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.
NAHA, Japan (AP) — Typhoon Mawar appeared to be losing force as it headed Wednesday toward Japan's Okinawa Islands, where the United States maintains a significant military presence, after largely skirting Taiwan and the Philippines.
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.
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.
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.
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.
On debt ceiling, Biden, McCarthy to meet Monday as negotiators ‘keep working’ to resolve standoff
May 22, 2023 GMTPresident Joe Biden says Republicans in the U.S. House must move off their “extreme positions” on the now-stalled talks over raising America’s debt limit and that there will be no agreement to avert a catastrophic default only on their terms.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
TOKYO (AP) — About 1,500 trees were cut down to build the $1.4 billion National Stadium for the Tokyo Olympics.
Almost two years after the Games ended, the graceful stadium sits largely unused, has no major tenant, and could cost taxpayers a reported $15 million annually in upkeep.
TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares were trading mixed Wednesday as Japan's benchmark jumped on the news of solid economic growth data, while the rest of the region was mired in uncertainty.
Japan’s economy rebounds on healthy consumption as COVID restrictions ease, tourists arrive
May 17, 2023 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Japan’s economy grew at an annual pace of 1.6% in the quarter through March as private demand rebounded after COVID-19-related restrictions were eased, according to data released Wednesday.
Defense ministers from Japan, China inaugurate hotline to avoid clashes, build trust
May 16, 2023 GMTTOKYO (AP) — The Japanese and Chinese defense ministers inaugurated their long-awaited hotline on Tuesday as a step to build trust and improve communication at a time when Japan and other neighbors are concerned about Beijing’s increasingly assertive military activities.
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Monday there's been “no progress” on debt ceiling talks ahead of a meeting with President Joe Biden on Tuesday at the White House, as the country pushes closer to a crisis over the need to raise its legal borrowing limit.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol met with Japanese business leaders on Monday and called for expanded technology cooperation between the countries, which he described as a key element in broader efforts to improve relations.
Guest nations at the G-7 reflect outreach to developing countries, worries over China, Russia
May 15, 2023 GMTTOKYO (AP) — This week's summit of the Group of Seven wealthy democracies in Hiroshima will include eight other guest nations, part of a complicated, high-stakes diplomatic gambit meant to settle the world's most serious crises.
China and Russia are increasing their military collaboration, Japan’s foreign minister warns
May 13, 2023 GMTSTOCKHOLM (AP) — Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi expressed concern Saturday about Russian and Chinese military cooperation in Asia and said the security situation in Europe could not be separated from that in the Indo-Pacific region since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
G7 finance leaders vow to contain inflation, strengthen supply chains but avoid mention of China
May 13, 2023 GMTNIIGATA, Japan (AP) — The Group of Seven’s top financial leaders united Saturday in their support for Ukraine and their determination to enforce sanctions against Russia for its aggression but stopped short of any overt mention of China.
G-7 talks focus on ways to fortify banks, supply chains as China accuses group of hypocrisy
May 12, 2023 GMTNIIGATA, Japan (AP) — Bank runs, cyber security and building more reliable supply chains to ensure economic security were among items on the agenda of closed-door financial talks Friday in Japan by the Group of Seven advanced economies.
NIIGATA, Japan (AP) — After dozens of standoffs with Congress over government spending in recent decades, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Thursday that in her opinion, the United States should adopt a different system for national finances.
G7 finance ministers to vow support for Ukraine, seek ways to spur global economy as debt risks loom
May 11, 2023 GMTNIIGATA, Japan (AP) — Financial leaders of the Group of Seven advanced economies are discussing ways to support Ukraine and pressure Russia to end the war as they meet in Japan starting Thursday.
Ukraine's finance minister, Serhiy Marchenko, was participating online in the first session of the G-7 talks in Niigata, a port city on the Japan Sea coast.
TOKYO (AP) — An earthquake shook Japan's capital, Tokyo, and surrounding areas on Thursday, injuring several people and causing minor damage, officials and media said.
The quake had a 5.4 magnitude and its epicenter was in Chiba prefecture, southeast of Tokyo, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
Japan, South Korea partnership funds to go to chips, energy
May 10, 2023 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Top business leaders from Japan and South Korea announced Wednesday they will use a fund meant to underscore the two countries' burgeoning ties to strengthen their cooperation in energy, industry and other sectors.
Japan, US, S. Korea discuss sharing of N. Korea missile data
May 10, 2023 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Japan, the United States and South Korea are negotiating an agreement on sharing real-time data on North Korean missile launches, as cooperation among the three nations becomes increasingly important amid growing nuclear and missile threats from the North, Japan’s chief government spokesperson said Tuesday.
Yoon, Kishida vow better Seoul-Tokyo ties following summit
May 8, 2023 GMTSEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Monday called for officials to map out specific steps to hasten security and economic cooperation with Japan following his weekend summit in Seoul with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
Japan leader expresses sympathy for Korean colonial victims
May 8, 2023 GMTSEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Japan’s prime minister expressed sympathy for the suffering of Korean forced laborers during Japan’s colonial rule, as he and his South Korean counterpart Sunday renewed their resolve to overcome historical grievances and strengthen cooperation in the face of shared challenges such as North Korea’s nuclear program.
Strong quake in central Japan; 1 dead, more than 20 injured
May 6, 2023 GMTTOKYO (AP) — A strong, shallow earthquake hit central Japan on Friday afternoon, killing at least one person and injuring more than 20 others and disrupting plans for holidaymakers.
The magnitude 6.2 quake struck Ishikawa prefecture on the west coast of Japan's main island of Honshu, the U.S.
Skinner scratched from Kentucky Derby; field of 19 to run
May 5, 2023 GMTLOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Skinner has become the latest horse to be scratched from the Kentucky Derby.
Trainer John Shirreffs said Friday the California-based colt has an elevated temperature.
With the defection of Skinner, the field for the 149th Derby on Saturday is down to 19 horses.
Bauer a celebrity in Japan despite sexual assault claims
May 2, 2023 GMTYOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) — Trevor Bauer will pitch his first official game for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars on Wednesday and, to promote the start, a local department store is to unveil a seven-story poster of the former Cy Young Award winner on its facade.
Captain Sakate says local league gives Japan World Cup boost
May 1, 2023 GMTNational captain Atsushi Sakate believes the improved standard of the Japanese professional league will help the Brave Blossoms’ preparation for the Rugby World Cup in France this year.
Japan’s buildup will be more limited than in 2019 when it hosted the World Cup and reached the quarterfinals for the first time after beating Ireland and Scotland in the group stage.
Japan ocean policy vows tougher security amid China threat
April 28, 2023 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Japan adopted a new five-year ocean policy on Friday that calls for stronger maritime security, including bolstering its coast guard's capability and cooperation with the military as China grows increasingly assertive in regional seas.
Japan to lift COVID-19 border controls before holiday week
April 28, 2023 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Japan will lift most of its coronavirus border controls, including a requirement that entrants show proof of three vaccinations or a pre-departure negative test, beginning Saturday as the country’s Golden Week holiday season begins and a large influx of foreign tourists is expected.
Today in History: April 28, Mussolini is executed
April 28, 2023 GMTToday in History
Today is Friday, April 28, the 118th day of 2023. There are 247 days left in the year.
Youngkin in Japan to forge supply chains with ‘friends’
April 27, 2023 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, in a bid to lure more Japanese chip makers to invest in his state, said Thursday he hopes to forge “trusted supply chain relationships” with U.S. allies and friends to create supply chains that are not China-dependent.
When told of Kishida attack, safety chief kept eating eel
April 26, 2023 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Japan's public safety chief has come under fire for his remark that he enjoyed eel rice so much that he kept eating after his agency informed him of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's narrow escape from a pipe bomb attack two weeks ago.
Biden to visit Japan, Australia for meetings with allies
April 26, 2023 GMTPresident Joe Biden will visit Japan and Australia next month to huddle with allies on their continued response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine as well as ways to confront China's assertive economic and military moves in the Indo-Pacific region, the White House announced Tuesday.
Suspicious object halts trains in Japanese city hosting G-7
April 25, 2023 GMTTOKYO (AP) — A suspicious object found Tuesday in a paper bag inside a commercial building connected to the Hiroshima train station temporarily suspended the high-speed train service and prompted an evacuation of customers and employees, as the Japanese city steps up security ahead of the Group of Seven summit next month.
Florida gov in Japan ahead of expected US presidential bid
April 24, 2023 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was in Japan on Monday to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and other officials as part of his four-nation trade mission seen as an attempt by the expected Republican presidential candidate to improve his diplomatic profile.
Japan LGBTQ groups urge government to guarantee equality
April 21, 2023 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Japanese LGBTQ activist groups delivered a statement to the government on Friday urging that Japan enact an anti-discrimination law and legalize same-sex marriages ahead of a summit of the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations being hosted by Japan in May.
North Korea calls its nukes ‘stark reality,’ criticizes G-7
April 21, 2023 GMTSEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea’s foreign minister on Friday called the Group of Seven wealthy democracies a “tool for ensuring the U.S. hegemony” as she lambasted the group’s recent call for the North’s denuclearization.
Japan PM denounces attack, vows security review before G7
April 20, 2023 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida denounced a pipe bomb attack at a campaign event he attended last weekend and pledged to review security procedures to ensure safety for dignitaries visiting the country for the Group of Seven summit he will host in May.
Trade envoy Tai says US not seeking to ‘decouple’ from China
April 20, 2023 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Washington is not seeking to decouple the American economy from China’s, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said Thursday while on a visit to Tokyo.
Tai, who is on her fourth visit to Japan after being appointed the top U.S.
US trade rep seeks close economic security ties in Asia
April 20, 2023 GMTTOKYO (AP) — The United States hopes to deepen trade ties with Japan as it fortifies cooperation on economic security with its Asian allies and partners, the top U.S. trade envoy said Thursday.
Suspect in Japan PM attack may have had election grudge
April 19, 2023 GMTTOKYO (AP) — A 24-year-old man who allegedly threw an explosive at Prime Minister Fumio Kishida wanted to be a politician and believed that he was unfairly blocked from running for Japan's parliament by an age requirement, according to media reports and social media posts that appeared to be his.
US, Japan plant White House cherry tree to mark friendship
April 18, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Stepping gingerly over the lawn in their spiky heels, first lady Jill Biden and Yuko Kishida, the wife of Japan's prime minister, planted a cherry tree at the White House on Monday to honor decades of friendship between their countries.
Lack of security for Japanese prime minister surprised many
April 17, 2023 GMTWAKAYAMA, Japan (AP) — The fishermen who tackled the man suspected of the second attack on a Japanese political leader in less than a year were surprised by the lack of security for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
2 bodies lifted from sea after Japan army helicopter crash
April 17, 2023 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Japan’s military recovered two bodies of the 10 crew members on an army helicopter that sunk to the bottom of the sea after presumably crashing off a southern Japanese island 11 days ago.
G-7 talks may measure allies’ reaction to US documents leak
April 16, 2023 GMTHANOI (AP) — While the Biden administration sees minimal damage from the disclosure of highly classified documents related to the war in Ukraine and U.S. views of its allies and partners, that assessment will get its first real test when U.S.