TOKYO - The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Trump says peace deal with Iran could be signed this weekend in Europe
WASHINGTON - The United States and Iran could sign a peace deal as early as this weekend in Europe and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz would follow, President Donald Trump said Thursday in an about-face from his earlier harsh remarks about Tehran.
"We just made a great settlement of the war with Iran, and we're going to be subject to finalization of documents, which should get done over the next few days," Trump said during an event in the Oval Office.
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Japan emperor makes rare remark amid debate on dwindling family members
TOKYO - Japanese Emperor Naruhito on Thursday refrained from commenting directly on the debate on securing an adequate number of imperial family members, but in a rare remark expressed hope that a solution can be reached that "gains the understanding of the people."
Speaking at a press conference at the Imperial Palace ahead of his official visit to the Netherlands and Belgium, the emperor said the fundamental principle of the imperial family is "to share the joys and sorrows of the people."
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Football: Japan captain Endo out of World Cup with foot injury
NASHVILLE, Tennessee - Japan captain Wataru Endo has withdrawn from his country's World Cup squad due to a foot injury, the Japan Football Association said Thursday.
National team director Masakuni Yamamoto said Ajax defender Ko Itakura has been named the new captain, while Borussia Monchengladbach forward Shuto Machino has been called up as a replacement for Endo.
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Japan crude oil imports in July to regain year-earlier level despite war
TOKYO - Japan expects to secure the same volume of crude oil imports in July as a year prior, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Thursday, after ramping up purchases from non-Middle Eastern suppliers like the United States amid the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Japan has relied on the Middle East for more than 90 percent of its crude oil imports. But shipments via the Strait of Hormuz, a key energy route through which around 20 percent of global oil and liquefied natural gas normally passes, have nearly halted, forcing Japan to seek supplies elsewhere.
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INTERVIEW: Nissan halves vehicle development time in restructuring drive: CEO
YOKOHAMA - Nissan Motor Co.'s top executive says the carmaker has roughly halved vehicle development time as part of its restructuring efforts, aiming at a faster rollout of new models.
Nissan has shortened the development period to 26 months, compared with up to 55 months prior to the launch of the restructuring plan and beating the plan's target of 30 months, Nissan President and CEO Ivan Espinosa said.
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China sanctions Philippines' defense chief over "irresponsible" remarks
BEIJING - China on Thursday imposed sanctions on Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and his relatives, claiming he has repeatedly made "irresponsible remarks" about Beijing in conduct that undermines its legitimate interests and "sabotages China-Philippines relations."
Teodoro, his spouse and child will be prohibited from entering mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao, and barred from engaging in any transactions or cooperation with organizations and individuals in China, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.
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Taiwan opposition leader meets U.S. lawmakers in Washington
TAIPEI - Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of Taiwan's main opposition party, the Nationalist Party, met with several U.S. lawmakers in Washington to discuss the self-ruled island's defense budget and arms purchases, Taiwanese media reported on Thursday.
Cheng, leader of the party known as the Kuomintang (KMT), met with Republican Sen. Steve Daines, a known ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, as well as House of Representatives members -- Republicans Brian Mast, John Rose and Chuck Fleischmann and Democrat Thomas Suozzi -- according to media reports.
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S. Korea, China mourn death of Japan's ex-lower house speaker Kono
SEOUL - South Korea and China mourned Thursday the death of former Japanese House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono, praising his announcement decades ago of a government statement apologizing for the Imperial Japanese military's role in forcing "comfort women" to work in wartime brothels.
South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min Seok offered his condolences on Thursday in an X post over the death of the 89-year-old who also served as foreign minister and chief Cabinet secretary, lauding him for having "acknowledged the coercive nature of the recruitment of comfort women" by Japan during World War II and for expressing remorse.
