White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami to miss 4 to 6 weeks with hamstring strain
Murakami has hit 20 home runs in his first 57 MLB games.
After the AI binge, companies balk at soaring bills
Playing by a well-worn Silicon Valley playbook, AI companies charged rock-bottom prices to hook customers after ChatGPT burst onto the scene.
Koizumi rebuts Chinese ‘new militarism’ claims, spotlighting Beijing’s own buildup
The defense chief also used Tokyo’s concerns of a looming crisis over Taiwan to justify Japan’s move into a “new role” as a primary defense equipment supplier for the region.
The Frenchmen who gave sake a Champagne soul
Carl Hirschmann and former Champagne cellar master Regis Camus lean on techniques from the wine world to produce a sake that has a foot in both Europe and Japan.
A little bit of Japan’s infamously sticky soybeans goes a long way
Unlike some other fermented foods, making “nattō” requires the ability to release heat and condensation produced by the bacteria at the center of the process.
Pentagon’s Asia command seeks weapons aimed at deterring China
The U.S. military is quietly seeking to bolster its ability to deter or battle China over Taiwan, including with new warship-killing bombs and advanced sea mines.
U.S. and South Korea in talks over American commander’s remarks on China
The incident occurred amid growing speculation that Washington may expand its role in countering the growing regional influence of China, a key ally of North Korea and Russia.
U.S. and Japan defense chiefs agree to accelerate missile coproduction
A key focus of the meeting was a Japanese proposal known as “Operation Supercharge,” designed to accelerate joint development and mass production of advanced missile systems.
Fifth high school boy arrested in Tochigi robbery-murder case
The 18-year-old student allegedly used a communication app to introduce the boy, 16, to another, despite knowing he would be used to help carry out the crime.
China is building launchpads near its nuclear missile silos
The scale of the construction points to a sweeping expansion of hardened infrastructure designed to protect and operate China’s land-based nuclear forces.