Is the war entering a new phase? Ukrainian drones have again targeted the Russian online shopping giant Wildberries. Authorities in Russia's Tambov region said a major warehouse was entirely destroyed in the latest attack. At least 12 people have died in a series of strikes on the company. Luxury watches worth $1.2 million stolen from a popular mall in Tokyo

Companies are turning to artificial intelligence and sensor technology to improve the efficiency of indoor farming in Japan as the country faces a growing shortage of farmers. Oishii Farm, which runs a strawberry factory in the United States, recently established a new research and development base in the city of Hamura in western Tokyo. It plans to develop efficient methods for cultivating other crops, such as tomatoes, indoors and robots capable of automatically planting and packaging produce. The company uses AI to manage the breeding environment for bees, which are essential for pollination. The technology has raised the pollination rate for its strawberries to 95%. "We're able to achieve hundreds of years' worth of traditional outdoor breeding progress within a single year," said Hiroki Koga, co-founder and CEO of Oishii Farm, emphasizing the benefits of plant factories unaffected by seasons or weather.

An earthquake struck eastern Japan early Sunday, shaking Tokyo and surrounding areas and injuring at least 37 people. Authorities said there was no tsunami threat, while transport services faced some disruptions. Chinese robot beats Usain Bolt's 100m world record at humanoid games Thousands flee Sudan's Kordofan fighting for relative safety of El Obeid Iran threatens countries that join US'economic D-Day'

AEW and Ring of Honor star Lee Moriarty welcomes Katsuyori Shibata's challenge for Pure Championship Giants vs. Red Sox betting preview: Logan Webb and Sonny Gray both locked in for under play NCAA wins Tenth Circuit'stay', but faces more eligibility lawsuits from 2022 class athletes in chaotic time Jacob Misiorowski's MLB-leading ERA and WHIP make Milwaukee Brewers the pick against Atlanta Braves Texas AG Ken Paxton sends message to WNBA amid'concerns' over treatment of Sophie Cunningham supporters NFL to NCAA? Courtroom chaos Is giving pro athletes a bizarre path back to college, and it's only just begun Another sex toy was thrown during a WNBA game, and Dream's Angel Reese absolutely lost it AEW star Willow Nightingale shares how she's able to keep her joyful personality going Peyton Manning's freshman son makes his debut, but freak running back steals the show How Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza are building'great' relationship through Raiders work, faith and more IndyCar star Alex Palou reflects on White House, Oval Office visit with Trump: 'incredible experience' I was a sports columnist at the Seattle Times for 11 years. BREAKING: Iran's president calls for END of war Sophie Cunningham calls for'bold' commissioner amid women's sports debate Are American workers really using AI? Gen. Jack Keane details US military strategy as Trump warns of Iran's nuclear threat ISIS indoctrinating Americans with'ease,' ex-NYPD detective warns One of the biggest nights in pro wrestling will take place on Friday in Philadelphia. Ring of Honor (ROH) will hold Death Before Dishonor at the 2300 Arena - the home of the influential promotion known as Extreme Championship Wrestling. Death Before Dishonor is known as one of the premier events on the Ring of Honor schedule and the match card that is set for the event underscores that notion. There are several matches set to take place with a championship on the line.

Fujifilm this month opened a new fabrication building that will help it triple production of post-CMP cleaners -- essential for removing particles and residues from wafers after chemical-mechanical polishing -- at its factory in Oita Prefecture. Fujifilm Holdings is expanding production of key materials used in advanced semiconductor manufacturing to capitalize on surging demand. The global expansion of data centers for artificial intelligence has created bottlenecks and shortages across the supply chain, which has boosted the company better known for its cameras and office copier machines. Fujifilm this month opened a new fabrication building that will help it triple production of post-CMP cleaners at its factory in Oita Prefecture. These are essential for removing particles and residues from wafers after chemical-mechanical polishing. The Tokyo-based company spent ¥7 billion ($44 million) on the expansion project after forecasting the market will grow rapidly going forward.

Services using facial recognition technology are expanding in Japan, allowing, for example, touchless or ticketless entry through train station gates and payments at shops without the need to take out a wallet or a credit card. Expectations are growing that the evolution of artificial intelligence will improve accuracy of facial recognition systems and help reduce fraud. Meanwhile, concerns about privacy violations persist, making thorough user information management essential. Trial Holdings, which runs discount stores and other operations, has introduced a payment service using NEC's facial recognition technology at 15 stores in Tokyo and Fukuoka Prefecture. Advance registration allows customers to shop simply by scanning goods at the self-checkout counter without using cash or smartphone payment services.

German drone maker Helsing has enlisted Japanese e-commerce and finance firm Rakuten to help finalize a deal to sell its unmanned systems to Japan's army, a spokesperson for Rakuten said on Monday. Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force is currently testing Helsing's HX-2 strike drone, as Tokyo looks to modernize its military and counter an increasingly assertive China. The field tests will run until the end of September, the spokesperson said. Helsing struck an "initial agreement" for the Japanese government to use its systems earlier this year, a spokesperson for the Munich-based company said, adding that the move was made possible by an unnamed "local brokerage partner." Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Rakuten Group is working with defense AI startup Helsing to bring the German company's military drones to Japan. The Tokyo-based online shopping mall operator served as the point of contact between Helsing and the Japanese government, according to a Rakuten spokesperson. The country's Ground Self-Defense Force will conduct field tests of Helsing drones through the end of September, he said, without providing further details. The tie-up, which would be one of Helsing's first partnerships in the Asia-Pacific region, was first reported by the Nikkei. Japan, which for decades restricted arms exports, has been stepping up defense spending, and the country's companies have followed suit. E-commerce pioneer Rakuten has shifted some of its focus to the sector: It's partnered with a Ukrainian government agency to develop defense technologies, while subsidiary Rakuten Mobile has taken part in joint U.S.-Japan military trials of mobile technologies.

Can robots save an aging Japan? A mechanical wolf robot used to ward off bears and wild boars at a cabbage farm in the village of Shimo Higashiyama, in Yamagata Prefecture. It's hard to explain why Japanese love the cherry blossoms, called sakura. Robots do not appreciate the soft evanescence of the sakura. Nor do they understand why a snowbound town in northern Japan has dedicated itself to the cultivation of a winter variety. But the residents of Nishikawa have discovered -- at least, they thought they had discovered -- that they need robots for their sakura.

Japan's AI gamble: Can technology offset the cost of an ageing society? Beneath the business towers of Tokyo's Otemachi district, a test is taking place to see whether artificial intelligence can help solve one of Japan's biggest economic challenges: a shrinking workforce. Deep underground, Marunouchi Heat Supply Company operates a 30km (18.6-mile) network of heating and cooling pipelines serving offices, commercial buildings and transport facilities in one of Japan's most important business areas. The company is now using AI to manage this complex infrastructure with the goal of moving towards more automated operations by 2027. Developed with the Tokyo-based AI company Preferred Networks, the project uses PlantPilot, an AI system trained on historical operating data and the expertise of experienced engineers.