Takaichi Arrives in Italy After UK Talks

Jun 15, 2026 | News On Japan

ROME - Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrived in Italy early on June 15 Japan time, beginning the second leg of her European tour after concluding diplomatic meetings in the United Kingdom, where she reached agreements with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on strengthening cooperation in economic security, energy, advanced technologies and defense.

Takaichi met Starmer in London on the evening of June 14 Japan time. The two leaders agreed to expand cooperation in economic security fields, including energy, as well as advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, and announced the outcomes through a joint declaration and related statements.

The meeting also served as an opportunity to coordinate positions ahead of the Group of Seven summit opening in France on June 15.

Takaichi plans to present what she calls the "three principles of energy security" at the summit, seeking to place energy resilience and supply chain security high on the G7 agenda.

"We will lead G7 discussions in areas such as energy security and strengthening supply chains for critical minerals," Takaichi said. "I will lead those efforts together with Keir."

The Japanese and British leaders also agreed to accelerate development of their jointly planned next-generation fighter aircraft, a project being pursued by Japan, the United Kingdom and Italy.

The fighter program is expected to feature prominently in Takaichi's upcoming talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, where the two leaders are expected to reaffirm trilateral cooperation among the three countries.

Takaichi arrived in Italy shortly before 3 a.m. Japan time.

During her meeting with Meloni, the leaders are expected to exchange views on the situation in the Middle East and discuss priorities for the upcoming G7 summit. They are also expected to finalize a comprehensive joint statement on cooperation in space-related fields.

Source: FNN

Powerful Typhoon Bavi Likely to Near Okinawa Later This Week

As of 9 p.m. on July 5, Typhoon No. 9 had become a large and extremely powerful storm near the Mariana Islands, moving west-northwest at 20 kilometers per hour. It is forecast to shift slightly northward around Wednesday, July 8, and approach Okinawa and the Sakishima Islands around Friday, July 10, while maintaining very strong intensity and a broad storm zone, raising the risk of significant impacts from wind, waves and rain.

Heavy Rain Disrupts Rail Services in Northern Kyushu

Heavy rain continued across northern Kyushu, with some parts of Fukuoka Prefecture recording 120 millimeters of rainfall in the 24 hours through 3 p.m. on July 5.

Osaka Mosasaur Fossil May Rewrite Japan’s Prehistoric Record

A fossil discovered in Osaka has led to Japan’s first finding of its kind, raising the possibility that a giant marine predator believed to have swum in the seas around the Kansai region about 70 million years ago was a previously unknown species.

Carlos Ghosn Says Nissan Needs Him as CEO

Former Nissan Motor Chairman Carlos Ghosn said the automaker is in a "state of emergency" and signaled he would be willing to return as chief executive officer, arguing that only a true decision-maker in the CEO role could rescue the company.

U.S. Military Returns Entire Negishi Housing Area to Japan After 79 Years

The entire Negishi Housing Area in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, has been returned to Japan for the first time in 79 years, ending its use as a residential district for U.S. military personnel and their families.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Politics NEWS

Opposition Boycott Leaves Diet Committees Running on Empty

Opposition parties boycotted Diet deliberations after accusing the ruling bloc of forcing debate on bills to cut the number of lawmakers and create a secondary capital system, leaving committee sessions to proceed without them and exposing widening rifts not only between the ruling and opposition camps but also within the government and ruling coalition.

Japanese-Descended Keiko Fujimori Wins Peru Presidential Election

Peru's election authorities formally announced on July 3 that Keiko Fujimori, the Japanese-descended eldest daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori, had won the country's presidential runoff election.

Yen Pressure And Diet Gridlock Test Takaichi Agenda

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s political agenda faced pressure on several fronts on July 3, as the government kept open the possibility of currency intervention to support the yen, opposition parties continued to challenge the ruling bloc’s management of the Diet, and Japan moved to extend its security diplomacy through India and NATO-related talks.

Reiwa Leader Caught Driving 149 Kph on Expressway

Reiwa Shinsengumi said its leader, Taro Yamamoto, was fined 90,000 yen and had his driver’s license suspended for 90 days after being caught speeding on an expressway in Oita City.

Prime Minister Takaichi Returns Home With 2 Trillion Yen Indian Investments

Prime Minister Takaichi is returning to Japan after talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with the two leaders agreeing to deepen their strategic cooperation and Japanese and Indian companies signing 129 memorandums and related agreements linked to a 2 trillion yen investment package for India.

Takaichi Turns To India As Diet Tensions Build At Home

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s visit to India on July 2 placed foreign policy, economic security and strategic investment at the center of Japan’s political agenda, even as opposition parties kept pressure on the government over Diet proceedings and unresolved domestic policy disputes.

U.S. Military Returns Entire Negishi Housing Area to Japan After 79 Years

Japan Politics Daily: Takaichi Links Growth, Security and China Policy

Japan’s political agenda on June 29 centered on Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s attempt to connect economic growth, national security and technological resilience, as the government moved toward a long-term economic blueprint while also responding to China’s expanded export controls and preparing a revision of Japan’s Arctic policy.

< 2 3 4 5 >