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Johnny Kitagawa: J-pop agency boss resigns over predator’s abuse
By Shaimaa Khalil BBC News, Tokyo The boss of Japan’s biggest pop talent agency has resigned after finally admitting the sexual abuse committed by its late founder, Johnny Kitagawa. Julie Fujishima resigned from Johnny and Associates on Thursday during a public apology to her uncle’s victims. Her departure comes a week after a major inquiry…
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Bruce Springsteen postpones shows over stomach ulcer
By Ian Youngs Entertainment & arts reporter Bruce Springsteen has postponed his US tour dates for the rest of September to have treatment for a peptic ulcer. The 73-year-old rock legend had already called off two concerts in August, and was due to play eight more this month. A statement said he “is being treated…
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China wants to ban clothes that ‘hurt nation’s feelings’
By Kelly Ng BBC News, Singapore A draft law banning speech and dressing “detrimental to the spirit of Chinese people” has sparked debate in China. If the law comes into force, people found guilty could be fined or jailed but the proposal does not yet spell out what constitutes a violation. Social media users and…
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Mexico edges closer to electing first woman president
By George Wright BBC News Mexico appears all but certain to elect its first ever female head of state after Claudia Sheinbaum was confirmed as the governing party’s candidate in next year’s presidential election. The former Mexico City mayor will face off against Xóchitl Gálvez, who is leading the opposition collation. Ms Sheinbaum, a 61-year-old…
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Ukraine war: US to arm Kyiv with depleted uranium tank shells
By George Wright BBC News The US has announced it will supply depleted uranium tank shells to Ukraine as part of more than $1bn (£800m) in military and humanitarian aid. Russia condemned the move to equip US Abrams tanks with the controversial armour-piercing munitions. The announcement came as Ukraine accused Russia of killing 17 people…
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Mercury Prize 2023: Loyle Carner and Young Fathers among favourites to win
By Mark Savage BBC Music Correspondent Loyle Carner, Young Fathers and Jockstrap are among the favourites to win the 2023 Mercury Prize, which takes place in London on Thursday night. Jessie Ware and J Hus are also up for the award, which recognises the best British and Irish albums of the year. And Arctic Monkeys…
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Judge tells Texas to remove floating border barrier
By Nadine Yousif BBC News Texas has been ordered to move floating buoys that it placed on the Rio Grande River to stop migrants from crossing into the US from Mexico. A federal judge ruled the buoys were a threat to safety and diplomatic ties. He asked the state to move them out of the…
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Why Vancouver is letting go of green lawns
By Gerald Narciso Vancouver The grass in front of Sky Morfopoulos’ home in East Vancouver is barely grass at all. Although the strands are brown and parched, tiny sprinkles of weeds and clovers blend in with the decaying grass and present an illusion of a semi-green lawn. The lack of maintenance is deliberate and not…
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How one blind boy helped rebuild his school
For almost a decade a civil war has been grinding on in Yemen, pushing the Arab world’s poorest country to the brink of collapse. There has been less violence since a ceasefire last year but there is no sign of a deal to end the conflict. Ahmed is a charismatic 11-year-old blind boy the BBC…
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The legacy of Star Trek: The Animated Series, 50 years on
Star Trek: The Animated Series defined an in-between era for the franchise, much like what we’re facing now, writes Swapna Krishna. And whether or not it’s deemed to be part of the Star Trek “canon”, it shares the show’s vision for a utopian future where humans coexist peacefully with aliens. On a remote planet, the…