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

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China, U.S. trade chiefs hold 1st talks under Biden administration

BEIJING/WASHINGTON - Vice Premier Liu He, China's chief trade negotiator with the United States, and his U.S. counterpart Katherine Tai spoke by phone Thursday for their first talks under the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said in a statement that Tai raised "issues of concern" during the telephone conversation, although it did not elaborate what kind of matters she touched on.

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U.S. trusts Japan to prioritize safety at Olympics: White House

WASHINGTON - The U.S. government trusts Japan's commitment to prioritize public health as it prepares to host the Tokyo Olympics this summer amid the coronavirus pandemic, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said Wednesday.

The remarks came after a major Japanese daily newspaper called for the cancelation of the Olympics in an editorial, adding to the controversy over Japan's plan to push ahead with the global sporting event despite being still unable to bring the pandemic under control.

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Overseas investors sue Nissan over Ghosn's financial misconduct cases

TOKYO - Around 90 institutional investors based outside Japan have filed a suit seeking damages from Nissan Motor Co., saying they suffered huge losses as former boss Carlos Ghosn's financial misconduct cases dented share prices, sources close to the matter said Wednesday.

The plaintiffs, which include institutional investors from countries such as Britain, Germany and the United States, are demanding in the lawsuit that the Japanese automaker pay a total of around 34.4 billion yen ($315 million) in compensation for their financial losses.

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G-7 trade ministers to discuss WTO reform

TOKYO - Trade ministers from the Group of Seven industrialized nations are set to hold a two-day online meeting from Thursday to discuss ways to reform the World Trade Organization, the British government said.

Britain, which holds this year's G-7 presidency, will use the conference to push for a fully-functioning dispute settlement system, to tackle unfair industrial and agricultural subsidies, to modernize WTO regulations and promote digital and green trade, it said in a press release.

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Tennis: Osaka to skip French Open press for mental health sake

TOKYO - Four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka said in a social media post Thursday she is prioritizing her mental health and will forgo what she considers are damaging press events during the upcoming French Open.

The Japanese world No. 2 said the nature of news conferences puts an undue burden on players' mental health, and she hopes that the fines she will be forced to pay go to charitable organizations that benefit mental health.

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Gunman dies after killing 8 in California rail yard shooting

LOS ANGELES - At least eight people were shot dead Wednesday as a gunman opened fire at a rail yard in San Jose, California, before he died, law enforcement officials said.

U.S. media reported the 57-year-old suspect, identified as Sam Cassidy, was an employee of Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. The shooting took place at the rail yard of the light-rail operator at around 6:30 a.m. local time.

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Biden orders to "redouble" efforts to look into origins of COVID-19

WASHINGTON - U.S. President Joe Biden said Wednesday that he has asked the intelligence community to "redouble" its efforts to investigate the origins of the novel coronavirus and report back to him in 90 days.

The move came amid renewed attention to a theory that the virus, first detected in Wuhan, China, in late 2019 before spreading throughout the world, may have accidentally leaked from a laboratory in the central Chinese city.

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Award-winning writer Ikezawa honored with French order

TOKYO - Award-winning writer Natsuki Ikezawa was honored Thursday with the Officier of the French Order of Arts and Letters for his contributions to introducing French culture in Japan.

Ikezawa, 75, winner of many awards including the prestigious Akutagawa Prize, has written essays about his five years living in the suburbs of Paris in the 2000s. He also translated "The Little Prince" by Antoine de Saint-Exupery into Japanese.

==Kyodo

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