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TOKYO – The following is the most recent compilation of selected news summaries from Kyodo News.

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Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi considers not visiting Yasukuni on the anniversary of the end of WWII

TOKYO – Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is thinking about not visiting the war-related Yasukuni shrine to commemorate Saturday’s conclusion of World War II, according to individuals aware of the situation who mentioned this on Wednesday.

A trip to the Tokyo shrine by Takaichi, a right-wing figure recognized for her aggressive international policies, is likely to heighten tensions with China and strain ties with South Korea, nations that endured Japan’s wartime military expansion.

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Law against disrespecting the Japanese flag comes into force despite concerns over free expression

TOKYO – A new law that imposes penalties for disrespecting Japan’s national flag came into force on Thursday, achieving a long-standing legislative goal of conservative Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, which has raised worries about freedom of speech.

According to the law, people who openly damage, take down, or deface the national flag, referred to as the “Hinomaru,” in a manner that causes “intense feelings of discomfort or revulsion” in others may be sentenced to a maximum of two years in prison or fined up to 200,000 yen ($1,300).

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Classified documents from the prosecutor’s office provide insight into the prominent Lockheed scandal

TOKYO – Documents from the late chief prosecutor related to the prominent Lockheed bribery case 50 years ago, disclosed on Thursday, included statements from “gray high-ranking officials,” or legislators who were suspected but not charged with accepting money from a Japanese airline.

Marked “top secret” on the outside, the documents gathered by former Prosecutor General Yusuke Yoshinaga provide a glimpse into how funds were directed to politicians in what is considered the largest scandal of postwar Japan, involving a former prime minister and All Nippon Airways Co.

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Japan states that transit through Hormuz should be free of charges, says Takaichi

TOKYO – On Wednesday, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi emphasized the significance of not charging fees for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz during a phone conversation with Iran’s president, as the critical trade route has been effectively shut down due to stalled U.S.-Iran discussions.

In a statement to journalists at her office in Tokyo, Takaichi mentioned that she also informed Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian that Japan believes it is important for the United States and Iran to engage in discussions and achieve an agreement as soon as possible, particularly regarding nuclear matters.

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Interim head assumes position at Japan’s Chongqing office following an extended period without a permanent occupant

BEIJING – A Japanese acting consul general has taken up his position in Chongqing, according to a Japanese government official on Wednesday, approximately eight months after the post remained unfilled due to a diplomatic dispute concerning Taiwan.

Shigehiro Nishiumi, who previously served as a Japanese deputy consul general in Hong Kong, took up his position at Japan’s diplomatic office in the southern Chinese city on August 4, according to the source.

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Taipei criticizes Beijing over a naval exercise involving Indonesia near Taiwan.

TAIPEI – On Wednesday, Taiwan strongly criticized the naval exercise conducted by mainland China with Indonesia in the waters east of Taiwan, describing the action as “arbitrary and irresponsible” and asserting that it increases regional tensions.

The island’s Foreign Ministry stated that Beijing carries out “maliciously provocative and irresponsible unilateral actions that generate instability and pose threats to the region.” The Chinese military later confirmed that a joint exercise with Indonesia took place near Taiwan on Wednesday.

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North Korea and Russia’s foreign ministers reach agreement on collaboration in the energy field

KYIV – North Korea and Russia have pledged to collaborate in the energy and economic fields following a meeting in Moscow last month, where North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui met with her Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, according to an announcement by a Ukrainian defense intelligence official to Kyodo News on Wednesday.

According to the deal, Russia will construct a new refinery in North Korea and assist in boosting the output of oil products, while North Korea will supply Russia with fuel.

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Former Chinese Premier Zhu, advocate of economic changes, passes away at age 97

BEIJING – Former Chinese Prime Minister Zhu Rongji, who vigorously supported economic reforms during President Jiang Zemin’s tenure and contributed to the Asian nation’s swift development, passed away due to illness on Wednesday, according to official media. He was 97 years old.

Zhu, who was prime minister from 1998 to 2003, implemented significant economic and state-owned sector reforms, maintained annual economic growth of approximately 8 percent, and was heavily involved in facilitating China’s accession to the World Trade Organization in 2001.