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

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At least 70 dead, 140 injured in blasts near Kabul airport: media

KABUL/WASHINGTON - At least 70 people were killed and around 140 injured in two explosions that occurred Thursday outside the airport of Afghanistan's capital Kabul, U.S. media reported, as many countries strive to evacuate their citizens following the Taliban's recent seizure of power in the war-torn country.

The Pentagon said a total of 13 U.S. military service members died and 18 were injured. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the deadly attacks through its affiliate news website.

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Moderna's contaminated vaccine only shipped to Japan: Spanish maker

PARIS - A lot of Moderna Inc.'s COVID-19 vaccine doses where contaminants were detected had only been shipped to Japan, the Spanish manufacturer for the U.S. biotechnology company said Thursday.

"The detection of this particulate matter refers to certain vials of one product lot distributed exclusively in Japan," the Spanish pharma company Rovi SA said in a statement, adding it is conducting an investigation into the matter and cooperating with health authorities.

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Japan seeks Afghanistan evacuations in tandem with other countries

TOKYO - Japan will seek to evacuate its nationals and local staff at its embassy and other Japanese entities from Afghanistan in cooperation with other countries, the top government spokesman said Friday after two explosions near the airport in Kabul left more than 70 dead and at least 140 others injured.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said he has not received any report of deaths or injuries among Japanese nationals and local staff after what are believed to have been suicide bombings outside the airport.

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Record-low children on day-care waiting lists amid pandemic

TOKYO - The number of children on day-care waiting lists in Japan as of April 1 hit a record-low 5,634, as many parents refrained from applying for places at nurseries due to infection fears amid the coronavirus pandemic, government data showed Friday.

The tally, down 6,805 from the year before, fell below 10,000 for the first time since the welfare ministry began collecting data in 1994. The number of applications also declined for the first time, falling around 14,000 to about 2.83 million.

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U.S. climate envoy Kerry's visit to Japan eyed in late August

WASHINGTON - U.S. climate envoy John Kerry is making arrangements to visit Japan for the first time in his current position to hold talks with Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, a diplomatic source said Thursday.

CNN reported that Kerry will be in Japan on Tuesday and then stay in China from Wednesday to Sept. 3 to meet with top climate officials in the lead-up to a U.N. climate conference slated to start late October.

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Baseball: Ohtani hits 41st homer, but Angels lose 5th in last 6

BALTIMORE, Maryland - Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani smashed a leadoff home run to get the game started against the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday for his major league-leading 41st homer.

But the Angels, who blew a four-run lead Wednesday night, could not muster much more offense after Ohtani's first homer at Camden Yards in a lopsided 13-1 loss, losing for the fifth time in their last six games.

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Alliance with Japan remains "credible deterrent": new U.S. commander

TOKYO - The bilateral alliance with Japan remains "a credible deterrent" against adversaries, the new commander of U.S. forces in Japan said Friday, at a time when China is trying to increase its clout in the region.

"Our alliance at all levels ensures we remain a credible deterrent, ready to respond at a moment's notice to any threat, crisis or humanitarian disaster," Lt. Gen. Ricky Rupp said in a ceremony held at Yokota Air Base in the suburbs of Tokyo, where the headquarters of U.S. Forces Japan are located.

==Kyodo

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