Chinese fighter jet flies close to Japanese SDF patrol plane
Japan's defense ministry says a Chinese fighter jet flew unusually close to a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force patrol plane over the high seas in the Pacific.The ministry released two photos of a Chinese J-15 fighter jet taken on Sunday. One image shows what appears to be a missile under the jet's left wing. The other shows the jet flying at almost the same altitude very close to the patrol plane. The defense ministry says a Japanese P-3C patrol plane was followed by a J-15 fighter for about 40 minutes on Saturday and 80 minutes on Sunday. It also says a fighter jet lifted off from the aircraft carrier Shandong and flew within about 45 meters of the patrol plane.
It adds Chinese aircraft passed in front of the Japanese plane at a distance of about 900 meters on Sunday.
In May and June of 2014, Chinese fighter jets flew abnormally close to aircraft belonging to the Japanese Self-Defense Forces over the East China Sea. The Japanese government lodged protests against China following the incidents.
The Japanese ministry says there was no damage to the patrol plane nor injuries to its crew this time. but notes these kind of unusual approaches could cause an accidental collision. It also says it has expressed serious concerns about the matter to China and urged it to prevent the recurrence.
Retired Japan, US officers join simulation in Taiwan on possible attack by China
Meanwhile, former officers from Taiwan, Japan and the United States have taken part in a tabletop simulation of possible emergencies across the Taiwan Strait.Private sector groups organized a two-day event in Taipei. Seventeen people participated. It comes as China steeps up pressure on Taiwan.
During a closed-door discussion, they exchanged their opinions on a simulation of an armed Chinese attack on Taiwan in 2030. The participants discussed possible moves by China and responses by Taiwan, Japan and the US They say it's important to boost Taiwan's capabilities, including employing asymmetric defense using cheap mobile weapons. A retired Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force admiral shared his view about his country's role.
I think the most important thing for Japan is to improve its defense and deterrence capabilities while maintaining lines of communication with Taiwan.
The participants also recommend strengthening deterrence against China through cooperation among Indo-Pacific countries.North Korean noise broadcasts reportedly not heard in South
We turn now to the Koreas. On Wednesday this week, the South suspended loudspeaker broadcasts into the North near the demilitarized zone. Now, the South Joint Chiefs of Staff say that North's broadcasts of noise there appear also to have stopped.The North had been blaring noise in multiple areas near the demilitarized zone in response to loudspeakers broadcast from the South. About a week after he was elected president in the South, Lee Jae-myung ordered a suspension as a step to restore trust and establish peace. Yonhap News Agency says the Lee administration could next move to reactivate the North-South military agreement designed to ease tensions.
That agreement was suspended by the previous administration led by Yoon Suk-yeol. The North has defined the South as a hostile nation and has not shown interest in dialogue.
Attention is focused on how it responds to the conciliatory stance of the South's new government.
US defense official: Pentagon reviewing AUKUS security framework
A US defense official says the Pentagon is reviewing the August security framework of the United States, Britain and Australia. A trilateral partnership was launched in 2021 under then-President Joe Biden.The official told NHK on Wednesday. The Defense Department is reviewing August to ensure it is aligned with President Donald Trump's 'America First' agenda.
The Financial Times says Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby is leading the review to determine whether the US should scrap the deal. The British media outlet says Colby previously expressed skepticism about the pact. One of the pillars of AUKUS is a plan to deploy US nuclear-powered attack submarines to Australia in the 2030s. The Financial Times notes some critics in the US are concerned the framework could undermine the country's security.
The critics say the US Navy is struggling to produce more American submarines. They also say the country should focus on strengthening its forces' own capabilities rather than deploying submarines to Australia.
Analysis: Protests, ICE operations likely to continue in Los Angeles
More than 200 people in Los Angeles have been arrested for failing to disperse and for violating a curfew.The city put the order in place in response to days of protests over President Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration.
The curfew kicked in for the first time Tuesday night, but it didn't stop people from taking to the streets. The mayor says the order will stay in place as long as the crackdown continues. She criticized Trump for sending in National Guard troops without first consulting the state.
I posit that maybe we are part of a national experiment to determine how far the federal government can go in reaching in and taking over power from a governor.
The Trump administration is going to continue the mass deportation effort that the president promised the American public.
They are strictly used for the protection of the federal personnel as they conduct their operations and to protect them to allow them to do their federal mission.
Demonstrations have spread across this country. Protests outside federal office buildings in New York drew hundreds of people. They took to the streets in a city where immigrants make up about 37% of their population.Without them, New York would not be New York. America would not be America.
For more of this, earlier I spoke to NHK World's LA bureau chief, Saheki Akira.
Akira, what it's like in LA right now?
So this kind of strategy has sparked widespread anger, and not just among immigrants. I've been out covering the protests. Many are showing their support by honking their horns as they drive by. Those I've spoken to here seem united in defending the city's immigrants. Maybe that shouldn't be surprising, seeing as over 30% of LA's population was born abroad.
So that's not to say that ICE doesn't have its supporters. You see a lot of posts online cheering them on.
But I'm not seeing that translate into real life. But then again, nearly 40% of LA voted for Trump. So maybe they're just not as loud as the other side.
So Akira, after these protests started, Trump decided to send military personnel into LA. Why?
So let's start with immigration. This was the the driving force behind President Trump's victory last year. And he still has strong support on that file. A CBS poll this week showed that 54% still supports the administration's deportation policies.
As for law and order, Trump had threatened to do something like this for years. Remember that George Floyd broke out near the end of Trump's first term. Reports say, at the time, he tried to deploy military to curb the demonstrations. When people around him opposed the idea, he called them losers. Then the idea came up again at a conservative conference in 2022. He said in cases of unrest, the next president should use every power at his disposal to restore order, including the military and the National Guard. So even though this is much smaller than the L.A. riots in 1992, it is not surprising that this time President Trump sent in troops.
So where does the city go from here?
If anything, the protests could get bigger. It's Trump's birthday on Saturday, with military parades scheduled in Washington. Americans are organizing counter-protests not only here in L.A., but across the country.
We'll have to see how people are feeling once the weekend is over.
the world of business
Now let's see what's happening in the world of business. Here's Ramin Mellegard from the Biz Desk.Thank you very much indeed.
Bessent: US 'highly likely' to extend July tariff deadline
Now, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said that an extension of a 90 day pause on what the Trump administration calls reciprocal tariffs is highly likely. Now the window is currently set to close on July 9 for most of the trading partners that were hit with the levies.We will roll the date forward to continue to good faith negotiations. If someone is not negotiating, then we will not.
President Donald Trump launched the tariffs on April 9. They affect countries and regions with which the US runs large trade deficits, but he said immediately afterward he would grant the pause to countries seeking negotiations. Bessent says the US is currently holding talks with 18 important trading partners. Japan is believed to be one of them, as it faces a 24%. tariff. Now, Trump was also asked about a possible deadline extension. His response indicated a somewhat different attitude from Bessent 's.I would, but I don't think we're going to have that necessity. I tell you what, we are, we're rocking in terms of deals. We made a great deal with China.
Japan's Jera to buy up to 5.5 mil. tons of US LNG a year
Chris Wright said the deal with Jeddah will run over a period of 20 years. Jeddah's global CEO,Hana Yukio and the representatives of four US energy firms signed agreements on Wednesday at the US Department of Energy. The LNG will come from the southern US states. The administration of US President Donald Trump is aiming to boost LNG exports to slash his country's large trade deficits. The deal is estimated to support more than 50,000 American jobs and push up gross US gross domestic product by more than $200 billion. Wright told reporters that LNG is one of America's largest exports.And the US Secretary of Energy says Japan's largest power generator has agreed to purchase up to five and a half million tons of liquefied natural gas a year from the United States.
Absolutely. The rapid growth you are seeing right now in LNG exports are going to shrink our trade deficits with all of our key trading partners.
Trump: US-China trade deal is 'done'
And President Trump says a trade deal with China is done after top officials wrapped up two days of talks in London. The president notes that it's subject to final approval with his Chinese counterpart and himself.He says China will supply any necessary rare earths up front to the US. Trump says the agreement will also address the issue of accepting Chinese students to US colleges and universities. The US Treasury Secretary told lawmakers the talks were successful, but he urges Beijing to be what he called a reliable partner in trade negotiations.
If China will course correct by upholding its end to the initial trade agreement we outlined in Geneva, and I believe after our talks in London they will, then the rebalancing of the world's largest, two largest economies is possible.
The discussions lasted late into the night on Tuesday. The two sides finally agreed on a framework for easing trade tensions, building on the consensus reached last month in Switzerland.Toyota shareholders greenlight all 6 company proposals
Toyota Motor stockholders have approved all six of the automakers' proposals, including one making external directors account for half of the board members.Toyota held its shareholders meeting at its Aichi Prefecture headquarters on Thursday. More than 6,700 people took part. One proposal called for a 10 member board that includes Chairman Toyoda Akio, President Satokoji and five others from outside the company. Executives stressed the need for active discussions at the board as the auto industry goes through a major transformation. Some shareholders asked about Toyota's decarbonization initiatives and strategies. The chairman responded that the auto sector is squarely addressing global warming. He noted that his company has been taking active steps to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Japan business sentiment turns negative in Apr.-Jun. quarter
Now, a government survey shows that business sentiment and major Japanese firms has turned negative for the first time in five quarters. This comes amid concerns about the impacts of new US tariffs.The index of business conditions came to -1.9 for the three months through June. A negative result indicates that a majority of companies feel business conditions have worsened. About 11,000 companies responded to the quarterly survey by the Finance Ministry and the Cabinet Office. The index for manufacturers stood at -4.8, marking a second straight quarter with a negative figure. This reflects worries about the impact of the US tariff policy spreading in the auto and steel sectors. But the index is projected to swing back to positive in the July to September period. Robust demand in the chip sector and brisk inbound tourism will likely push it up to 5.2. Now, ministry officials say that they will keep a close watch on the impacts of the US trade policy and rising prices on businesses.
China's new vehicle sales rise for 4th straight month
China's new vehicle sales rose for the fourth straight month in May, backed by strong demand for electric and other so-called new energy models.The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers says unit sales, including exports, jumped about 11% year-on-year to almost 2.7 million. Sales of electric plug-in hybrid and fuel cell models soared nearly 37%, helped by the government's trade-in incentives. This category accounted for nearly half of overall sales.
Now the focus is on how the intensifying price competition in China's auto market and trade friction between Beijing and Washington will impact sales trends.
And that is it for business news.
US government orders evacuation of embassy staff in Iraq
The US State Department has ordered the evacuation of some of its embassy staff in Iraq due to heightened security risks in the region.Reuters News Agency said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized a voluntary departure of military dependents from locations across the Middle East.
It could be a dangerous place and we'll see what happens, but we've given notice to move out.
The US has been holding talks with Iran over the nuclear program. But Trump said in an interview released on Wednesday that he was growing less confident that Tehran would agree to stop enriching uranium. Trump has hinted at the possible attack on Iran if there is no progress in the talks. It has also been reported that Israel is planning to strike Iran's nuclear facilities.Tehran has vowed to retaliate in the event of an attack. Iran's UN mission said in a social media post on Wednesday that Iran is not seeking a nuclear weapon and US militarism only fuels instability. It added, Diplomacy, not militarism, is the only path forward.
Israel, US react sharply to sanctions against Israeli ministers by 5 nations
Israel has sharply criticized five countries for imposing sanctions on two of its government ministers. The US also condemned the move.Britain, Canada, Norway, Australia and New Zealand announced the measures Tuesday. They target Israel's national security minister and finance minister.
The sanctions include a freeze on their assets and travel bans.
The countries accused the ministers of inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. They say the sanctions are a response to that conduct, but stress the situation they can't be separated from the wider crisis in Gaza.
Israel's foreign minister slammed the decision.
It is outrageous that elected representatives and members of the governmentare subjected to this kind of measures.
Princess Kako pays courtesy call on Brazilian president
Japan's Princess Kako is on an official visit to Brazil. She has paid a courtesy call on the country's president, Luis Inacio Lula da Silva.The second daughter of Crown Prince and Princess Akishino visited the presidential office in the capital Brasilia on Wednesday. The princess conveyed her gratitude for the warm welcome she has received.
Lula visited Japan as a steak guest in March and met with Emperor Naruhito.
He told the princess the emperor was very kind, affectionate, and receptive.
Princess Kako also visited Brazil's congress earlier in the day. She attended a ceremony there to commemorate 130 years of diplomatic relations between Japan and Brazil.
(Japanese)
On Friday, the princess is expected to visit Rio de Janeiro's Mount Corcovado, the site of a giant statue of Christ which overlooks the city.the world weather
A break in the wet season brought sunny skies to Tokyo today. Our meteorologist Sayaka Mori has the details in the world weather update.Hello, Tokyo started off with blue skies today. What a nice break in the wet season. The seasonal rain band has sagged to the south, so it was sunny in Tokyo and the north as well. But the frontal system is still lingering over western Japan, so rain is falling out there. As we go into the weekend, we'll see heavier rain showers across the Kyushu region.Kagoshima has already had more than 500 millimeters of rain. Additional rain is not good news. Tokyo will also experience a wet weekend and then we will see scorching hot conditions as we're going to next week and Akita could enter the rainy season as we go into the next couple of days or so. Further down towards the south, we have a couple of tropical disturbances. We have Wutip.
This is this year's first named storm over the western Pacific. And we have a newly formed tropical depression. That Wutip is going to be a threat for southern China. The system will likely make its way towards Hainan on Friday and then heading towards Hong Kong as we go into the weekend. And then a tropical depression. This one will likely head towards the north, heading towards Taiwan and eventually going towards the Korean Peninsula. So lots of things are happening across Asia.
Bordeaux hit 35 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, the highest daytime temperature of the year so far. I'm looking forward to seeing how this heat will affect the taste of wine this year.
Now. What's happening is that we have a jet stream meandering further up towards the north. That's allowing hot air to come in from the south. We are looking at quite hot temperatures for many places including the west and the central portions of Europe. Looks like Paris and Rome will be seeing temperatures about 10 degrees higher than normal for this time of the year for the next few days. Stay hydrated to avoid heatstroke.
That's it for me, have a nice day.
♫~
Reuters: Over 200 killed after Air India plane crash
We have breaking news. Multiple television broadcasters in India say a passenger plane crashed shortly after take-off at an airport in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad.Major Indian media report the plane belonged to Air India and had more than 240 passengers and crew on board.
Video from the scene shows black smoke rising near a residential area.
Once again, multiple television broadcasters in India say a passenger plane crashed shortly after takeoff at an airport in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad.
We'll bring more details as it becomes available.