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July 24, 2026
 

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Tony Capaccio
Adm. Samuel Paparo, head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, speaks during an event in Simi Valley, California, last December.
ASIA PACIFIC
May 31, 2026
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.
The Iran-flagged container vessel Hamouna is seen anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas in southern Iran on May 2.
WORLD / Politics
May 6, 2026
U.S. unveiled plan to reopen Hormuz hours before Trump shelved it
The U.S. president was warned it risked escalating a conflict he is eager to bring to an end.
A man holds an Iranian flag near an anti-U.S. billboard depicting U.S. President Donald Trump and the Strait of Hormuz, in Tehran on Saturday.
WORLD
May 5, 2026
U.S. and Iran trade fire in Gulf, shaking four-week ceasefire
The U.S. military fought off attacks from Iranian drones, missiles and armed small boats as it facilitated the passage of two U.S.-flagged vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.
A soldier carries a drone during a military parade in Washington on June 14, 2025.
WORLD
Apr 22, 2026
Pentagon seeks $75 billion for drones in record budget ask
The drone-funding proposal includes $54.6 billion for the Defense Autonomous Working Group, from just $225.9 million this year.
Cargo ships in the Persian Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from northern Ras al-Khaimah, near the border with Oman¡¯s Musandam governance, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in the United Arab Emirates, on March 11
WORLD / ANALYSIS
Apr 11, 2026
Iran¡¯s chokehold on Hormuz Strait has White House on defensive
Allies, military analysts and skeptics of the U.S. strategy have been asking how Iran was allowed to seize and maintain control of the passage in the first place.
U.S. Navy ships sail in the Arabian Sea on Feb. 6. The military buildup in the Middle East suggests U.S. President Donald Trump is giving himself discretion to launch a sustained campaign against Iran lasting many days.
WORLD
Feb 20, 2026
U.S. amasses forces as Trump says Iran has just days for deal
The deployment is unlike anything the U.S. has done since 2003, when it amassed forces ahead of the invasion of Iraq.
A M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launcher during training exercises at Lightning Academy at Schofield Barracks in Honolulu on Nov. 9
WORLD
Dec 19, 2025
U.S. balances Taiwan backing and China trade push with arms sale
The Trump administration is looking to maintain defense ties with Taiwan while boosting Washington¡¯s economic relationship with China.
The Pentagon concluded that Alibaba, among others, should be added to a list of companies that aid the Chinese military.
WORLD
Nov 27, 2025
Pentagon cited Alibaba on China military aid in Oct. 7 letter
The letter was sent to Congress roughly three weeks before the U.S. and China agreed to a broad trade truce.
An observatory at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The U.S. Space Force is close to fielding two new weapons designed to jam Chinese and Russian satellites.
WORLD
Nov 5, 2025
U.S. Space Force develops new weapons to jam Chinese satellites
The new systems are intended to counter what U.S. military officials are saying is a growing Chinese space-based threat against U.S. forces.
U.S. director Kathryn Bigelow attends the Los Angeles special screening of her Netflix film "A House of Dynamite" at The Egyptian Theater in Hollywood, California, on Oct. 9.
WORLD
Oct 26, 2025
Pentagon frets over ¡®A House of Dynamite¡¯ nuclear doomsday film
The Pentagon agency responsible for the more than $50 billion system of ground-based interceptors designed to avoid just such a scenario isn¡¯t happy about it.
A Royal Australian Navy submarine during a maritime exercise in Darwin, Australia
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Oct 8, 2025
Pentagon conducting ¡®brass-tack¡¯ review of AUKUS, nominee says
The comments from John Noh, Trump¡¯s pick for assistant secretary for Indo-Pacific security affairs, mark a rare moment that the administration has acknowledged the review.
U.S. military personnel board the USS Wasp aircraft carrier at the U.S. naval base in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, in 2019.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Sep 18, 2025
U.S. State Department sees Japanese role in AUKUS defense pact
Japan ¡°expressed interest in a range¡± of projects underway as part of the second leg of the pact, an assessment said.
U.S. military personnel join Japanese officials and residents for a one-off joint nighttime patrol on the streets of the city of Okinawa in April, following sexual assault cases involving U.S. service members.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Sep 5, 2025
Pentagon begins probe of crimes involving U.S. troops in Japan
The review will ¡°examine the performance, training and criminal history of service members who committed violent crimes against Japanese nationals,¡± according to a Pentagon memo.
A U.S. Air Force B-2 stealth bomber is flanked by four F-22 fighter jets during a flyover of military aircraft down the Hudson River and New York Harbor past New York City in July 2020.
WORLD / Politics / FOCUS
Jun 23, 2025
Decoy stealth bombers and Tomahawk missiles: How the U.S. hit Iran
As one group of U.S. B-2 bombers flew west across the Pacific Ocean, more B-2s flew east ¡ª literally under the radar ¡ª to attack Iranian nuclear sites.
A GBU-57 or Massive Ordnance Penetrator bomb, known as a "bunker buster," at Whiteman Air Base in Missouri in May 2023.
WORLD / Politics
Jun 18, 2025
Bunker-buster bomb draws focus as Trump weighs Iran options
The U.S. has a wide range of military assets in the Middle East and across the globe to bring to bear in a potential fight against Iran.
Chinese military vehicles carrying DF-41 intercontinental ballistic missiles travel in Beijing's Tiananmen Square during a military parade in October 2019.
WORLD
May 14, 2025
U.S. warns of China missile threat ahead of ¡®Golden Dome¡¯ announcement
China may within a decade possess scores of orbiting missiles with nuclear payloads capable of quickly reaching the U.S., the Defense Intelligence Agency has said.
U.S. President Joe Biden (right) meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House in Washington on Sept. 26.
WORLD / Politics
Dec 31, 2024
Biden announces $5.9 billion for Ukraine amid final aid push
The military aid includes $1.25 billion in so-called Presidential Drawdown Authority, which pulls weapons and ammunition from U.S. stockpiles.
Visitors walk past China's first nuclear missile on display at the Military Museum in Beijing.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Oct 24, 2024
China speeds nuclear-weapons buildout, U.S. defense agency says
The Defense Intelligence Agency¡¯s report offers the most detailed accounting yet of the country¡¯s bid to catch up to the U.S. in an area where it lagged.
A B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber flies over the 133rd Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, in 2022.
WORLD
Oct 17, 2024
U.S. bombers strike Houthi weapons storage sites in Yemen
The strikes hit five hardened underground facilities, with no indication of civilian casualties so far.
A Ukrainian tank crew take a break while operating a Soviet-made T-72 tank in the Sumy region, near the border with Russia, on Aug. 12.
WORLD
Aug 21, 2024
Russia and Ukraine can¡¯t mount?major offensives against each other, U.S. says
The Pentagon¡¯s intelligence agency said in new assessments that the two sides appeared headed toward a stalemate.
Japan scientists identify clusters of protein believed to trigger Alzheimer¡¯s disease
A team of researchers said they found a ¡°seed¡± that accelerates the amyloid beta accumulation process in the brain, naming it ¡°Peak 1 amyloid beta,¡± as seen in a mouse's brain.
Indian brothers make manga debut in Japan
Two Indian brothers made their manga debut in Japan with "Kung Fu Kung Fool" ¡ª an action-comedy series that follows the adventures of a notorious thief and a young boy.
Japan weighs regulating Pokemon cards amid trading mania
A Pokemon event is held in Jakarta on July 11
Low-income families in Japan cut food and air conditioning during summer break
Yumiko Watanabe, the chairperson of nonprofit Kidsdoor, explains the results of a survey in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward on July 1.
Iran strikes on CIA facilities prompt questions about possible Russian role
Iranian drones are displayed in an undisclosed location in Iran, in this handout image obtained on Jan. 13, 2025.U.S. officials have acknowledged that Russia has ?provided targeting ?and other support for Iran in its drone strikes on U.S. targets in the Persian Gulf region.
The sci-fi sensibilities of electronic trio Black Boboi
Black Boboi was formed in 2018 when solo artists Julia Shortreed, Utena Kobayashi and Ermhoi came together under Kobayashi¡¯s newly founded label, Bindividual.
A perfect storm: Kaze Fujii fans flock to Fuji Rock
Okayama-born singer-songwriter Kaze Fujii has carved out a distinctive place in Japanese pop since his major-label debut in 2019.
Can Japanese comedy get laughs in English? Yoshimoto Kogyo lets the jokes rip
Wes-P has millions of followers and his viral clips made him recognizable out of Japan.
The 180-day locals: Life on Japan¡¯s digital nomad visa
Christopher Flinn works remotely from Tokyo earlier this month. Japan issued 646 digital nomad visas in 2025, but tourism officials are hoping to increase that figure in the coming years, with Japan's relatively cheap cost of living and the weak yen seen as potential draws for young professionals.
Japan reveals hint of new defense spending target in fiscal blueprint
The Self-Defense Forces' Type 16 mobile combat vehicle fires during a joint live-fire drill with U.S. Marines as part of the annual Resolute Dragon exercises in Yufu, Oita Prefecture, on June 28.

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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