Japan's minister visits Ukraine to stress mutual concern over North Korean troops

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Japan's foreign minister arrived in Kyiv on Saturday to discuss North Korea’s deepening military alliance with Russia, including the deployment of thousands of troops to support Moscow's war in Ukraine.

Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya will meet his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha, to reaffirm Japan’s “strong support” for Ukraine against Russia’s invasion and to discuss further sanctions against Moscow, Japan's Foreign Ministry said.

High on the agenda was Tokyo’s “grave concern” over growing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, the ministry said.

According to U.S., South Korean and Ukrainian intelligence assessments, up to 12,000 North Korean troops have been sent to Russia as part of a major defense treaty between the countries. Last week, Ukrainian officials said Ukraine and North Korean troops engaged in small-scale fighting while Ukraine’s army fired artillery at North Korean soldiers in Russia’s Kursk border region, where Ukraine launched a surprise push on Aug. 6.

The agreement requires both countries to use all available means to provide immediate military assistance if either is attacked.

Iwaya’s visit comes after the Ukrainian capital was attacked overnight by Russian drones, damaging residential buildings and infrastructure in Kyiv’s Obolon district. No casualties were reported.

Ukrainian air defenses neutralized up to a dozen drones, said the head of Kyiv’s military administration, Serhii Popko.

Russia attacked Ukraine with 83 Shahed drones in the early hours of Saturday morning, the Ukrainian air force reported. Of those, 55 were shot down, while another 30 veered off course or were lost after electronic jamming, it said.

Meanwhile, Russia’s Ministry of Defense said that it had destroyed 35 Ukrainian drones, including 20 over the western Kursk region and 11 over the Bryansk region.

Associated Press writers Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo and Katie Marie Davies in Manchester, England, contributed to this report.

Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, emergency services personnel work to extinguish a fire following a Russian attack in Odesa, Ukraine, late Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 16, 2024--

Dante Genomics, a global leader in genomics and personalized medicine, announced today that it will begin integrating Generative AI features into its first product, the Dante Labs Whole Genome platform. This milestone represents a significant step forward in the company’s mission to make genomic data more actionable and accessible for both researchers and individuals.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241115455133/en/

"Generative AI cannot be a black box in genomics and diagnostics," said Andrea Riposati, CEO and co-founder of Dante Genomics. "We are taking the approach of autopilots on airplanes, supporting the human pilot to make important more informed decisions."

The integration of Generative AI is the result of months of rigorous development and testing, ensuring that the technology meets the highest standards of accuracy and reliability in genomic interpretation. The initiative aligns with Dante Genomics' broader vision to provide scalable, user-friendly tools for decoding the complexities of the human genome.

A Generative AI Revolution in Genomics

The new Generative AI features are designed to transform the way genomic data is interpreted:

Commitment to Quality and Impact

This announcement builds on Dante Genomics' history of excellence in genomics. The company remains steadfast in its commitment to quality, having achieved multiple certifications for its technologies and adhering to stringent international standards. The Generative AI integration reflects the company’s continued investment in technologies that make a tangible difference in people’s lives.

The updated Dante Labs Whole Genome platform with Generative AI features will be available globally starting Q1 2025, with early access offered to select customers.

Dante Labs AI (Graphic: Business Wire)