Hello and welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Yoshikawa Ryuichi in Tokyo.
China Fires Dummy Warhead Missile From Submarine
China has fired a strategic missile equipped with a dummy warhead.
Beijing says the missile was launched from a Chinese nuclear-powered submarine on Monday and claims the missile has already fallen as planned.
The Chinese Navy posted on social media, saying a strategic missile was launched at 12.01 p.m. local time and fell in international water in the Pacific Ocean.
00:00:42 話者 12/Mao Ning/Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson
This is a routine arrangement as part of our annual military training.
It's consistent with international law and common practice, and is not directed at any specific country or target.
00:00:55 話者 1
Japanese officials say their embassy in China was only told of the launch on Monday, shortly before the missile was fired.
They have expressed their deep concern to Beijing over China's increasing military activities.
They also strongly urged China not to launch missiles over Japan and to ensure that they do not threaten Japan's security.
China launched an international ballistic missile carrying a dummy warhead two years ago. It was the first such test in 44 years.
Earthquakes in Venezuela: Death Toll Climbs Above 3,000
Venezuela is continuing to work through the aftermath of the devastating twin quakes that struck the country.
Officials can now say over 3,000 people have been confirmed dead.
It's been over 10 days since the magnitude 7 quakes hit Venezuela.
The government announced the latest death toll Sunday. It said 3,342 had been killed.
Media, including the New York Times, suggest those numbers could still rise.
They say it's taking time to identify the bodies.
Officials also say more than 17,000 people have lost their homes.
Venezuela is now grappling with how to support those victims.
A United Nations office estimates there was about $37 billion in direct damage to housing and infrastructure.
World Cup 2026: Trump Call Sought Review of US Soccer Star Suspension
NHK has learned that President Donald Trump may have influenced FIFA's decision to allow a suspended US soccer star to continue playing in the World Cup.
The global soccer body has delayed the suspension of striker Falarin Balgan for a year, clearing him for a knockout match against Belgium on Monday.
Balgan was red-carded for stepping on a player's foot on Wednesday, automatically suspending him for one game under FIFA rules.
However, on Sunday, the body said his suspension would be postponed for a one-year probationary period.
Sources told NHK that US President Donald Trump had called FIFA President Gianni Infantino and asked him to review Bulgan's suspension.
Trump wrote on social media on Sunday, thank you to FIFA for doing what was right and reversing a great injustice.
US media outlets say Trump and Infantino are close and the sacer body's sudden reversal will raise further questions about their relationship.
Iran Conflict: Supreme Leader Khamenei's Funeral Continues
Funeral ceremonies for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei are continuing in Iran.
The country's former spring leader was killed in a US-Israeli attack in February.
Iran's foreign ministry says the nation's top diplomat, Abbas Arachi, held talks on Saturday with officials attending the services.
It notes he met with high-ranking members of the Lebanon-based Shia Muslim organization Hezbollah. He also met with the Islamic group Hamas.
Arachi reportedly told the Hezbollah delegation the group's resistance against Israel is a source of pride for Lebanon and the Islamic world.
He's also said to have reaffirmed Iran's continued support for the cause.
Meanwhile, three sons of Iran's late supreme leader attended the second day of his funeral in the capital Tehran on Sunday.
State television showed them weeping as his coffin and those of four other family members were carried to the funeral site. They then prayed together.
There have been no reports on the attendance of Mujtabar Khamenei, who succeeded his father as the country's supreme leader.
The New York Times quoted Iranian authorities as saying his security team rejected the idea of his attending the ceremonies.
There were apparently concerns about Israeli attempts to assassinate him.
Mushtabah was chosen as the new supreme leader after Khamenei's death.
The US paper reported Iranian officials as maintaining Mushtabah wanted to attend some parts of the funeral, such as Thursday's burial service.
The Middle Eastern TV broadcaster Al-Arabiya noted on Saturday the upcoming US-Iran negotiations will be held in Pakistan on July 11.
Informed sources say US sanctions, Iran's frozen funds, and nuclear issues will be discussed.
US Think Tank: Russia Exaggerates Ukraine Battlefield Gains
A US think tank says Russia is significantly exaggerating claims of its advances in eastern Ukraine.
It says the Kremlin is trying to construct a narrative of continuous military success and boost public morale.
The Institute for the Study of War published a report on Saturday saying Russia's claimed seizures do not match realities on the battlefield.
This comes after Russia announced on Friday it had captured the important city of Kastantynivka.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denied the claim on Saturday.
The report says Russia's defense ministry and other sources are releasing large amounts of footage that may have been altered with AI.
It says this is part of an effort to support the country's exaggerated claims and complicate individual footage verification.
The report also says neither side had made confirmed advances as of Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military says it has successfully targeted 8 oil refineries in Russia over the past month.
It claims to have destroyed or damaged more than 60 storage tanks, It also says Russia's total oil industry losses since August 2025 have reached $13.5 billion.
Experts say both countries are trying to maintain morale by emphasizing battlefield successes as the situation reaches a stalemate.
US 250th Anniversary Highlights Political Divide
The United States marked the 250th anniversary of its founding with elaborate celebrations over the weekend.
An estimated 850,000 fireworks were set off in Washington, D.C. as the city took on a festive mood.
However, the series of events also highlighted the deep divisions within American society.
00:08:03 話者 23
It's a once-in-a-lifetime event to me.
It's great to be here and see all the people that are pulled together.
00:08:09 話者 2
Special celebrations were held in cities across the US.
One pilot went viral for this massive USA 250 message he created using his small plane.
It took over 6 hours to complete. But all of these events were met with mixed reaction.
Several groups also held protests against the current administration over the weekend.
00:08:35 話者 24
We're frustrated with how the government has been going lately, and we wanted them to hear our frustration and our voice.
...
00:08:42 話者 25/Donald Trump
We are going to take our country to new levels, to levels not reached.
00:08:51 話者 2
Meanwhile, stormy weather in D.C. delayed the US president's speech.
But when he finally hit the stage, his message was not seen as a unifying one.
00:09:04 話者 25
And all these talks from the communists, they haven't got a chance.
Not even a chance. We don't want communists in our country.
00:09:14 話者 2
The speech comes ahead of the crucial November midterm elections.
And at a time when Trump's approval rating has taken a hit, the more left-wing Democrats are seemingly gaining momentum.
Historically, American society has been in a state of division and turmoil before.
Fifty years ago, in 1976, during the US bicentennial, Republican President Ford had to navigate the aftermath of the Vietnam War.
Amid that transition, there was a desire to focus on what unites the people in the country and move forward together.
Experts point out that compared to that time, this year's 250th anniversary has taken on a strong partisan tone.
00:10:03 話者 26/John Mark Hansen/Professor, University of Chicago
Politicians have discovered that they can be more successful by demonizing the other side. and by dividing the public, then they can be by trying to bring people together.
Originally, July 4 was a special occasion celebrated across party lines.
However, there has been a wave of criticism that President Trump is using the occasion for his own political gain.
Opinions were divided over limited edition passports commemorating the anniversary, which prominently feature a portrait of Trump.
And in June for Trump's 80th birthday, a mixed martial arts match was held on the lawn of the White House. Many felt that event disrespected a historic building.
And now, another group is putting the spotlight on how divisive the discourse has become. Freedom 250 is overseen by a conservative educational organization.
It consists of several trucks made into mobile museums that are touring the United States.
00:11:21 話者 27
Are you willing to pledge your lives, your fortunes, and your sacred honor for the American cause?
00:11:29 話者 28
A lot of information, and anything you wanted to know about the history of the United States is there.
00:11:34 話者 2
However, critics say such events do not reflect indigenous history or diversity, and they are expressing their dissatisfaction.
00:11:45 話者 29/Emerson Shenandoah/Director, Skanonh Great Law of Peace Center
How America came to be, that stuff is all, you know, never really taught.
A lot of our history, a lot of our contributions to America, to the Western world, are swept under the rug.
00:11:55 話者 2
Calls to value diversity are coming from the opposition Democratic Party as well.
New York Mayor Mandani, who leans strongly to the left, has been critical of the Trump administration's immigration policies.
00:12:10 話者 22/Zohran Mamdani/New York City Mayor
America, they will tell you, belongs only to those with the right accent or the right shade of skin. How small they are, how weak.
The work of fulfilling the values first enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, that work endures, and it belongs to us all.
00:12:27 話者 2
According to a survey by Pew Research Center, 66 percent of respondents said that political division will deepen by 2050.
Time will tell if the US can change that outcome or if tensions will continue to cause major rifts in the country.
Business
00:12:48 話者 1
And now for business stories, here's Ramin Mellegard.
00:12:53 話者 3/Ramin Mellegard
Thank you very much indeed.
Survey: Japan Rice Prices Expected to Continue Falling
Now, a new survey shows that Japanese rice growers and wholesalers expect prices of the staple to continue declining in the coming months.
Now, that would mark a sharp contrast to last year when the government resorted to releasing stockpiles to tame soaring prices.
The Rice Stable Supply Support Organization says the three-month outlook index for prices fell for the second straight month in June.
The reading dropped four points to 19, reflecting stronger expectations for lower prices.
The June data matches the all-time low set in August 2014, following a bumper harvest.
The organization says plentiful rice supplies from last year have resulted in significantly increased inventories.
The survey gauged the views of 180 rice producers and wholesalers across Japan.
Japan's Kansai Business Leaders Plan China Visit in October
NHK has learned Japanese business leaders from the Kansai region of Western Japan plan to visit China in October.
Sources say the delegation hopes to improve strained ties through meetings with government and business officials. Their visit would be the first in two years.
The group is expected to be led by the chairman of the Kansai Economic Federation, Matsumoto Masayoshi, and the chairperson of the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Torii Shingo.
The delegation aims to visit Beijing and the inland city of Xi'an from October 18 through the 23.
A business delegation from the Kansai region has visited China eight times since 1971.
The Japan-China Economic Association postponed a visit by its members to China that was scheduled for January.
The association is made-up of Japanese business leaders, including the head of Keidanren, the country's biggest business lobby.
Using Data to Find Japanese Flying Squid
Now, fishers in western Japan's Tottori Prefecture face declining catches of Japanese flying squid. Soaring fuel costs have added to their woes.
Now, researchers are now combining the fishers' collective knowledge with the latest technology to help them figure out where the squid are.
00:15:12 話者 6/Narrator: Kitadai Hiroko/Reporter: Watari Michio
Tanaka Norihiko has made his living for the past 15 years by fishing for Japanese flying squid off the San-in coast.
00:15:22 話者 4/Tanaka Norihiko
A big haul leaves no room to walk.
00:15:26 話者 6
Tanaka used to go out to sea every day, but he has not done so in recent years due to drastic fluctuations in the squid population.
00:15:37 話者 4
Japanese flying squid have grown scarce.
I can't catch them anywhere like before, just by guessing where they might be.
00:15:47 話者 6
Rising fuel costs are worsening the fishers' plight.
The price of heavy oil for fishing boats has jumped about three-fold in the past 15 years.
Fishers can't afford to go out to sea when they cannot count on catches.
00:16:04 話者 4
It's economically tough, a matter of survival. I may have to quit next year.
00:16:13 話者 6
Determining where and when to fish has become more crucial than ever.
00:16:20 話者 4
In this notebook, I've recorded the latitude, longitude, and depth of fishing grounds and the amount of catches ever since I started fishing. This is my life.
00:16:34 話者 6
The Prefectural Fisheries Research Center is trying to help.
Since last year, researcher Adachi Sohei has been working on a system to locate potential fishing grounds.
00:16:47 話者 7/Adachi Sohei
This identifies possible fishing grounds.
Japanese flying squids are highly likely to be found in the areas marked in red.
00:16:58 話者 6
The system analyzes data such as water temperatures, salinity, and tides to find places with the conditions squid prefer, as well as when they might gather there.
The fisher's reel data is also fed into the system to enhance the forecast's accuracy.
00:17:19 話者 7
This is information provided by fishers.
It includes the time, latitude and longitude of fishing grounds where squids were actually caught, as well as the amount of the catches.
00:17:32 話者 6
Adachi keeps them updated on the system's progress.
Ultimately, fishers will be able to check the forecast on their smartphones.
00:17:44 話者 7
I used to decide which direction to head out based on my experience.
But after the system is completed, I will use it as a guide.
00:17:56 話者 4
A system to predict potential fishing grounds would definitely help us.
We will cooperate in the development, and we hope it will work out.
00:18:08 話者 7
Fishers' cooperation is essential for success.
I hope to maintain good communications with them to achieve results with my research.
00:18:20 話者 6
The collaborative efforts of the researcher and fishers is the key to the local industry's survival.
Markets
00:18:29 話者 3
Okay, let's get a check on the markets.
♪
And that is it for business news.
Japanese Ballet Dancer Wins Gold in Moscow Contest
00:19:13 話者 1
Japanese dancer Gujalev Rubyoma has won a gold medal in a renowned international ballet competition in Russia.
This is the first top prize won by a Japanese national since 2017.
The winners of the 15th International Ballet Competition in Moscow were announced on Sunday. The event was held at the Bolshoi Theater for 10 days from June 25.
Guzilev was awarded the gold medal in the men's solo group.
The 20-year-old dancer currently performs with the Marin Ski Theater in Russia's St. Petersburg.
00:20:16 話者 33/Hudzeleu Ryoma
I worked hard to come this far, so it was a great experience.
When it's gold, this is the only color that feels right.
I'd like to become a versatile dancer who can perform any role.
00:20:30 話者 1
In the junior boys' solo group, 18-year-old Watanabe Danis from Tokyo won silver.
In the junior girls' solo group, 16-year-old Nagai Sakura from Aichi Prefecture was awarded the bronze medal.
The Sound of Sustainability
Japan's iconic Mount Fuji is known worldwide for its natural splendor.
Now, a Japanese star of stage and screen has launched a music festival there with a theme very much in keeping with the beauty of the location.
NHK World's Iguchi Masayuki has the story.
00:21:11 話者 8/Iguchi Masayuki
The festival takes place surrounded by the splendor of nature.
Produced by singer and actor Ko Shibasaki, its theme is sustainability.
00:21:29 話者 9/Ko Shibasaki
I hope to preserve this beautiful earth for future generations.
00:21:36 話者 8
As Japan's Environmental Special Publicity Ambassador, she is committed to helping spread the word about sustainable lifestyles.
00:21:47 話者 9
If it feels like an obligation or even a bit forced, it won't last.
Most importantly, it has to be something that makes you feel comfortable, happy and excited.
I believe that feeling is the most important thing and that is what is truly sustainable.
00:22:03 話者 8
That's when she turned her attention to festivals, they can speak to people through music while sharing the environmental message.
Organizers selected vendors committed to using ingredients near their expiration date to cut food waste.
They also encourage production for local consumption.
Special drink cups are all washed and refilled.
Festival goers can also take them home as souvenirs.
00:22:42 話者 42
It's great that this kind of sustainability is incorporated into something fun.
I think it's a fantastic initiative.
00:22:53 話者 8
Even the on-stage pardons have a part to play.
The used fabric is made into bags and keychains, giving it a second life after the festival packs up.
You can also repurpose your own old t-shirt by accessorizing them with festival logos for a new look.
00:23:15 話者 44
I hope that after the festival ends, people will still hold on to some level of environmental awareness.
00:23:24 話者 8
Aside from the 4,000 people who attended over the event's two days, the artists also gave it high plays.
00:23:36 話者 9/Ko Shibasaki
If you're told to take good care of the earth in textbooks or elsewhere, it doesn't really resonate.
But when you feel the air, trees, and sunlight, you will naturally think that you want to do something.
It's not just about what you hear. It's a physical experience.
I think you can't really feel that sensation of your body vibrating unless you come to the venue. I think we can convey even a bit of our vision through this event.
00:24:13 話者 8
With the festival's success, Shibasaki hopes it can continue.
In effect, by calling on into the future, the event will itself become sustainable.
Iguchi Masayuki, NHK World.
Weather
00:24:31 話者 1
Now, those in the Mariana Islands are once again being thrashed by a powerful typhoon just a few months after another one caused serious destruction for the region.
Our meteorologist, Jonathan Oh, has the details in World Weather.
00:24:47 話者 5/Jonathan Oh
Hello, back in April, Typhoon Sinlaku made its way through the Mariana Islands, causing more than a billion US dollars in damage for the area.
And now we have Bavi rolling on through.
This violent typhoon has caused some real problems on the ground.
I want to show you some video to give you an idea of how things look as the storm was passing through.
Typhoon Bavi battered Guam and the Mariana Islands on Monday, bringing catastrophic winds and torrential rain, with footage coming from an area near Guam International Airport showing strong winds and heavy rain, lashing trees, tennis courts, and buildings.
The National Weather Service reported wind gusts of up to 160 kilometers per hour and about 250 millimeters of rainfall in about 18 hours at the airport.
And the story of the storm is not done yet.vIt still has to completely clear the Mariana Islands before things start to calm down, though it is now west of those islands.
And so hopefully that relief comes soon.
Meanwhile, the storm continues to make its way toward the west and northwest.
And we have to keep an eye out for the storm as we head toward the weekend because it is setting its sights for places like the far southwestern islands of Japan into places like Taiwan as we go throughout the latter part of this week, the far end of this week.
And so we'll have to really keep an eye out on this.
Another effect of this is such a large storm that even though it's not going to be clipping through the Philippines, the northern islands may be seeing some real impacts when it comes to the sea and the enhanced of the monsoonal rains that are going to be in place.
So that's something that you also have to keep an eye out on.
Looking at the forecast for Tuesday in other parts of Northeast Asia, Tokyo 25, 30 in Seoul, 31 in Beijing with clouds and rain in the area for the region as we go forward through the day.
Meanwhile, heat is back across the western and southern areas of Europe as high pressure really controls the area.
We're talking about temperatures back into the mid-30s in places like London and Paris near 40 and to places like Lisbon and Madrid.
So please take the precautions that you can as this heat comes back into the picture.
Stay safe wherever you are.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
00:27:40 話者 1
And that wraps up this edition of NHK Newsline.
I'm Yoshikawa Ryuichi in Tokyo. Thanks for joining us on NHK World Japan.
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