TOKYO - The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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S. Korea successfully conducts 1st hypersonic missile test launch
SEOUL - South Korea said Thursday it had successfully test-launched its first hypersonic missile, with the presidential office announcing that preparations were complete to acquire a new deterrence capability.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung attended the test launch of the hypersonic glide vehicle, which uses a booster to reach the upper atmosphere before separating and gliding at low altitude, presidential office spokeswoman Kang Yu Jung said in a written briefing.
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53 companies in Japan hit by Qilin ransomware group
TOKYO - A total of 53 companies in Japan have been targeted by an internationally active ransomware group known as Qilin, National Police Agency officials said Thursday.
Qilin, believed to be behind a 2025 cyberattack on Japanese beverage maker Asahi Group Holdings Ltd., has drawn renewed attention in Japan after investigative authorities recently handed over to Germany a detained Russian national suspected of being a key member of the group. The man has since been arrested by German authorities.
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BOJ upgrades economic view of 2 regions on strong AI demand
TOKYO - The Bank of Japan on Thursday upgraded its assessment for two of the nation's nine regional economies as demand for artificial intelligence-related infrastructure and products increased.
In its quarterly Sakura report, the central bank lifted the assessments of the Tohoku region in the country's northeast and the western island of Shikoku. It said all areas were either "recovering moderately," "picking up," or "picking up moderately," although weaknesses could be seen in some regions, in part due to Middle East tensions.
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PM Takaichi rejects "reflationary" label for her economic policies
TOKYO - Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Thursday rejected the notion that her economic policy is "reflationary," apparently seeking to counter market perceptions that she favors such an approach after concerns over Japan's fiscal health led to a weaker yen and higher bond yields.
Takaichi sought to distance herself from reflationary policies, which traditionally rely on monetary easing and fiscal stimulus to combat deflation, saying her government's economic policy is "different."
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Prudential's Japanese unit involved in 5.2 bil. yen fraud
TOKYO - Prudential Life Insurance Co. said Thursday a third-party probe by lawyers found that more than 100 former and current salespeople had engaged in fraudulent or inappropriate transactions with customers worth 5.2 billion yen ($32.9 million) over more than three decades.
Hiromitsu Tokumaru, president of the Japanese subsidiary of Prudential Financial Inc., and two other executives will voluntarily return 30 percent of their monthly remuneration for three months to take responsibility for the misconduct.
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Aichi gov. revises remarks over Asian Games food criticism amid backlash
NAGOYA - Aichi Gov. Hideaki Omura said on Thursday that he will rephrase remarks he made two days earlier that he "didn't want these people to come" in response to Thailand's teqball team staff making social media posts criticizing the food provided at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
After media reports on his comments prompted backlash in Thailand, Omura told reporters in Nagoya that they were aimed only at the team's manager and coach, who made the posts, adding, "I should have said 'I don't want them to say such things.' I will revise the wording."
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Figure skating: Kagiyama looks to rekindle zeal toward 3rd Olympics
YOKOHAMA - Two-time Olympic figure skating singles silver medalist Yuma Kagiyama is hopeful of making his third Winter Games in 2030 as he spends a season away from competition.
At an event at his old junior high school in Yokohama on Thursday, the 23-year-old answered questions from current students regarding dreams and challenges.
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Baseball: Dragons to name ex Hawks skipper Kudo as new manager
NAGOYA - The Chunichi Dragons will appoint Kimiyasu Kudo as their new manager, a source close to the matter said Thursday, as the Central League club bids to rebuild the team under a man with five Japan Series titles to his name at the helm of the SoftBank Hawks.
The 63-year-old, who hails from the Dragons' home prefecture of Aichi, is set to take over from Kazuki Inoue, who announced his resignation after the team went 60-81 with two ties in his second year in charge.
