By MARI YAMAGUCHI, Associated Press

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s Cabinet on Friday approved a record defense budget plan exceeding 9 trillion yen ($58 billion) for the coming year, aiming to fortify its strike-back capability and coastal defense with cruise missiles and unmanned arsenals as tensions rise in the region.

The draft budget for fiscal 2026, beginning April, is up 9.4% from 2025 and marks the fourth year of Japan’s ongoing five-year program to double annual arms spending to 2% of gross domestic product.

“It is the minimum needed as Japan faces the severest and most complex security environment in the postwar era,” Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said, stressing his country’s determination to pursue military buildup and protect its people.

“It does not change our path as a peace-loving nation,” he said.

The increase comes as Japan faces elevated tension from China. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said in November that her country’s military could get involved if China were to take action against Taiwan, the self-governing island that Beijing says must come under its rule.

FILE – Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, speaks during a news conference at the prime minister’s office in Tokyo, Japan, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025. (Kiyoshi Ota/Pool Photo via AP, File)

Takaichi’s government, under U.S. pressure for a military increase, pledged to achieve the 2% target by March, two years earlier than planned. Japan also plans to revise its ongoing security and defense policy by December 2026 to further strengthen its military.

Missiles and drones will add to southwestern island defense

Japan has been bolstering its offensive capability with long-range missiles to attack enemy targets from a distance, a major break from its post-World War II principle limiting the use of force to its own self-defense.

The current security strategy, adopted in 2022, names China as the country’s biggest strategic challenge and calls for a more offensive role for Japan’s Self-Defense Force under its security alliance with the U.S.

The new budget plan allocates more than $6.2 billion to bolster Japan’s “standoff” missile capability. It includes a $1.13 billion purchase of domestically developed and upgraded Type-12 surface-to-ship missiles with a range of about 620 miles.

The first batch of the Type-12 missiles will be deployed in Japan’s southwestern Kumamoto prefecture by March, a year earlier than planned, as Japan accelerates its missile buildup in the region.

In part due to Japan’s aging and declining population and its struggles with an understaffed military, the government believes unmanned weapons are essential.

To defend the coasts, Japan will spend $640 million to deploy “massive” unmanned air, sea-surface and underwater drones for surveillance and defense under a system called “SHIELD” planned for March 2028, defense ministry officials said.

For speedier deployment, Japan initially plans to rely mainly on imports, possibly from Turkey or Israel.

Tension with China grows

The budget announcement comes as Japan’s row with China escalates following Takaichi’s remark in November about Taiwan.

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The disagreement escalated this month when Chinese aircraft carrier drills near southwestern Japan prompted Tokyo to protest when Chinese aircraft locked their radar on Japanese aircraft, which is considered possible preparation for firing missiles.

The Defense Ministry, already alarmed by China’s rapid expansion of operations in the Pacific, will open a new office dedicated to studying operations, equipment and other necessities for Japan to deal with China’s Pacific activity.

Two Chinese aircraft carriers were spotted in June almost simultaneously operating near the southern Japanese island of Iwo Jima for the first time, fueling Tokyo’s concern about Beijing’s rapidly expanding military activity far beyond its borders and areas around the disputed East China Sea islands.

In Beijing, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said the Takaichi government has “noticeably accelerated its pace of military buildup and expansion” since taking office.

“Japan is deviating from the path of peaceful development it has long claimed to uphold and is moving further and further in a dangerous direction,” Lin said.

Japan plans joint development of frigates and jets

Japan is pushing to strengthen its largely domestic defense industry by participating in joint development with friendly nations and promoting foreign sales after drastically easing arms export restrictions in recent years.

For 2026, Japan plans to spend more than $1 billion to jointly develop a next-generation fighter jet with Britain and Italy for deployment in 2035. There are also plans for research and development of Artificial Intelligence-operated drones designed to fly with the jet.

In a major boost to the country’s defense industry, Australia selected Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in August to upgrade the Mogami-class frigate to replace its fleet of 11 ANZAC-class ships.

Japan’s budget allocates nearly $64 million to support industry base and arms sales.

Meeting targets but future funding uncertain

The budget plan requires parliamentary approval by March to be implemented as part of a $784 billion national budget bill.

The five-year defense buildup program would bring Japan’s annual spending to around $64 billion, making it the world’s third-largest spender after the U.S. and China. Japan will clear the 2% target by March as promised, the Finance Ministry said.

Takaichi’s government plans to fund its growing military spending by raising corporate and tobacco taxes and recently adopted a plan for an income tax increase beginning 2027. Prospects for future growth at a higher percentage of GDP remain unclear.

PHOENIX — The Gophers will be shorthanded at receiver and cornerback for the Rate Bowl against New Mexico at Chase Field on Friday.

Senior wideout Le’Meke Brockington, who led Minnesota with 46 receptions and 484 yards, has opted out in preparations for the NFL draft in April. He is the only clear Gopher to forgo a chance to play in the bowl game.

A year ago, the Gophers had six players opt out of the Duke’s Mayo Bowl win over Virginia Tech in Charlotte.

This year Minnesota unfolded a clause in players’ revenue sharing contracts with a payment for being on the active roster for the bowl game. That could be helping keep some of the roster intact.

Besides Brockington, Minnesota has had five receivers announce intent to enter the transfer portal over the next month. With the portal opening in less than a week, Jan. 2,  most of them are not with the team in Arizona.

No. 2 and 3 wideouts, Javon Tracy and Jalen Smith, are active, with Bradley Martino, Logan Loya and Donielle Hayes contenders to get more time. Safety Koi Perich is a candidate to play more both ways; the sophomore had three receptions for 55 yards and three rushes for 11 yards this season.

In the secondary, cornerbacks Za’Quan Bryan and Jai’Onte’ McMillan were listed as out on the Gophers’ unavailability report issued two hours before kickoff.

Without Bryan in the Wisconsin game on Nov. 29, safety Aidan Gousby played corner in the 17-7 win over the Badgers. Against the Lobos, Gousby and Mike Gerald are candidates to play opposite John Nestor.

The Gophers had a total of 16 players listed as out: running back A.J. Turner (out for season; knee), defensive tackle Mo Omonode (season; back), linebacker Joey Gerlach (season; knee) and defensive tackle Theorin Randle (foot).

Minnesota is also without third and fourth-string quarterbacks Dylan Wittke and Emmett Morehead. With Jackson Kollock going into the portal, the third string QB is unknown behind starter Drake Lindsey and Max Shikenjanski.

The Gophers were also without offensive lineman Kahlee Tafai and Aluma Nkele; defnesive backs Simon Seidlnand Evan Redding; linebacker Drew Wilson; kicker Sam Henson; defensive tackle Sam Macy.

Minnesota listed safety Garrison Monroe and offensive lineman Daniel Shipp as questionable.

By MICHAEL R. SISAK and LARRY NEUMEISTER, Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Two sisters testified at Harvey Weinstein’s most recent criminal trial. Kaja Sokola accused the disgraced movie mogul of sexual assault. Ewa Sokola was called as a witness to boost her claims, but ultimately ended up helping the defense.

Now, Ewa Sokola is suing Kaja for defamation, alleging in a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Manhattan federal court that the psychotherapist and ex-model’s public remarks amount to libel and are damaging Ewa’s reputation and business as a cardiologist in Poland.

Ewa Sokola says that her younger sister has made false statements subjecting her to public hatred, shame, contempt, ridicule, ostracism and disgrace in Wrocław, Poland. She seeks unspecified damages.

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Messages seeking comment were left for Kaja Sokola’s lawyers and spokesperson on Thursday and Friday.

In a split verdict in June, Weinstein was convicted of forcibly performing oral sex on film and television production assistant and producer Miriam Haley and acquitted on a charge involving Kaja Sokola’s allegations of similar conduct. Both women said they were assaulted in 2006.

The judge declared a mistrial on the final charge, alleging Weinstein raped former actor Jessica Mann, after the jury foreperson declined to deliberate further.

Weinstein has not yet been sentenced as a judge weighs a defense request to throw out the verdict after two jurors told Weinstein’s lawyers that other jurors had bullied them into convicting him. Judge Curtis Farber is expected to rule on Jan. 8.

Kaja Sokola has said her sister’s testimony at Weinstein’s state court trial in New York earlier this year undermined her own testimony that he forced oral sex at a Manhattan hotel just before her 20th birthday.

Weinstein had arranged for Kaja Sokola to be an extra for a day in the film “The Nanny Diaries,” and separately agreed to meet her and Ewa. After they chatted, she testified, Weinstein told her he had a script to show her in his hotel room, and she went up with him. There, she said, Weinstein pushed her onto a bed and assaulted her.

After the trial, Kaja Sokola criticized her sister’s testimony, saying that though she was called as a prosecution witness, she ended up serving Weinstein’s cause by providing his lawyers with a journal in which she wrote about the men who had sexually assaulted her in her life but did not include Weinstein.

According to the lawsuit, Kaja Sokola repeatedly characterized her sister’s testimony as a personal “betrayal” and falsely accused her of omitting journals in which she described what happened with Weinstein.

The lawsuit also said Kaja Sokola had falsely accused Ewa Sokola of homicide, theft, falsification of medical records, sexual impropriety and immoral conduct, and of colluding with Weinstein’s defense team.

The lawsuit said Kaja Sokola’s false claims have cost Ewa Sokola referrals and led to a reduction in patients and employees for her medical practice while damaging her professional reputation and her standing within the medical community.

The moment will forever live in infamy for every scorned Vikings fan still seeking that elusive Lombardi Trophy.

On Dec. 28, 1975, the Vikings led the Dallas Cowboys in the final minute of a Divisional Round playoff game. That’s when Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach dropped back to pass and launched a ball to the heavens.

As it plummeted back down to earth, Cowboys receiver Drew Pearson gave what some believe was a subtle shove to the back of Vikings cornerback Nate Wright, providing himself the separation necessary to catch a touchdown pass that proved to be the difference.

Asked about the play afterwards, Staubach said, “I closed my eyes and said a Hail Mary.”

That birthed the term still used today to succinctly describe a desperation heave.

It’s been 50 years since the Hail Mary, and while it’s long been the subject of much debate, yes, the Vikings still think the Cowboys pushed off.

The Pioneer Press tracked down some important figures from the sequence to get their perspective.

As the person at the epicenter of the controversy, Wright, 78, can still relay the particulars of the play with clarity.

“He was running a go route,” Wright said. “I was running with him. I saw the flight of the ball and I was going to try to take it at the highest point. As I began to jump, I found myself on the ground.”

Those words speak for themselves as far as Wright is concerned. He had jumped in the air many times throughout his rise up the ranks. He knows he wouldn’t have immediately ended up on the ground unless somebody helped him get there.

“It happened so fast,” Wright said. “I was in shock.”

As he laid hopelessly on the natural grass at the old Metropolitan Stadium — frankly, it more like natural dirt — he remembers seeing something fly by out of the corner of his eye. He hoped it was the official stepping in to make the right call. It was actually an orange that somebody had thrown from the stands.

“I thought it was a flag,” Wright said. “Obviously, it wasn’t a flag.”

Vikings tight end Stu Voigt, 77, still stands by his original assessment that he gathered from the sideline.

“My stance is the same as everybody else,” Voigt said with a laugh. “That it was a push off.”

He quickly followed up with a fact that supersedes opinion.

“It doesn’t really matter what we think,” Voigt said. “It still goes down as a loss for us.”

In a recent article published by ESPN, Vikings safety Paul Krause, 83, noted divine intervention had nothing to do with the Hail Mary, saying, “They just pushed off and they won the game.” He added that it still makes his blood boil 50 years later, even if some of his former teammates have decided to let bygones be bygones.

“It wears on me,” Krause told ESPN. “It was so wrong. I don’t want to come to peace with it. It took a championship away from us.”

That’s the hardest part for many people to stomach.

On a legendary run through the 1970s that included a few trips to the Super Bowl, the group that the Vikings put together in 1975 might have been the best of the bunch. Not only did Vikings quarterback Fran Tarkenton win MVP, the Purple People Eaters were still very much at the peak of their powers.

If the Vikings beat the Cowboys, maybe would’ve gone on to beat the Los Angeles Rams to advance to the Super Bowl. If the Vikings beat the Rams, maybe they would’ve gone on to be the Pittsburgh Steelers to win the Super Bowl.

That’s why the Hail Mary was so damaging in hindsight.

“It wasn’t a play from heaven for us,” Voigt said. “It was more like a play from hell.”

As he reflected on the Hail Mary almost exactly 50 years later, Vikings cornerback Bobby Bryant, 81, noted that it’s a shame Wright has been defined by that play despite the fact that his career was so much more than that.

“I felt really bad for him, because he was such a good player,” Bryant said. “To have a play like that go against him was really unfortunate. He was as good as they come. He just did his job and did it very well.”

Asked if he still thinks about the Hail Mary, Bryant couldn’t help but laugh.

“No, I haven’t thought about it since the last time we talked,” Bryant said. “I don’t think about it at all. I doubt Nate thinks about it, either. This life is way too short for us to be dwelling on stuff like that.”

Wright now lives in a retirement community on the outskirts of Tucson, Ariz. He’s taken a liking to collecting antiques in his spare time and made it very clear that he doesn’t think about the Hail Mary.

“I’ve moved on from it,” Wright said. “You learn to block stuff out as a cornerback so that’s kind of been the way I’ve handled it.”

He paused for a few seconds before acknowledging irony of that statement while on the phone talking about the play he’s been intentional about leaving in the past.

“It still lingers on,” Wright said. “That’s what I’m remembered as. I’m the guy in the Hail Mary that ended up on the ground. That’s the way it goes.”

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