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

----------

Toyota to end top-tier Olympic sponsorship contract after Paris Games

TOKYO - Toyota Motor Corp. plans to terminate its top-ranked sponsorship contract with the International Olympic Committee after the upcoming Summer Games in Paris, sources close to the matter said Friday.

The world's biggest automaker will not extend the contract it signed in 2015 but does plan to continue supporting athletes and promoting sports in its own way, the sources said.

----------

Philippines, Japan to seal defense deal at 2-plus-2 meeting in July

MANILA - Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said on Thursday that there is a "very strong possibility" for his country and Japan to sign an agreement allowing their defense forces to train in each other's territories during a meeting involving the two nations' foreign and defense ministers in July.

In an interview with Kyodo News, Teodoro stated that negotiations on a reciprocal access agreement were nearing conclusion, with no remaining contentious issues. These negotiations commenced in late November, following an agreement earlier that month between Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to initiate talks aimed at enhancing security ties.

----------

Japan's core inflation slows to 2.2% in April on food, services

TOKYO - Japan's core consumer prices rose 2.2 percent in April from a year earlier, but the pace of increase slowed for the second straight month as price pressure on food and services eased, government data showed Friday.

The increase in the nationwide core consumer price index, excluding volatile fresh food, followed a 2.6 percent gain in March, and it remained at or above the Bank of Japan's 2 percent target for the 25th straight month.

----------

Japan, U.S. eye 2-plus-2 security talks in Tokyo as early as July

TOKYO - Japan and the United States are considering holding talks involving their foreign and defense chiefs in Tokyo as early as July, a source familiar with the matter said Friday.

Tokyo and Washington originally planned to hold the so-called two-plus-two security meeting at the end of May, but it was rescheduled due to a conflict on the U.S. side, according to the source.

----------

N. Korea likely preparing spy satellite launch: S. Korea military

SEOUL - South Korea's military has detected that North Korea is likely preparing to launch a reconnaissance satellite, an official said Friday.

Apparent signs of preparations for a military spy satellite launch have recently been seen in Tongchang-ri area in North Korea's northwest, the Joint Chiefs of Staff official told reporters.

----------

Japan to require firms to expand support for employees with kids

TOKYO - Japan enacted revised laws on Friday mandating companies to enhance support measures for employees raising children, including facilitating more flexible use of teleworking and shorter working hours, as part of efforts to combat the country's declining birthrate.

For employees with children aged 3 and above who are yet to be enrolled in elementary school, firms will be obliged to allow them to choose from two or more work style options, such as working from home and shorter or staggered work hours.

----------

China continues military drills surrounding Taiwan for 2nd day

BEIJING - China continued Friday its large-scale military drills surrounding Taiwan for a second day, aiming to test its capabilities to "seize control of crucial areas" in a move to increase pressure on the island's new leader Lai Ching-te.

The two-day exercises involving China's army, navy, air and rocket forces followed Monday's inauguration of Lai, whom Beijing condemns as a separatist. The mainland has deployed dozens of warplanes as well as destroyers and escort ships, according to state-run China Central Television.

----------

Transport ministry reviews safety at JAL after spate of incidents

TOKYO - Japan's transport ministry carried out an inspection at a Japan Airlines Co. office at Haneda airport in Tokyo on Friday following a series of incidents involving the company's aircraft, including one the previous day in which two jets touched wings while taxiing, officials said.

Four officials of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism entered the office, located next to an aircraft maintenance facility, to conduct an extraordinary audit involving hearings to assess the airline's safety procedures and processes.

==Kyodo

© Kyodo News International, Inc., source Newswire