Latest news with #Kyodo
The Mainichi
9 hours ago
- The Mainichi
Seoul subway fire set by man, 400 passengers evacuate through tunnel
SEOUL (Kyodo) -- A man started a fire inside a moving subway train in Seoul around 8:40 a.m. on Saturday, forcing about 400 passengers to evacuate on foot through the tunnel, according to South Korean media. The incident occurred near the center of the capital. The suspect fled the scene but was apprehended at a nearby station. Police are investigating his motives, as he appears to have started the fire using gasoline he brought with him. Around 20 people were taken to hospital with smoke inhalation and other injuries, most of them believed to be minor. Service on the line where the fire broke out was suspended for about an hour. A male passenger was quoted by media as saying that smoke filled the carriage and some people were screaming in shock.
The Mainichi
11 hours ago
- Politics
- The Mainichi
Japan, US vow to spur cybersecurity cooperation amid rising threats
SINGAPORE (Kyodo) -- Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth agreed Saturday to boost cybersecurity cooperation, following Japan's enactment of a law allowing the government to monitor online communications amid rising cyber threats. After their talks in Singapore, meanwhile, Nakatani did not clarify whether Hegseth had requested Japan pay more for defense during their meeting. U.S. President Donald Trump views the long-standing security treaty with Japan as unfair and one-sided. Nakatani and Hegseth met on the sidelines of the annual Asia Security Summit, better known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, being held for three days from Friday. It was their first in-person meeting since March in Tokyo. In May, Japan enacted a law introducing "active cyberdefense" measures aimed at preempting cyberattacks, enabling police and the Self-Defense Forces to counter threats by accessing and neutralizing the source servers. Nakatani told reporters that he and Hegseth also affirmed their governments will closely collaborate to align their top strategic priorities, as the Pentagon plans to release the latest version of its policy document, the National Defense Strategy. The Trump administration has expressed eagerness to compile a final draft of the document by the end of August. Japan issued its National Defense Strategy in 2022, pledging to acquire "counterstrike capabilities" to directly target enemy territory in an emergency, as China continues to build up its forces and North Korea seeks to expand its nuclear and missile arsenal. According to government sources, Japan eyes "two-plus-two" security talks with the United States, involving their foreign and defense ministers in Washington this summer -- the first under Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and during Trump's second term in office. Earlier on Saturday, Nakatani delivered a speech at the security summit, calling for global efforts to restore a "rules-based international order," with Japan "at its center." He also aired concerns over a "rapid military buildup, including nuclear forces, without transparency" and an "increase in provocative military activities," in an apparent reference to Chinese forces.
The Mainichi
13 hours ago
- Business
- The Mainichi
Trump lauds Nippon Steel as 'great partner' for US Steel
WEST MIFFLIN, Pennsylvania (Kyodo) -- President Donald Trump on Friday heaped praise on Nippon Steel Corp. over what he views as a partnership deal with United States Steel Corp., offering backing to the Japanese company's $14 billion investment into the iconic but struggling American producer. During a speech at a U.S. Steel plant in Pennsylvania, Trump called Nippon Steel a "great partner" and said the two steelmakers will form a "tremendous relationship" without offering many details about the deal, which he has never described as being the buyout the Japanese company has desired. "Most importantly, U.S. Steel will continue to be controlled by the USA," said Trump, who was against Nippon Steel's $14.1 billion takeover bid of U.S. Steel during the 2024 election campaign. "Otherwise, I wouldn't have done the deal." After returning from Pennsylvania, Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews near Washington that he still has to approve "the final deal" between the two steelmakers. His remarks during a visit to the plant in West Mifflin for a rally with steelworkers came after he unexpectedly struck a positive note a week earlier on "a planned partnership" between U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel, welcoming the prospect of the at least 70,000 jobs it will create and $14 billion it will add to the U.S. economy. Trump also said he will raise tariffs on steel imports to 50 percent from the 25 percent that took effect in March along with the same rate charged on aluminum from most countries, citing national security. Trump later said on social media that the new tariff rate will go into effect on Wednesday. "Our steel and aluminum industries are coming back like never before," he said. Nippon Steel, the world's fourth-largest producer, has sought to make U.S. Steel a wholly owned subsidiary. The Tokyo-headquartered company has yet to provide details of the latest status of the deal. "A strong steel industry is not just a matter of dignity or prosperity and pride," Trump said. "It's above all, a matter of national security." Trump said Nippon Steel's investment is the largest of any kind in the history of Pennsylvania and that the $14 billion is unprecedented in the history of the steel industry in the United States. He said it is "an incredible deal" that will ensure all U.S. Steel workers keep their jobs and all the company's facilities in the country remain open and thriving. The attendees of the rally included U.S. Steel CEO David Burritt and Takahiro Mori, Nippon Steel's vice chairman, who played a central role in negotiating the takeover bid. In addition to praising Burritt, Trump extolled Mori's contribution to making the landmark investment happen, saying, "He's highly respected all over the world for what he's done with steel." Trump said U.S. Steel will maintain all its existing operating blast furnaces "at full capacity for a minimum of the next 10 years, and we have that as a commitment." Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel announced their merger plan in December 2023. However, then President Joe Biden in early January this year issued an order blocking the sale of U.S. Steel to the Japanese firm, citing national security grounds, following a recommendation by a panel of federal agencies. Trump, who took office for a second term in January, ordered the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to conduct another review of Nippon Steel's proposed acquisition. With the review now complete, although its outcome remains unknown, Trump has until Thursday to determine whether to approve Nippon Steel's set of proposals. During the 2024 presidential election cycle, Biden and Trump stated that U.S. Steel should remain in domestic hands, a view shared by the leadership of the powerful United Steelworkers union. Both U.S. Steel and the powerful union are based in Pennsylvania, which was a key battleground state in the Nov. 5 presidential election, and the planned acquisition became highly political, although the proposed buyout came from a leading company from Japan, a close U.S. ally. Founded in 1901, U.S. Steel was once a symbol of American economic prowess, but it has struggled to keep up with competition from Chinese and other foreign rivals. U.S. Steel and its shareholders were supportive of the takeover, which would make it more competitive globally and create the world's third-largest steelmaker by volume.
The Mainichi
16 hours ago
- Business
- The Mainichi
Trump says US to double tariffs on steel imports to 50%
WASHINGTON (Kyodo) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday he will raise tariffs on steel imports to 50 percent from the 25 percent that his administration imposed earlier this year. Trump made the announcement during a speech at a United States Steel Corp. plant in Pennsylvania. Trump praised Nippon Steel Corp. for planning to invest $14 billion in the struggling iconic U.S. producer. Calling Nippon Steel a "great partner" for U.S. Steel, Trump said Japan is an "amazing country" and that the two steelmakers will form a "tremendous relationship." Trump's visit to the plant for a rally with steelworkers and his remarks came after he unexpectedly indicated a week ago on social media that the Japanese firm's blocked acquisition deal for the U.S. company had been cleared, referring to it as a "partnership." Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel announced their merger plan in December 2023. However, then President Joe Biden in early January this year issued an order blocking the sale of U.S. Steel to the Japanese firm, citing national security grounds, following a recommendation by a panel of federal agencies. Last month, Trump, who also opposed the sale during the 2024 presidential race, ordered the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to conduct another review of Nippon Steel's proposed acquisition.
The Mainichi
19 hours ago
- Business
- The Mainichi
Japan, US agree tariff talks making progress toward deal
WASHINGTON (Kyodo) -- Japan's chief tariff negotiator said Friday that he and U.S. Cabinet members agreed in their talks that they are making progress toward a potential tariff deal as early as next month. After a meeting in Washington with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's minister in charge of economic revitalization, told reporters that they plan to hold another round of negotiations before a Group of Seven summit in mid-June. Akazawa noted, however, that Tokyo's stance to demand the United States remove all its additional tariffs on Japanese imports has not changed, and he urged them to do so during the latest meeting, which lasted more than two hours. "If that can be met, we may be able to agree, but if not, it will be difficult to reach an agreement," Akazawa said. He refused to disclose how their negotiations are making progress or in which areas. According to the Treasury Department, Bessent highlighted to Akazawa the importance of boosting investment and working together to deal with economic security issues. Bessent also reaffirmed the "strong bilateral relationship" between the two countries, the department said. On the eve of the talks, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba spoke to U.S. President Donald Trump by phone, telling reporters afterward that each side was able to gain a better understanding of the views held by the other. Ishiba, however, said Japan's position on building a win-win relationship has not changed and it is necessary to achieve the goal by increasing his country's investment in the United States, rather than using tariffs. Akazawa was previously in Washington just a week ago, when he met separately with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Lutnick, but not with Bessent. The Japanese and U.S. leaders are expected to hold talks on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada. Akazawa's team has presented a set of proposals to the Trump administration since the first round of the bilateral ministerial talks kicked off in mid-April. The package includes more purchases of U.S. corn and soybeans to help counteract the decline of its exports of the two crops to China amid trade tensions between Washington and Beijing, officials familiar with the negotiations said. It also contains Japan's readiness to cooperate in resurrecting the shipbuilding capacity of the United States, a goal Trump has vowed to attain amid China's increasing dominance of the industry, according to the officials. In return, Akazawa has persistently asked the Trump administration to eliminate the new tariffs it imposed on Japanese imports. He did the same Friday in his fourth round of talks with the United States. In early May, Akazawa and the U.S. Cabinet members agreed to accelerate the pace of their tariff talks from the latter half of the month with the aim of striking an agreement that will be beneficial for both Japan and the United States. Under Trump's so-called reciprocal tariff regime, announced April 2, Japan faces a country-specific tariff of 14 percent for a total rate of 24 percent. Along with other countries, Japan has been hit by the Trump administration's additional 25 percent tariff on automobiles and other sector-based levies implemented on national security grounds, on top of the baseline duty of 10 percent that is part of its reciprocal scheme.
