Play The Diplomat’s Quiz: July 17, 2016 Edition

The Japanese Emperor Akihito, 82, has expressed a wish to abdicate from the Chrysanthemum Throne,according to a report on Wednesday by the public Japanese broadcaster, NHK.

However, soon afterward, Japan’s Imperial Household Agency, the government body that runs royal affairs, strongly denied such a thing was being considered, while Prime Minister Shinzo Abe refused to offer comment.

Indian-controlled Kashmir has erupted after the death of Burhan Wani, the region’s most wanted militant and chief of operations of Hizbul Mujahideen, Kashmir’s largest rebel group. Wani was killed on July 8 in fighting with Indian troops near Kokernag.

Last week, a Russian delegation visiting New Delhi offered the Indian Navy Russia’s latest supercarrier design, dubbed Project 23000E Shtorm (Storm), for purchase, Defense News reports, based on information provided by a senior Indian Navy official. According to the article, a Russian diplomat based in India confirmed that an offer has been made.

The delivery of the first nuclear-powered Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) is being delayed by about a month and a half, the U.S. Navy announced on July 12 citing “first-of-class” problems, military.com reports.

U.S. Navy spokeswoman Captain Thurraya Kent said that “during the ongoing testing of developmental systems onboard the CVN-78, first-of-class issues are continuing to be resolved.” According to Thurraya, the estimated new delivery date is November 16, but additional delays may occur. “If additional issues arise during the remaining shipboard testing, that date may need to be revised,” she said.

On the first day of June, a central State-owned Enterprise (CSOE), Cindare Property, affiliated with the Ministry of Finance, placed a bid for the land in Gu Village of Shanghai at the price of 5.805 billion yuan. Its premium was over 303 percent, setting a record for the highest property deal and creating another di wang(land king). A di wang is commonly defined as a property project which has one or more of the following characteristics: land sold at the highest price per unit, highest total price, or highest premium price. For example, Zhong Yuan property defines a di wang as having a premium rate of over 40 percent and a total price exceeding 500 million yuan.

Since China liberalized its real estate market in the 1990s, strong competition among its companies has accelerated the pace of property development and created China’s real estate market boom. In the early 2000s, the government realized that over-reliance on real estate to generate economic growth did little to encourage innovation in the economy. The central government tried to nudge its CSOEs away from real estate, but had limited success.

In July, Taiwan will test-fire its Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles at a U.S. missile range. The test, though scheduled under Taiwan’s previous Kuomintang government, stands to raise tensions between Taiwan and China.

Earlier this week, Beijing announced that it had cut off communications with the new Democratic Progressive Party government led by President Tsai Ing-wen.

The PAC-3 missile defense system is one of Taiwan’s most expensive defense platforms, with an estimate cost of $6.5 billion. It is set for use by Taiwan’s Missile Command, a new command created in 2004 combining air and ballistic missile defense and anti-ship missile targeting.

Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines are set to sign a new framework agreement to govern trilateral patrols in the Sulu-Sulawesi Seas, a July 14 statement released by the Malaysian defense ministry confirmed.