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‘Eleki boom’: How The Ventures became the biggest American band in Japan
The Ventures became exceptionally successful in Japan after introducing their guitar-led instrumental sound there in the 1960s, helping to trigger the ‘eleki boom’—a surge of interest in electric guitars and guitar bands. Their story matters because their popularity helped shape the early development of Japanese rock and pop, despite the band being American and less…
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The Indian Army’s first woman boxer is now chasing Commonwealth gold
Jaismine Lamboria, the reigning 57kg boxing world champion and the first woman inducted into the Indian Army as a boxer, is competing at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games with the aim of upgrading the bronze medal she won at Birmingham 2022 to gold. The 24-year-old enters the tournament as one of India’s strongest gold-medal prospects after…
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Japan legend Miura, 59, scores first goal since 2022
Kazuyoshi Miura, the 59-year-old widely recognised as the world’s oldest professional footballer, has scored his first goal in nearly four years while playing for Japanese third-tier side Fukushima United. The strike, netted during a comfortable Emperor’s Cup win, is a notable milestone given his advanced age and his enduring status as one of Japan’s most…
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SNP MSP faces criticism over Cairngorms wildfire response as major incident declared
A major wildfire incident in the Scottish Cairngorms has prompted scrutiny of the government’s response, with particular focus on how officials handled the emergency. Neil Gray, an SNP MSP, has drawn criticism from those
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Watch: NEUROSIS’s New Lineup Performs Live For First Time
Neurosis played its first live show in seven years on 25 July, performing at the Fire In The Mountains festival on the traditional lands of the Blackfeet Nation in Montana. The band was invited by the Firekeeper Alliance, a non-profit working to reduce youth suicide in Indian Country, and the gig marked the live debut…
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Euthanasia of teenage girl that divided the Netherlands: How tormented 17-year-old was granted ‘death wish’ – before doctor who gave her lethal injection was condemned by peers
A 17-year-old girl in the Netherlands who had been suffering from severe psychological distress was granted her wish to undergo euthanasia, receiving a lethal injection from a doctor. The case has since divided opinion across the country, reigniting debate over the Netherlands’ euthanasia laws and their application to minors and those suffering primarily from mental…
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Shin holds on to win Women’s Scottish Open
Jenny Shin won the Women’s Scottish Open at Dundonald, holding off fellow South Korean A-Lim Kim despite a shaky final round. It is Shin’s first LPGA Tour title in more than a decade and only her second in 368 career starts, making it a significant personal breakthrough ahead of next week’s Women’s Open, the year’s…
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Orphaned monkey at Japanese zoo receives 2,500 cards from well-wishers on first birthday
An orphaned monkey named Punch, cared for at a zoo in Japan, has received around 2,500 birthday cards from well-wishers across the world to mark his first birthday. The outpouring of support followed widespread attention after photographs emerged of the abandoned monkey cuddling a stuffed toy orangutan, which struck a chord with animal lovers internationally.…
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Inside ‘Colony’: ‘Train to Busan’ Director Yeon Sang-ho and Gianna Jun Discuss Their Thrilling New Take on the Zombie Movie
Director Yeon Sang-ho, best known for “Train to Busan,” returns to the zombie genre with “Colony,” a new film expanding his “Yeoniverse” that reimagines the infected as a collective intelligence capable of learning and adapting together. The film marks the long-awaited big-screen return of actress Gianna Jun (Jun Ji-hyun) after an 11-year absence, and matters…
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Dale Earnhardt Jr gets choked up as one of his drivers takes maiden victory at Brickyard
Dale Earnhardt Jr became visibly emotional after one of the drivers on his Xfinity Series team won their first race at the Brickyard, in a rare unscripted moment for the NASCAR world. The victory came during a busy weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which hosted three major NASCAR series across the venue and a nearby…