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July 28, 2026
 

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JAPAN

Justice Minister Hiroshi Hiraguchi holds a news conference Tuesday in Tokyo as Immigration Services Agency staffers hold up a poster promoting recruitment for inspectors and security officers.
JAPAN
Jul 28, 2026
Immigration Services Agency to add 226 staff amid rise in foreign residents
By Jessica Speed
The Immigration Services Agency will add 176 immigration inspectors, who review applications for residency status, and 50 immigration control officers.
Liberal Democratic Party executives meet in Tokyo on July 13.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 28, 2026
LDP eyes new tools to counter foreign spies and disinformation
By Kenji Yoshida
The ruling party¡¯s policy panel proposes new laws against illicit foreign interference, broader intelligence-gathering powers and an independent foreign intelligence agency.
Emergency crews outside an Aeon Mall in Kashima, Kumamoto Prefecture, on Tuesday after the second floor of the building collapsed in the wake of a major earthquake.
JAPAN
Jul 28, 2026
Mall collapses after powerful quake rocks Kumamoto
By Kanako Takahara, Elizabeth Beattie, Jesse Johnson and Joel Tansey
The quake registered up to shindo 7, the highest level on the Japanese seismic intensity scale.
Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura, who is leader of the Japan Innovation Party, speaks to reporters in the city of Osaka on Monday. The party has long sought to realize a plan for a backup capital for Japan.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Jul 28, 2026
With secondary-capital bill passed, competition between cities heats up
By Eric Johnston
In addition to Osaka, others including Fukuoka, Sapporo and Nagoya have indicated interest in being the fallback if a disaster strikes Tokyo and renders it unable to function.
Police seized over 40 guitars ¡ª many electric ¡ª from a Kyoto musician's residence, along with CD and radio cassette players and amplifiers.
JAPAN
Jul 28, 2026
Japanese man arrested for years of guitar noise
A Kyoto musician has allegedly given his elderly neighbors insomnia through his loud instruments for seven years.
The two boats that capsized off the Henoko coastal area of Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, in March
JAPAN
Jul 28, 2026
Kyoto high school searched over fatal boat accident in Okinawa
Doshisha International Senior High School was raided by the Japan Coast guard on Saturday on suspicion of professional negligence resulting in death.
Hitoshi Kikawada, minister for consumer affairs and food safety, speaks during a news conference in Tokyo on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Society
Jul 28, 2026
Japan¡¯s consumer agency certifies food banks for first time
The certification program was rolled out in response to concerns over risks such as food poisoning and the resale of donated food items.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attends a ministerial meeting focused on crime prevention measures at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jul 28, 2026
Japan weighing GPS tracking for ¡®high risk¡¯ stalkers
By Jessica Speed
Many key details remain undecided, including who exactly would be deemed as a ¡°high risk¡± offender and whether court approval would be required.
International Criminal Court President Tomoko Akane speaks to reporters in the city of Osaka on Monday.
JAPAN
Jul 28, 2026
ICC president seeks Japan¡¯s aid to counter Trump push for Asian members¡¯ exit
Washington has criticized the ICC for war crime investigations targeting U.S. troops and issuing an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Makoto Saito (left) ¡ª co-head of the legal team representing the family of Koki Miyata, a man who was acquitted of a 1985 murder after a retrial in 2019 ¡ª speaks during a news conference after a ruling by the Fukuoka High Court on Monday.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jul 28, 2026
Kumamoto ordered to pay damages over wrongful conviction in 1985 murder case
The Kumamoto Prefectural Police investigation of the case was ruled unlawful as it was conducted with the aim of extracting a confession from the suspect who was acquitted in 2019.
China's Foreign Ministry has denied that Wang Yi, its top diplomat, held any form of chat with his Japanese counterpart on the sidelines of Association of Southeast Asian Nations-related meetings in Manila last week.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 28, 2026
Did they or didn¡¯t they? China and Japan at odds over diplomats¡¯ ¡®talks¡¯
By Jesse Johnson
More than eight months after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi¡¯s remarks about Japanese military intervention in a Taiwan crisis, ties have seen little ¡ª if any ¡ª improvement.
As of June 30 this year, the Tokyo Enmusubi matchmaking app had 16,000 registered members ¡ª whittled down from around 36,000 applicants ¡ª and 760 couples in "serious relationships," according to government data released this month.
JAPAN
Jul 28, 2026
¡¯Appy marriages: AI helps hundreds of Japanese wed
A total of 265 couples have married after meeting on an AI-powered dating app launched by the Tokyo government in 2024 to lift the low birth rate, according to official data.
Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Chairperson Keisuke Yokoo (front row, left, on the right) and other company officials meet with Fukushima Gov. Masao Uchibori (far left) on Monday in Fukushima Prefecture.
JAPAN
Jul 28, 2026
New Tepco chairman pledges firm¡¯s ongoing support for Fukushima after meltdowns
Tepco Chairperson Keisuke Yokoo met with Fukushima Gov. Masao Uchibori for the first time since taking office at the energy firm in June.
Outgoing British Ambassador to Japan Julia Longbottom speaks at a news conference in Tokyo on Monday.
JAPAN
Jul 28, 2026
U.K.-Japan ties set to strengthen under new British leadership, ambassador says
New U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham visited Japan twice as mayor of Greater Manchester and created a sister city partnership with the city of Osaka.
A new incentive program is under consideration to certify small and midsize businesses in rural areas of Japan that provide child care support for local communities.
JAPAN
Jul 28, 2026
Government to certify rural businesses that promote child care support
The new system will recognize efforts to develop products for raising children, establish nursing rooms and support operations of child-focused community cafeterias.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks in a news conference at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo on Monday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 28, 2026
PM stands firm on LDP-JIP ties and notes public concern over foreign influx
By Kanako Takahara
Despite growing speculation that Takaichi is planning to reshuffle her Cabinet before the fall Diet session, she said there is nothing to comment on at this point of time.
An expert panel at the Justice Ministry on Monday discusses civil liability for the unauthorized use of celebrities' voices and likenesses.
JAPAN
Jul 28, 2026
Panel backs civil liability for unauthorized AI use of public figures¡¯ voices
Draft report says voices would be protected under the right of publicity, which allows celebrities to control the commercial value of their names and portraits.

ASIA PACIFIC

China said the U.S. was threatening Chinese companies with punishment based on allegations ?they used "distillation" to copy advanced U.S. AI models, despite what it called a lack of ?factual or ?legal grounds.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jul 28, 2026
China accuses U.S. of ¡®AI hegemonism,¡¯ threatens countermeasures over potential probes
By Eduardo Baptista
U.S. officials recently said Chinese AI companies could face investigations, sanctions and trade restrictions over the alleged theft of U.S. technology.
Myanmar junta chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing hands over a flag to newly appointed Commander-in-Chief General Ye Win Oo during a ceremony in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, on March 30.
ASIA PACIFIC
Jul 28, 2026
Myanmar military escalates civilian killings, monitor warns, amid diplomatic push
The conflict monitor said the onslaught was a ?result of tactics deployed by Myanmar¡¯s new military chief who took over in late ?March.
Rohingya refugees evicted from their homes are seen inside a truck as they are taken by Malaysian police, in front of the office of the U.N. refugee agency in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jul 28, 2026
Malaysia detains over 100 Rohingya refugees seeking shelter at UNHCR
The refugees said they were driven out of their homes by local residents in the northern state of Penang and had traveled to Kuala Lumpur to seek assistance from the U.N. agency.
South Korea has one of the world's highest suicide rates.
ASIA PACIFIC
Jul 28, 2026
AI cameras spot suicide attempts in South Korea¡¯s capital
By Natsuko Fukue and Claire Lee
The surveillance system alerts first responders if someone lingers in certain locations, enters an area deemed unsafe or picks up a dedicated suicide-prevention phone.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his speech during the State of the Nation Address at the House of Representatives in Quezon City, Metro Manila on Monday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jul 28, 2026
Marcos vows progress on graft and tax relief to win back confidence
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.¡¯s popularity has slumped amid a feud with Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte, who is having an impeachment trial.
A mobile surveillance van emblazoned with the branding "Ikshana" is parked at a protest site days after thousands of protesters marched toward parliament to demand the resignation of the education minister over examination paper leaks, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Saturday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jul 28, 2026
Modi faces challenge from activists over AI surveillance at India youth protest
At least week¡¯s protest over exam paper leaks, police used a surveillance van equipped with cameras on a telescopic mast that provided a 360-degree ?view.

WORLD

Serhii Krynitskyi, 42, poses for a photo in the frontline city of Kramatorsk in Donetsk region, Ukraine, on May 27.
WORLD
Jul 28, 2026
A year in a foxhole: Ukrainian soldier survives beneath the front line
By Felix Hoske
The isolated position is a consequence of the way drone warfare is revolutionizing the battlefield.
A ship off the port of Aden, where traffic remained steady after the Iran-aligned Houthis said their forces had carried out missile and drone strikes on Saudi oil tankers, in Aden, Yemen, on July 23.
WORLD
Jul 28, 2026
Tankers divert to Egypt as Houthi threat upends Red Sea trade
By Weilun Soon
The Saudi export hub became crucial after the Iran war started, allowing the kingdom to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.
The International Criminal Court in the Hague, Netherlands, began operating in 2002.
WORLD / Politics
Jul 28, 2026
Chad says will withdraw from the International Criminal Court
It accused the ICC of concentrating on African countries.
A baked clay fragment called the Flood Tablet dating to the 7th century B.C., inscribed in cuneiform in the Akkadian language, presents the account of a great flood in the ancient Mesopotamian Epic of Gilgamesh, at the British Museum in London, Britain, in 2022.
WORLD / Society
Jul 28, 2026
Study documents a precipitous decline in the number of languages
By Will Dunham
During a period spanning the first millennium B.C. and ?first millennium ?A.D., humankind may have spoken tens of thousands of different languages, compared to about 7,500 now.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the NATO Summit Defense Industry Forum, in Ankara on July 7
WORLD / Politics
Jul 28, 2026
Ukraine wants prototype of European missile defense system by mid-2027, official says
By Yuliia Dysa
Ten European leaders and a ?dozen defense manufacturers ?gathered at a summit in Paris two weeks ago to officially launch the antiballistic ?coalition.
Ukrainian service members walk next to a launcher of a Patriot air defense system, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine on Aug. 4, 2024.
WORLD
Jul 28, 2026
Pentagon says it will not finish spending Ukraine funds until year Trump leaves office, source says
By Patricia Zengerle
Democrats and some of Trump¡¯s fellow Republicans had criticized the Pentagon for sitting on aid ?for Kyiv, which members of both parties had backed last year.
A Kenyan child counts numbers on a wall chart at the Nyumbani Children's Home, which cares for more than 100 children with HIV, in Nairobi on Feb.12, 2025.
WORLD / Science & Health
Jul 28, 2026
HIV progress in ¡®real danger¡¯ as global funding plummets
Many low-income countries in Africa are dependent on overseas development assistance for 90% of their HIV response.
A woman walks past a large billboard pledging revenge against U.S. President Donald Trump along Jomhouri Street in central Tehran on Monday.
WORLD / Politics
Jul 28, 2026
Iran-Oman talks focused on restarting Hormuz shipping traffic
A successful deal would then enable the Islamic Republic and the U.S. to resume talks over ending their war, sources say.
Men gesture as they express their affiliation and support for the Houthi movement while standing over a depiction of the U.S. flag during a demonstration by university students amid escalating tensions with Saudi Arabia, at the Sanaa University campus in Yemen's Houthi-held capital Sanaa on July 22.
WORLD
Jul 28, 2026
Houthis pushing to model Iran¡¯s Hormuz control in Red Sea, Yemeni FM says
By Timour Azhari
The Red Sea has become a new front in the Iran ?war, with the Houthis firing missiles and drones Saudi Arabia and declaring a blockade ?on Saudi shipping.

BUSINESS

A fresh grocery vendor at the Machane Yehuda market in Jerusalem in January 2025. Since the Hamas attacks in October 2023, Israel has been in a state of near constant war ¡ª in Gaza, in Lebanon and most recently against Iran.
BUSINESS / Tech
Jul 28, 2026
Ongoing conflict starves Israeli manufacturers of foreign equipment technicians
By Galit Altstein
Makers are increasingly stuck with imported machinery that has stopped functioning or can¡¯t be installed, without the foreign skilled staff needed to assist.
Munition shells, manufactured by Rheinmetall, at the Hannover Messe 2026 trade fair in Hannover, Germany, in April
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 28, 2026
Germany to trim munitions spending in blow for Rheinmetall
The draft 2027 budget, which the government may still amend, shows outlays for munitions at around €9.6 billion in 2027, down from €11 billion in 2026.
The Bank of Japan building in Tokyo
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 28, 2026
Market to look out for hints of next rate hike from BOJ
By Kazuaki Nagata
The central bank is widely expected to keep interest rates steady at its policy meeting this week, having just made a move in June.
Meta has deployed an "AI Info" label on its Instagram and Facebook platforms for posts using artificial intelligence technology, ahead of the European Union's sweeping artificial intelligence transparency rules entering into force.
BUSINESS / Tech
Jul 28, 2026
New EU rules set to aid transparency over artificial intelligence content
By Frederic Pouchot
The goal is to ensure Europeans immediately know whether the online content they see is real or fake.
Pipelines at the Shirashima National Petroleum Stockpiling Base in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 28, 2026
Tokyo to boost financial support for overseas oil pipeline investments
By Yusuke Maekawa
The government will consider measures including risk-capital fundingr to promote Japanese firms¡¯ participation in such projects, a recently released document shows.
BYD¡¯s Racco electric "kei cars" during a media event in Tokyo on Tuesday
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 28, 2026
BYD takes on rivals in Japan with its own electric minicar
By Nicholas Takahashi
Debuting a ¡°kei car¡± puts BYD up against the country¡¯s biggest automakers in their home market, which few foreign brands have successfully cracked.
A livestreaming session promoting cosmetic products at a digital retailer¡¯s studio in Shanghai
BUSINESS / Tech
Jul 28, 2026
China¡¯s beauty industry gets AI makeover to close innovation gap
AI is rapidly reshaping the country¡¯s beauty industry by shrinking every stage of product development.
A reduction of the sales tax on food has made slow progress as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi opted for multiparty talks that failed to reach a consensus.
BUSINESS / Economy / FOCUS
Jul 28, 2026
Takaichi¡¯s long-term vision may fail to dispel inflation angst
By Sakura Murakami and Yoshiaki Nohara
The one issue on which voters sought quick and clear action ¡ª a reduction of the sales tax on food ¡ª has made slow progress.
Employees chant work targets during a daily meeting, part of routine corporate practices aimed at boosting productivity, at the Global Partners office in Tokyo.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 28, 2026
Tokyo firm evokes economic miracle machismo to tap Gen Z workforce vigor
By Tomohiro Osaki
Business development firm Global Partners has become an internet sensation for rejecting ¡°soft¡± modern workplace culture.
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission proposes setting moral boundaries for some prediction markets ¡ª which allow users to place ?yes/no wagers ?on such things as sports, elections, economic outcomes and Wall ?Street indices, among other events.
BUSINESS / Tech
Jul 28, 2026
Trump administration¡¯s proposed prediction market rule faces public pushback
Opponents argue that sports wagering on prediction markets amounts to illegal gambling that should be under the control of local authorities.
Crushed ore before it is sent to the mill at the MP Materials rare earth mine in Mountain Pass, California, in 2020
BUSINESS
Jul 28, 2026
Trump may need to allow Chinese minerals as U.S. industry struggles to meet 2027 deadline
By Ernest Scheyder and Jarrett Renshaw
Partnerships with South Korea and Japan may offer a bridge for manufacturers until U.S. suppliers can ramp up operations.

ENVIRONMENT

A French Civil Security Canadair CL-415 aircraft flies past flames burning a forest surrounding Cotignac, southeastern France on July 23.
ENVIRONMENT / Climate change
Jul 28, 2026
France and Spain race to curb wildfires before new heat wave arrives
By Janis Laizans and Emma Pinedo
Authorities have evacuated ?about 220,000 people in France, while in Spain around 100,000 have been told to seek shelter.

Opinion

Major League Baseball¡¯s recent ban on AI assistants in dugouts overlooks that the technology is simply the next step in baseball¡¯s long tradition of using better information for competitive advantage.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 28, 2026
Baseball¡¯s AI crackdown is an overreaction
By Adam Minter
Baseball has seen versions of this story before. For decades, the game has rewarded teams that use information better than their opponents.
Global economic imbalances are widening again as U.S. deficits and China¡¯s surpluses grow, creating financial vulnerabilities that require domestic fixes and coordinated international management.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 28, 2026
The world¡¯s biggest economies face a dangerous imbalance problem
By Lee Jong-wha
Only by taking coordinated action to manage the associated risks can the world prevent today¡¯s tensions from erupting in another global economic crisis.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron and other leaders prepare to take a family photo at the Group of Seven summit in Evian, France, on June 16.
COMMENTARY / World / Geoeconomic Briefing
Jul 28, 2026
What Trump¡¯s new global order means for Japan
By Yuichi Hosoya
From trade and alliances to spheres of influence, the U.S. president is accelerating a shift away from the liberal international order.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets supporters during his trip to New York City in June 2023.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 28, 2026
Why can¡¯t Indian immigrants influence policy in America?
By Brahma Chellaney
Despite this remarkable ascent, Indian Americans have failed where it arguably matters most for a diaspora: influencing Washington¡¯s policy toward their country of origin.

Sports

LeBron James celebrates Team USA's victory after winning the men's gold medal basketball match against France at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in August 2024. James announced on Friday that he will play for the Philadelphia 76ers next season, with the 41-year-old NBA superstar hoping to transform another franchise into a championship team.
BASKETBALL / NBA
Jul 28, 2026
¡®Thrilled¡¯ 76ers sign James with eyes on NBA title run
James, the NBA¡¯s all-time scoring leader set to begin his record 24th campaign in October, is a four-time NBA champion and four-time NBA Most Valuable Player.
Novak Djokovic (top right) and Aryna Sabalenka (top left) play a charity match against Stefanos Tsitsipas (bottom left) and Greece¡¯s Maria Sakkari ahead of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, in January 2024.
TENNIS
Jul 28, 2026
Djokovic and Sabalenka team up for all-star U.S. Open mixed doubles pairing
Both men¡¯s world No. 1?Jannik Sinner and second-ranked Carlos Alcaraz have not entered the competition, which was heavily revamped last year.
Miho Takagi celebrates winning bronze in the women's 500m at the Milano Cortina Olympic Games in Milan, Italy, on Feb. 15.
OLYMPICS / Speedskating
Jul 28, 2026
Japan speedskating star Miho Takagi to get People¡¯s Honor Award next week
Takagi will be presented with the People¡¯s Honor Award at the prime minister¡¯s office on Aug. 4.
India's Varun Chakravarthy (left) is bowled out by England's Adil Rashid during their T20 international match at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground in Nottingham, England, on July 7.
OLYMPICS / Cricket
Jul 28, 2026
How cricket could become the IOC¡¯s gateway to India
By Karolos Grohmann and Amlan Chakraborty
Cricket offers the International Olympic Committee something no recent addition has: direct access to a fan base of more than 2 billion people.

CULTURE

A display featuring Keigo Higashino¡¯s work, with a range of his titles translated into multiple languages, at Books Kinokuniya Tokyo in the capital¡¯s Shinjuku Ward on Tuesday
CULTURE / Books
Jul 28, 2026
Japanese author Keigo Higashino, known for penning intricate mystery novels, dies at 68
By Elizabeth Beattie
Higashino, a prolific writer lauded for his creativity, died of cancer, his official X account said.
Japan to impose tougher requirements for permanent residency, reports say
The government is planning to create stricter requirements for foreign nationals seeking permanent residency in Japan.
U.S. holds fire against Iran as reports emerge of stockpile concerns
Munitions sit on trolleys as military personnel work on a B?1B bomber at RAF Fairford airbase, which hosts United States Air Force personnel, in Fairford, Gloucestershire, Britain, on Saturday.
How foreign workers became an essential part of Japan¡¯s ubiquitous konbini
Myanmar national Nyan Linn, who works at a Lawson outlet in Tokyo¡¯s Shinagawa Ward, is one of over 110,000 foreign workers employed by Japan's three largest convenience store chains.
Japan¡¯s average life expectancy rises in 2025
Compared with other countries, Japan ranked seventh in male life expectancy, following Sweden, Switzerland, Italy and others, while taking the top spot in female life expectancy.
Japan¡¯s wedding gifts are leaving couples deflated
A traditional Shinto wedding takes place at the Meiji shrine in Tokyo. Japan¡¯s wedding gift custom has stayed fixed at outdated prices even as inflation sharply raises the real cost of such ceremonies.
Japanese author Keigo Higashino, known for penning intricate mystery novels, dies at 68
A display featuring Keigo Higashino¡¯s work, with a range of his titles translated into multiple languages, at Books Kinokuniya Tokyo in the capital¡¯s Shinjuku Ward on Tuesday
Tough new permanent residency measures trigger concern in Japan
The Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau in the capital's Shinagawa Ward in March. Japan's revised guidelines for permanent residency are set to be introduced as early as Oct. 1 and applied to applications filed from April 2027.
The tiny Okayama village providing Japan with a blueprint for forest management
In 2008, Nishiawakura announced a 100-year plan to promote forest health through measures including structured thinning of its artificially planted <i>sugi</i> and <i>hinoki</i> trees. Since then, it has earned nationwide recognition for its innovative forest health management initiatives.
How foreign workers became an essential part of Japan¡¯s ubiquitous konbini
Myanmar national Nyan Linn, who works at a Lawson outlet in Tokyo¡¯s Shinagawa Ward, is one of over 110,000 foreign workers employed by Japan&#039;s three largest convenience store chains.
Out of the shadows: Japanese women building a life beyond motherhood
Miyako Kudo addresses an Osaka fertility clinic during a speaking engagement on understanding and supporting women without children.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo¡¯s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo¡¯s ¡®stadium of desire¡¯

Longform

For many people, utility poles and power lines have become such a familiar part of Japan¡¯s landscape that they often go unnoticed.
Why Japan¡¯s utility poles won¡¯t be disappearing anytime soon
By Alex K.T. Martin

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