Japan's emperor says he will honor Japanese POWs who were held in Mongolia

Japan's emperor says he will honor Japanese POWs who were held in Mongolia

TOKYO (AP) — Japan'sEmperor Naruhitosaid Wednesday that he will honor thousands of Japanese prisoners of World War II who were held under harsh conditions inMongoliawhen he visits the country next week. Naruhito, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII, has been visiting some of the places where the bloodiest battles and bombings occurred, includingIwo Jima,OkinawaandHiroshima.It's part of his effort at atonement and remembrance of the tragedy of war fought in the name of his grandfather, Emperor Hirohito. "I will pay tribute to the Japanese people who unwillingly died in the distant land away from home, and think of their hardships," Naruhito said at a news conference ahead of his July 6-13 trip to Mongolia. His Harvard-educated former diplomat wife, Empress Masako, will accompany him. Just before the end of the hostilities in 1945, the Soviet Union had declared war on Japan, taking most of about 575,000 Japanese POWs to Siberia. But around 12,000 to 14,000 of them were taken to Mongolia, which was fighting alongside the Soviets against Japan. Most of the POWs were put to hard labor and construction work for the Mongolian government's headquarters, a state university and a theater that are still preserved in the capital Ulaanbaatar. The prisoners toiled under harsh conditions and scarce food. Japanese records show about 1,700 of them died in Mongolia. "As we mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the war this year, we should never forget the pain and sorrow of the people," Naruhito said. "I believe it is important to not forget those who died, deepen understanding of the wartime past and to nurture the peace-loving heart." Naruhito has repeatedly stressed the importance of telling the war's tragedy to younger generations, pledging to contribute to efforts to promote the understanding of history and the determination for peace. The emperor's trip to Mongolia will be his second since he visited in 2007 as crown prince to mark the 35th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between the countries.

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July 02, 2025

Japan's emperor says he will honor Japanese POWs who were held in Mongolia

Japan's emperor says he will honor Japanese POWs who were held in Mongolia TOKYO (AP) — Japan'sEmperor Naruhitosaid Wednesday that h...

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FBI announces move to new D.C. headquarters

FBI announces move to new D.C. headquarters

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has selected a new headquarters building in Washington, D.C., after nearly two decades of failed attempts to find a permanent new space, the Bureau announced on Tuesday. The FBI has been headquartered in downtown D.C. at the J. Edgar Hoover building since 1975 but structural problems have plagued the building for the last 20 years, leading to redevelopment and relocation projects that until Thursday had not successfully been resolved. "This is a historic moment for the FBI," FBI Director Kash Patel said in astatement, adding he is "ushering FBI Headquarters into a new era and providing our agents of justice a safer place to work." The Bureau and the U.S. General Services Administration selected the Ronald Reagan Building, blocks away from the Hoover building, as the new location. It was home to the U.S. Agency for International Development until this year, when the Trump administration consolidated USAID into the State Department andallowed Customs and Border Protectionto take over the building's lease. "Moving to the Ronald Reagan Building is the most cost effective and resource efficient way to carry out our mission to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution," Patel continued. It is unclear when the FBI will begin its transition out of the Hoover building. In a March speech at the Justice Department, President Trump said his administration is "going to build another big FBI building right where it is, which would have been the right place, because the FBI and the DOJ have to be near each other." "They were going to build an FBI headquarters three hours away in Maryland, a liberal state," Mr. Trump said, adding that the state's political leadership had "no bearing" on his decision to cancel a previous Biden administration plan to move the headquarters to Maryland. During his first term, Mr. Trump abandoned a plan to move the FBI to one of three locations in Maryland or Virginia, instead proposing a smaller headquarters in Washington to replace the Hoover building. Under the Biden administration in 2023, the GSAchose a site in Greenbelt, Maryland, to serve as the new location for the FBI headquarters. The decision came after a 15-year debate on whether the headquarters should be relocated to Maryland or Virginia. Democratic members of Congress from Maryland blasted the decision to scrap plans for a new Maryland headquarters, saying that Congress "appropriated funds specifically for the purpose of the new, consolidated campus to be built in Maryland." "Simply moving down the street would ignore the real threats the Bureau faces and further jeopardize the safety of those protecting our communities," the Maryland lawmakerssaid in a joint statement. "That's why we will be fighting back against this proposal with every tool we have." In May, Patel told Congress his goal is to move about 10% of the Bureau's Washington workforce — about 1,500 people — away from the D.C. area and redeploy them across the country, including a sizable number of personnel at the FBI's facility in Huntsville, Alabama. In an interview with Fox News the same month, Patel called the Hoover building "unsafe for our workforce." Details from inside the courtroom as Sean "Diddy" Combs jury announced verdict Split verdict in Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex trafficking and racketeering trial | Special Report House Republicans scramble to meet Trump's Fourth of July deadline on budget bill

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July 02, 2025

FBI announces move to new D.C. headquarters

FBI announces move to new D.C. headquarters The Federal Bureau of Investigation has selected a new headquarters building in Washington, D.C....

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Hong Kong proposes recognizing same-sex partnerships formed overseas

Hong Kong proposes recognizing same-sex partnerships formed overseas

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong's government on Wednesday proposed a registration system that would recognize same-sex partnerships formed overseas, granting such couples more rights in the city. In a document submitted to the legislature, the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau said the proposed system would allow registration for same-sex adult couples who have married, formed civil partnerships or civil unions overseas, provided these relationships were legally recognized in those jurisdictions and one of them is a Hong Kong resident. After the registration, the couples would have rights including the ability to participate in medical decisions for their loved ones, provided consent is given. For mentally incapacitated adult patients, their partners can take part in the decisions as guardians. They would also enjoy the right to handle after-death matters for their partners, including claiming the bodies and deciding whether their remains can be used for medical treatment, education or research. Same-sex couples cannot get married or register for civil partnerships in Hong Kong. But authorities recognize same-sex marriages registered abroad for taxation and civil service benefits and other practical reasons, such as dependent visas. Many of the government's concessionswere won through legal challengesand the city has seen growing social acceptance toward same-sex marriage in recent years. The government proposal came in response to thetop court's landmark ruling in 2023in favor of a framework for recognizing same-sex couples' rights. The ruling did not grant full marriage rights to same-sex couples but was a partial victory for prominent pro-democracy activistJimmy Sham, who foughta five-year legal battleover the recognition of same-sex marriages registered overseas. Sham, who was sentenced to over four years for his role inan unofficial primaryunder a Beijing-imposed national security law, was released from prison in May. In an interview with The Associated Press, Sham said heterosexual couples were not required to register their marriages overseas to get the recognition locally and questioned why same-sex couples had to do so. He also suggested that the government allow same-sex couples to enjoy equal prison visiting rights as heterosexual couples. "I hope the government will listen to opinions from society and the community, and try to develop a solution that doesn't exceed society's acceptance level, while meeting the expectations of same-sex couples and avoiding legal challenges," he said. Jerome Yau, co-founder of non-governmental organization Hong Kong Marriage Equality, said the government document was "very conservative" and "far from acceptable." He said he failed to see the logic of only making those who are married or have formed partnerships overseas eligible for the measures. "We believe that will create an obvious inequality in the sense of local same-sex couples who are not married overseas won't be eligible to register the relationships. I think that's unfair, and potentially that will lead to further litigation," he said, adding that he hoped the bill would come with more details. The government is expected to table a bill in the legislature at a later date. Lawmakers will discuss the document on Thursday. Some pro-Beijing legislators have spoken out against granting same-sex couples equal rights, upholding the traditional view that marriage should only be between men and women. The government said its proposals were made after considering the city's actual situation, adding that there are different views over the recognition of same sex partnerships and it would have to strike a balance to avoid dividing society.

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July 02, 2025

Hong Kong proposes recognizing same-sex partnerships formed overseas

Hong Kong proposes recognizing same-sex partnerships formed overseas HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong's government on Wednesday proposed a reg...

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Beyoncé's BeyGood foundation donates $100K to Texas Southern University's marching band

Beyoncé's BeyGood foundation donates $100K to Texas Southern University's marching band

Beyoncé Knowles-Carteris continuing to show hersupport for historically Black colleges and universitiesdonating funds to Texas Southern University's marching band. The Texas-bred singer'sBeyGood foundationawarded a gift of $100,000 to the university's Ocean of Soul Marching Band in support of the band's musical excellence and academic achievement. Texas Southern University President J.W. Crawford III made note of the donation, which will support scholarships, recruitment and retention for band members as well as enhancements to technology and infrastructure. "We are deeply appreciative of the BeyGood Foundation for this significant demonstration of its commitment to empowering our student musicians and elevating their form of artistic expression," Crawford said. This isn't the first timeBeyoncéhas amplified the school and its band members. During her2024 Christmas Day NFL halftime performanceduring the Texas-Ravens game in her hometown of Houston, over 200 band members joined Beyoncé as she put on a jaw-dropping performance. The show, dubbed "Beyoncé Bowl," brought in 27 million U.S. viewers, according to Netflix. "The BeyGOOD Foundation's impactful investment affirms the powerful role that HBCUs play in shaping the next generation of artistic, academic, and cultural leaders," said Charlie Coleman III, the senior associate vice president of development and alumni engagement at the school. "This partnership does more than support the Ocean of Soul — it opens doors for our students to access the arts in life-changing ways, inspired by one of the most beloved artists of our time." Beyoncé is in the middle of herCowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin' Circuit Tour, which spans nine cities across the U.S. and Europe. The grand finaleis set to take place in Las Vegason July 26. Follow Caché McClay, the USA TODAY Network's Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reporter, onInstagram,TikTokandXas @cachemcclay. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean:Beyoncé's BeyGood foundation donates $100K to HBCU marching band

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July 02, 2025

Beyoncé's BeyGood foundation donates $100K to Texas Southern University's marching band

Beyoncé's BeyGood foundation donates $100K to Texas Southern University's marching band Beyoncé Knowles-Carteris continuing to show...

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Jason Kelce Details Getting His First Bikini Wax, Says Wife Kylie Wanted Him to Get a Brazilian

Jason Kelce Details Getting His First Bikini Wax, Says Wife Kylie Wanted Him to Get a Brazilian

Jamal Cooley/Philadelphia Eagles and Eagles Autism Foundation; Mike Coppola/Getty Jason Kelce shared that he got a bikini wax after losing a weight loss competition with his pal Beau Allen The retired NFL star said he skipped getting a Brazilian wax despite his wife, Kylie Kelce, saying that's what he needed Jason's brother, Travis Kelce, also saw a photo of the waxed area during theirNew Heightspodcast, insisting the image "cannot see the light of day" Jason Kelcegave fans quite the eyeful at the Ocean Drive event to raise money for the Eagles Autism Foundation last month as he ripped off a pair of American flag shorts to reveal a tiny Speedo. The viral moment came courtesy of a three-month bet that Kelce, 37, had placed with his longtime pal Beau Allen to both drop weight and gain muscle. "The bet was you get two points for every percentage body fat lost, and you get one point for every pound of muscle gained," Jason explained on the July 2 episode of his and brotherTravis Kelce'sNew Heightspodcast. Jamal Cooley/Philadelphia Eagles and Eagles Autism Foundation He shared that Allen lost 2% body fat while gaining 4lbs. of muscle. And Jason lost 3% body fat but failed to gain muscle throughout the competition, giving Allen the win. "I definitely was a loser of the bet. So I had to wear a Speedo," Jason explained. "The bet was loser has to wear a Speedo at this Ocean Drive event. And for those of you that remember, I didn't think that was enough. Smart by me. So, we talked about maybe adding something else to it." That "something else" was for the loser of the bet to get waxed around his swimsuit area. "I did a bikini wax," Jason explained. "You did a WHAT?" Travis asked, shocked. "Thank God I did because this thing would have looked so much worse if I wasn't waxed," Jason quipped of his viral Speedo moment. "I mean, it would have been even more gross." The retired NFL star shared that he went to European Wax in Philadelphia, praising the salon for doing "a great job" and making "it as comfortable as they could," but added, "It's probably not a thing that I'm gonna redo." He added that initially the team suggested he take the wax a step further and get a Brazilian wax, which would have included removing the hair in his butt crack. "I don't know what it is. I don't like anything in that crease," Jason quipped. "Nothing's been in that crease other than my own hand. The crease, that's a no-fly zone for me." However, Jason's wifeKylie Kelcehad a different reaction to the suggestion of a Brazilian wax. "Kylie's response was, 'Jason, that's the one thing you could've used,' " the father of four said while laughing. View this post on Instagram A post shared by New Heights (@newheightshow) Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. During the podcast, the show's producer sent Travis a photo of his brother's waxing moment, causing the Kansas City Chiefs star to gasp and insist, "Dude, this cannot see the light of day. This cannot see the light of day, dude." Jason admitted that the photo was "bad," adding, "It's vulnerable positioning." He recalled the experience of his first wax, saying, " Right away, the technician says, 'Okay, remove everything from the waist down. I'm like, 'Excuse me? Like, we're just everything's off?'... They say, 'Now assume the butterfly position.' " Jason joked about the vulnerable stance, "So I am filleted open. I'm filleted. I look like a spatchcock turkey down there on that table. Dude, it was the most vulnerable I've ever felt. But, no, I think I took it like a man." Travis was in no rush to follow in his big brother's footsteps in the waxing department, saying, "F— that. I got, like, one strip of chest hair wax when I was in college, and I will never do that ever again." After a video of Jason's big Speedo reveal went online, the European Wax Center got in on the fun, commenting on the post, "That fresh wax energy hits DIFFERENT. We love to see that post-wax confidence on display. 🔥" Read the original article onPeople

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July 02, 2025

Jason Kelce Details Getting His First Bikini Wax, Says Wife Kylie Wanted Him to Get a Brazilian

Jason Kelce Details Getting His First Bikini Wax, Says Wife Kylie Wanted Him to Get a Brazilian Jamal Cooley/Philadelphia Eagles and Eagles ...

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'Dora the Explorer' live-action movie celebrates 25th anniversary of beloved series

'Dora the Explorer' live-action movie celebrates 25th anniversary of beloved series

Millions of children in more than 150 countries have watched a 7-year-old Latina with her trademark purple backpack take friends on fun television adventures. Now, Nickelodeon'sanimated series "Dora the Explorer"is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a live-action movie, premiering on Nickelodeon and Paramount+ on Wednesday, ahead of the July 4 holiday weekend. "Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado" tells the story of 16-year-old Dora (played by Samantha Lorraine) who is budding into a skilled treasure hunter. The movie follows Dora and her friend Diego (Jacob Rodriguez) as they trek through a jungle to find an ancient treasure that could grant a magical wish. This teenage version of Dora, Mexican director Alberto Belli says, is like Indiana Jones and Lara Croft, but with a spunky "lo hicimos" ("We did it") attitude that makes her uniquely Latina. But according to Belli, Dora is more interested in the adventure because it can help her figure out who she is and what other people are like. Developing this larger sense of finding her place became a guiding theme for the movie. "When you're taking a cartoon character into a live action, you need to go a little bit deeper. So we tried to create some more problems," Belli said in an interview, accompanied by actress Samantha Lorraine. "She (Dora) loses her bag,which is a spoiler, but it's also in the trailer. So now she needs to find who she really is. And I think right now, more than ever, people feel a little lost." Dora's backpack typically contains specific items, including a map, which she will need on her adventures. And Belli says that when "you don't know exactly where you need to go," you have to look inside yourself to figure it out. Lorraine says that "Sol Dorado" ("Golden Sun") is more about finding an internal space — "who you are as a person." "When she (Dora) finds Sol Dorado, to me, it was this full circle moment that we had finally finished this character arc," the young actress said. Many iconic action-adventure characters "usually go and explore someone else's culture. They never explore their own culture," Belli said. "What's really exciting about Dora is she loves history. She's exploring her own culture." The movie incorporates Indigenous Latino traditions that influence Dora's identity. One such tradition was based on "ayllu," which is the Andean way of organizing communities to support each other through shared land, resources and responsibilities. "When it comes to ayllu, friendship and connection is so important, and I think Dora is the epitome of that. She's the connection through most cultures of the world," Lorraine said, adding that "Dora the Explorer" has been translated into more than 30 languages. Belli said that they had an expert on set to guide them through different Indigenous traditions, including quipus, which are knotted cords that were used by the Incas to record information. They also had two consultants to work on pronunciation for when Dora had to speak in Quechua, which is an Indigenous language spoken by people in parts of Perú, Bolivia and Ecuador. Lorraine, who identifies as Cuban American, says that playing Dora was a privilege because she offers many Latino children visibility. "I kept thinking to myself, what do I want my little cousins to see when they watch this movie?," she said. Lorraine wants "Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado" to help viewers — regardless of their age — keep their sense of adventure and curiosity alive. Dora has "always been part of pop culture," Belli said, adding that he has a 5-year-old who's a big fan. "When I got the job, he got more excited than I did," the director said with a laugh. "What I love about Dora is she's a positive influence in people; she teaches you how to be positive, energetic and adventurous — and at the same time she teaches Spanish in a fun way, which I think is very cool."

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July 02, 2025

'Dora the Explorer' live-action movie celebrates 25th anniversary of beloved series

'Dora the Explorer' live-action movie celebrates 25th anniversary of beloved series Millions of children in more than 150 countries ...

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Ukraine struggles to contain Russian summer advances as US aid stalls

Ukraine struggles to contain Russian summer advances as US aid stalls

By Anastasiia Malenko and Aleksandar Vasovic KYIV (Reuters) -Russia has made incursions near two towns key to army supply routes in eastern Ukraine, a Ukrainian military official said on Wednesday, as Moscow seeks a breakthrough in a summer offensive at a time of uncertainty over U.S. support for Kyiv. In recent weeks, Russia has amassed forces and despite heavy losses has advanced in rural areas either side of Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka, which both sit on crossroads running to the frontline from larger cities in Ukrainian-controlled territory. Russia's advances on the front are matched by an intensification of drone and missile strikes on Kyiv and other cities, following signs that Washington's support for Ukraine's war effort is faltering. So far, the efforts by U.S. President Donald Trump have failed to achieve a ceasefire in the full-scale invasion launched by Russia in 2022. One of the aims of the Russian offensive is to occupy the rest of the Donetsk region. Now, they are using small assault groups, light vehicles, and drones to push towards the neighbouring region, said Viktor Trehubov, a spokesperson for the Khortytsia group of forces. "There are constant attacks with the intent of breaking through" to the border of the Dnipropetrovsk region at any cost, Trehubov said in written comments to Reuters. Russia now has 111,000 soldiers in the Pokrovsk area, which it has been trying to seize since early last year, Ukraine's top armed forces commander Oleksandr Syrskyi said last week, describing dozens of battles in the area every day. A decision by Washington to halt some deliveries of various weapons including precision rocket artillery to Kyiv will worsen the situation on the ground for Ukraine's forces, said Jack Watling, a senior researcher at the Royal United Services Institute, a think-tank. "The loss of these supplies will significantly degrade Ukraine's ability to strike Russian forces beyond 30 km (19 miles) from the front line and therefore allow Russia to improve its logistics," Watling said. RUSSIAN GAINS Ukrainian blog DeepState, which uses open-source data to map the frontline, said the Russian military in June had seized 556 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory, which it said was the largest monthly loss of ground since November. Russian forces, which have numerical superiority, cut the main road linking Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka in May, complicating Ukrainian movements and resupply efforts. "The Russian advance is being contained, but their crossing of the Pokrovsk-Kostyantynivka highway is a strategic and logistical setback," Trehubov said. Heavy Russian losses have prevented Russian advances toward Kostiantynivka via Chasiv Yar, or along the western Pokrovsk front. "Now they are attempting (to advance) further away from populated areas," Trehubov said. DeepState also reported that Russian advances in June near Pokrovsk and nearby Novopavlivka accounted for more than half of all Russian gains along the entire frontline in all of Ukraine. Trehubov said Pokrovsk and Kostyantynivka remain Ukrainian logistical hubs, despite setbacks and drone activity which make some defensive fortifications less effective. "(Drones) hinder logistics for both sides but don't make it impossible. Drones after all are not invulnerable," he said. (Reporting by Anastasiia Malenko and Aleksandar Vasovic; Additional reporting by Tom Balmforth; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel and Gareth Jones)

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July 02, 2025

Ukraine struggles to contain Russian summer advances as US aid stalls

Ukraine struggles to contain Russian summer advances as US aid stalls By Anastasiia Malenko and Aleksandar Vasovic KYIV (Reuters) -Russia h...

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