TOKYO - The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Powerful typhoon hits Japan's Okinawa, public warned of landslides
TOKYO - A powerful typhoon hit Japan's southern island prefecture of Okinawa on Saturday, affecting some flights and prompting the weather agency to warn of landslides and flooding.
Typhoon Bavi was forecast to bring violent winds, potentially damaging homes, and high waves, with the risk of flooding in low-lying areas near the coast and rivers, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
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Philippines to get 5 used destroyers from Japan: defense secretary
MANILA - The Philippines expects to acquire five soon-to-be-retired Japanese destroyers, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro recently said, calling it a "sign of goodwill" from Tokyo as the two countries have strengthened security ties in recent years amid China's maritime assertiveness in the region.
The announcement of a broad agreement with Japan on the transfer of Abukuma-class destroyers came after the two countries' leaders agreed at talks in Tokyo in May to accelerate discussions on defense equipment transfers, following Japan's relaxation of its arms export rules to allow shipments of lethal weapons.
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SoftBank, PayPay mulling stake in convenience store operator Seven & i
TOKYO - SoftBank Corp. and PayPay Corp. are considering acquiring a stake worth several hundred billion yen in Japanese convenience store operator Seven & i Holdings Co., sources familiar with the matter said Friday.
The move by the two companies, both subsidiaries of investment and technology giant SoftBank Group Corp., comes nearly a year after Canadian retailer Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. withdrew its takeover bid for the operator of the Seven-Eleven convenience store chain.
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Japan weighs support for megabanks to secure dollars for U.S. investments
TOKYO - The Japanese government is considering a framework to help major banks secure U.S. dollar funding to finance investment projects under Tokyo's $550 billion deal struck with the United States last year in exchange for tariff relief, a source close to the matter said Friday.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government is considering a request for support from Japan's three biggest banks -- MUFG Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. and Mizuho Bank -- which are concerned about the cost of securing dollar funding.
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Philippines hails S. China Sea arbitral ruling ahead of 10th anniversary
MANILA - The Philippines on Friday likened a 2016 international arbitral ruling invalidating China's sweeping claims over the South China Sea to a "lighthouse" guiding countries concerned, two days ahead of its 10th anniversary, as Beijing continues to disregard it.
"(A lighthouse) stands immovable upon bedrock, casting a steady, piercing beam to warn of hazards and guide all ships to safe harbor," Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro said at a government event in Manila attended by around 500 participants from the Philippines and overseas.
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China's Xi seeks stronger strategic cooperation with N. Korea
BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday stressed the need to strengthen strategic cooperation with North Korea and "firmly safeguard their respective sovereignty, security and development interests" during his talks with North Korean Premier Pak Thae Song in Beijing, Chinese state-run media said.
Their meeting was held at the Great Hall of the People in the capital a day before the two countries commemorate the 65th anniversary of the signing of a mutual assistance treaty. Pak is on a three-day visit to China through Sunday.
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Baseball: Ohtani to miss All-Star Game due to lingering knee inflammation
LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani will sit out the upcoming All-Star Game due to continued irritation in his left knee, the club said Friday.
The 32-year-old had been named to the National League's starting lineup after topping the fan ballot for the first time, and was set to start his sixth consecutive Midsummer Classic at designated hitter.
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FEATURE: Japan's first pro street dance league aims for global audience
TOKYO - Breakdancers and other performers in Japan's first professional hip-hop dance league are helping drive growing interest in street dance among young people as a new form of entertainment takes shape with ambitions of reaching a global audience.
Sponsored by a major Japanese life insurance company and launched in 2021, Daiichi Life D-League recently reached the finale of its sixth season amid wild cheers as more than a dozen elite dance teams battled with displays of power and grace for the championship title.
