Japan recorded its first "kokushobi" (cruelly hot day) with temperatures exceeding 40C in Gifu and Aichi prefectures, leading to new heat warnings. The rising heat has caused over 2,000 heatstroke deaths in 2024, impacted agriculture and sports, and prompted new "Cool Biz" clothing recommendations for office workers.
A 53-year-old Hong Kong woman died and five others were injured in a head-on car crash in Furano, Japan, involving a rental car carrying a Hong Kong family and another vehicle with Japanese nationals. Police are investigating why the rental car crossed into oncoming traffic.
Super Typhoon Bavi is forecast to pass very close to Japan's remote Sakishima Islands early Saturday. Residents are preparing by boarding up windows and stocking supplies, while airlines have cancelled over 260 flights and nearly 900 buildings in Okinawa prefecture are without power.
In Ibaraki Prefecture, Masae Sakurai, 49, was arrested for allegedly sewing the lips of a 42-year-old woman she lived with on June 29. The victim, who had been living with Sakurai since April 2025, fled to a shop where an employee called the police.
Hyogo Prefecture is the first in Japan to use microchip data from bears to determine population size, balancing conservation and control. The initiative started in 2003 for conservation and shifted to management as numbers recovered.
The third stage of the Tour de France will proceed without spectators due to raging wildfires in the eastern Pyrenees. While the race route is limited to riders and essential vehicles, the publicity caravan is cancelled. In the race, Tadej Pogacar helped his teammate Isaac del Toro win the stage and gained time on rival Jonas Vingegaard.
The Tour de France's third stage will proceed to Les Angles but without spectators due to raging wildfires in the eastern Pyrenees. The publicity caravan is cancelled, and access routes are restricted. In the race, Tadej Pogacar helped teammate Isaac del Toro win, while gaining time on rival Jonas Vingegaard.
A survey by the Japan Car Sharing Association estimates over 2 million cars could be damaged by tsunamis from a Nankai Trough megaquake, five times the number in 2011. The government warns of a 60-90% chance of such an earthquake within 30 years.
A skydiving plane crashed near Nancy, France, killing all 11 onboard, including 5 nursing students on a tandem jump and 5 instructors, due to a malfunction.
A skydiving plane crashed near Nancy, France, killing all 11 onboard, including 5 nursing students and 5 instructors, due to a malfunction, with no collateral casualties.
A 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck near Tokyo, injuring two elderly women who fell at home. The quake caused minor damage, including a collapsed wall and a landslide, and triggered a brief tsunami warning. Authorities urge vigilance for aftershocks and potential landslides.
The Deliver oil tanker, detained by the French Navy on suspicion of sailing under a false flag, has been escorted to its anchorage in the Gulf of Foz-sur-Mer near Marseille. The vessel will remain at the disposal of the Prosecutor of the Republic of Marseille as part of an investigation into suspected flag violations.
Police authorities in Paris have requested the cancellation of Sunday's Diamond League track and field meeting and other public events, including a music festival and Pride march, citing a historic heat wave and mounting pressure on emergency services. Organizers hope to stage an adapted event despite the unprecedented conditions.
Paris police prefect Patrice Faure has requested the cancellation of major events scheduled for this weekend, including the Pride March and Solidays festival, due to an exceptional heatwave. The Pride March has been postponed to September, while Solidays has been cancelled for 2026.
A Treviso, decine di senzatetto, alcuni con impiego regolare, vivono da mesi in un parcheggio multipiano, i cui ultimi livelli sono stati chiusi. Il sindaco Mario Conte chiede al prefetto un comitato per l'ordine pubblico, sostenendo che il Comune non può farsi carico esclusivo del problema.
福井県は、原発の運用に独自に課す「核燃料税」を増税する条例案を県議会に提出した。使用済み核燃料への税率は全国最高になる見通しで、平年度で約38億円の増収を見込む。持続可能な立地地域創出のための財政需要増大が理由。
A 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit Haixi Prefecture in China's Qinghai Province on Tuesday evening. The quake, with a depth of 10 km, occurred at 5:06 pm local time. Authorities are assessing the impact in the sparsely populated region, with no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
The estimated population of Asiatic black bears in Iwate Prefecture has surged from 3,700 to 5,200 (preliminary figures), according to a prefectural report. This increase is attributed to improved survey methods. The prefecture plans to exceed the initially set capture limit of 796 bears to manage the growing population.
A massive hose, approximately 150 meters long and weighing an estimated 300 tons, washed ashore on the coast of Shika Town, Ishikawa Prefecture. It bore the name of a Chinese company, but the owner could not be identified. The cost of removal, estimated at 50 million yen, is expected to be covered by the national and prefectural governments.
Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly Speaker Isao Kurauchi (72) held his first press conference after facing criticism for expensive overseas inspections, organized purchase of party tickets by executives, and consideration of press restrictions. He acknowledged high costs for inspections but emphasized their necessity, denied knowledge of party ticket issues, and apologized for the press restriction proposal while claiming not to have seen the original draft.
Niigata Prefecture awarded its Prefectural Honors to figure skater Ami Nakai (18) and snowboarder Ryusei Yamada (20) for their bronze medal wins at the Beijing Winter Olympics. Niigata City also presented Nakai with its Sports Award.
Fukui Prefecture plans to raise its nuclear fuel tax on spent nuclear fuel stored within power plant sites from ¥1,500 to ¥2,000 per kilogram annually. The move aims to encourage the removal of spent fuel from the prefecture and is expected to set the highest tax rate nationwide under this framework.
Ehime Prefecture announced the cause of an inspection trouble at the Ikata Nuclear Power Plant in April, attributing it to worker assumption. The issue led to unintended data transfer stoppages in units 2 and 3, in addition to the planned stop for unit 1. Shikoku Electric Power has implemented revised procedures and security measures to prevent recurrence.
Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly is facing turmoil over scandals including expensive overseas trips, organized purchase of party tickets by prefectural executives, and proposed media restrictions. Assembly Chairman Isao Kurauchi, involved in all three issues, is scheduled to hold a press conference.
