Australian PM Albanese stresses need for diplomacy, guardrails in dealing with China
June 2, 2023 GMTSINGAPORE (AP) — As tensions grow between the United States and China in the Asia-Pacific, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told a gathering of top defense officials Friday that open channels of communication are critical for preserving peace, while also advocating effective deterrence.
Young Kabuki actor’s debut breaks Japanese theater traditions
June 2, 2023 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Ten-year-old Maholo Terajima Ghnassia loves watching anime and playing baseball. He likes making beats and whisper ASMR. And he's breaking conventions in Japan’s 420-year-old Kabuki theater tradition.
US defense chief calls China’s refusal to meet unfortunate during visit to Tokyo for talks
June 1, 2023 GMTTOKYO (AP) — U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stressed the importance of communication during a stopover Thursday in Tokyo, calling it unfortunate that his Chinese counterpart is refusing to meet him at an upcoming annual security conference in Singapore, which both men are attending.
Toyota debuts hydrogen-fueled Corolla race car as auto racing begins shift away from gas guzzlers
June 1, 2023 GMTOYAMA, Japan (AP) — In a sprawling circuit near Mount Fuji, a humble Corolla running on liquid hydrogen has made its racing debut, part of a move to bring the futuristic technology into the racing world and to demonstrate Toyota’s resolve to develop green vehicles.
NAHA, Japan (AP) — A weakened Tropical Storm Mawar headed toward Japan's southern archipelago of Okinawa on Thursday, leading businesses and the airport to close and fishermen to batten down their boats in preparation.
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — A priceless 16th century Italian painting that was looted by Nazi Germany during World War II and discovered in Japan has been returned to Poland, authorities in Warsaw said Wednesday.
North Korea’s failed satellite launch triggers public confusion, security jitters in neighbors
May 31, 2023 GMTSEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea’s launch of a spy satellite on Wednesday ended in an embarrassing failure, but still prompted public confusion and security jitters in neighboring South Korea and Japan, which are wary of the North’s growing weapons arsenal.
OYAMA, Japan (AP) — Eri Yoshida sat in the dugout of an all-dirt baseball field in rural Japan, surrounded by rice paddies, narrow roads, and traditional Japanese houses.
The scene recalled instantly the 1989 film “Field of Dreams" — Asian style — and Yoshida certainly has her own.
Japanese court says government’s policy against same-sex marriage is unconstitutional
May 30, 2023 GMTTOKYO (AP) — A Japanese court ruled Tuesday that the government's policy against same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, in a closely watched decision that supporters say is a step toward marriage equality.
Japan PM’s son to resign after public outrage over private party at official residence
May 30, 2023 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Monday his son is resigning as his executive policy secretary to take responsibility for using the prime minister’s residence for a private party at which the merrymaking was exposed in magazine photos that triggered public outrage.
TOKYO (AP) — North Korea on Monday notified neighboring Japan that it plans to launch a satellite in coming days, which may be an attempt to put its first military reconnaissance satellite into orbit.
NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. (AP) — Pajaree Anannarukarn of Thailand capped off the longest week on the LPGA Tour with a 3-and-1 victory Sunday to win the Bank of Hope LPGA Match Play over Ayaka Furue of Japan.
OYAMA, Japan (AP) — The 24 Hours of Le Mans, the world's most famous endurance race, will be open to hydrogen-powered cars starting in 2026, Pierre Fillon, the president of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest, said Saturday.
Suspect in killing of 4 people, including 2 police officers, in Japan captured after standoff
May 26, 2023 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Police said they arrested a man Friday who had holed up in his father's house armed with a rifle and a knife after allegedly killing four people, including two police officers, in central Japan.
Japan nuclear watchdog asks Fukushima plant operator to assess risk from reactor damage
May 25, 2023 GMTTOKYO (AP) — A nuclear watchdog has asked the operator of Japan’s wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant to assess possible risks resulting from damage that was found in a key supporting structure inside one of the three melted reactors.
Brazil cruises, Nigeria leads Group D after 2-0 win over Italy at Under-20 World Cup
May 24, 2023 GMTBUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Brazil trounced Dominican Republic 6-0 on Wednesday to keep alive its chances of advancing to the knockout stage of the Under-20 World Cup.
The Brazilians are 1-1 and three points behind unbeaten Group D leader Nigeria, which beat Italy 2-0.
South Korea experts say Japan carefully answered questions on plan to release radioactive water
May 24, 2023 GMTTOKYO (AP) — The head of a South Korean team of experts said Wednesday they saw all of the facilities they had requested to visit at Japan’s tsunami-wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant and Japanese officials had carefully answered their questions about a contentious plan to release treated but still slightly radioactive water into the sea, a sign of a further thawing of ties between the countries.
Japan to provide 100 military vehicles to Ukraine
May 24, 2023 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Japan held a ceremony on Wednesday marking its planned donation of about 100 military vehicles to Ukraine, as Tokyo seeks to provide equipment that can be of broader military use than its earlier shipments of helmets and hazmat suits.
Debt ceiling talks grind on, but Republicans say there’s a ‘lack of urgency’ from White House
May 24, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Debt ceiling talks showed few signs of outward progress Tuesday as negotiators for President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy traded more budget-cutting ideas but Republicans warned of a “lack of urgency” at the White House to resolve the standoff in time to avert a potentially chaotic federal default.
South Korean experts visit Fukushima nuclear plant before release of treated water into sea
May 23, 2023 GMTTOKYO (AP) — A team of South Korean government experts began a two-day tour of Japan's tsunami-wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant on Tuesday to examine a contentious plan to release treated but still slightly radioactive wastewater into the sea.
SYDNEY (AP) — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was welcomed by around 20,000 cheering fans, many chanting “Modi,” at a Sydney stadium on Tuesday during his second visit to Australia as his country's leader.
BERLIN (AP) — The German government on Monday rejected criticism that it pushed to weaken existing commitments for phasing out natural gas at a summit of leaders from the Group of Seven major industrialized democracies, saying the concluding statement is in line with international climate efforts.
CANBERRA, Australia: (AP) — Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he was working in the “most effective way possible” to secure the release of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, but declined an invitation Monday to meet the Australian citizen’s wife.
On debt ceiling, Biden, McCarthy to meet Monday as negotiators ‘keep working’ to resolve standoff
May 22, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — The White House and House Republicans wrapped up another round of debt ceiling talks Sunday as Washington races to strike a budget compromise along with a deal to raise the nation's borrowing limit and avert an economy-wrecking federal default.
World summits’ ‘family photos’ show Putin’s isolation
May 22, 2023 GMTThey're known as “family photos,” the images of world leaders posed in faux relaxation during global summits.
And like portraits of a family that has isolated a dysfunctional member, recent “family photos” from the G7 and G8 — the world's most industrialized nations — show how Russian President Vladimir Putin has been outcast.
HIROSHIMA, Japan (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that Russian forces weren't occupying Bakhmut, casting doubt on Moscow's insistence that the eastern Ukrainian city had fallen.
China tells tech manufacturers to stop using Micron chips, stepping up feud with United States
May 21, 2023 GMTBEIJING (AP) — Stepping up a feud with Washington over technology and security, China's government on Sunday told users of computer equipment deemed sensitive to stop buying products from the biggest U.S.
G7 ends with Ukraine in focus as Zelenskyy meets world leaders and Russia claims disputed gains
May 21, 2023 GMTHIROSHIMA, Japan (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy huddled with some of his biggest backers as the Group of Seven summit closed in Hiroshima on Sunday, building momentum for his country's war effort even as Russia claimed a battlefield victory that was quickly disputed by Ukraine.
Analysis: Japanese PM faces dilemma at G7 as he balances anti-nuke goals with reality of threats
May 21, 2023 GMTHIROSHIMA (AP) — 8:15 on the morning of Aug. 6, 1945.
It's a big reason leaders from the world's most powerful democracies descended on Hiroshima for this weekend's Group of Seven summit: Part commemoration, part effort to confront the continuing consequences of the moment a U.S.
Japan, South Korea leaders pray at memorial for Korean atomic bomb victims in Hiroshima
May 21, 2023 GMTHIROSHIMA, Japan (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol prayed together Sunday at a memorial for Korean victims of the 1945 atomic bombing in Hiroshima on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit, as they continued efforts to mend ties repeatedly hurt by disputes stemming from Japan's wartime brutality.
Biden, McCarthy to speak on debt limit; talks stalled as Republicans seek deep spending cuts
May 21, 2023 GMTHIROSHIMA, Japan (AP) — President Joe Biden planned on Sunday to speak directly with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, hoping to salvage talks to raise the debt limit that have stalled in recent days while he was abroad at the Group of Seven summit.
G7 ‘outreach’ an effort to build consensus on global issues like Ukraine, China, climate change
May 21, 2023 GMTHIROSHIMA, Japan (AP) — Leaders of the Group of Seven wealthy democracies have joined their counterparts from other countries during their summit in Japan to try to expand the G7’s sway and to include voices from the so-called Global South.
Biden aims to reassure world on US debt standoff as he consults with Indo-Pacific leaders
May 20, 2023 GMTHIROSHIMA, Japan (AP) — President Joe Biden tried to reassure world leaders on Saturday that the United States would not default as he consulted with the heads of Australia, Japan and India in a meeting of the so-called Quad partnership that had been hastily rescheduled because of the debt limit standoff back in Washington.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Debt limit talks between the White House and House Republicans stopped, started and stopped again Friday at the U.S.
HIROSHIMA, Japan (AP) — Japan announced Saturday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will travel to Japan to join Group of Seven leaders in a session on Ukraine.
Zelenskyy is expected to arrive in Hiroshima, the site of the world's first atomic attack in western Japan, later Saturday.
TOKYO (AP) — Toyota has found improper crash tests for a model and suspended shipments, in the latest in a series of embarrassing woes plaguing Japan’s top automaker.
The latest problem, disclosed late Friday, affects 56,111 Toyota Raize hybrid vehicles produced by Daihatsu Motor Co., a manufacturer specializing in small models that is wholly owned by Toyota.
Atomic bomb survivors look to G7 summit in Hiroshima as a ‘sliver of hope’ for nuclear disarmament
May 20, 2023 GMTHIROSHIMA, Japan (AP) — This weekend's summit of the Group of Seven leading industrial nations in Hiroshima provides a rare — and possibly final — chance for survivors of the atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to push for nuclear disarmament before a global audience.
Former Italian Premier Berlusconi leaves hospital after 45 days
May 19, 2023 GMTMILAN (AP) — Former Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi was discharged on Friday from a Milan hospital, nearly a month and a half after he was admitted with a lung infection.
Berlusconi waved at journalists from behind a closed window as his car drove away from the San Raffaele Hospital.
Britain unveils $1.2B strategy to boost computer chip industry
May 19, 2023 GMTLONDON (AP) — Britain's government unveiled its long-awaited semiconductor strategy Friday, catching up with similar efforts by Western allies seeking to reduce reliance on Asian production of the computer chips that are essential to modern life.
South Korea to send 21-member team to Japan to review discharge plans at Fukushima nuclear plant
May 19, 2023 GMTSEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea will send a 21-member team of government experts to Japan next week to visit the Fukushima nuclear power plant where they will review contentious Japanese plans to release treated but slightly radioactive water into the sea.
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Former All Black Charles Piutau has joined Shizuoka BlueRevs in Japan in the latest move in a rugby career which constantly has veered from convention.
Piutau was only 23 when he turned his back on the All Blacks to play in Britain, sending shockwaves through New Zealand rugby.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Negotiators from the White House labored Thursday over the U.S. debt limit with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's emissaries at the Capitol, grinding through head-to-head talks trying to strike a budget deal to avert a looming economic crisis.
Crews work to reach Italian towns isolated by floods as toll rises to 13 and cleanup begins
May 19, 2023 GMTFAENZA, Italy (AP) — Rescue crews worked Thursday to reach towns and villages in northern Italy still isolated by heavy rains and flooding, as the death toll rose to 13 and authorities began mapping out cleanup and reconstruction plans.
WASHINGTON (AP) — All the hand-wringing over a potential government default if Congress doesn't increase the government's $31.4 trillion debt ceiling has conjured up images of past government shutdowns.
Japan, Britain strike ‘historic accord’ on cooperation in defense, clean energy, semiconductors
May 18, 2023 GMTHIROSHIMA, Japan (AP) — Japan and Britain agreed Thursday to cooperate in a broad range of areas including defense, clean energy, cybersecurity and semiconductors.
The pact was announced as British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held talks ahead of the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima, Japan.
Biden, Japan’s Kishida meet ahead of G-7 summit, vowing to ‘stand strong’ against global threats
May 18, 2023 GMTHIROSHIMA, Japan (AP) — President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met Thursday aiming to showcase the strength of their alliance ahead of a Group of Seven summit where leading democracies will tackle the challenges of Russia’s war in Ukraine, North Korea’s ballistic nuclear threats and an increasingly forceful China.
Japan racks up trade deficit although exports gradually rebound
May 18, 2023 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Japan racked up a trade deficit in April, marking the 21st month in a row of deficits, although it declined dramatically compared to a year ago, as exports recovered, according to government data released Thursday.
Japan’s leader welcomes investment, exchanges to strengthen computer chip supply chain
May 18, 2023 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stressed that investment and international exchanges to strengthen the computer chip supply chain were welcome, as he met with the leaders of top computer chips makers Thursday.
Exceptional rains in drought-struck northern Italy kill 8, cancel Formula One Grand Prix
May 18, 2023 GMTCASTEL BOLOGNESE, Italy (AP) — Exceptional rains Wednesday in a drought-struck region of northern Italy swelled rivers over their banks, killing at least eight people, forcing the evacuation of thousands and prompting officials to warn that Italy needs a national plan to combat climate change-induced flooding.
Biden declares ‘America will not default,’ says he’s confident of budget deal with GOP lawmakers
May 17, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — An optimistic President Joe Biden declared Wednesday he is confident the U.S. will avoid an unprecedented and potentially catastrophic debt default, saying talks with congressional Republicans have been productive.
Business Highlights: Biden confident on budget deal; Target wrestles with spending pullback, theft
May 17, 2023 GMT___
Biden declares ‘America will not default,’ says he’s confident of budget deal with GOP lawmakers
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is declaring he’s confident the U.S. will avoid an unprecedented and potentially catastrophic debt default, saying talks with congressional Republicans have been productive.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The leaders of South Korea and Canada on Wednesday vowed to strengthen their security and economic cooperation to address challenges posed by North Korea and expand Canadian supplies of minerals crucial to South Korea’s technology industry as they held a summit in Seoul.
Debt limit progress as Biden, McCarthy name top negotiators to avert national default
May 17, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Debt-limit talks shifted into an encouraging new phase Tuesday as President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy named top emissaries to negotiate a deal to avert an unprecedented national default.
Biden scraps planned visit to Australia, Papua New Guinea to focus on debt limit talks
May 17, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Tuesday he's curtailing his upcoming trip to the Indo-Pacific, scrapping what was to be a historic stop in Papua New Guinea as well as a visit to Australia for a gathering with fellow leaders of the so-called Quad partnership so he can focus on debt limit talks in Washington.
G-7 leaders likely to focus on the war in Ukraine and tensions in Asia at summit in Hiroshima
May 17, 2023 GMTHIROSHIMA, Japan (AP) — The symbolism will be palpable when leaders of the world's rich democracies sit down in Hiroshima, a city whose name evokes the tragedy of war, to tackle a host of challenges including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and rising tensions in Asia.
Australia rules out Quad summit going ahead in Sydney without Biden, but Modi still plans visit
May 17, 2023 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has ruled out a Quad summit taking place in Sydney without President Joe Biden, saying the four leaders will talk at the Group of Seven meeting this weekend in Japan.
North Korea shows Kim Jong Un examining a military spy satellite that may be launched soon
May 17, 2023 GMTSEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un examined a finished military spy satellite, which his country is expected to launch soon, during a visit to an aerospace facility where he described space-based reconnaissance as crucial for countering the U.S.