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Japan news from Japan Times

• Japan to launch probe for Mars moons in October

  The uncrewed Martian Moons eXploration probe may help unlock the origins of the solar system and life on Earth.

• ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’ in Japan, perhaps for the last time

  The work will be displayed from Friday at the Nakanoshima Museum of Art in Osaka while its home museum, the Mauritshuis in The Hague, closes until September 20 for maintenance.

• Taiwan proposes boosting 2027 defense spending 18% to a record high

  Taiwan also faces calls from Washington to spend more on its own defense, mirroring U.S. pressure on Europe, something President Lai Ching-te has enthusiastically embraced.

• India and Japan agree to bolster defense ties

  Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh held talks and signed a memorandum on maritime security cooperation.

• Russian strikes kill 16 in Ukraine, Zelenskyy says lack of Patriots costs lives

  Ukraine's air force said Russia launched dozens of ballistic, cruise and hypersonic missiles, as well as 168 drones, in the massive overnight attack.

• Paths to tighter political donations rules in Japan remain unclear

  The ruling Liberal Democratic Party plans to continue prioritizing reducing seats in the House of Representatives over tightening rules on corporate political donations.

• North Korea fires off barrage of missiles hours after Trump says he plans to meet Kim

  The South Korean military said it had detected the launch of around 10 short-range missiles from the Pyongyang area toward the Sea of Japan.

• Did Tokyo pull its punches when protesting U.S. sanctions on ICC chief?

  The wording of statements by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and the Foreign Ministry has spurred curiosity over whether language was softened to avoid a confrontation.

Asia/Pacific news from Japan Times

• Taiwan proposes boosting 2027 defense spending 18% to a record high

  Taiwan also faces calls from Washington to spend more on its own defense, mirroring U.S. pressure on Europe, something President Lai Ching-te has enthusiastically embraced.

• North Korea fires off barrage of missiles hours after Trump says he plans to meet Kim

  The South Korean military said it had detected the launch of around 10 short-range missiles from the Pyongyang area toward the Sea of Japan.

• Trump wants to talk to Kim. North Korea’s leader has a big ask.

  Will North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's demands — recognition of his country as a nuclear power and and end to the U.S.'s "hostile policy" — be palatable to Washington?

• Trump says he’ll meet Kim this year, claims North Korea has 57 nuclear weapons

  North Korean leader's powerful sister downplayed a cut to joint military exercises with South, but left the door open to dialogue with the U.S.

• China finishes first phase of construction at South China Sea reef, images show

  The project, on Antelope Reef in the Paracels archipelago, involves building a man-made island analysts say will form part of China's largest military base.

• U.S. and South Korea to nearly halve joint military drills after Trump criticism

  The move appears aimed at luring North Korean leader Kim Jong Un back to talks, years after denuclearization negotiations with Washington collapsed.

• China’s top envoy to visit Seoul as Trump shakes U.S.-South Korea ties

  Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will meet his South Korean counterpart, Cho Hyun, to discuss North Korea and bilateral and global issues.

• U.S. allies call South Korea cooperation ‘critical’ after Trump orders exercise cut

  Concerns over the move came as U.S. President Donald Trump said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had responded to his outreach.

Culture news from Japan Times

• ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’ in Japan, perhaps for the last time

  The work will be displayed from Friday at the Nakanoshima Museum of Art in Osaka while its home museum, the Mauritshuis in The Hague, closes until September 20 for maintenance.

• Pop stars Yoshinori Masakado and Noel Kawashima go vertical in ‘Chat Boy’

  Members of Ae! Group and Travis Japan star in a nearly two-hour drama designed for the vertical screen.

• AI didn’t ruin these films. It made them possible.

  AI-generated films inspire plenty of skepticism. But what happens when the technology gives more artists a chance to create?

• Comiket draws 260,000 fans, participants from record 76 countries

  More than a quarter million attendees, including around 9,000 cosplayers, attended the convention held at Tokyo Bight Sight.

• Japanese actor Keiko Kishi dies at 93

  Born in Yokohama, Kishi was one of the stars of Japan's postwar film industry and also built a distinguished career as a writer.

• Madonna tops Taylor Swift in nominations for MTV’s Video Music Awards

  Iconic pop star is up for video of the year for her "Confessions II — The Film."

• Japan’s macabre literati go global

  Japanese crime, mystery and horror have hit their stride with English readers, offering a complement and counterpoint to "healing fiction."

• Aespa delivers summer rhythms on ‘Kiss n Tell’

  Released July 24, "Kiss n Tell" is a departure from the K-pop girl group's signature heavy bass and electronic dance music sound.

Sports news from Japan Times

• Carlos Sainz agrees to multiyear extension with Williams

  Financial terms were not disclosed for the 31-year-old Spanish driver.

• ‘King Kazu,’ 59, scores twice from penalty spot to make history at Emperor’s Cup

  Miura, now in his 42nd season as a professional, played a key role as third division Fukushima United thrashed non-league Oyama Soccer Club 7-0 in the Emperor's Cup

• Jose Mourinho begins second stint with Real Madrid on mission to topple Barcelona

  The 63-year-old coach said he is more mature now, although he insisted he is not "more boring."

• Nick Kyrgios suspended after testing positive for cocaine

  Kyrgios said he made no excuses but painted a picture of a player struggling with the twilight of his career, citing the mental toll of recent injuries.

• Outspoken Fever guard Sophie Cunningham says WNBA needs bold commissioner

  Cunningham said the vision of WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert doesn't mesh with moving the league forward.

• LIV CEO says circuit facing ‘very compressed timeline’ to secure funding deal

  With the Saudi Public Investment Fund withdrawing its support after the end of the current season, LIV faces an uncertain future that could involve filing for bankruptcy.

• Stable of young stars fueling resurgence of storied Nihon University sumo program

  For roughly 50 years, Nihon University not only had the most dominant program in collegiate sumo, but also exercised an outsized influence on the professional version of the sport.

• Ravens’ Calais Campbell appreciative of support after family tragedy

  Campbell's brother Ciarre faces murder and aggravated assault charges in the July 1 death of their mother, Nateal Campbell.

Life news from Japan Times

• The new world of collectible design

  As mass-produced objects fill our homes, a growing appetite for individuality is changing how we shop for design.

• During Japan’s cruel summer, chilled noodles are a survival strategy

  Made in advance, cold "sōmen" noodles are a tried-and-true way to get through summer's peak without sacrificing flavor.

• Slowly but surely, Tokyo is becoming a hot spot for chicken rice

  In January, Singapore's most premium chicken rice restaurant joined the Japanese capital's growing landscape of authentic takes on the iconic dish.

• At Japan’s all-women powerlifting contest, strength is beautiful

  Despite a thin-is-beautiful aesthetic dominating popular beauty trends in Japan, the Strongirls Japan powerlifting group takes a more muscular approach to femininity.

• A day in the life of an Asakusa rickshaw driver

  The young Japanese drivers of the ubiquitous carts in Tokyo's tourist districts say taking care of their bodies is a critical part of the job.

• Cruel summer: Searching for an escape from Japan’s extreme heat

  From extreme heat and tropical nights to mountain escapes, a look at the Japanese vocabulary of summer.

• Spotify asks creators to label songs when they’re AI-generated

  The streaming giant says the move will give listeners more transparency as AI-generated music becomes harder to identify.

• Japan’s brewers experiment with a secret ingredient: music

  It might sound like pseudoscience, but there could be more to the idea of brewing with music than meets the ear.

 

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