The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
----------
Japan PM says no plan to dissolve Diet after defeat in by-elections
SAO PAULO - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Saturday that he has no plan to dissolve parliament, a week after his Liberal Democratic Party lost three seats in House of Representatives by-elections with a slush funds scandal undermining the LDP's popularity.
Kishida, who took office in October 2021, also declined to comment on whether he will run in the LDP presidential race around September, although it has been thought he is keen to secure a second term as the party's leader to build a long-lasting government.
----------
Japan PM Kishida vows to tackle global challenges with South America
SAO PAULO - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pledged Saturday to work together with South American countries to tackle global challenges including climate change, economic disparity and poverty.
Kishida made the remarks in a speech in Sao Paulo on Japan's policies toward Latin America and the Caribbean as Tokyo seeks to deepen relations with emerging and developing nations, collectively referred to as the Global South.
----------
Japan left to rethink COVID grants as telework facilities empty out
TOKYO - Japanese municipalities are increasingly being left to rethink the use of coronavirus-era government subsidies as remote work facilities built with the funding are falling into disuse, a survey by Kyodo News found Sunday.
Since the legal status of COVID-19 was downgraded to the same category as seasonal influenza a year ago, some facilities have already been forced to close due to dwindling usage, while others have been repurposed, hosting events such as matchmaking gatherings.
----------
Report of suspicious items disrupts services at Kyoto Station
KYOTO - Train services were disrupted in western Japan on Sunday after a worker found suspicious items on platforms at Kyoto Station, the operator said.
Police are now checking the situation after the worker reported to a command center of West Japan Railway Co. at around 4:35 p.m. that there were suspicious objects on platforms 2 and 3, according to the company.
----------
Asia short film festival shines light on global conflicts, AI
TOKYO - This year's Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia will shine a spotlight on global issues amid ongoing conflicts and disasters worldwide, while also showcasing the first-ever movie entirely written by artificial intelligence.
With the theme "Illuminate your life," organizers are seeking to use the selected films to foster empathy, discovery and inspiration among viewers.
----------
World wasted 20% of food produced in 2022: U.N. report
TOKYO - Almost a fifth of the food produced globally in 2022 was wasted, even though around a third of humanity is facing hunger, a U.N. body said in a recent report.
Of the 1.05 billion tons of food waste, around 60 percent came from households, while the food service and retail sectors were responsible for about 28 percent and 12 percent, respectively, according to the U.N. Environment Program's Food Waste Index Report.
----------
Golf: Korean amateur Lee Hyo Song youngest winner on Japan women's tour at 15
TSUKUBAMIRAI, Japan - Fifteen-year-old South Korean amateur Lee Hyo Song conjured up a birdie-eagle finish to become the youngest winner in the history of top-tier women's golf in Japan on Sunday.
Her one-shot victory at 15 years, 176 days came at the first major of the JLPGA season, the Salonpas Cup, on Ibaraki Golf Club's East Course in Tsukubamirai, northeast of Tokyo.
----------
Rugby: Brave Lupus beat BlueRevs 59-20 ahead of League One playoffs
SHIZUOKA, Japan - Playoff-bound Brave Lupus Tokyo wrapped up the Japan Rugby League One regular season with a resounding 59-20 victory over Shizuoka BlueRevs on Sunday.
Winger Jone Naikabula scored a brace of tries, while star No. 10 Richie Mo'unga dotted down once and tallied 19 points at Yamaha Stadium in his first action for head coach Todd Blackadder's side since April 7.
Video: Traditional horse back riding event in Mie Prefecture
