday following a series of scandals that questioned his integrity to lead the country, local media reported.
Johnson, who led Britain out of the European Union in 2020, will announce his resignation later in the day with a new Conservative leader and prime minister in place by October, according to reports.
----------
BOJ buys record 16.20 tril. yen in gov't bonds in June
TOKYO - The Bank of Japan bought 16.20 trillion yen ($119 billion) worth of Japanese government bonds in June, setting a monthly record, after it sought to stem a rise in long-term yields above its upper limit to ensure monetary easing, data showed Thursday.
The BOJ's attempt to defend its 0.25 percent cap on the benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond yield came as rising long-term interest rates overseas pulled their Japanese counterparts higher. The central bank's bond-buying spree to maintain ultralow rates contrasted with its U.S and European peers, which are moving to tighten their policy, causing the yen to plunge.
----------
2 girls attacked with knife on way to school in northeast Japan
SENDAI - A man attacked two junior high school girls with a knife in the northeastern Japan city of Sendai while they were walking to school on Thursday morning, wounding one of them seriously, the Miyagi prefectural police said.
The police arrested Hiroyuki Owari, 43, who lives in the neighborhood, on suspicion of the attempted murder of one. "I stabbed their back with a kitchen knife. I intended to kill them," the suspect was quoted as telling investigators.
----------
FOCUS: Record women, LGBTQ election hopefuls run to shake up Japan politics
TOKYO - A record number of both women and LGBTQ candidates are campaigning to win over voters in the House of Councillors election on Sunday and potentially bring change to Japan's male-dominated political landscape.
While some advocates have hailed the unprecedented number of female and openly LGBTQ hopefuls, the candidates' policies will be put to the test as surveys have shown that issues such as rising prices and social security will likely be at the forefront of voter concerns.
----------
Cambodia invites Russian foreign minister to ASEAN meetings
PHNOM PENH - Cambodia has invited Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to annual ASEAN-related meetings slated for early August, with the decision likely to cause concern among the international community which has been split in its response to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
Speaking at a briefing to the foreign diplomatic corps on Wednesday, Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn said he asked the Russian minister to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum and other related meetings.
----------
Rising food, energy prices sending millions into poverty: U.N.
NEW YORK - Tens of millions of people have fallen into poverty as a result of a global surge in the prices of food and energy, according to a U.N. report released Thursday.
The U.N. Development Program estimates that an additional 51.6 million people are now living in poverty or below the $1.90-a-day benchmark as a result of global inflation -- an increase from 8.3 percent to 9 percent of the world's population.
----------
FOCUS: Thai PM Prayut faces censure but eyes keeping power in 2023 election
BANGKOK - Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is encountering another tough test that could oust him from power in the final stretch of his four-year term as he is set to face a fourth no-confidence motion later this month.
The opposition bloc led by the Pheu Thai Party last month filed the censure motion against Prayut and 10 ministers for failing to solve economic problems, prevent corruption and mishandling the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.
