WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the U.S. declaration of North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism (all times local): 2 p.m. The United States has issued new sanctions on four Chinese trading companies and a Chinese national said to have conducted hundreds of millions of dollars in business with North Korea. The … Continue reading
CLARK, Philippines (AP) — Japan’s defense minister asserted Monday that North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities have grown to an “unprecedented, critical and imminent” level, requiring “different responses” to the threat. The minister, Itsunori Odonera, said that this rising threat compels his country to endorse the U.S. view that “all options” must be considered, … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump will ask U.S. allies to pressure North Korea on its nuclear program in an upcoming trip to the Asia-Pacific region. He’ll also meet with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Trump has praised Duterte for his deadly war on drugs that has left thousands dead, according to a leaked transcript … Continue reading
YOKOSUKA, Japan (AP) — The mother of a U.S. Navy sailor said her son kept diving to try to save his shipmates after a collision at sea until their flooded sleeping berth began running out of air pockets, while other survivors — believing their ship was under attack — hurried to man the guns. Mia … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump chose simple over swanky this Father’s Day weekend. Nearly five months into his presidency, Trump flew for the first time Saturday to Camp David, the government-owned retreat in Maryland’s Catoctin Mountains. A frequent weekend traveler, Trump has favored his palatial residences in Florida and New Jersey over the wooded … Continue reading
TOKYO (AP) — Sony Music Japan apologized Tuesday after a popular Japanese all-girls band came under fire for performing in outfits resembling Nazi-era German military uniforms. The mostly teenage members of Keyakizaka46 appeared at an Oct. 22 concert in black knee-length dresses that look like military overcoats, and black capes and officer caps with a … Continue reading
TOKYO (AP) — A granddaughter of Japan’s Emperor Akihito is not feeling well and has missed school for a month. Palace officials said Wednesday the 14-year-old Princess Aiko has been staying home since Sept. 26, after complaining of stomach problems and dizziness attributed to fatigue from studying for exams and practicing for an athletic event … Continue reading
LONDON (AP) — Technology stocks led a broad reverse in global markets on Wednesday after Samsung downgraded its profit estimates and networks company Ericsson warned on its outlook. Investors will later look to the minutes of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s last meeting for hints on how quickly interest rates might be raised. KEEPING SCORE: In … Continue reading
STOCKHOLM (AP) — Japanese biologist Yoshinori Ohsumi won the Nobel Prize in medicine on Monday, Sept. 26th, for discoveries on how cells break down and recycle content, a garbage disposal system that scientists hope to harness in the fight against cancer, Alzheimer’s and other diseases. The Karolinska Institute honored Ohsumi for “brilliant experiments” in the … Continue reading
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The latest on the high-level U.N. General Assembly meetings (all times local): 3:40 p.m. The leaders of small Pacific nations are giving emotional tributes to Ban Ki-moon for becoming the first U.N. chief to visit their part of the world in seven decades. Their speeches have been tinged with concern about … Continue reading
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are rising Wednesday morning, following global markets higher, as investors wait for the Federal Reserve to conclude a policy meeting. The Bank of Japan didn’t change its policies much. Energy and metals prices are rising as the dollar gets a bit weaker. KEEPING SCORE: The Dow Jones industrial average … Continue reading
LONDON (AP) — Stock rose and the dollar fell on Friday after a key report showed the U.S. economy added slightly fewer jobs than expected in August, making it potentially less likely that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates already this month. KEEPING SCORE: Britain’s FTSE 100 was up 0.8 percent at 6,802 while … Continue reading
TOKYO (AP) — Although he’s behind one of the biggest fashion brands to come out of Japan, Issey Miyake detests being called a fashion designer. Maybe a designer, even a sculptor, but not that frivolous, trend-watching, conspicuous consumption known as fashion. What he has pursued since he started in the 1970s is more timeless. His down-to-earth clothing is meant to … Continue reading
MINAMIASO, Japan (AP) — Japan’s southern quake-hit area was rattled by a strong aftershock Tuesday and searchers found a woman’s body buried under landslide rubble, raising the death toll from the twin earthquakes to 45. More than 100,000 evacuees, some sleeping in their cars and others in gymnasiums or community centers, were bracing for another … Continue reading
TOKYO (AP) — The operator of Japan’s destroyed Fukushima nuclear plant switched on a giant refrigeration system on Thursday to create an unprecedented underground ice wall around its damaged reactors. Radioactive water has been flowing from the reactors, and other methods have failed to fully control it. The decontamination and decommissioning of the plant, damaged … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — In the face of mounting threats from North Korea, President Barack Obama on Thursday urged closer security ties among its chief allies in Asia and increased cooperation with strategic rival China to discourage Pyongyang from further advances in nuclear weapons. As world leaders gathered for a nuclear security summit, Obama first met … Continue reading
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks moved little in early trading as investors weighed a report on unemployment benefits and corporate news. Oil prices posted another strong gain Thursday, lifting energy stocks. The Labor Department reported that applications for unemployment benefits rose slightly last week, but they remain at levels consistent with a healthy job … Continue reading
U.S. stocks opened higher, seeking their first gain this week, as beaten-down energy and financial companies rebounded. Banks rose Friday after Deutsche Bank offered to buy more than $5 billion in bonds. Its shares were up 9 percent. JP Morgan Chase was up 5 percent. Oil jumped 6 percent, helping to lift energy company shares. … Continue reading
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — European stocks fell Monday amid ongoing jitters over the Chinese economy following weak manufacturing data. Japanese stocks, however, extended gains following the Bank of Japan’s decision last week to introduce a negative interest rate policy to boost lending and spur growth. KEEPING SCORE: Europe got off to a weak start with … Continue reading
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Philippine President Benigno Aquino III gave a red-carpet welcome to Japan’s emperor Wednesday in a sign of blossoming ties between the two nations, both mired in territorial disputes with China, while further moving past painful memories of Japan’s World War II aggression. Aquino and Emperor Akihito held talks at Manila’s Malacanang … Continue reading
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — President Barack Obama promised that Islamic extremists would find no safe haven anywhere, while the leader of Muslim-majority Malaysia branded the Islamic State group as a “new evil” that has blasphemed the religion, and urged world leaders to confront it forcefully. Obama and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak were speaking … Continue reading
TOKYO (AP) — An explosion Monday damaged a public restroom at a controversial shrine in Tokyo that honors Japanese war dead, with police suspecting foul play. No one was injured. The Yasukuni shrine, which honors 2.5 million Japanese war dead, including executed war criminals, has been the target of criticism from China and South Korea, … Continue reading
CAMP FOSTER, Japan (AP) — Pittsburgh and Gonzaga made a long trip to Japan to play a college basketball game. It must have seemed a lot longer when they only got to play 20 minutes. The Armed Forces Classic between No. 9 Gonzaga and the Panthers was canceled at halftime because of slippery conditions on … Continue reading
HONG KONG (AP) — Asian stocks slid Friday following sharp losses on Wall Street as a slump in commodities markets deterred investors from riskier assets and expectations grew that the U.S. would soon move to raise interest rates. KEEPING SCORE: Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index fell 0.8 percent to 19,534.97 while South Korea’s Kospi shed … Continue reading
NEW YORK (AP) — A deepening slump in prices for oil, metals and other commodities sent stock prices lower on Thursday. Major market indexes opened lower and the selling accelerated as the day wore on. The drop in oil and metals prices hurt mining, metals and energy stocks. Stocks began sliding early this month and … Continue reading
Spartan Echo 