Kyodo News Digest: June 15, 2025
KYODO NEWS - 10 minutes ago - 09:23 | All, World, Japan
The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Philippines, Japan conduct joint exercise in South China Sea
ABOARD THE MIGUEL MALVAR, off Philippines - The Philippines and Japan conducted a joint maritime exercise Saturday in an area of the South China Sea that the Southeast Asian country insists it has jurisdiction over, amid China's intensifying claims in the waters.
The Miguel Malvar, a guided missile frigate from the Philippine Navy and the Takanami, a destroyer from Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force, took part in the exercise, which was held west of the town of Masinloc on the Philippines' main island of Luzon.
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Trump effectively approves Nippon Steel's takeover of U.S. Steel
WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday effectively approved a deal for Nippon Steel Corp. to acquire United States Steel Corp., reversing his staunch opposition to the Japanese company's takeover bid after it committed to investing heavily in the struggling American producer.
Nippon Steel will acquire a 100 percent stake in U.S. Steel as initially planned, a person with knowledge of the deal said. The acquisition process is expected to be completed possibly on Wednesday, according to sources close to the matter.
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Half of women in local assemblies have been harassed: study
TOKYO - More than half of women in local assemblies across Japan have either experienced harassment themselves or had family members who did, a recent government study found, highlighting how male-dominated political circles can make women more vulnerable.
A Cabinet Office survey released June 6 found that 53.8 percent of assemblywomen reported experiencing harassment, ranging from humiliation to physical encounters, more than twice the 23.6 percent of assemblymen who said the same.
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Japan negotiator mum on if Japan, U.S. can strike tariff deal at G7
WASHINGTON - Japan's chief tariff negotiator on Friday made a last-ditch effort to smooth the way for a mutually beneficial trade deal at a planned in-person meeting next week between the leader of his country and U.S. President Donald Trump, but whether that goal can be achieved appeared to be still up in the air.
Following separate meetings with U.S Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington, Ryosei Akazawa told reporters that he had "explored the possibility" of a trade deal with them during "extremely in-depth" discussions.
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Tokyo police wary of lone-wolf attacks as election campaigning begins
TOKYO - Campaigning began Friday for the Tokyo metropolitan assembly election, with the capital's police stepping up measures to thwart possible lone-wolf attacks after incidents involving notable politicians in recent years.
Top politicians are set to converge on Tokyo for a close contest seen as a bellwether for the national House of Councillors election this summer, in which the ruling Liberal Democratic Party is expected to struggle.
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Ex-Taiwan leader Ma starts China trip to attend exchange events
TAIPEI - Former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou, previously the head of the main opposition Nationalist Party, began a trip to mainland China on Saturday for exchange events including a cross-strait forum in Fujian Province, drawing criticism from Taiwanese authorities.
During the nearly two-week trip through June 27, Ma's delegation, including young people from the self-ruled island, will attend the Straits Forum in Xiamen, a city on the southeastern Chinese coast just across the Taiwan Strait, on Sunday.
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Sumo: Hakuho reveals company, Toyota chairman heads amateurs' body
TOKYO - Former grand champion Hakuho announced the name of his new company on Saturday as he looks to promote the sport through the concept of a "world sumo grand slam" after leaving the Japan Sumo Association.
Earlier in the day, the Japan Sumo Federation, which oversees the amateur side of the sport, unanimously elected the chairman of Toyota Motor Corp. and long-term Hakuho supporter Akio Toyoda as its new head.
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Judo: Ryuju Nagayama wins men's 60-kg gold on opening day of world c'ships
BUDAPEST - Japan's Ryuju Nagayama defeated France's Romain Valadier Picard by ippon in the men's 60-kilogram final at the world judo championships in Budapest on Friday.
The 29-year-old from Hokkaido, who took bronze at last year's Paris Olympics, captured his first world title in his sixth appearance.
Video: Traditional horse parade "Chagu Chagu Umakko" takes place in Iwate Prefecture
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Yomiuri Shimbun
21 minutes ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
G7 Leaders Gather in Canada for a Summit Overshadowed by Israel-Iran Crisis and Trade Wars
Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP A man walks past a G7 sign outside the media centre for the G7 Summit on Sunday, June 15, 2025 in Banff, Alberta. KANANASKIS, Alberta (AP) — Leaders of some of the world's biggest economic powers are arriving in the Canadian Rockies on Sunday for a Group of Seven summit, overshadowed by an escalating conflict between Israel and Iran and U.S. President Donald Trump's unresolved trade war. Israel's strikes on Iran and Tehran's retaliation, which appeared to catch many world leaders unawares, is the latest sign of a more volatile world. Trump in recent days vetoed an Israeli plan to kill Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a U.S. official told The Associated Press, in an indication of how far Israel was prepared to go. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he had discussed efforts to de-escalate the crisis with Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as other world leaders and said he expected 'intense discussions' would continue at the summit. Trump is summit's wild card As summit host, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has decided to abandon the annual practice of issuing a joint statement, or communique, at the end of the meeting. With other leaders wanting to talk to Trump in an effort to talk him out of imposing tariffs, the summit risks being a series of bilateral conversations rather than a show of unity. Trump is the summit wild card. Looming over the meeting are his inflammatory threats to make Canada the 51st state and take over Greenland. French President Emmanuel Macron visited Greenland on Sunday for a highly symbolic stop on his way to Canada. Macron warned that Greenland is 'not to be sold' nor 'to be taken.' 'Everybody in France, the European Union thinks that Greenland is not to be sold, not to be taken,' he said during a news conference, applauded by the local crowd. 'The situation in Greenland is clearly a wakeup call for all Europeans. Let me tell you very directly that you're not alone,' Macron added. Trump is scheduled to arrive late Sunday in Kananaskis, Alberta. He will have a bilateral meeting with Carney on Monday morning before the summit program begins. 'He tends to be a bully' Leaders who are not part of the G7 but have been invited to the summit by Carney include the heads of state of India, Ukraine, Brazil, South Africa, South Korea, Australia, Mexico and the UAE. Avoiding tariffs will continue to be top of mind. Asked if he planned to announce any trade agreements at the G7 as he left the White House on Sunday, Trump said: 'We have our trade deals. All we have to do is send a letter, 'This is what you're going to have to pay.' But I think we'll have a few, few new trade deals.' Bilateral meetings with the American president can be fraught as Trump has used them to try to intimidate the leaders of Ukraine and South Africa. Former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien told a panel this week that if Trump does act out, leaders should ignore him and remain calm like Carney did in his recent Oval Office meeting. 'He tends to be a bully,' Chrétien said. 'If Trump has decided to make a show to be in the news, he will do something crazy. Let him do it and keep talking normally.' Last month Britain and the U.S. announced they had struck a trade deal that will slash American tariffs on U.K. autos, steel and aluminum. It has yet to take effect, however, though British officials say they are not concerned the Trump administration might go back on its word. Starmer's attempts to woo Trump have left him in an awkward position with Canada, the U.K.'s former colony, close ally and fellow Commonwealth member. Starmer has also drawn criticism — especially from Canadians — for failing to address Trump's stated desire to make Canada the 51st state. Asked if he has told Trump to stop the 51st state threats, Starmer told The Associated Press: 'I'm not going to get into the precise conversations I've had, but let me be absolutely clear: Canada is an independent, sovereign country and a much-valued member of the Commonwealth.' Zelenskyy expected to meet Trump The war in Ukraine will be on the agenda. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is due to attend the summit and is expected to meet with Trump, a reunion coming just months after their bruising Oval Office encounter which laid bare the risks of having a meeting with the U.S. president. Starmer met with Carney in Ottawa before the summit for talks focused on security and trade, in the first visit to Canada by a British prime minister for eight years. German officials were keen to counter the suggestion that the summit would be a 'six against one' event, noting that the G7 countries have plenty of differences of emphasis among themselves on various issues. 'The only the problem you cannot forecast is what the president of the United States will do depending on the mood, the need to be in the news,' said Chrétien.
Yomiuri Shimbun
27 minutes ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Trump Vetoed Israeli Plan to Kill Iran's Supreme Leader, US Official Tells AP
The Associated Press President Donald Trump speaks during an event to sign a bill blocking California's rule banning the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035, in the East Room of the White House, Thursday, June 12, 2025, in Washington. WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump rejected a plan presented by Israel to the U.S. to kill Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter. The Israelis informed the Trump administration in recent days that they had developed a credible plan to kill Khamenei. After being briefed on the plan, the White House made clear to Israeli officials that Trump was opposed to the Israelis making the move, according to the official, who was not authorized to comment on the sensitive matter and spoke on the condition of anonymity. The Trump administration is desperate to keep Israel's military operation aimed at decapitating Iran's nuclear program from exploding into an even more expansive conflict and saw the plan to kill Khamenei as a move that would enflame the conflict and potentially destabilize the region. Asked about the plan during an interview on Fox News Channel's 'Special Report with Bret Baier,' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not directly address whether the White House rejected the plan. 'But I can tell you, I think that we do what we need to do, we'll do what we need to do,' Netanyahu said. 'And I think the United States knows what is good for the United States.' Netanyahu spokesperson Omer Dostri later called reports about the Israeli plan to kill Khamenei 'fake.' Netanyahu in the Fox interview also said regime change 'could certainly be the result' of the conflict 'because the Iranian regime is very weak.' Trump's rejection of the proposal was first reported by Reuters. Meanwhile, Trump on Sunday issued a stark warning to Iran not to retaliate against U.S. targets in the Middle East. Trump in an early morning social media posting said the United States 'had nothing to do with the attack on Iran' as Israel and Iran traded missile attacks for the third straight day. Iran, however, has said it would hold the U.S. — which has provided Israel with much of its deep arsenal of weaponry — responsible for its backing of Israel. 'If we are attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the U.S. Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before,' Trump said. Hours later Trump took to social media again to predict 'Iran and Israel should make a deal, and will make a deal' and that it could come 'soon.' But as he departed the White House on Sunday evening for the Group of Seven leaders summit in the Canadian Rockies, Trump was more tempered in comments to reporters about when the Israeli strikes and Iranian retaliation would wind down. 'I hope there is going to be a deal, and we'll see what happens, but sometimes they have to fight it out,' Trump said. The conflict is expected to loom large during his talks with the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the European Union. The U.S. president said he has a track record for de-escalating conflicts, and that he would get Israel and Iran to cease hostilities 'just like I got India and Pakistan to' after the two countries' recent cross-border confrontation. India struck targets inside Pakistan after militants in April massacred 26 tourists in Indian-controlled Kashmir. Pakistan has denied any links to the attackers. 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Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson are among the prominent backers of Trump who have argued that voters supported Trump because he would not involve the nation in foreign conflicts. GOP Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul praised Trump for having shown restraint and said he hoped the president's 'instincts will prevail.' 'So, I think it's going to be very hard to come out of this and have a negotiated settlement,' Paul told NBC's 'Meet the Press.' 'I see more war and more carnage. And it's not the U.S.'s job to be involved in this war.' In an interview on CBS' 'Face the Nation,' GOP South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham said he preferred diplomatic efforts, but if diplomacy doesn't work Trump should 'go all in' on destroying Iran's nuclear program. 'If that means providing bombs, provide bombs,' he said. 'If that means flying with Israel, fly with Israel.'
Nikkei Asia
28 minutes ago
- Nikkei Asia
Hong Kong activist Oasis urges foreign funds to vote proactively in Japan
TOKYO -- Japan is entering another busy season of annual general meetings, with a record number of shareholder proposals, including ones from Hong Kong-based activist investor Oasis Management. Founder and chief investment officer Seth Fischer, in an online interview with Nikkei Asia on Thursday, said that he has seen changes in how Japanese investors vote against management. "I think domestic investors are far more proactive and understand that Japan has changed. They are more proactive towards their capital, are proactively running against management and are trying to drive higher returns."
