The Japan Times

Japan's rapidly growing tourism sector is struggling to make its expansion sustainable, according to reporting by The Japan Times. The surge in inbound visitors has boosted the economy but is putting pressure on local communities, infrastructure and the environment, and efforts to balance growth with sustainability have so far fallen short.

Japan's Defense Ministry has announced it will support startups working on unmanned aerial vehicle development, according to the Japan Times. The move aligns with Tokyo's broader push to strengthen its defense industrial base and tap private-sector innovation for military technology. Details on funding amounts and selected companies have not yet been reported.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed creating a Congress of Europe, framing it as a step in the right direction given the scale of the continent's geopolitical challenges. The idea, reported by international media including the Japan Times, is being debated as a possible way to strengthen European unity and coordination on security and foreign policy.

With more grandparents remaining in the workforce past retirement age, Japanese employers are beginning to offer 'grandchild leave', allowing older workers to take time off to help care for their grandchildren. The shift reflects both Japan's childcare shortage and the growing number of older people who want to keep their jobs while supporting working-age children.

Cricket fans are following a live T20 match between India and Japan, with a live score feed and fan chat drawing a large online audience. Japan rarely features in high-profile fixtures against a cricketing power like India, making the matchup a point of curiosity and conversation as viewers track the score and react in real time.

Japan's Meteorological Agency issued record short-time heavy rain information and a linear rain band nowcast warning for Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Saga and Kumamoto prefectures in Kyushu. The alerts warn of extremely intense downpours that could cause landslides and flooding within hours. Residents are being urged to check evacuation information, and news outlets across Japan are reporting on the rapidly developing severe weather situation.

Formula 1 champion Lando Norris has said Argentine driver Franco Colapinto should receive a race ban following a crash in Baku, according to the Japan Times. The call adds to debate over driver safety and penalties in the sport, though details of the crash and the governing body's response were not given in the report.

The Japan Times reports on what it calls 'a congress for Europe's future', highlighting a gathering or initiative aimed at shaping the European Union's long-term direction. Beyond the headline framing, no further details on the participants, agenda or outcomes are given in the available coverage, so the substance of the event remains unspecified.

India are playing Japan in a one-off Twenty20 international, with fans following live scores and ball-by-ball commentary of the first T20 between the two sides. The fixture is drawing heavy attention from cricket followers tracking how India perform against an emerging associate nation, with updates on the score unfolding throughout the match.

Japan's Defense Ministry is set to launch a new framework for incorporating technology from startups into its defense capabilities. The initiative aims to give emerging companies a clearer route to work with the military, an area where small firms have traditionally struggled to gain entry. Defense officials hope the move will speed up adoption of cutting-edge civilian technology at a time of regional security tensions.

Japan's Meteorological Agency has issued a tornado advisory (No. 1) for Nagasaki Prefecture, prompting local weather disaster alerts. Okinawa Times is among outlets carrying the news. Residents are being urged to watch for sudden gusts, lightning and hail, and to seek sturdy shelter if conditions deteriorate.