The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News. TOKYO - Japan on Monday launched a new command for the Self-Defense Forces to better integrate its ground, maritime and air defenses, in a major revamp aimed at ensuring smoother coordination with the U.S. military at a time when tensions are heightened over potential contingencies involving Taiwan. The SDF Joint Operations Command was established at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo with about 240 personnel. Gen. Kenichiro Nagumo, who has deep expertise in SDF joint operations, leads the permanent body. TOKYO - The approval rating for Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's Cabinet plunged to 27.6 percent, the lowest since he took office in October, following revelations that he handed out gift vouchers to rookie ruling party lawmakers, a Kyodo News survey showed Sunday. The weekend telephone poll also found that 71.6 percent of respondents opposed Ishiba's distribution of cash-equivalent coupons worth 100,000 yen ($670) each to such lawmakers of his Liberal Democratic Party. China's PM seeks dialogue in meeting with pro-Trump U.S. Sen. Daines BEIJING - Chinese Premier Li Qiang called for dialogue instead of confrontation during a meeting in Beijing on Sunday with U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, a known ally of President Donald Trump, according to The Associated Press. Li said relations between the two countries "have come to an important juncture," AP reported. The premier met with the Republican senator from Montana and some American business representatives at the two-day China Development Forum, which opened in the Chinese capital earlier in the day, the official Xinhua News Agency said. MATSUYAMA, Japan - Wildfires broke out Sunday in mountainous areas of two western Japan prefectures, prompting some residents to evacuate, though no injuries have been reported, local authorities said. In Okayama, around 15 fire trucks and a firefighting helicopter from the prefectural government have been working to extinguish the blaze, which was reported in an emergency call about 3 p.m., according to the local fire department. KOCHI, Japan - Cherry trees have begun to bloom in Kochi on Japan's western island of Shikoku, marking the opening of the season in 2025 and the second consecutive year the city has recorded the country's earliest bloom of the Somei Yoshino, the most common cherry variety, the weather agency said. At around 2:30 p.m., the specimen tree in the Sannomaru, the largest terrace of Kochi Castle, was confirmed to have more than five blossoms -- the standard for declaring official flowering, the agency said, adding full bloom is expected in about a week. OSAKA - Ozeki Onosato clinched his third career Emperor's Cup with a championship-deciding playoff victory over rank-and-file opponent Takayasu at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday. The 24-year-old Onosato and 35-year-old No. 4 maegashira Takayasu finished the scheduled component of the 15-day competition deadlocked at 12-3 after coming into the final day as joint leaders. Baseball: NPB preseason schedule concluded, Fighters finish 1st TOKYO - The Nippon Ham Fighters on Sunday finished at the top of the 12-team Japanese baseball preseason standings for the first time since 2010. Five days before Nippon Professional Baseball's season begins, the Fighters rallied to beat the Yakult Swallows 7-4 at Es Con Field Hokkaido outside Sapporo. Sumo: 2 Ukrainian wrestlers make impression at Osaka tournament OSAKA - A pair of wrestlers from war-torn Ukraine made big strides at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament, providing a captivating storyline for the 15-day event that finished Sunday in Osaka. Youngster Aonishiki made a stunning debut in the elite makuuchi division, racking up 11 wins against four losses, while fellow rank-and-file wrestler Shishi also impressed on his way to a 9-6 record. Video: Tottori zone at Osaka Expo's Kansai Pavilion unveiled