ISRAEL-HAMAS CONFLICT
HAMAS SHOWS POSITIVITY ON REACHING CEASEFIRE
Hamas has expressed a positive attitude to starting talks on a 60-day ceasefire with Israel in Gaza. The plan is based on a US proposed framework.Hamas said on social media on Friday that it delivered its response to mediators with a positive spirit. The Islamic group added it is prepared to immediately enter negotiations for implementing the US proposal.
Media outlets say the plan calls for Hamas to release 10 living hostages and return 18 bodies to Israel in stages during the truce. Talks to end the conflict will be held at the same time. US President Donald Trump earlier said Israel already accepted the conditions for the ceasefire, but local media report that Hamas is demanding guarantees that the truce will lead to a permanent end of the conflict. A temporary ceasefire took place in Gaza in January, but fighting resumed in March after negotiations became deadlocked, health officials in Gaza said on Friday that the death toll in the enclave since the start of the fighting in October 2023 has risen to 57,268.
IAEA SAYS ITS INSPECTORS HAVE LEFT IRAN
The International Atomic Energy Agency says a team of its inspectors has left Iran. No reason was given for the departure. The agency said in a social media post on Friday that the team returned to its headquarters in Vienna. Earlier in the week, Iranian President Masoud Pajeshkian announced a suspension of Tehran's cooperation with the IAEA. Iran says the agency's activities served as an excuse for Israel and the United States to attack its nuclear facilities.The Wall Street Journal on Friday quoted people familiar with the matter as saying the agency pulled its inspectors out of Iran over safety concerns.
The newspaper said the departure means significant international access to Iran's nuclear sites is extremely unlikely. It adds that this allows Tehran to carry out nuclear activities unchecked. The IAEA said in May that Iran has more than 400 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 60%.
But its whereabouts after the US attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities are unknown. The IAEA stressed the importance of discussing with Iran a resumption of monitoring and verification as soon as possible.
TRUMP SIGNS INTO LAW DOMESTIC POLICY BILL
US President Trump has signed into law his sweeping domestic policy bill that includes tax breaks and spending cuts.That's the largest tax cut in the history of our country. Added to substantial other cuts, which is gonna, you're gonna see like a rocket ship. You know, we're setting all sorts of economic records right now, and that's before this kicks in. After this kicks in, our country is going to be a rocket ship economically.
Trump signed the bill at the White House on Friday. It was narrowly approved in the Senate on Tuesday and at the House of Representatives on Thursday. The bill has raised concerns that the large-scale tax cuts could lead to financial decline.
Even some ruling Republican lawmakers were opposed to the bill, but Trump successfully persuaded most of them to approve it. The legislation extends personal tax cuts from Trump's first term and exempts taxes on tips and overtime pay for workers for a certain period. It also includes additional funding for border security.
The enacted law features measures to reduce expenditures such as abolishing and scaling down businesses to tackle climate change and cutbacks to the health insurance system. The US Congressional Budget Office estimates it will add about $3.4 trillion to the US debt over the next decade.
Even some ruling Republican lawmakers were opposed to the bill, but Trump successfully persuaded most of them to approve it. The legislation extends personal tax cuts from Trump's first term and exempts taxes on tips and overtime pay for workers for a certain period. It also includes additional funding for border security.
The enacted law features measures to reduce expenditures such as abolishing and scaling down businesses to tackle climate change and cutbacks to the health insurance system. The US Congressional Budget Office estimates it will add about $3.4 trillion to the US debt over the next decade.
TRUMP TARIFFS
LETTERS TO 12 COUNTRIES SIGNED, SET TO BE SENT MONDAY
Turning to Trump's tariff measures, the president says he has signed a set of letters to be sent to 12 countries notifying them of the tax rates they'll face on their exports to the United States. I signed some letters, and they'll go out on Monday, probably 12. 12 different, well, different. Different amounts of money, differentof tariffs and somewhat different statements.
Trump declined to say which countries will receive the letters. Trump earlier said the tariffs will range from 10 to 70 percent. He said the levies will come into effect on August 1st. The Trump administration is expected to continue last-minute negotiations with its trade partners as the pause in what it calls reciprocal tariffs is due to expire on Wednesday.
AT LEAST 24 DEAD IN TEXAS FLOODING, MORE THAN 20 REMAIN MISSING
At least 24 people have died after torrential downpours flooded the southern US state of Texas. Authorities are continuing to search for the missing.The rain that fell in the early hours of Friday inundated an area along the Guadalupe River. Local authorities said children were among the dead. Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said that more than 20 girls attending a summer camp were unaccounted for. He said authorities were using helicopters, drones and other means for search and rescue operations. A local city official said heavy downpours fell over a very short period of time. The official also said the flooding struck with little or no warning and that authorities could not issue evacuation orders.
NORTH AMERICA'S LARGEST ANIME EVENT UNDERWAY IN LA
Fans of Japanese animation are flocking to Los Angeles. They're gathering at North America's largest anime convention.The annual Anime Expo has been underway since Thursday. The four-day event has served as a major US showcase of Japanese pop culture for more than 30 years. Over 300 exhibitors are introducing new content and items. They include the latest Japanese animation and video games.
I think everyone has their cosplay, like, looks so good.
Out and about, you don't see that many people out, like, openly showing that they love anime. So when you when you see this many people around, you're like, oh, yeah, it's like, it's a fun thing, you know?
Japan's government is promoting the country's content industry, including movies and animation. It aims to expand overseas sales. Around fourfold to about $138 billion.
The Japan External Trade Organization says an increasingly large number of Japanese companies are visiting the Anime Expo for business.
The Japan External Trade Organization says an increasingly large number of Japanese companies are visiting the Anime Expo for business.
ANOTHER QUAKE ROCKS ISLANDS IN SOUTHWESTERN JAPAN
A magnitude 5.4 earthquake has struck in waters off Japan's southwestern prefecture of Kagoshima.Meteorological Agency officials say the quake occurred near the Tokara Islands at a depth of 19 kilometers, but there is no threat of tsunami. The quake struck at about 6:30 AM on Saturday on Akusekijima Island. The tremor registered upper five on Japan's seismic intensity scale, which goes from zero to seven.
There has been a marked increase in seismic activity around the Tokada Island chain for two weeks. More than 1,200 noticeable tremors have been recorded. The latest one comes two days after a magnitude 5.5 quake in the same area. Officials say residents should stay on the alert and that the shaking could continue.
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♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
And that's the News This Hour. I'm Gino Toni. From all of us here at NHK Newsline to all around the world, thanks very much for joining us.
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