Japan's Olympus names ex-Medtronic exec as new CEO
TOKYO -- Japanese endoscope maker Olympus has appointed Bob White as its new CEO, the company said Friday, filling the leadership gap created by the resignation of Stefan Kaufmann over illegal drug use in October last year.
White, a 62-year-old American, is a former executive at Medtronic, a U.S. medical equipment maker. "Bob possesses the skill set necessary to guide the next phase of Olympus' transformation, including quality and regulatory initiatives," the company said in a news release.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Mainichi
an hour ago
- The Mainichi
Japan, US still far from tariff deal after Ishiba-Trump summit
BANFF, Canada (Kyodo) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and U.S. President Donald Trump made little headway in bridging gaps over tariffs at their summit on Monday, casting doubt on the prospect of a quick yet "mutually beneficial" package deal that can protect Japan's all-important auto sector. After sitting down with Trump for 30 minutes in Canada's Rockies, Ishiba said any potential deal should serve the interests of both Japan and the United States, and that bilateral ministerial talks will continue to seek such an agreement. The meeting, held on the fringes of the Group of Seven leaders' summit in Kananaskis, gave a glimpse into the difficulty faced by the longtime allies in meeting halfway as Trump's imposition of tariffs on everything from cars and auto parts to steel and aluminum has raised concerns about the export-driven Japanese economy. While the United States has given Japan and other countries a 90-day reprieve from what it calls "reciprocal" tariffs, Ishiba did not say whether he and Trump discussed the possibility of an extension, after Washington hinted that the pause can be extended for trading partners engaged in negotiations in "good faith." "We have yet to reach a deal as a package because we remain apart over certain aspects," Ishiba told reporters after what he described as "candid" discussions with Trump. Among the hiked import duties, a 25 percent tariff on autos is seen as a sticking point. The auto sector forms the backbone of the Japanese economy and the United States is a critical market for the likes of Toyota Motor Corp. Those Japanese automakers, however, have been ramping up investment and production in the United States over the years, a point that the Japanese side has been seeking to get across to Trump. Through rounds of ministerial negotiations, Japan has been urging the United States to rethink the tariff policy, implemented to rectify what Trump sees as imbalanced trade. Trump told reporters after his second face-to-face summit with Ishiba that it went "well," without elaborating. Trump, whose use of tariffs symbolizes his "America First" agenda, had indicated there could be a "few new trade deals" in the offing. But he did not say whether they could include one with Japan. In a show of the importance both leaders attach to bilateral relations, Ishiba and Trump spoke by phone four times since their first meeting as tariff negotiations led by their ministers continued. Trump, who is known for his unpredictability, effectively approved the takeover of United States Steel Corp. by Nippon Steel Corp. in a dramatic turn of events just days before the leaders were to meet at the two-day G7 gathering in Kananaskis.
Kyodo News
an hour ago
- Kyodo News
G7 leaders discuss global trade amid Trump tariff tensions
By Takuya Karube, KYODO NEWS - 11 minutes ago - 10:51 | All, World The leaders of the Group of Seven democracies discussed global trade Monday as they kicked off two days of talks in Canada, while trying to hide divisions stemming from U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff war and unilateralism. Trump's transactional approach to diplomacy and his confrontational trade actions, also targeted at G7 countries, have tested the 50-year-old group's ability to coordinate global economic policy and address threats to international peace and security. As the leaders sat around the table, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, chair of the summit, warned that the world is "more divided and dangerous," underscoring the importance of "cooperation" and "economic prosperity" for it to shape a better future. "We might not agree on absolutely every issue, but where we will cooperate, we will make an enormous difference for our citizens and for the world, and bring the next era of prosperity," he said. But Trump already indicated he is not on the same page as his counterparts in the G7, which groups Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, as well as the European Union. Trump repeated his complaint about the expulsion of Russia from the group, a decision made in 2014 after Moscow occupied and annexed the autonomous Ukrainian region of Crimea, calling the exclusion a "very big mistake." While speaking alongside Carney before their bilateral meeting, Trump went beyond even the notion of a revived Group of Eight, responding to a reporter's hypothetical question about China's inclusion by saying, "It's not a bad idea." On the first day of their discussions in the Canadian mountain resort of Kananaskis near Calgary, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and the other leaders focused on the world economy and economic security, including strengthening supply chains for critical minerals, as well as regional affairs. Ishiba stressed the need for the G7 to unite and lead the international community in building a "free, fair and rules-based economic order," according to the Japanese government. He also said it is essential to maintain and reinforce the multilateral free trade regime with the World Trade Organization at its core. With the gathering coming just days after Israel's unprecedented strikes on Iran, which have killed top military commanders and damaged nuclear sites, the conflict between the Middle East foes is likely to top a packed agenda. As Israel, backed by the Trump administration, and Iran continue to exchange missile attacks, all eyes are on whether the leaders will collectively urge Jerusalem and Tehran to de-escalate the conflict. During a session on regional affairs, the situation in the Indo-Pacific region will be a central topic, with Ishiba, the sole Asian leader in the informal forum, set to be a lead speaker, according to G7 officials. Stability in the region, where China has been stepping up military activity as it pushes its territorial claims, is likely to be one of the few issues on which Trump can easily align with the rest of the leaders. They are expected to reiterate the G7's past strong opposition to any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo in the East and South China seas by "force and coercion." Carney, who will chair the talks through Tuesday, is not expected to issue a detailed joint statement at the end of the summit, marking a departure from the group's usual practice, the officials have said. Reflecting on the difficulty of reaching a consensus on major global issues following the return of Trump and his "America First" agenda, the G7 leaders plan to release brief "action-oriented" statements instead. Since beginning his second, nonconsecutive term in January, Trump has upended the global economic order by imposing hefty tariffs on imports from almost all countries. Nearly a month ago, the G7 finance ministers and central bank governors, who gathered in nearby Banff to prepare for the leaders' meeting, refrained from mentioning Trump's tariff war in their joint statement and opted to showcase their unity in tackling common challenges such as global imbalances. The G7 summit is the first major multilateral event attended by Trump during his second term. Carney, Ishiba, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer are all attending for the first time since taking office. Carney has invited some leaders from outside the group, including Australia, India, South Korea and Ukraine, who will join their G7 counterparts on the second day of discussions. On Tuesday, there will be a session dedicated to Ukraine, with its President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expected to call for a united front to halt Russia's war against his country. Related coverage: Japan, U.S. still far from tariff deal after Ishiba-Trump summit China's nuclear arsenal hits 600 warheads, up 100 from year before U.S., China hold high-level trade talks with rare earths in focus
Kyodo News
an hour ago
- Kyodo News
Kyodo News Digest: June 17, 2025
KYODO NEWS - 7 minutes ago - 10:38 | All, World, Japan The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News. ---------- Japan, U.S. still far from tariff deal after Ishiba-Trump summit BANFF, Canada - Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and U.S. President Donald Trump made little headway in bridging gaps over tariffs at their summit on Monday, casting doubt on the prospect of a quick yet "mutually beneficial" package deal that can protect Japan's all-important auto sector. After sitting down with Trump for 30 minutes in Canada's Rockies, Ishiba said any potential deal should serve the interests of both Japan and the United States, and that bilateral ministerial talks will continue to seek such an agreement. ---------- G7 leaders discuss global trade amid Trump tariff tensions CALGARY, Canada - The leaders of the Group of Seven democracies discussed global trade Monday as they kicked off two days of talks in Canada, while trying to hide divisions stemming from U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff war and unilateralism. Trump's transactional approach to diplomacy and his confrontational trade actions, also targeted at G7 countries, have tested the 50-year-old group's ability to coordinate global economic policy and address threats to international peace and security. ---------- Japan calls for "utmost restraint" from Iran in conflict with Israel TOKYO - Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya on Monday told his Iranian counterpart Seyyed Abbas Araghchi that all parties must exercise "utmost restraint" amid the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. During their phone talks, Iwaya said any action that could further escalate the situation should be refrained from, adding he is "deeply concerned about the current exchange of attacks spreading throughout the Middle East region," the Japanese Foreign Ministry said. ---------- 200 kg of cherries worth 1 mil. yen stolen in northeastern Japan YAMAGATA, Japan - Around 200 kilograms of premium cherries worth around 1 million yen ($7,000) have been stolen from an orchard in northeastern Japan, police said Monday. Of the 67 cherry trees at the orchard in Kaminoyama, Yamagata Prefecture, only the popular Sato Nishiki variety trees, which number around 50, had been stripped of their fruit, according to prefectural police. ---------- S. Korean leader Lee expresses desire for stable ties with Japan SEOUL - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung expressed his desire for stable development of relations between South Korea and Japan as the Japanese Embassy in Seoul held an event to mark 60 years since the two countries normalized diplomatic relations. Lee, who departed for Canada on the day as a guest at a Group of Seven nations summit, sent a congratulatory message for the event and said, "I wish for the stable and future-oriented development of South Korea-Japan relations." ---------- Renault CEO to step down in July, ties with Nissan in focus PARIS - Renault CEO Luca de Meo will step down effective July 15 to pursue work outside the auto sector, the French carmaker said Sunday, shifting attention to the company's ties with struggling Nissan Motor Co. and the moves his successor may make. After becoming Renault's chief executive in July 2020, de Meo worked to improve relations that had become strained following the arrest of Nissan's former chairman, Carlos Ghosn, who had led the partnership between the automakers. ---------- Former Michelin-star restaurant owner arrested after food poisonings OSAKA - Members of a family who run a formerly Michelin-starred restaurant in western Japan were arrested Monday for ignoring an order to temporarily shut it down after a spate of food poisoning cases, investigative sources said. Hirokazu Kitano, 69, his son Hirotoshi, 41, and wife Noriko 68, have all been involved in operating traditional Japanese-style restaurant Kiichi in Kawachinagano, Osaka Prefecture, and are alleged to have violated the Food Sanitation Act. Video: Kansai University professor estimates Pandas at Adventure World has earned some 120 billion yen in sales since 1994
