Japan wants to get rid of its utility poles. The problem? Removing them is far more difficult — and expensive — than most people realize. 👉 ebx.sh/IhX81k
Spain stunned favorites France 2-0 to reach the World Cup final, producing a tactical masterpiece to shatter Les Bleus' dreams of winning the title for the third time.
Fujifilm's single-use film camera QuickSnap celebrated its 40th anniversary this month while buoyed by renewed interest in analog photography among younger consumers. 👉 ebx.sh/S7gJnf
Temps in Kumagaya often top 40 C in the summer, but the town's Uchiwa Festival, held this year from July 20 to 22, remains one of the loudest in Japan. Here's how to survive — and thrive — at Japan's hottest "matsuri." 👉 ebx.sh/qE7nAD
The U.S. reimposed a blockade on Iranian ports, while Donald Trump dropped a 20% transit fee on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz he had pitched only a day earlier.
Commentary: Hungary's Pride march shows that political change does not automatically erase legal barriers, while Japan's different path highlights the gap between social acceptance and full LGBTQ+ rights recognition.
Despite turbulence, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has retained unusually strong public support, with her Cabinet's approval ratings remaining close to levels recorded when parliament convened in February. 👉 ebx.sh/qvupHD
Commentary: The old assumptions guiding global security and the Japan-U.S. alliance are breaking down, requiring policymakers to rethink their strategies from the ground up rather than rely on outdated frameworks.
Japanese flying-car developer SkyDrive demonstrated a high-speed test flight of its electric aircraft over the Seto Inland Sea ahead of its goal of launching commercial sightseeing services in 2028. 👉 ebx.sh/HKMW7Y
Commentary: Ukraine's battlefield innovations offer Japan lessons in building a faster, more adaptive defense industry as Tokyo seeks to prepare for growing regional threats.
The sudden bankruptcy of Zentoshin, an Osaka-based credit-payment processor, has ensnared its clients — mainly bars, clubs and restaurants, with many now asking customers to pay in cash or with a QR code payment. 👉 ebx.sh/u8irHD
The government is expected to establish a national intelligence council as early as this month to strengthen its command over intelligence gathering and analysis. 👉 ebx.sh/IerQvc
A Chinese-born American seismologist who published U.S.-funded work on detecting North Korean nuclear tests has been detained in China for nearly two years and faces trial on spying charges. 👉 ebx.sh/JhDK3x