TOP NEWS

Trump's Asia trip
Trump arrives in Japan - first test for Takaichi

US President Donald Trump has arrived in Japan, where he will meet with the country's new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. This is reported by international news agencies.

The meeting is seen as a first diplomatic test for Takaichi, who is Japan's first female leader. She took office last week and is supported by a weak coalition.

For Trump, it is the second stop on his Asia trip. He spent Sunday in Malaysia and later this week he will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea. It is not known whether the trip will also include a meeting with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un.

Trump himself says he is open to extending his trip so that such a meeting can take place, writes AFP.

- I got along very well with Kim Jong-Un. I liked him, he liked me, he told reporters in connection with the flight to Japan.

Double US crashes in the South China Sea

A US military helicopter and a fighter jet have crashed in separate accidents in the South China Sea, US media reports.

The Navy says the helicopter crashed during a routine mission. Half an hour later, the plane also crashed. Both took off from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz.

It is unclear what is behind the accidents and it has not been made public exactly where they took place. There are no reports of any people being injured. 

Political situation in Lebanon
Continued unrest between peacekeepers and Israel

The Israeli military accuses the UN peacekeeping force Unifil of shooting down an Israeli drone in southern Lebanon on Sunday, AFP reports.

According to Israel, the drones were collecting information and posed no threat to the UN force. Unifil, however, states that the drone flew in an “aggressive manner” and that the peacekeepers “took the necessary defensive measures and neutralized it”.

The peace agreement signed last year stipulated that Israeli troops would leave southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah would withdraw north. Only the Lebanese army and Unifil are allowed to operate in the area.

AFP writes that Israel, despite the conditions, has carried out several deadly attacks in Lebanon in recent days.

Hurricane Melissa
900 evacuation centers in Jamaica – a powerful hurricane is about to hit

The authorities in Jamaica are urging evacuations ahead of Hurricane Melissa, which is expected to hit the island on Monday evening or early Tuesday. 900 evacuation centers have been set up across the country, writes Sky News.

The hurricane has already reached wind speeds of 220 kilometers per hour and may grow further to a category 5 – the highest level – according to the American hurricane institute NHC.

Many cities “will not be able to withstand the flooding,” according to Minister Desmond McKenzie. He points out that Kingston, for example, is low-lying and that no part of the city can be assumed to be safe from the floodwaters.

According to the New York Times, the hurricane could be the most powerful ever to hit Jamaica.