🇯🇵 Japan · Energy, War & conflict
20 storiesUS withdraws all 12 B-1 bombers from UK base after new Iran-linked threat reports
The US military withdrew all 12 B-1 strategic bombers based at Royal Air Force Fairford in southern England and returned them to the United States, US media reported on October 4 and the Pentagon confirmed. The New York Times, citing anonym…
South Korea says North Korean mine caused DMZ blast, demands apology
South Korea's military announced on October 5 that its final investigation concluded a landmine that exploded near the inter-Korean Military Demarcation Line and injured three South Korean military officers was a North Korean anti-personnel…
Japan-US exercise Keen Sword to include Type 25 missile drill against enemy vessels
The Defense Ministry's Joint Staff Office said the Ground Self-Defense Force's long-range Type 25 ground-to-ship guided missile will take part in training that assumes a response to enemy vessels during the Japan-US joint exercise Keen Swor…
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan agree to activate collective defence against Houthis
Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia decided at an emergency meeting in Riyadh on 5 October to activate collective defence measures under a pact they signed in August, confirming they would deploy their forces inside Saudi territory. The three…
Yemen's interim government declares large-scale military operation against Houthis
Yemen’s internationally recognised interim government announced on October 4 that it had begun a large-scale military operation against the Iran-backed Houthis, with Saudi backing. Chairman al-Alimi said in a televised speech that the opera…
Japan defense ministry to develop AI autonomous transport ships for Self-Defense Forces
Japan's Defense Ministry has decided to develop and introduce transport ships combining artificial intelligence with autonomous navigation for the Self-Defense Forces, aiming to strengthen maritime transport for contingencies and island eva…
Yemen interim government says it retook Red Sea port city; Houthis say fighting ongoing
Forces of Yemen’s Saudi-backed interim government attacked the Red Sea coast near the Bab el-Mandeb strait on 5 October and reported retaking part of the area, including, its own media said, the port city of Mocha. The Iran-aligned Houthis …
Cargo ship sinks in Black Sea after drone attack; two dead, 11 rescued
A civilian cargo ship carrying corn caught fire and sank in the Black Sea off Romania on 5 October, killing two of those on board; 11 were rescued, according to Romania's interior ministry. Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on so…
German intelligence chief warns of risk of armed conflict with Russia
The head of Germany’s foreign intelligence agency BND, Jäger, warned on Oct. 5 that Russian intelligence activities in Germany have become increasingly aggressive and that Germany is at risk of being drawn into an armed conflict with Russia…
Netanyahu says Israel will keep attacking Hamas fighters in Gaza
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Oct. 5 that Israel will keep attacking Hamas fighters in Gaza, telling a memorial ceremony in Jerusalem that “we have achieved results, but there are still tasks. We will complete them.” He …
Zelensky says Russia shared jet drone technology with North Korea
Ukrainian President Zelensky said Russia has shared technology for jet-engine-powered drones with North Korea, calling the two countries’ defence cooperation “dangerous”. He said Russia’s jet drones are hard to intercept and are causing exp…
Saudi Aramco CEO says global oil inventories are “frighteningly low”
Saudi Aramco chief executive Nasser said on 5 October that global oil inventories, drawn down as the Middle East crisis drags on, are “frighteningly low”, and that replacing the shortfall could take up to two years. He urged governments to …
Released Hamas hostage recounts captivity and anime dream at Tokyo press conference
Guy Gilboa-Dalal, 25, an Israeli abducted from a music festival in the Oct 7, 2023 Hamas attack and held in Gaza for about two years, gave a press conference in Tokyo on Oct 5 during his first visit to Japan. He said he was held in apartmen…
Houthis say they struck Saudi Aramco sites again; Yemen government launches offensive
The Houthis said they attacked Saudi Aramco oil facilities in Riyadh on 3 October with ballistic missiles and drones, calling it retaliation for Saudi strikes on Sanaa, and said they struck Aramco sites in Riyadh and eastern Saudi Arabia ag…
North Korea says intermediate-range missile hit target 1,000 km away
North Korea fired one ballistic missile toward the Sea of Japan from the Wonsan area at around 06:30 on 3 October, South Korea's military said, with Seoul putting the flight distance at more than 700 km and Japan's defense ministry at about…
OPEC+ voluntary group keeps November crude output quota unchanged
Seven OPEC+ voluntary countries decided at a meeting on October 4 to keep their November crude production quota unchanged at a combined 31 million barrels per day, Nikkei reported, the second consecutive month without a change. Actual outpu…
North Korea says missile flew 1,000 km; Japan and South Korea tracked about 700 km
North Korea’s KCNA said a medium-range strategic missile fired in an Oct 3 training hit a target about 1,000 km away, exceeding the roughly 680 km cited by Japan’s Defense Ministry and the more than 700 km cited by South Korea’s military. S…
Fukushima's Futaba to lift part of evacuation order in December
Futaba town in Fukushima Prefecture plans to lift evacuation orders in December for part of the “specified return residence zone”, Nippon TV News reported, the first time a lifting period has been indicated for such a zone. Two of the town'…
G7 agrees to release 100 million barrels of oil reserves over four months
G7 leaders agreed at an online summit on the evening of Oct 2, Japan time, to release 100 million barrels of oil reserves, including diesel, over four months through the International Energy Agency. A joint statement published by chair Fran…
Japan defense ministry says North Korea launched ballistic missile, likely fell outside EEZ
Japan's defense ministry said on the morning of October 3 that at least one ballistic missile was launched from North Korea and appeared to have fallen outside Japan's exclusive economic zone. The ministry said it is continuing to stay on a…