Kumamon, the official mascot of Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture, visits Japan House, a Japanese government culture facility, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Nov. 5, 2023, to promote tourism in the southwestern Japan prefecture. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.

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Thailand arrests 2 Japanese, Cambodia deports 25 over phone scams

BANGKOK - Thai police said Wednesday they have arrested four men, including two Japanese, for allegedly conducting phone scams against people in Japan from Bangkok, the same day Cambodia deported 25 men suspected of a similar scam operation back to Japan.

The other two people arrested in Bangkok were Taiwanese, the police said. They have seized mobile phones, computers and manuals for defrauding Japanese by phone from a house in the Thai capital, adding that more people are suspected of being involved in the scam.

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G7 agree to promote fair competition in generative AI, digital sector

TOKYO - Competition agency representatives from the Group of Seven industrialized nations agreed Wednesday to strengthen cooperation in promoting fair market practices in cutting-edge technology like generative artificial intelligence and online virtual spaces.

In a communique issued following a meeting in Tokyo, the agencies pledged to continue to share legal and regulatory developments in digital markets in an effort to protect competition in each of their economies.

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New island emerges after underwater volcano eruption south of Tokyo

TOKYO - A small new island has emerged near Iwoto Island, about 1,200 kilometers south of Tokyo, following underwater volcanic eruptions occurring since late last month, according to a Japanese researcher.

Fukashi Maeno, associate professor at the University of Tokyo's Earthquake Research Institute, said he confirmed phreatomagmatic eruptions took place about 1 km off Iwoto Island in the Pacific and a rocky island with a diameter of around 100 meters as he flew over the site on Oct. 30.

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Biden, Xi plan to meet bilaterally on Nov. 15: senior U.S. official

WASHINGTON - U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping plan to hold bilateral talks in San Francisco on Nov. 15, when Asia-Pacific leaders gather for an annual economic meeting, a senior U.S. official said Tuesday.

The first face-to-face talks in a year between the U.S. and Chinese presidents will take place as the world's two major powers explore ways to stabilize their intense rivalry, although geopolitical tensions between them show no signs of abating.

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G7 top diplomats call for humanitarian pauses in Israel-Hamas war

TOKYO - The Group of Seven foreign ministers agreed Wednesday to call for a pause in the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas so that humanitarian supplies can be delivered to the Gaza Strip, Japan's top diplomat said.

The G7 members affirmed the need for "urgent action to address the humanitarian crisis" in the Hamas-ruled Palestinian enclave besieged by Israel, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said at a wrap-up press conference after their two-day meeting in Tokyo.

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Nintendo announces development of live-action "Legend of Zelda" film

TOKYO - Nintendo Co. said Wednesday it will develop a live-action film based on its hit "Legend of Zelda" video game series.

The movie will be co-produced by Shigeru Miyamoto, Nintendo's representative director and creator of several of the firm's best-known game franchises, including "Zelda" and "Super Mario," alongside Avi Arad, chairman of Arad Productions Inc. and producer of many films such as the popular "Spiderman" series.

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Japan ruling party tax chief exposes rift with Komeito over tax cuts

TOKYO - The head of the tax reform panel in Japan's ruling party said Wednesday envisaged tax cuts to ease the burden of inflation on households should be in effect for one year, drawing a contrast with its junior coalition partner that has signaled the duration should be longer.

The remark by Yoichi Miyazawa, who heads the tax reform panel of the Liberal Democratic Party, suggests a difficult road ahead for the ruling coalition with Komeito toward the year-end, as they need to hammer out details on the tax reduction plan, a hallmark of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's new economic package.

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Tennis: Japan set for Billie Jean King Cup playoff against Colombia

TOKYO - Japan is ready to take another step toward the top tier of the premier women's international team tennis competition when it hosts Colombia in the Billie Jean King Cup playoffs, captain Ai Sugiyama said Wednesday.

The winner of the best-of-five tie on Friday and Saturday at Ariake Colosseum will earn a place in the qualifier round of next year's competition.

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Video: Giant panda Xiang Xiang at press event in China