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Japan news from Japan Times

• Pentagon UFO file trove includes sightings near Japan 

  Two of the dozens of videos released by the U.S. Defense Department were taken near Japan, including one that shows an object "that resembles a football-shaped body."

• Despite curbs, 'nicopuff' e-cigarette use rises among young people in Japan

  While the products can be imported for personal use, selling it in Japan violates the pharmaceutical and medical device law.

• Ainu indigenous group demands return of ancestors' remains

  The group filed a lawsuit demanding that the remains of 279 Ainu ancestors held by a state facility be returned to their descendants.

• Trump's feuds and tensions with allies likely to outlast Iran war

  Allies from Europe to the Middle East to the Indo-Pacific are once again fearful that the U.S. might be unreliable in a future crisis.

• Police renew call for vigilance against investment scams as stocks soar

  "There are probably victims who are still unaware that they have been cheated," a senior police official said.

• Punch, the lonely monkey, is growing up. He’s still a star.

  Punch has handled the limelight better than most young stars. Since first hitting the headlines, he has slowly integrated into his troop and made friends.

• Trump’s crackdown on China-linked solar firms stalls U.S. factory boom

  Policy uncertainty is driving installers and insurers away from U.S. solar factories with China ties.

• Spirit exit likely to lead to higher U.S. airfares, experts say

  Spirit's shutdown has added to worries about higher airfares, as ticket prices already rise over soaring jet fuel costs due to the Middle East war.

Asia/Pacific news from Japan Times

• War and energy shortages boost China’s influence in Asia

  The Iran war has deepened China's influence with its fuel-starved neighbors, allowing it to deal from a position of strength.

• After months of wrangling, Taiwan lawmakers OK $25 billion defense spending bill

  The spending, which opposition lawmakers say will be used for U.S. weapons, falls well short of the government's proposed budget of nearly $40 billion.

• Southeast Asian nations see possible opening for thaw with Myanmar years after coup

  Myanmar has been largely sidelined by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations since a 2021 military coup that sparked a civil war.

• Trump heads for Xi summit overshadowed by Iran war

  With U.S. President Donald Trump seeking a deal to end the Iran war before he lands in Beijing, China may seek to use his weakened position to extract concessions on key issues.

• South Korea prepares for local elections under shadow of disgraced former president

  The June 3 contest for mayors and governors is South Korea's first nationwide vote since President Lee Jae Myung took power in a snap election following the martial law crisis.

• China gives two ex-defense ministers suspended death sentences over corruption

  Former Defense Ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu were once members of China's powerful Central Military Commission, the body that oversees the country's military.

• Taiwan conducts first torpedo test firing from domestically made submarine

  Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has made the indigenous submarine program ‌a ‌key part of an ambitious project to modernize its armed forces.

• Hormuz crisis shows gaps in Taiwan’s high-tech ‘silicon shield’

  The factors that make Taiwan an economic powerhouse — its successful technology industry and artificial intelligence-driven chipmaking — are also the ones making it vulnerable.

Culture news from Japan Times

• In Japan, ‘moms pull weight in ways that are superhuman’

  In a new book, a mom raised in Tokyo but living abroad reflects on how Japan's conception of motherhood helps her raise her young daughters.

• ‘Kyoto Hippocrates’: A genial look at medicine’s early days in Japan

  Akira Ogata's warmhearted drama mixes medical history, culture clash and gentle humor into an enlightening look at modern medicine's beginnings.

• ‘Cry Out’: Misery without meaning

  Takahisa Zeze's adaptation of a Kanae Minato novel revels a little too eagerly in the suffering it depicts.

• At the Venice Biennale, the anger isn’t about the art

  The mass resignation of the Biennale jury over Israel's and Russia's participation was followed by protests. The art is getting drowned out in the controversy.

• Poison Girl Friend was early. Now it makes sense.

  A once-overlooked project returns as younger listeners rediscover its melancholic sound and understated influence.

• ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ loses its human touch in sprawling second season

  The Apple TV series lets bloated and unwieldy storytelling overwhelm the sharp character work that once set it apart.

• South Korean chain saw artist carves a name for herself at 91

  Long overlooked in her home country, sculptor Kim Yun Shin has recently gained recognition and is featuring in a sweeping retrospective at Hoam Museum of Art.

• No longer shushed: Japan’s cultural venues make room for children

  From ballet to museums, cultural institutions are adapting to the needs of families with young children.

Sports news from Japan Times

• Path to glory opens for Hoshoryu after injuries to rivals Onosato and Aonishiki

  Yokozuna Onosato and ozeki Aonishiki withdrew from the Summer Basho due to injuries.

• Michael Carrick focused on strong finish for Manchester United amid questions about future

  Carrick has overseen a huge upturn in the Red Devils' fortunes, and Sunday's 3-2 win over archrival Liverpool meant United qualified for the Champions League.

• 'Mr. Europa League' Unai Emery reaches sixth final as Aston Villa tops Nottingham Forest

  The 54-year-old Spaniard has won ‌three ‌times with Sevilla (2014, 2015, 2016) and once ​with Villarreal (2021).

• Italian tennis chief calls for fifth major to break up Grand Slam 'monopoly'

  Angelo Binaghi has dragged Italian tennis from the doldrums and into a golden age since taking charge of the country's federation.

• Jannik Sinner says respect at core of players' demand for more money from French Open

  The dispute between the French Open organizers and players deepened after the tournament announced a 9.5% increase in ⁠prize money to €61.7 million ($72.19 million).

• International Olympic Committee lifts all restrictions on Belarusian athletes

  The IOC had recommended that Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials be banned from events since 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

• Iranian FA says it will meet FIFA over World Cup in coming days

  Iran's participation in the World Cup has been in question since the U.S. and Israel launched air strikes on the Islamic Republic in late February.

• Off-field challenges remain for the X League as on-field product improves

  The opening day of the X League's new era was an unqualified success — but will the buzz last?

Life news from Japan Times

• Tokyo’s top pizzaioli have raised the city to the upper crust

  RistoPizza by Napoli Sta Ca and The Pizza Bar on 38th have dominated Asia's best-of pizza rankings.

• No added sugar, no problem: A lattice tart held up by sweet beans

  Smooth and sweet, "koshian" paste makes for a flexible alternative to traditional tart fillings.

• When it comes to their kids, Japanese mothers look beyond pink and blue

  A look at how evolving vocabulary around fashion signals changing attitudes toward gender and function.

• Charting Japan’s emerging wine scene

  Nick Rowan has produced a comprehensive guide to Japan's wine regions and producers as global interest continues to grow.

• New head chef at Maz explores Peruvian food through a Japanese lens

  Fukuoka native Yuya Nakamura has big shoes to fill as he takes over from the talented Santiago Fernandez.

• For tourists in Japan’s outdoor sports scene, safety is not guaranteed

  Recent data suggests accidents involving foreign tourists are disproportionately represented in certain high-risk activities.

• ‘Sashiko’ needlework artisan says craft is about 'the stories behind the stitching'

  In a new book, a third-generation craftsman explores how the origins of his art are at risk of being lost in an upswell of popularity.

• Japanese fried chicken with a Southern twist

  Step up your "karaage" game by coating your chicken in a rich miso milk marinade — Southern style.

 

 Singapore news from Today:

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