Predatory squid likely dominated ancient oceans
Ancient oceans were likely dominated by predatory squid, a new fossil-hunting technique suggested.
Soft-bodied creatures like squid leave few fossils, unlike their shelled relatives ammonites and belemnites, meaning little is known of their evolutionary history.
Japanese scientists scanned and digitized large chunks of rock from 100-million-year-old seabeds and found that they were full of fossilized squid beaks, suggesting that squid far outnumbered ammonites and bony fish, thought to be the dominant marine animals of the time, and were just as large.
Previously the oldest known squid fossils were 45 million years old, with some paleontologists believing they only arose after the asteroid that destroyed the dinosaurs.
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Business Standard
20 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Trump calls US-Japan car trade unfair, floats keeping 25% tariffs
US President Donald Trump floated the idea of keeping 25 per cent tariffs on Japan's cars as talks between the two nations continued with little more than a week to go before a slew of higher duties are set to kick in if a trade deal isn't reached. 'So we give Japan no cars. They won't take our cars, right? And yet we take millions and millions of their cars into the United States. It's not fair,' Trump said during a Fox News interview that aired Sunday. The comments show that the two sides still remain some distance from an agreement and highlight the risk that Trump may stick with the 25 per cent tariff on autos. The interview came out after another round of talks between Tokyo's top trade negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Akazawa flew across the world to hold face-to-face talks in Washington, and while they initially met in person, two subsequent discussions took place on the phone. 'Japan-US negotiations are at a critical stage, and we will continue to engage in sincere and earnest discussions,' he said in a post on X. Both sides agreed to continue talks this week after the Trump interview took place on Friday, he added. Auto-related stocks on the Topix were down around 0.4 per cent in Tokyo, early Monday afternoon, compared with a 0.8 per cent gain in the overall index. The duty on the car sector has emerged as one of the key sticking points in the talks. Washington is focusing on its large deficit in the sector while Tokyo is trying to protect a key pillar of its economy. In 2024, Japan's trade surplus with the US stood at ¥8.6 trillion ($59.3 billion). Roughly 82 per cent of the gap was due to Japan's surplus in cars and auto parts. US statistics show that the deficit with Japan is the seventh largest among Washington's individual trading partners. Akazawa has repeatedly said that the US's car tariffs are unacceptable, saying that Japan's auto industry has made an enormous contribution to the US economy through the investment of more than $60 billion and the creation of 2.3 million local jobs. Japan has insisted on keeping the sectoral tariffs on cars and other items included in the talks on the wider country-specific levies that are due to go up on July 9. Akazawa has said he will keep the deadline in mind but won't fixate on it as Tokyo aims to settle all trade disputes with a package that addresses the sectoral tariffs, too. Statements released by the Japanese government over the weekend said Akazawa and Lutnick had 'fruitful' discussions and agreed to continue seeking a deal that is beneficial for both the US and Japan. The statements did not touch on what was discussed or what progress was made. The 25 per cent US tariff is already in place on cars and auto parts, along with a 50 per cent duty on steel and aluminum. The separate across-the-board tariffs, now at 10 per cent, will jump to 24 per cent if no deal is reached in time. Without a breakthrough in the negotiations, Japan's economy could be pushed into a technical recession after it shrank in the first quarter. Trump's statements in the interview gave no impression that Japan was any closer to reaching a deal or winning an extended reprieve on the reciprocal tariffs. Instead, Trump flagged that the US can set its trade terms with Japan unilaterally.
News18
20 minutes ago
- News18
Japan's Princess Kako Flies Economy. Internet Can't Stop Praising Her Humility
Last Updated: Princess Kako of Japan is seen entering the flight alongside other officials who accompanied her for a visit to Brazil. Humility never goes unnoticed, and a viral clip of Princess Kako of Japan is a perfect example. The video shows the royal travelling on an economy flight, despite her imperial status and close ties to Emperor Naruhito, her uncle. According to reports, Princess Kako had visited four different locations prior to boarding and, visibly exhausted, was seen sleeping during the flight. The footage quickly drew praise online, with many applauding her down-to-earth nature. According to a report in the South China Morning Post, the princess was in Brazil to attend the public events on the occasion of the 130th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Initially, in the clip, she is seen entering the flight alongside other officials who accompanied her for a visit to the South American nation. After the lights were turned off, she fell asleep against the window of the domestic flight – a moment that has captured the Internet's heart. 🇯🇵🇧🇷It has been on viral for #Japan 's Princess Kako of Akishino who made her official visit to #Brazil. The Princess was seen travelling in a commercial flight from São Paulo to Campo Grande. She was among her followers and other passengers in the flight.… — Royal World Thailand 🇹🇭 (@rwthofficial) June 18, 2025 Soon after the video gained momentum, social media users shared their reaction in the comments section, with one of them writing, 'She looked like a porcelain doll. It is completely understandable to feel tired with such a packed schedule." Another added, 'People love seeing her. The video shows how humble she is." While social media users had only praises for the princess who fell asleep soon after taking her seat, the Imperial Household Agency (IHA) expressed disappointment at the invasion of privacy. FYI, IHA is responsible for looking after royal affairs. Princess Kako stepped into the spotlight after her elder sister Princess Mako gave her royal title and left the imperial family in 2021 to marry her college sweetheart. After the latter relocated to New York, Kako took on a more public role, often travelling nationally and internationally to represent her royal household. Outside of her official role, she is admired for her grace and dedication. Japanese media often describe her as 'the hope of Japan." During one of her public addresses, she also candidly admitted to having a short temper, which she says is her biggest flaw.
NDTV
34 minutes ago
- NDTV
Watch: Japan's Princess Kako Praised For Her Humility As She Flies Economy Class
A photo of Princess Kako of Japan is being widely circulated on social media, showing her sleeping on an economy flight to Brazil. The princess is a member of the Japanese imperial family and niece of Emperor Naruhito, but despite her royal connections, she preferred a modest means of travel, drawing appreciation from the online community, who called her charming and humble. The photo showed Princess Kako asleep against the window of a domestic flight. According to a report in the South China Morning Post, the 30-year-old princess had an exhausting day, having visited four different locations before the flight. The princess was visiting the South American nation for public events to mark the 130th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. In the video, she could be seen boarding the flight alongside other officials before falling asleep. 🇯🇵🇧🇷 It has been on viral for #Japan 's Princess Kako of Akishino who made her official visit to #Brazil. The Princess was seen travelling in a commercial flight from São Paulo to Campo Grande. She was among her followers and other passengers in the flight.… — Royal World Thailand 🇹🇭 (@rwthofficial) June 18, 2025 Reacting to the video, one user wrote: 'She looked like a porcelain doll. It is completely understandable to feel tired with such a packed schedule.' Another added: "People love seeing her. The video shows how humble she is." IHA disappointed While social media users had a positive reaction to the princess falling asleep in economy class, the Imperial Household Agency (IHA), responsible for looking after royal affairs, expressed disappointment at the leak. 'In general, it is not desirable to have videos taken without permission during an individual's private moments," said Naomasa Yoshida, the grand master of the crown prince's household at the agency. The agency said it had asked X (formerly known as Twitter) to look into whether the video violated the company's guidelines. Ever since her older sister, Princess Mako, gave up her royal title and left the crown family to marry her college sweetheart, Princess Kako has assumed a prominent role in the public eye. She is often seen representing the royal family on domestic and overseas trips. She is admired for her beauty, grace, and sincerity, with Japanese media calling her 'the hope of Japan'.
