The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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BOJ to scrutinize inflation trends amid policy tweak speculation
TOKYO - The dovish Bank of Japan faces a tough two-day policy-setting meeting from Thursday due to potentially changing inflation dynamics, with edgy financial markets seesawing over whether its controversial yield cap program will be modified.
The BOJ is widely expected to revise upward its earlier inflation forecast for the current fiscal year to next March, given more evidence that price hikes, initially prompted by surging fuel and raw material costs, have been broadening in a notable change for the once deflation-mired nation.
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North Korea's Kim hosts Russian defense minister at arms exhibition
BEIJING - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Wednesday and showed him around an arms exhibition held in the capital to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice, state-run media in Pyongyang said.
Photos released Thursday by the official Korean Central News Agency showed Kim and Shoigu at the exhibition site which featured weaponry including intercontinental ballistic missiles.
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Red Cross seeking to use Japan AI to detect landmines in Ukraine
GENEVA - The International Committee of the Red Cross seeks to utilize Japan-developed artificial intelligence technology to speed up the detection of landmines and dud munitions in war-torn areas including Ukraine so displaced people can return home sooner.
In a three-year collaboration with a Japanese expert as well as the country's electronics giant NEC Corp., the Red Cross has developed a system involving drones and AI-aided equipment that can improve its own image analysis capability by learning about its surroundings.
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Dead roadside trees found around scandal-hit Bigmotor outlets
TOKYO - Roadside trees in front of numerous outlets of scandal-hit used car dealership chain Bigmotor Co. were found to have withered unnaturally, local authorities across Japan said Thursday as they began looking into the cases.
The revelations could be another blow to the company, which recently came under fire over allegations that it charged excessive repair fees by intentionally damaging cars and making fraudulent insurance claims.
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Japan, France begin 1st joint fighter jet drills
TOKYO - Japan and France on Thursday began their first-ever joint fighter jet drills as part of efforts to boost their security partnership amid China's growing military assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.
Three F-15 and two F-2 fighter jets from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force and two Rafale fighters from the French Air and Space Force will conduct training until Saturday in the southwestern Japan skies near Nyutabaru Air Base in Miyazaki Prefecture, the ASDF said.
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Blinken says door open to New Zealand collaboration under AUKUS
SYDNEY - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday the door is open for New Zealand to engage with the AUKUS trilateral security partnership between the United States, Australia and Britain in developing advanced military capabilities.
As part of the multiphase project of AUKUS, which was launched in September 2021 to help Australia acquire nuclear-powered submarines in the face of China's maritime assertiveness, the three countries have also cooperated in developing joint military capabilities in areas such as quantum technologies and hypersonic missiles.
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Fed raises key rate to highest level in 22 years after pause in June
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised its benchmark interest rate by another 0.25 percentage point to the highest level in 22 years following a pause in June, recognizing the need to do more to contain inflation and leaving the door open to further hikes.
The increase, announced after a two-day policy meeting, brings the federal funds rate, which banks charge each other for overnight borrowing, to a new target range of between 5.25 percent and 5.5 percent.
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North Korea marks war anniv. with China, Russia delegations
BEIJING - North Korea marked the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice Thursday with Chinese and Russian delegations, in an apparent show of unity amid their rivalries with the United States.
Pyongyang could stage a military parade early Thursday morning, according to sources familiar with inter-Korean relations.
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Baseball: Angels to keep Shohei Ohtani and make playoff push: report
NEW YORK - The Los Angeles Angels have decided not to trade Shohei Ohtani, Sports Illustrated reported Wednesday, and took a small step toward getting their two-way superstar into his first MLB playoffs with the acquisition of two pitchers.
Ohtani has spoken openly about his frustration at not reaching the postseason in his first five MLB seasons, and is expected to attract the biggest contract in baseball history when he becomes a free agent at the end of the season.
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Video: Football: Women's World Cup
