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

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BOJ set to end negative interest rates at next week's meeting

TOKYO - The Bank of Japan is expected to end negative interest rates at its monetary policy meeting next week, sources close to the matter said Friday, in what would be the first hike in 17 years and a major departure from years of unorthodox monetary easing.

The development reflects growing confidence among policymakers that a virtuous cycle of wage growth and price hikes is in motion, a requisite for the BOJ to normalize its policy as the outcome of this year's labor-management pay negotiations is expected to be the best in about three decades.

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N. Korean missiles fired by Russia "low" quality: Ukraine official

KYIV - North Korean-made ballistic missiles launched by Russia into Ukraine amid the war are of a "very low" quality with an accuracy rate of only around 20 percent, Ukraine's top war crimes prosecutor recently said based on an analysis of the weapons debris.

Around 50 North Korean missiles have been launched into Ukraine so far, resulting in 24 deaths and over 100 injured, according to Yuriy Belousov, head of the War Crimes Department of Ukraine's Office of the Prosecutor General.

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Japan firms offer 5.28% wage hike, biggest in over 30 yrs: survey

TOKYO - Japanese firms agreed to wage increases averaging 5.28 percent for this year's negotiations with labor unions, the Japanese Trade Union Confederation said Friday in a preliminary survey, marking the sharpest rise in more than 30 years.

The pay hikes, which have fueled expectations that the country's economy may finally move out of chronic deflation, will likely pave the way for the Bank of Japan to decide to phase out its ultraloose monetary policy.

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IT outage disrupts McDonald's operations in Japan, other countries

TOKYO - A systems outage disrupted operations at many McDonald's stores in Japan and other countries on Friday, according to the U.S. hamburger chain and its Japanese unit.

The problem forced many of its restaurants in Japan to close or slow sales Friday, and some stores remain temporarily closed Saturday, McDonald's Co. (Japan) said.

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Japan Cabinet OKs new foreign trainee program to promote longer stays

TOKYO - Japan's Cabinet approved Friday bills to reform the controversial foreign trainee program as the aging country seeks to encourage foreign workers to stay longer through a new system focused on developing skills and protecting rights.

Likely to start in 2027, the new program would allow trainees to switch workplaces in the same industry on certain conditions and gain skills needed for transitioning to a system that opens a path to permanent residency.

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Fukushima treated water release halted for hours after predawn quake

TOKYO - The operator of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant temporarily halted the discharge of treated radioactive water into the sea following a magnitude 5.8 earthquake that jolted northeastern Japan in the early hours of Friday.

Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. shut down the discharge about 20 minutes after the quake hit Fukushima Prefecture at 12:14 a.m., in accordance with safety procedures. The release resumed 15 hours later after TEPCO confirmed there were no abnormalities in the function of the facilities.

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Nagano area where latest "Godzilla" made becoming filming hotspot

NAGANO, Japan - A central area of Japan's Nagano Prefecture has raised its profile in recent years as a moviemaking hotspot, with major productions including the Oscar-winning "Godzilla Minus One" filming there and the local economy seeing tourism by movie lovers from Japan and overseas.

The Suwa area, comprising six municipalities on the shores of Lake Suwa and in the nearby mountains, has become popular not only for its scenic terrain, but also for its convenient proximity to Tokyo and its readiness to accommodate film projects.

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Rugby: Last-minute try gives 14-man Spears comeback win over Eagles

TOKYO - Fourteen-man Kubota Spears scored a last-ditch comeback try to seal a dramatic 29-26 win over Yokohama Eagles on Friday in the first division of Japan Rugby League One, the reigning champions ending a two-game losing run.

Flyhalf Tomoki Kishioka was the architect for the Spears' 79th-minute try, gaining yards by gathering his own chip ahead before wing Koga Nezuka was released down the right to turn things around at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo.

==Kyodo

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