Jun 18, 2026 18:44:00

Headline news for June 18, 2026

Burger King will release a new limited-time summer item, the 'BBQ Steak Whopper,' on June 19th, 2026 (Friday). This hearty burger features a flame-grilled 100% beef patty topped with a generous portion of American beef brisket steak and finished with a special BBQ spice sauce blended with 10 spices including garlic, cumin, and cinnamon.

Introducing the new 'BBQ Steak Whopper,' available only this summer!

A new, hearty burger has arrived, featuring a generous portion of beef brisket steak piled on top of a flame-grilled 100% beef patty, finished with a rich, flavorful 'special BBQ spice sauce' infused with 10 different spices!

From June 19th (Fri)
Limited time offer! #BurgerKing pic.twitter.com/4VMIINmvjJ
— Burger King Japan (@BURGERKINGJAPAN) June 18, 2026

The 'Cheese BBQ Steak Whopper,' which includes two slices of cheddar cheese, and the 'Double BBQ Steak Whopper,' which uses two beef patties, will also be released on the same day. All prices include tax: 'BBQ Steak Whopper' is 1,190 yen for a single burger and 1,490 yen for a set; 'Cheese BBQ Steak Whopper' is 1,290 yen for a single burger and 1,590 yen for a set; and 'Double BBQ Steak Whopper' is 1,590 yen for a single burger and 1,890 yen for a set.

Incidentally, on the same day of the same month in the past, we published the following article.

What causes LED streetlights to change color to blue or purple? - GIGAZINE

Just one night of sleep deprivation can change the brain's perception of food and lead to overeating - GIGAZINE

The Federal Trade Commission has sued Adobe, claiming its subscription cancellation process is too complicated and fraudulent - GIGAZINE

How does Duolingo, the popular language learning app with over 30 million daily active users (DAU) and 70% of users accessing it for a week straight, manage to bring users back to the app? - GIGAZINE

An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.0 struck Ibaraki City and other areas in northern Osaka Prefecture; GIGAZINE editorial team compiles photos of the damage - GIGAZINE

Research shows ego significantly increases after meditation and yoga - GIGAZINE

This is what the processor onboard the Apollo lunar module, which first brought humans to the moon over 50 years ago, looked like - GIGAZINE

A physicist and a YouTuber bet 1 million yen on whether a car powered by wind can go faster than the wind - GIGAZINE

Experts explain why you shouldn't hold in your poop - GIGAZINE

Automatic analysis now capable of predicting future schizophrenia with 93% accuracy - GIGAZINE

'Who is the fastest character in Mario Kart 8?' A scientific investigation into the question: What is the answer? - GIGAZINE

What happens in the brain when good people fall to the dark side? - GIGAZINE

◆ Ideas (notes, miscellaneous things)

When I was in charge of managing a call center during a major crisis, staff members were quitting one after another due to the daily barrage of angry and abusive phone calls. I decided to accept the situation and hold a 'Today's Worst Complaint Contest' during the last 15 minutes of each day, awarding the winner with high-end department store confectionery. This transformed complaints into a rewarding form of entertainment. https://t.co/k2zf35QNoO
— Emily (@manmadailytweet) June 18, 2026

For those who want more pictures of cats falling over, here's a picture of Min-chan falling over: https://t.co/jdpbiQcmYo pic.twitter.com/3pzgHCRqtR
— Pienko Mint (@piennekomint) June 18, 2026

Commonly used exaggerated expressions in manga pic.twitter.com/TQ6cPmPX1m
— Akashingo Wataru (@GoAkashin) June 18, 2026

It was really thick 💚💚💚 pic.twitter.com/7Lgdle3tzZ
— mii (@oishii_seigi) June 17, 2026

One of the most surprisingly common questions I've received from foreign tourists is: 'How much is this?' pic.twitter.com/sCy6dCcD8r
— Latin-san (@latina_sama) June 17, 2026

So, in this article, I'd like to explain what kinds of attacks computers are vulnerable to in the age of AI. pic.twitter.com/JdFkKftfKE
— yukata_yu (@yukata_yu) June 17, 2026

Testing behavior pic.twitter.com/IgJ3TAt6pi
— Nagami (@yuyuyuyu9250) June 17, 2026

Well, the phrase 'the old lady who was brought in after choking on a cucumber, emergency patient grandma' is quite fitting. pic.twitter.com/APnpNuBffq
— Koguchibei (@erobee_z) June 17, 2026

Contemporary art created by my daughter

'Item is locked' pic.twitter.com/wwU65I0iXf
— Yuki (@manekineko88) June 17, 2026

This will make me laugh for the rest of my life, thank you pic.twitter.com/0XSNSh7Qx4
— Yamada Rein (@Reisan_425) June 17, 2026

◆Science (Science, Academics, Technology)
BBCube pioneers next-generation chip stacking technology | Science Tokyo - Tokyo University of Science

JAXA | Paper on lunar surface demonstration results using the transformable lunar robot 'LEV-2' accepted for publication in the international academic journal 'Science Robotics'

Demonstration of magnetization reversal of strongly correlated electron material nanodots by electric field | Science Tokyo - Tokyo University of Science

◆Society, Politics, and Economy (Events, World News, Business)
Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever 'Doesn't Exist': People in Congo Believe the 'Hoax,' Set Fire to a Facility, and Patients Escape, Leading to a Chain of Infection [Want to Know More!] [Good! Morning] (June 18, 2026) - YouTube

The crime of damaging the national flag barely constitutes a criminal offense (Hisashi Sonoda) - Expert - Yahoo! News

Hokuriku Shinkansen project sparks controversy over cost-effectiveness; new estimates boost LDP? [Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)][Japan Innovation Party]: Asahi Shimbun

Over 3 million yen in costs for cars left unattended in coin-operated parking lots for 7 years: The reality of the increasingly serious 'lawless zone' where victims are forced to suffer in silence; the 'principle of prohibiting self-help' in removing abandoned vehicles is a major obstacle | FNN Prime Online

16-year-old arrested but not indicted dies from malnutrition; mother sues national and prefectural government for 'illegal investigation' [Hyogo Prefecture]: Asahi Shimbun

'16-year-olds should be protected. This is a complete oversight,' said Toru Hashimoto. A 16-year-old girl was illegally arrested and detained, forced to confess, and weighed 20 kg...she later died. Her mother is suing the government and others for compensation | FNN Prime Online

Prosecutors drop charges against defendant accused of sexual assault, citing 'consideration for the victim's burden': Asahi Shimbun

Industry dissatisfied with 'too few' quotas for foreign talent; experts call for 'a command center for immigration policy' [Foreigner policy, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Liberal Democratic Party] [Foreigners]: Asahi Shimbun

Company executives arrested for allegedly illegally bringing babysitters into Japan from China | NHK News | Crimes and Accidents, Tokyo

<Regarding reports of Shimotsuma mayor's suicide...> 'We are extremely annoyed by the baseless conspiracy theories related to illegal employment.' Even though there was 'no foul play,' the city hall and police are bewildered by speculative phone calls. A close aide to the mayor describes him as 'a serious and hardworking person.' | Shueisha Online | Seriously Breaking Down the News

Trump says he could 'drop bombs on Iran again' depending on Iran's actions (3 photos) International News: AFPBB News

Attacks on Gaza Strip Continue; Over 1,000 Dead Since 2025 Ceasefire Agreement, Authorities Say | NHK News | Israel-Palestine, Israel, Middle East

Russian Presidential Administration and Security Agencies Clash Over Domestic Governance: A Sign of Declining Authority for Putin - Sankei News

Okinawa: Former Ground Self-Defense Force commander not indicted in extortion case; Naha District Public Prosecutors Office

Over 70% of perpetrators of 'caregiver murders' suffer from physical or mental health problems; only one in three consult family members or caregivers. NHK analysis | NHK News | Welfare and Care

New Federal Reserve Chairman Warsh intends to push forward with reforms, fueling expectations of interest rate hikes | NHK News | Finance, America, Interest Rates

26,000 liters of seawater leaked from piping in the turbine building of Unit 7 of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant. Similar incidents have occurred in the past. *Article updated | Niigata Nippo

Utsunomiya LRT, enjoying strong ridership, sees a 14% increase in profits, exceeding 200 million yen in net profit... Timetable revisions tailored to congestion levels prove successful: Yomiuri Shimbun

◆Lifestyle (Life, Living, Health)
At the school's sweet potato roasting event, everyone took turns doing tasks like preparing the field, planting seedlings, weeding, watering, and harvesting. However, I felt uneasy when a truant student only showed up on the day of the event to eat the sweet potatoes. - Togetter

It's the middle of the night, but I was so happy I wanted to share.

I passed a kidney stone!! pic.twitter.com/MqRgidfuvn
— Tate (@EAnwVEJxVvMNlZh) June 17, 2026

The new summer of the Reiwa era begins --- pic.twitter.com/TkGT5gq7vj
— Running Carrot (Weather Forecaster) (@Runninzin) June 17, 2026

A post goes viral on Togetter, describing how a 'super-intense class has been created at a high school with an average academic ranking of 40': 'I've come up with a method to guarantee passing the Eiken Grade 2 exam, so I'm having my classmates memorize everything and take the test, producing a lot of Grade 2 pass holders...' The post explains templates and other details.

A story about someone who went into a sewer drain opening because it was open, only to have the carbon monoxide detector's warning alarm go off, forcing them to quickly evacuate. The comment, 'A child would have been excited to go in, so it's way too dangerous,' was posted on Togetter.

Nagoya University, which canceled its 'Self-Defense Forces booth,' is gaining attention for an account reporting on internal notices and club activities. 'The lack of transparency in contact channels is a problem' - posfie

While traveling on a train, I noticed an insect on a man's shoulder... It bothered me so much that I asked for his permission to remove it, but I couldn't just let it go on the platform, so I ended up traveling with a bomb in my left hand - Togetter

A 16-year-old girl who stopped a violent disabled man saying 'I want to eat dinner with my mom' was arrested on assault charges and pressured to confess. As a result, she collapsed 17 days later and died from extreme malnutrition after her release... Various opinions on the Hyogo Prefectural Police's response - Togetter

Even though I've come all the way to an island nation on almost the other side of the world, the subway is operated by Tokyo Metro. 'The vibe of the old man walking from the left is exactly like Gotanda.' - Togetter

While driving on the highway with my 7-month-old daughter on a trip home, I was rear-ended by an elderly driver. My car was totaled, but my daughter was unharmed thanks to her car seat, and I only suffered bruises. - Togetter

My mother's anti-theft measures when sending groceries and other items are strong but so funny that people are saying things like, 'I really don't want Sagawa (delivery company) to deliver this,' and 'I laughed at the 'This Side Up' message.' - Togetter

It's often said that 'only the poor are conscripted into the army' → Don't worry, everyone in the Japanese Empire was conscripted. 'In fact, even members of the imperial family and descendants of the Yi royal family became soldiers, and there were casualties among them.' - Togetter

◆IT & Gadgets (Internet, Software, Hardware, Mobile)
GIGABYTE Japan releases two models of AORUS B850 MicroATX STEALTH rear-cabled motherboards.

Reaching new heights. A new chapter for Predator Helios. Acer Japan releases four new models of its gaming laptops, 'Predator Helios 18 AI' and 'Predator Helios Neo 16S AI'.

Local AI can also be used for strategy. The new ONEXPLAYER with Arc G3 Extreme - PC Watch

I casually mentioned 'downloading strategy information,' but this is done through free strategy websites within China. Therefore, the strategy information is inevitably in Chinese, and the UI is also currently in Chinese. However, they mentioned that they are currently developing an English version.

AORUS B850 MicroATX STEALTH Rear Cable Management Motherboard: 2 Models Released | AORUS

Announcement Regarding the Release of the 4TB Model in the Personal PCIe® 5.0 SSD Product Lineup | KIOXIA - Japan (Japanese)

[Warning] Beware of counterfeit Samsung SSDs and memory cards – ITG Marketing Co., Ltd.

[For Elementary, Junior High, and High School Students] 23rd 'Handmade Let's Note Workshop' Participant Recruitment Begins ~Build a one-of-a-kind PC and experience the joy of making things!~ | Events & Campaigns | Event & Sponsorship Activities | Topics | Panasonic Newsroom Japan

'There's this mysterious Discord server where you can buy McDonald's for half price, what is this?' → It was a terrifying system that tricked customers into ordering using fraudulent accounts and participating in criminal activity - Togetter

A new mid-career hire who joined the company claiming to have 'information processing skills and proficiency in Word and Excel' responded to a request to 'create address labels for mail' by saying, 'I haven't been taught how to do it.' → Discussion on whether the new employee or the company is at fault - Togetter

ASUS, which has surpassed HP and Dell as a single company, is seriously targeting the Japanese corporate market, the world's toughest market! - PC Watch

Creating an environment to host HTML internally changed the flow of information within the company - BASE Product Team Blog

Fable 5's 'Code You'll Never Touch Again'—The Creator Explains How to Implement Unplayable AI

I seriously haven't seen Irasutoya (a free illustration website) around lately, why? There was a time when Irasutoya was used for everything → A collection of opinions from people: 'It's just been replaced by AI,' 'There are a lot of restrictions that are too much of a hassle' - Togetter

I created Claude Skills to eliminate the 'AI feel' (stop-ai-slop-jp)

Farmers' social media accounts experience 'impersonation troubles'; producers say they 'cannot gain trust,' leading to the cancellation of some sales (Published June 16, 2026) | NTV NEWS NNN

[Completely Local] 5 Steps to Give AI Memory — Creating a Long-Term Memory Chatbot with Ollama x RAG #rag - Qiita

◆Anime, Games, and Manga (Subculture)
TV Anime 'Otome Game World is a Harsh World for Mobs 2' PV 2nd Trailer - YouTube

TV anime 'Ghost in the Shell' trailer | Broadcast and streaming begins July 7, 2026 (Tue) - YouTube

Anime 'PSYREN' Teaser PV #2 - YouTube

Accept Saya as a cat [VOICEROID Theater] - Nico Nico Douga