July 12, Thursday, 2018 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Ms. Hiroko Kitadai and Ms. Sara Macdonald

  1. In western Japan, more than 180 people are dead and dozens are still missing almost a week after torrential rains led to flooding and landslides.
  2. U.S. President Donald Trump has demanded that his NATO allies double their commitment on defense spending after member states confirmed 2 percent of their economic output would go to national defense.
  3. In the World Cup in Russia, Croatia has beaten England 2-1 to advance to the final for the first time.