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

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FOCUS: Security in spotlight at Hiroshima G-7 after attacks on Kishida, Abe

TOKYO - As Japan beefs up security for the Group of Seven summit in May, separate attacks on its present and former prime ministers within a year have highlighted shortcomings in the nation's ability to protect high-profile figures like those set to gather in Hiroshima.

Following the latest attack by a man who targeted Prime Minister Fumio Kishida by throwing an explosive device at him as he campaigned in April, top government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno vowed to take all possible measures to ensure the safety of those attending the international event.

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Pro-Taiwan candidate Pena wins Paraguay presidential race

ASUNCION - Paraguay ruling party candidate Santiago Pena, who has said he would maintain ties with Taiwan, won the country's presidential election Sunday, local media reported, at a time some Latin American nations have severed ties with the self-ruled island to gain access to the much larger Chinese market.

Pena, 44, of the right-wing Colorado Party, beat Efrain Alegre, 60, who had indicated he would cut ties with Taiwan and establish diplomatic relations with China, a potential market for Paraguay's beef and soybeans, the media said.

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Japan, Egypt seek resumption of democratic transition in Sudan

CAIRO - Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed Sunday with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi that their countries will cooperate in resuming a transition to civilian rule in Sudan where its military and a paramilitary group continue battle for power.

Kishida, who began a tour in Africa before hosting a Group of Seven summit in May in Hiroshima, also agreed with el-Sisi to uphold the rule-based international order, in the face of Russia's war in Ukraine.

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Japan's Astellas to buy U.S. drugmaker Iveric Bio for $5.9 bil.

TOKYO - Astellas Pharma Inc. said Monday it will buy U.S. pharmaceutical company Iveric Bio Inc., which focuses on ophthalmology treatments, for about $5.9 billion, as the Japanese drugmaker continues its merger and acquisition drive.

Astellas will acquire all outstanding shares of Iveric Bio for $40 per share through its U.S. unit, Astellas US Holdings Inc., the Japanese drugmaker said in a release.

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G-7 pushes for int'l standards for AI amid spread of ChatGPT use

TAKASAKI, Japan - The Group of Seven advanced nations on Sunday called for international standards to ensure the "responsible" use of artificial intelligence, as they seek to harness rapidly developing technologies like AI bot ChatGPT while mitigating privacy concerns and other risks.

With data a critical component in trade and AI development, the G-7 digital and technology ministers also agreed following their two-day meeting in eastern Japan to establish an international arrangement to enhance the free flow of trusted data across national borders.

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Table tennis: Japanese 3-time Olympic medalist Ishikawa retires

TOKYO - Japanese table tennis player Kasumi Ishikawa, a winner of three Olympic women's team medals and a five-time national singles champion, announced her retirement on Monday.

The 30-year-old left-hander was part of the team that won silver in London in 2012, her nation's first Olympic table tennis medal, before claiming bronze in the same event four years later in Rio de Janeiro and silver again in Tokyo in 2021.

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Nearly 70% call for regulating development of AI bots: poll

TOKYO - Japan's public harbors concerns about the rapidly spreading use of AI chatbots, with 69.4 percent calling for stricter regulation on the development of artificial intelligence, a Kyodo News poll showed Sunday.

The result comes as countries have been discussing the need for international standards to prevent the misuse of emerging technologies such as ChatGPT, which have sparked fear of unauthorized collection of personal data.

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Super Mario creator says new movie humanizes popular game character

TOKYO - After conquering multiplexes across the world, "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" made its homecoming to Japan on Friday, in a film the video game's creator says has given the iconic character a more human personality.

"The Mario who was puppet-like in the games has become humanized, and with his varied expressions and flashy movements, he's become a 'person' now," said Shigeru Miyamoto, representative director and fellow at Nintendo Co., in a recent interview with Kyodo News.

==Kyodo

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