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07/15/2016  'UDON DAY' CELEBRATION 
Thick noodles called "udon" are a local specialty of Kagawa Prefecture in western Japan. Producers expressed thanks for a bountiful harvest by presenting their traditional wheat noodles to a local shrine on July 2nd, known as "Udon Day".Representatives made offerings from this year's wheat harvest to a Shinto shrine in Takamatsu City. Local farmers in the region used to eat udon around this time of year to mark the end of rice planting.One thousand complimentary bowls of cold udon were given to visitors. The noodles were made with locally grown wheat. One representative explained that each udon restaurant has its own recipe. He said he hopes visitors enjoy the noodles at a restaurant of their choice.
07/14/2016  UK IRAQ WAR INQUIRY SLAMS BLAIR
A long-awaited report into Britain's decision to join the Iraq War in 2003 has delivered a scathing verdict. The independent inquiry has found that former Prime Minister Tony Blair did not accurately represent the threat, and it says he didn't give the risks and consequences enough consideration. The inquiry was launched by the British government and took seven years to complete. Its chairman, John Chilcot, said Wednesday the intervention went "badly wrong."(John Chilcot / Chairman, Iraq Inquiry)"We have concluded that the UK chose to join the invasion of Iraq before the peaceful options for disarmament had been exhausted. Military action at that time was not a last resort."The report denies there was a realistic threat from Iraqi weapons of mass destruction. That was the main justification the U.S. and Britain gave for invading Iraq.
07/13/2016  NASA PROBE REACHES JUPITER
A U.S. space agency probe has reached Jupiter after a journey of nearly five years. The probe will orbit the planet over the next 18 months.NASA's Juno probe was launched in August 2011. At around 3:53 Tuesday UTC, Juno completed entry into Jupiter's orbit after firing its main engine to slow down.It will use ultraviolet ray- and microwave-monitoring equipment to study the internal structure of Jupiter, which is described as a huge ball of gas. Juno will conduct observations from an altitude of 5,000 kilometers, the closest a probe has ever got to the planet's surface.Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system. It's believed to have been the first planet created when the solar system came into being. NASA says scientists are hoping that finding clues to Jupiter's origin will help uncover the mystery of how the solar system was created.
07/12/2016  RECREATING AN ANCIENT VOYAGE
Researchers are hoping to find out more about how their ancestors arrived in Japan. They're about to embark on a journey in a type of boat they think was used thousands of years ago.Archaeologists are studying how people sailed from Taiwan to the southern islands of Okinawa 30,000 years ago. They believe cattail grass was a possible material people used to make their vessels. The group used seashells to cut the grass. They then bound it together to make a boat that can carry around 10 people.Yonaguni in Okinawa is about 100 kilometers from Taiwan, the closest of Japan's islands. In recent years, researchers have unearthed the remains of people who lived there 30,000 years ago. DNA tests suggest that they may have come from regions south of Japan, including southern China. But the researchers have yet to find any stone tools for wood-working, so how the vessels were made remains a mystery.The team will make a 75-kilometer voyage next week between two Okinawan islands.
07/11/2016  STATE GUEST HOUSE PUTS OUT WELCOME MAT
People will soon be able to get a firsthand look at an outstanding example of traditional Japanese architecture whenever they like. The Kyoto State Guest House will be open all year round, starting July 21st.The building and the surrounding garden are designed to help state visitors learn about the culture and history of Japan. Until now, the guest house has been open to the public only about 10 days a year. Around 20,000 people visited when the government opened it on a trial basis during holidays in late April and early May. Government officials have decided to open the guest house to the public all year round, except when foreign dignitaries are staying there.Admission is about 10 dollars for adults, and five dollars for junior and senior high school students. The officials hope foreign tourists will include the guest house on their list of must-see attractions in Kyoto.
07/08/2016  WIDENED PANAMA CANAL OPENS
The Panama Canal has been widened, allowing bigger vessels to use the passageway between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.The opening ceremony for the expanded locks was held on Sunday. Their construction began in 2007 to allow the canal to handle larger ships. A Chinese container ship chosen by lottery became the first to enter the new locks. With the expansion, the locks are now able to accommodate ships up to 366 meters long and 49 meters wide. That is 17 meters wider than before.Another canal project is underway in Nicaragua. A Hong Kong-based Chinese company has been building a 280-kilometer-long canal since 2014 to link the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Heated competition is expected between these canals to attract shipping firms from around the globe.
07/07/2016  TEEN CHARGED WITH HACKING
Tokyo police have served a new arrest warrant to a 17-year-old boy. They say he admitted to hacking into the systems of a school board in southwestern Japan. The boy was previously brought to Tokyo and arrested for uploading illegal programs that gave people free access to pay TV.Police say they checked the boy's computer and other electronic devices at his home in Saga City, and they found a large amount of data they believe is from a senior high school in Saga Prefecture. It includes the names, addresses and the school performance of students. Usually, only teachers can access the information. Police say they found traces of his unauthorized entry into the system, and they say he admitted to hacking into it three times.
07/06/2016  COLOMBIA, FARC SIGN CEASEFIRE
The government of Colombia and the FARC guerilla group have reached a historic deal. They've agreed to a ceasefire, ending more than five decades of conflict.The country's president, and the leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, signed the agreement at a ceremony in Havana, Cuba. Cuban President Raul Castro helped negotiate the terms. He and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon were on hand for the signing.Both sides said FARC rebels should now lay down their arms. President Santos says he hopes a final deal will be in place by July. FARC will begin demobilizing its fighters within 150 days of that agreement. The current deal calls for transition zones where fighters can prepare for civilian life.The war between FARC and the Colombian government began in the 1960s. It has claimed the lives of around 220,000 people.
07/05/2016  CHINESE VILLAGERS STAGE PROTEST
Residents of a village in southern China are expressing their anger after authorities arrested the leader they'd picked in a democratic election.About 3,500 people took to the streets in Wukan to demand the release of the village chief. Police detained Lin Zulian last Friday, accusing him of corruption, but locals disputed those claims. Prosecutors released a video purportedly showing Lin admitting that he accepted bribes.Wukan has been called a "democracy village." Four years ago, authorities in Guangdong Province allowed residents to choose their leader by popular vote. Authorities made the rare concession after villagers staged protests about land seizures.The situation has not improved, and Lin was reportedly preparing to approach authorities about the issue. Tuesday's rally was held under a heavy police presence. No major disruptions were reported.
07/04/2016  COMMEMORATING THE BATTLE
People in southern Japan are remembering one of the bloodiest battles of World War II. Seventy-one years ago today, the Imperial Japanese military ended major operations against U.S. forces in Okinawa. A quarter of the population was killed in the battle.More than 4,300 people participated in an annual ceremony at the Peace Memorial Park in the city of Itoman. U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy was among those who attended. At noon, people observed a moment of silence. Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga read a peace declaration. He brought up the recent death of a local woman. A former U.S. Marine working at an American base is suspected of killing her. Onaga reiterated his call for a reduction of Okinawa's burden. The prefecture hosts a large proportion of American military facilities in Japan. Resentment against the U.S. presence has been on the rise, driven by the woman's death.Many residents also want Washington and Tokyo to scrap a plan to move a major U.S. base to the northern part of the island. They want the Futenma Air Station out of the prefecture altogether.
06/24/2016  PINPOINT CANCER ATTACK
Japanese researchers have developed a promising new way to treat cancer cells. They say the technique has succeeded in shrinking tumors without harming the surrounding tissue.Scientists at the National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology developed the new method. A group of researchers used a large accelerator to collide helium with bismuth, a metal, to create a substance called astatine. They combined that with a substance that tends to gather in cancer cells. The resulting agent can directly reach cancer cells, where it emits alpha rays within a 0.1 millimeter radius.The group tested the agent on cancers in mice. Two weeks after giving them injections, the tumors in the animals were half as large. Tumors in mice without the injections tripled in size.A major challenge with radiotherapy has been the damage caused to nearby healthy cells. The group says the new method can overcome this problem. Researchers hope to use the new technique on humans within seven years.
06/23/2016  ICHIRO SETS CAREER HIT RECORD
Japan's Ichiro Suzuki has made baseball history. The Miami Marlins veteran outfielder broke the record for the most hits ever by a Major League ballplayer. But there is some debate over that record as some of his hits were in Japan. Ichiro reached the milestone against the San Diego Padres as soon as the game started. The Japanese legend used his speed to snatch an infield single. In the ninth inning, Ichiro belted a double to mark his 4,257th hit. It surpassed the record held by baseball great Pete Rose.But Ichiro's record is unofficial because his hit total spans two professional baseball leagues. Ichiro first racked up 1,278 hits with the Nippon Professional Baseball Organization in Japan. Then he made the move to the U.S. with Major League Baseball, where so far he has whacked 2,979 hits. At 42 years of age, Ichiro is in his 16th season in the MLB.
06/22/2016  CLINTON, TRUMP TRADE BLOWS
The two candidates vying to replace Obama in the White House are seizing on the attack. Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are highlighting the differences in their response to hot-button issues.The Democratic front-runner gave a speech focusing on national security and gun control.(Hillary Clinton / Democratic candidate)"It's essential that we stop terrorists from getting the tools they need to carry out the attacks. I believe weapons of war have no place on our streets."The presumptive Republican nominee ripped into both Obama and Clinton. He accused them of being weak on terrorism.(Donald Trump / Republican candidate)"She says the solution is to ban guns. They tried that in France. One hundred and thirty people were brutally murdered by Islamic terrorists."Political observers say terrorism and gun control will be big issues in the presidential election in November.
06/21/2016  ASSEMBLY ACCEPTS RESIGNATION
The resignation of Tokyo's governor has been accepted by the Metropolitan Assembly. Yoichi Masuzoe spent the last few weeks fighting allegations he misused political funds for private purposes. Masuzoe addressed the assembly Wednesday evening.(Yoichi Masuzoe / Tokyo Governor)"It is regrettable that I have to resign at the midway point of my four-year term. It's all my fault."The governor tendered his resignation letter on Wednesday morning, just hours before he was expected to lose a no-confidence motion. In the lead-up to his resignation, he faced intense questioning from legislators about his spending. He was accused of spending public money on family trips, dozens of pieces of art, and even comic books.Masuzoe will officially leave his post next Tuesday. He is still entitled to a retirement package of over 200,000 dollars.
06/20/2016  MONKEY BUSINESS
A thief snuck into a jewelry shop in India and fled with a bundle of cash. Nothing unusual there, except that the thief was less than a meter tall and had a tail.Surveillance cameras caught a monkey entering the store in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. The store clerk initially leaves the intruder alone. Monkeys are considered sacred in India. The monkey pulls out a bundle of bills from a drawer and ignores the clerk, who tries distracting it with a banana. It flees with about 150 dollars worth of rupees.Some believe the animal may have been coached. This is reportedly the second time it has shown up. On its first run, it may have been casing the shop for the robbery.
06/10/2016  HEALTHIER CHOICES FOR DINERS
More restaurants in Japan are catering to people trying to avoid fattening food. The businesses are coming out with low-calorie dishes made from healthy ingredients.One example is a leading chain specializing in a kind of Japanese pancake, called "okonomiyaki." The dish is normally made from a variety of ingredients, including vegetables, meat and seafood, and topped off with plenty of sauce and mayonnaise. The chain doubled the volume of vegetables in its dishes in April. All are domestically grown. A restaurant employee says the pancakes are unfairly seen as unhealthy, packing lots of calories.A leading ramen chain opened a restaurant in Tokyo in April, catering to health-minded customers. The noodles contain half the normal sugar content. Other dishes substitute pieces of tofu.According to the chain's operator, customers who want to limit their sugar intake or avoid high-calorie food say they appreciate having new, healthier choices. 
06/09/2016  ABE ANNOUNCES TAX HIKE DELAY
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has made official his plan to postpone a consumption tax hike. It was scheduled for next April, but Abe wants it pushed back by two and a half years. The change has to be approved by the Diet first. Abe says he wants voters to weigh in on his decision during the Upper House election set for July 10th.(Shinzo Abe / Japanese Prime Minister)"My decision this time to postpone the tax hike differs from the promises I have made before. It is a new decision. I am aware of criticism that it is a violation of our policy pledge, and I would like to sincerely face that criticism. Now that I have decided to seek public approval on the decision, I aim to get a majority of contested seats by the ruling coalition in the Upper House election."Abe says he believes the domestic economy is recovering, crediting his policy of "Abenomics" for bringing more jobs and higher household incomes. But he says the biggest concern is the slowdown in China and other emerging markets because he says it could slow down the global economy. 
06/08/2016  WARTIME LABOR SETTLEMENT
Japan's Mitsubishi Materials has agreed to apologize and pay compensation to Chinese who say they were forced to engage in harsh labor during World War II. Sources close to the deal say the settlement was reached in Beijing.Mitsubishi Materials reportedly agreed to pay about 15,000 dollars each to up to 3,765 former workers. The company had been negotiating out of court for the last two years.Former workers and bereaved relatives filed a lawsuit in China against the metal producer. They demanded an apology and damages. The workers are part of the nearly 40,000 Chinese who were brought to Japan and forced to work in mines and construction sites during the war.Similar lawsuits have been filed in Japan since the 1990s, but in 2007, Japan's Supreme Court ruled against paying war reparations to individual Chinese citizens. It said Chinese individuals lost their rights to such claims under a deal in 1972, when the two nations normalized their ties. 
06/07/2016  JAPAN'S HANAKO THE ELEPHANT DIES
One of Japan's most beloved animals has died peacefully at a zoo in Tokyo. Hanako was the country's oldest elephant. She was 69 years old.Hanako was a two-year-old calf when she arrived from Thailand in 1949. She was the first elephant in Japan after the war. Hanako turned 69 on January 1st. In March, she began showing signs of abdominal pain.(Naoya Ohashi / Inokashira Park Zoo)"Hanako died peacefully. She was surrounded by her caregivers."Crowds of people are visiting the zoo to lay flowers and remember the gentle giant.(Visitor)"I said thanks for everything, and I told her to rest well.""Hanako was a source of comfort to everyone. She lifted our spirits. Now that she has gone, I wonder what to do."Zoo officials will pay tribute to Hanako by putting together a record of her life.
06/06/2016  BOOSTING CREDIT CARD SECURITY
Japanese government officials want retailers to take an extra measure to tackle the growing problem of data theft from credit cards. They plan to require stores nationwide to install IC chip readers.People steal data from credit cards to make fake ones, but it's harder for them to do that if the information is on IC chips. Credit cards with traditional magnetic strips are easier to hack. The industry ministry now plans to revise legislation to make it mandatory for stores to install the IC chip readers as early as 2018.Ministry officials hope to boost credit-card security by 2020. That's when Tokyo hosts the Olympic and Paralympic Games. IC chip readers are already common in most other industrialized countries. Many stores in Japan, though, still rely on magnetic strip-reading devices. 
06/03/2016  MORE UYGURS SAID FLEEING CHINA
The leader of ethnic Uygurs living abroad says some 10,000 of her people have fled China since Chinese authorities cracked down on their religious activities. She said they escaped to Turkey by way of Thailand, Malaysia and elsewhere.The head of the World Uyghur Congress, Rebiya Kadeer, spoke to reporters in Tokyo on Wednesday. Kadeer said that since Chinese President Xi Jinping came to power, China has strengthened restrictions on the religious activities of ethnic minorities in the country's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Uygurs are a Turkic ethnic group.She said the tendency became more prevalent after a new Chinese anti-terrorism law took effect last December. Kadeer said many Uygurs have been detained after being branded as terrorists for simply opposing what she called the government's oppressive ethnic policy.The Chinese government harshly criticizes Kadeer as an anti-Chinese "splittist." A senior official of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region says she is virtually a puppet of Western nations. 
06/02/2016  UNMANNED BUSES, TAXIS PLANNED FOR 2020
The race is on to develop driverless vehicles, including buses and taxis. Japanese government officials say they are going to give the green light to public transport operators aiming to go driverless by the year 2020 — that's the year Tokyo hosts the Olympic Games.The officials say operators will be obliged to take full responsibility in the event of accidents. The companies will need to have systems that monitor their unmanned vehicles remotely and stop them when problems arise.The officials plan to amend the Road Traffic Law and study other measures. They will also call on would-be operators to start test runs on roads in special zones designated by the government. 
06/01/2016  POLL SHOWS TRUMP WITH NARROW LEAD
A political website in the U.S. says its latest poll indicates that presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has pulled ahead of Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton. The figures are an average of recent major public opinion poll results.The RealClearPolitics poll indicates that 43.4 percent of respondents favor Trump, compared to 43.2 percent supporting Clinton. It's the first time Trump has come out on top in the site's polls.The latest ABC News/Washington Post poll suggests that 46 percent of respondents support Trump, while 44 percent support Clinton. ABC News also said the current race appears to be a battle between the two most unpopular nominees in the poll's history.Observers say Clinton may be losing ground to Trump because of her ongoing primary battle with Senator Bernie Sanders. Despite her huge lead, Clinton has been unable to attract enough support to clinch the Democratic nomination. 
05/31/2016  INDIA SWELTERS UNDER RECORD HIGHS
India is in the grip of one of its worst ever heat waves. In the western state of Rajasthan, the temperature in recent days rose to a sweltering 51 degrees Celsius, breaking a 60-year-old record.Indian meteorological officials say Thursday marked the hottest day in the city of Phalodi in Rajasthan's desert region. The previous high was 50.6 degrees Celsius recorded in 1956.Weather officials expect temperatures of 47 degrees Celsius or higher through Sunday in Rajasthan, the adjacent state of Gujarat, and the central state of Madhya Pradesh. About 300 people have died of heat stroke and dehydration in the country this year. Authorities are warning people to avoid going outside during the daytime and to stay hydrated. 
05/30/2016  S. KOREAN ANTI-CORRUPTION LAW
South Korean officials are taking final steps to bring a new anti-corruption law into effect, but skeptics say it could hurt the economy by weighing on personal spending.Officials want to ban extravagant gifts and entertainment. Some say lavish spending encourages bribery and other forms of corruption. The law would cover spending on public servants, people working in the media and private school employees. It would set a cap of about 42 dollars per gift, and about 25 dollars for entertainment. People who spend or receive more than those amounts would be subject to criminal punishment.Some say the ceilings are unrealistically low. Others say consumers might slash spending on gifts for major holidays. The Chosun Ilbo newspaper carried a critical article. It says the law could reduce sales of popular gifts and damage domestic industries including livestock and fisheries. 
05/27/2016  DISPOSING OF WWII SHELL
Part of a southern Japanese prefecture was shut down because of the discovery of a military shell. Okinawa is still dealing with the aftermath of a battle fought 71 years ago. The area still has many unexploded munitions from the Battle of Okinawa at the end of World War II.Bomb disposal experts of Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force removed one artillery shell from Urasoe City on Sunday. The 50-centimeter long, 35-kilogram shell was found in March on a construction site. Experts believe it was fired from a U.S. warship during the battle. About 200 households near the site were forced to evacuate. A one-kilometer stretch of highway was closed.Okinawa prefectural officials estimate there are 2,000 tons of munitions still buried there. They say it will take about 70 years to defuse and dispose of them. 
05/26/2016  SOURCES: CHINA LIMITS TRAVELERS TO TAIWAN
Sources in China's tourism industry say China is restricting the number of its outbound travelers to Taiwan. The move follows the election of a Taiwanese president from the Democratic Progressive Party, which Beijing sees as favoring independence.The sources told NHK that authorities instructed travel agents around February to cut down on the available applications for permits to visit Taiwan. Taiwan issues the permits, but China can limit the people allowed to visit by controlling the number of applications that travel agencies handle.Last year, more than four million Chinese visitors to Taiwan spent over five billion dollars at tourism-related businesses. Taiwanese media have reported that over the May Day holidays, visitors from the mainland plunged by 30 percent from the year before. 
05/24/2016  WAKE FOR STAGE DIRECTOR NINAGAWA
A wake was held on Sunday for renowned Japanese theater and film director Yukio Ninagawa.About 1,500 people, including film and stage actors, came out to pay their respects. Ninagawa was active worldwide. He directed a wide range of plays from classics to modern dramas by using his own interpretations and original directing methods.(Anne Suzuki / Actress)"I can't thank him enough. If I had not met him, I could not have become the person and actress I am now."A photograph taken by his daughter and photographer, Mika Ninagawa, was placed on the altar.(Mika Ninagawa)"Before he passed away, all he was saying was 'Thank you.' I'm very sad, but I think every moment of his life was wonderful."Ninagawa died on Thursday. He was 80 years old. 
05/24/2016  ROUSSEFF TO FACE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL
Brazil's Senate has voted to impeach the country's president and suspend her from office. Dilma Rousseff is accused of involvement in manipulating government accounts.Following a marathon of speeches, 55 senators voted in favor of impeachment and 22 voted against. Since last December, the Brazilian parliament has been debating whether the president should face a trial. Rousseff will remain suspended for up to 180 days. Vice President Michel Temer became the interim president immediately after the vote.Rousseff addressed her supporters and condemned the impeachment. Rousseff said the crisis is a decisive moment for Brazil's democracy and future as a nation. She said she'll fight with all legal tools available to exercise her mandate until the end of her term. Observers expect the trial to overlap the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in August. There is growing concern over how this may adversely affect the Games. 
05/23/2016  TRADING HOUSES EYE CUBA
The United States has recently restored diplomatic ties with Cuba and has been taking steps to lift its sanctions. Now, Japanese businesses also want a part of the action. They are keen to re-enter a market they exited in the 1980s, when Cuba's fiscal situation deteriorated.Leading Japanese trading house Mitsubishi Corporation has filed an application with Cuban authorities to open a local office. The company plans to study upgrading the country's infrastructure and importing coffee beans.Another trading house, Marubeni, is planning to export Japanese vehicles and industrial machinery. The firm left the country more than two decades ago. Now, executives say they will ask Cuban officials for permission to resume operations.Officials at the Japan External Trade Organization say they are planning a study tour this month for Japanese firms seeking to explore opportunities in the Caribbean nation. 
05/20/2016    DUTERTE SET TO TAKE POWER
Tough-talking politician Rodrigo Duterte emerged Tuesday as the winner of the Philippines' presidential election. The incendiary mayor of the southern city of Davao rode a wave of popular support to win by a large margin. His pledge to eliminate crime resonated with ordinary people many of whom seem to be fed up with "politics as usual."(Rodrigo Duterte)"The promotion of the welfare of the people first, before anything."In the heated campaign, the 71-year-old emerged as front-runner on the back of a pledge to eradicate crime and corruption. After becoming mayor in 1988, the former prosecutor dramatically improved security in the city by expanding police powers. But his no-nonsense approach and comments about "extrajudicial killing of criminals" has prompted strong criticism from human rights groups in a country with a history of brutal dictatorship. 
05/19/2016    OBAMA TO VISIT HIROSHIMA
In a long-awaited development, the White House has announced Barack Obama will visit Hiroshima. He'll be the first sitting U.S. president to visit the city that was devastated by an American atomic bomb in 1945. The visit will happen while Obama is in Japan for the Group of Seven summit later this month.(Josh Earnest / White House Press Secretary)"The president intends to visit to send a much more forward-looking signal about his ambition for realizing the goals of a planet without nuclear weapons."The spokesperson stressed that the visit is not an apology for America dropping the nuclear bomb. In an opinion poll last year, just over half of Americans said the use of atomic bombs was justified. Some Americans argue that it saved the lives of many U.S. troops by bringing an end to World War II. Analysts say a visit by a president to Hiroshima could be perceived as an apology by some people. 
05/18/2016    LONDON'S FIRST MUSLIM MAYOR
British Labour Party candidate Sadiq Khan is set to become the first Muslim leader of any European Union capital city. Khan on Thursday won the mayoral election in London.(Sadiq Khan / London Mayor-elect)"I want every single Londoner to get the opportunities that our city gave to me and my family, the opportunities not just to survive, but to thrive, the opportunities to build a better future for you and your family, with a decent and affordable home, and a comfortable commute you can afford, more jobs with better pay."Khan is the son of a south London bus driver who immigrated from Pakistan. He ran against a Conservative rival who attempted to link him to Islamic extremism, but he received more than 1.3 million votes, about 57 percent of the total. 
05/17/2017    NISSAN TO ACQUIRE MITSUBISHI STAKE
Nissan and Mitsubishi, they already have history of working together, cooperating in the development of mini-vehicles. Now, Nissan could help it out by acquiring a large stake in the smaller, struggling firm. Sources say Nissan might spend more than 1.8 billion dollars to acquire a 34-percent-stake in Mitsubishi, becoming its biggest shareholder.The two Japanese carmakers set up a joint company five years ago to develop mini-vehicles. But then the scandal at Mitsubishi erupted last month, when its officials admitted to fabricating fuel consumption data for four of its models.Mitsubishi's domestic car sales have since plummeted. Sources say they believe the Mitsubishi executives are hoping a new arrangement with Nissan could strengthen its research and development capabilities. Nissan is also pinning its hopes on gaining some advantages. It's keen to boost sales in Southeast Asia, which is a key market for Mitsubishi.Combined global sales of Nissan, its partner firm Renault, together with Mitsubishi topped 9.5 million vehicles last year. That figure is on par with those of the world's top selling automakers — Toyota, and Volkswagen. 
05/16/2016    U.S. CLEANS UP AGENT ORANGE
The United States has completed the first phase of a project in Vietnam to clean up highly toxic dioxin from Agent Orange, an herbicide U.S. forces used during the Vietnam War.A ceremony to mark the milestone was held on Tuesday at Da Nang International Airport in central Vietnam, where the 80-million-dollar project began four years ago. The U.S. military stored a huge stockpile of Agent Orange at the airport during the war. High levels of dioxin are still detected there more than 40 years after the war ended. In the project, contaminated soil is put into steel containers and exposed to temperatures of more than 300 degrees Celsius to destroy the dioxin. The treated soil is used to expand the airport.Nearly 30 other locations in the country reportedly are highly contaminated by dioxin. Many people are suffering from disabilities and illnesses believed to have been caused by Agent Orange. 
05/13/2016  SYMBOLIC IVORY BURNING
Kenyan officials burned a huge stockpile of ivory to send a message that their country is determined to end the poaching of Africa's elephants.Officials arranged 105 tons of confiscated ivory in pyres at Nairobi National Park on Saturday. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta ignited the first stack, doused with kerosene and diesel. Officials have burned confiscated ivory before, but this was the most ever destroyed at one time.Every year, poachers are estimated to kill over 30,000 elephants in Africa. Kenyatta condemned the killings for the ivory trade, which is banned by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Officials have been trying to put an end to the poaching with patrols and strict penalties, but they're struggling due to a lack of budget. 
05/12/2016  CRUZ DROPS WHITE HOUSE BID
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz has announced he's dropping out of the race for the presidency. He says he can no longer see a viable path to victory after losing the Indiana primary to Republican rival Donald Trump.(Ted Cruz / Republican candidate)"We gave it everything we've got, but the voters chose another path. And so, with a heavy heart, but with boundless optimism for the long-term future of our nation, we are suspending our campaign."With nearly 100 percent of the votes counted in Indiana, Trump was at 53 percent, Cruz 37, and Ohio Governor John Kasich had eight percent. Cruz had vowed to stay in the race right to the end, but the result in Indiana made it all-but-impossible for him to stop Trump.Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus has called the real estate mogul the presumptive nominee and asked the party to unite behind him. 
05/11/2016  CALL FOR FLEXIBLE LNG MARKET
Energy ministers from the Group of Seven countries have agreed to create a more transparent and flexible market for liquefied natural gas.(Motoo Hayashi / Japanese Industry Minister)"G7 ministers agreed to cooperate for the international LNG market initiative."The ministers issued a joint statement on Monday, wrapping up two days of talks in the western Japanese city of Kitakyushu. It calls on countries to review existing practices for international trade in LNG. Contracts often ban reselling to third parties. Japan is the world's largest importer of the fuel. It has been asking the ban be eased in order to help reduce prices.The G7 statement welcomes the Japanese plan to set up an international LNG market in the country in the first half of the 2020s. 
05/10/2016  TAIWAN SENDS SHIPS TO JAPAN'S EEZ
Officials in Taipei are protesting Japan's seizure of a Taiwanese fishing boat. They sent two ships to patrol Japan's southernmost island.The officials dispatched a coast guard ship and a fisheries training vessel to the waters around Okinotorishima. Okinotorishima is made up of coral reefs and has a coastline of about 11 kilometers. No one lives there. Japan's exclusive economic zone covers an area of roughly 400,000 square kilometers around the island. The waters are believed to be rich in resources.Late last month, members of Japan's Coast Guard seized the Taiwanese fishing boat from the zone, and they accused the captain of illegally operating. He was later released on bail. People in Taiwan say detaining the boat was illegal.Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou says Okinotorishima is a rock, not an island, and that Japan cannot claim an exclusive economic zone around it under international rules. Japan says the status of Okinotorishima as an island was established on the basis of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. 
05/09/2016  ABANDONED IN SPACE
Japanese space scientists have abandoned one of their projects in orbit. They launched an astronomy satellite called Hitomi earlier this year, then lost contact. Now, they say it's broken.(Saku Tsuneta / Vice President, JAXA)"We have concluded from a range of information that we cannot restore the satellite's functionality."Workers at the Japanese space agency JAXA say both of Hitomi's solar panels appear to have come off. They can't restore power. JAXA developed Hitomi at a cost of 280 million dollars and launched it in February. Scientists hoped it would shed light on black holes and other mysteries of the universe. Hitomi stopped communicating late last month. Workers found it was spinning out of control. They said part of it had broken up.JAXA scientists last abandoned a spacecraft in 2003. They weren't able to put a probe called Nozomi into orbit around Mars. 
04/29/2016  GREAT BARRIER REEF IN DANGER
Scientists are warning that one of the seven wonders of the natural world is at risk of serious damage. They say more than 90 percent of Australia's Great Barrier Reef has experienced coral bleaching.Researchers say the problem is caused by rising water temperatures. They first noticed the phenomenon at the World Heritage site in the 1980s, but they say it has escalated recently.A survey by the Australian government and a research body found bleaching at 93 percent of 911 individual reefs. The damage was most extreme in the northern 1,000-kilometer stretch of the system. One researcher warned the bleaching could affect almost all of the coral species. He said some could take decades or longer to recover.UNESCO considered putting the Great Barrier Reef on its "World Heritage in Danger" list last year, but it dropped the plan after the Australian government submitted a conservation plan.
04/28/2016  COUNTRIES GATHER AT ARMS FAIR
Defense industry players are in Malaysia's capital to check out the latest in weapons technology. They've turned out at an arms expo in Kuala Lumpur in record numbers. Buyers from Southeast Asian countries are prioritizing spending amid rising tensions in the contested South China Sea.Manufacturers are showing off their latest technologies, including reconnaissance drones and anti-submarine aircraft.(Robert Laing / Lockheed Martin)"The buyers in Southeast Asia are very careful, very knowledgeable, but very serious about finding solutions to deal with this maritime security issue."ASEAN's 10 member countries are expected to spend 58 billion dollars on new military gear over the next five years, and much of it is expected to be used in the South China Sea. China has reclaimed small islands and reefs there and has built airfields and port facilities. The country is claiming almost all of the resource-rich waters as its own.
04/27/2016  CHILDLESS PARENTS WANT GOVT. HELP
About 1,000 Chinese parents who lost their only child have staged a demonstration in Beijing. They say they will have no one to look after them because they were forced to follow the country's one-child policy.The protesters gathered on Monday in front of the National Health and Family Planning Commission. About one million households across China are estimated to have lost their sole offspring due to illness or accident. Many such parents feel it's unfair they had to obey a policy the government decided to scrap earlier this year after more than three decades.(Participant)"My wife and I are too old to have another child. I want the government to look after us."Chinese authorities announced on Sunday the state would provide a monthly allowance of about 50 dollars to such bereaved parents, but the families are not satisfied.
04/26/2016  FALSIFYING FUEL DATA
Executives at Japan's Mitsubishi Motors say the company falsified data on fuel efficiency tests for four types of mini-vehicles. They say the manipulation affects 625,000 vehicles. President Tetsuro Aikawa apologized at a news conference.(Tetsuro Aikawa / President, Mitsubishi Motors)"I believe the data were intentionally falsified. Investigations are underway as to why it was carried out."Aikawa says the company has halted production and sales of the four models. Two of the models were sold by Mitsubishi. The other two were produced for Nissan Motor. He says Mitsubishi is considering how best to respond to the owners of the vehicles.Company officials say additional tests showed there was a gap between their results and data handed over to the government. They say the manipulation came to light after staff at Nissan pointed out problems with the data. They say the former head of the performance testing department has admitted that he instructed the falsification, but the officials are still trying to confirm this. The company plans to set up a third-party panel to look into the matter.
04/25/2016  PORCELAIN DESIGNS AIMED AT EUROPEANS
Arita is one of Japan's major regions for porcelain production. Its items are known for their colorful decorations, but sales have been falling. So, officials have gone to Italy to unveil an entirely new set of designs in a bid to attract European customers.The Arita products were created in collaboration with 16 European designers. Potters in and around Arita Town in western Japan have produced about 300 dishes. Dutch designers say they want to have more collaboration with Arita's producers.(Carole Baijings / Designer)"... to be the new gateway and with all these collections, design the future of Arita. The past is already beautiful, but we all need a future."Sales have been falling since peaking in the late 1980s. The region believes expanding into foreign markets holds the key to reviving Arita's porcelain industry.
04/22/2016  CHILD SUICIDE BOMBERS IN AFRICA
The United Nations children's agency says Nigeria-based Islamic extremist group Boko Haram is increasingly using children in suicide bombings.UNICEF said in a report released on Tuesday that the number of children involved in attacks in Nigeria and neighboring countries increased from four in 2014 to 44 in 2015. UNICEF officials say children might not know they are carrying explosives, which are often detonated by remote control.Nearly two years ago, Boko Haram abducted more than 200 female students from a school in northeastern Nigeria. The group threatened to sell them as slaves. The girls' whereabouts are still unknown. UNICEF is calling on the international community to step up efforts to support children affected by extremist violence.
04/21/2016  CONSIDERING HIROSHIMA VISIT
President Barack Obama is still considering a visit to Hiroshima during his trip to Japan for May's G7 summit. A White House spokesman says the U.S. leader is pursuing a vision of a world without nuclear weapons.(Josh Earnest / White House Press Secretary)"So, obviously there's probably ― symbolically, there's no more powerful illustration of that commitment than the city that contained the victims of the first use of that weapon."The spokesman says the question about whether to visit Hiroshima comes up whenever the president travels to Japan. He added Obama and his team were considering their options following U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's visit early this week.Kerry became the first sitting U.S. Cabinet member to visit the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima. He was joined by the British and French foreign ministers.(John Kerry / U.S. Secretary of State)"... Japan, which was very moving, very long overdue in many respects but quite impressive. And if any of you ever have the chance, you should go and see that particular memorial.”Kerry spoke about his Hiroshima trip during a speech in California.
04/20/2016  POOREST PRESIDENT' SPEAKS IN TOKYO
Uruguay's former leader is visiting Japan. Jose Mujica was called "the world's poorest president." A picture book based on a speech he gave at a UN meeting in 2012 was a bestseller in this country.Mujica became president in 2010. During his five-year tenure, he gave nearly all of his salary to charity and lived in a farmhouse. His speech at the UN summit criticized the mass-consumption society.(Jose Mujica)"A poor person is not someone who has little, but a person whose needs are infinite. This is the problem we face today."The picture book inspired by his stirring speech has sold more than 160,000 copies in Japan. Mujica advised young people not to lose hope in their lives by pursuing affluence unthinkingly, but instead help create a world in which they can feel happiness every morning.
04/18/2016  CONTROVERSIAL FILM TAKES TOP AWARD
A controversial movie about the future of Hong Kong claimed top prize at the city's film awards on Sunday.The ceremony is Hong Kong's equivalent to the Oscars. "Ten Years" portrays a dystopian future Hong Kong that is being tightly controlled by the Chinese Communist Party. In the film, the language of Hong Kong, Cantonese, is no longer allowed to be used. The film also shows pro-democracy protesters being hit heavily by police during rallies.The film was shown in only one theater in the territory when it was released in December last year, but the film turned out to be a major hit. Free public viewing was held at more than 30 locations. China's state-run TV channels pulled out from broadcasting the award ceremony. China's IT giant Tencent is reported to have abandoned the broadcasting rights it had obtained for the ceremony.
04/15/2016  NEW USE FOR IPS CELLS
Japanese researchers say they've taken a major step toward improving treatment of people with serious cardiac problems. They've used iPS cells to make heart muscle cells pure enough to transplant into humans.Professor Keiichi Fukuda and his team want to start clinical trials as early as next year. iPS cells can be turned into any kind of tissue. The researchers had previously succeeded in transforming them into heart muscle cells. But when they tested those cells in pigs, they found a small number that hadn't transformed could become tumorous. The team says it used a special solution that killed off the potentially dangerous cells.
(Keiichi Fukuda / Keio University Professor)"We hope to use this technology to help treat people with major heart failure."
Fukuda says he wants to help patients whose only option is a heart transplant.
04/14/2016  PANAMA PAPERS' REVELATIONS
A German newspaper is reporting on how it obtained information on the alleged offshore financial dealings of world leaders, financial tycoons and celebrities.The newspaper says an anonymous person made contact more than a year ago and provided the internal documents of a law firm in Panama, Mossack Fonseca. The paper then kept contact with the person via online chat because of safety concerns. It received about 11.5 million records and shared the data with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. The ICIJ then reported on the documents, dubbing them the "Panama Papers," and they are already having consequences.Iceland's prime minister resigned on Tuesday. He came under pressure in connection with revelations from the leaked files. The ICIJ also says Chinese President Xi Jinping's brother-in-law owns two shell companies in the British Virgin Islands, a tax haven. It says the companies were dormant by the time Xi took office in 2013. Chinese officials denounced the allegations.
04/13/2016  CHANGING VENUS PROBE'S ORBIT
Japan's aerospace agency has finished an attempt to change the orbit of its probe circling Venus. They hope the change will more than double its operational lifespan. Its mission is to explore the planet's climate.The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, launched the Akatsuki probe in 2010. But its main engine broke down, and it spent the next five years circling the sun. In December, JAXA engineers were finally able to put Akatsuki into its planned orbit, and now they say they've come up with an even better one. It would minimize the time in Venus' shadow, which blocks the probe's solar generator.The engineers used Akatsuki's thrusters to move it Monday. They say it will take several days to confirm whether the operation was successful. If it is, the probe's lifespan would be extended to five and a half years.
04/12/2016  JAPANESE DESTROYER TO SAIL IN SOUTH CHINA SEA
A Japanese destroyer will navigate the South China Sea this month to take part in a fleet review in Indonesia.The Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer Ise has a wide deck similar to that of an aircraft carrier. The vessel will pass through the Bashi Channel between Taiwan and the Philippines to join the event hosted by Indonesia's navy next Tuesday. It will be the first Japanese ship of its type to sail the sea.The MSDF says the mission is not part of the U.S. Navy's ongoing "freedom of navigation" operation near China's artificial islands in the waters. An MSDF submarine on Sunday made a training call at a port in Subic Bay in the Philippines.
(Adm. Tomohisa Takei / JMSDF Chief of Staff)"Port calls and goodwill exercises have long been customary in navigating the South China Sea."
Admiral Takei also said the MSDF has no plans to join the U.S. operation.
04/11/2016　OVERWHELMING INTEREST IN DISNEYLAND   
People in China are also showing an overwhelming interest in the mainland's first Disneyland. The park's ticket website crashed after being accessed millions of times.The resort will open on June 16th in Shanghai. Advance ticket sales started just after midnight on the park's official website. People scrambled to get passes on the site, causing it to go down after just 30 minutes. It later went back online, but Chinese media reported that opening day passes had already sold out.Tickets for after opening day cost 56 dollars for weekdays and 76 dollars for weekends and holidays. Scalpers have been reselling opening day tickets for more than double the price. Chinese media have warned the public to be on the lookout for scams.Local business owners are also anticipating the park's opening. They hope it will bring more visitors and more sales.
04/08/2016  IPHONE UNLOCKED
U.S. law enforcement authorities say they've unlocked an iPhone used by a mass shooting suspect without help from Apple. The move ends a legal battle between the government and the tech giant.Justice Department officials said the government has successfully accessed data on the phone, but haven't said if they've found anything useful. They asked a federal court to withdraw an order for Apple to help them crack the device.The FBI has been trying to get into a phone owned by Syed Farook. In December, he and his wife allegedly killed 14 people in California in a shooting rampage. Apple refused to offer assistance, citing concerns about protecting privacy rights. Officials have not provided details on how they unlocked the phone. Last week, they said an unnamed third party had provided a possible method. The case highlighted concerns about the authorities' ability to access people's information. Opinion remains divided on how far the government should be able to go in collecting personal data.
04/07/2016  MICROSOFT PULLS PLUG ON AI PROJECT
U.S. tech giant Microsoft unveiled an artificial intelligence project, then quickly pulled the plug when it started to make highly objectionable comments on social media.Developers made what's known as a chat robot. It was designed to learn how to communicate through interaction with humans. The program was named "Tay," and it was given an account on the social media platform Twitter. It began echoing posts made by human users and was soon making sexist and discriminatory comments. The program even hailed Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.One day after the launch, Microsoft put the program on hold, saying it needs adjustments. The incident underscores the difficulties in developing artificial intelligence as competition in the field heats up.
04/06/2016  DUTCH WARNED BELGIUM OF SUSPECTS
Dutch investigators say the FBI warned them about the two brothers in the Brussels attacks days before the pair blew themselves up. They say they passed that information on to their Belgian counterparts. The investigators say they were informed of Ibrahim El Bakraoui's criminal background and his brother Khalid's suspected involvement in terrorism. The FBI warning came six days before the attacks. Dutch police say they shared it with Belgian police the next day. Belgium denies having received such information.Ibrahim El Bakraoui was detained by Turkish authorities in June, when he tried to enter Syria, but investigators lost track of him after he was sent back to the Netherlands. The blunder has triggered criticism about intelligence-sharing between Belgium and the Netherlands.Meanwhile, Belgian officials lowered the number of dead in the bombings to 32 from 35, not including the attackers. They say they had counted some names twice.
04/05/2016  NOW IN EFFECT
Japan's new national security laws have come into effect six months after lawmakers enacted them last September.The legislation allows Japan to use force to exercise its right to collective self-defense. That means Japan will be able to defend other nations with which it has close relations if Japan's territory or people are in danger. The Self-Defense Forces can also carry out other new duties, including logistics support for foreign troops. In the past, that required special legislation. Japanese Self-Defense Forces doing UN peacekeeping missions will also be able to use their weapons to aid foreign troops under attack, which could apply to Japanese forces currently in South Sudan.Government officials are expected to draw up new rules of engagement over the next three months. Drills based on these rules are expected to begin later this year.
04/04/2016  ALL ABOARD! 
It's been decades in the making, and now a new Shinkansen bullet train line is connecting Japan's main island of Honshu with the northern prefecture of Hokkaido. The train made its first commercial run on Saturday.The first train left Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station for Tokyo shortly after 6:30 AM, following a ceremony. The new 150-kilometer line from Shin-Aomori Station to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station brings bullet train services to northern main island Hokkaido for the first time. Travel time between Tokyo and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto will be about four hours with a maximum speed of 260 kilometers per hour.The opening of the line is the final link of the Shinkansen network from Hokkaido in the nation's north to Kyushu in the south. The trains run through the Seikan undersea tunnel between Hokkaido and Honshu.
04/03/2016 MERKEL SUFFERS SETBACK IN LOCAL ELECTIONS
Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union has taken a beating in Germany's regional elections. The Greens and the country's new anti-immigration party have gained ground.The elections were held on Sunday in three states. Chancellor Merkel's migrant and refugee policy was the main issue of the elections. Support for her party slipped in all three states. In Baden-Wuerttemberg, the Christian Democrats suffered a historic loss to the Greens. The anti-nuclear Greens won more than 30 percent of the votes in the state. It's the first time the party has come out on top in a state parliament.Alternative for Germany will enter all three state parliaments for the first time. It rejects Merkel's policy of accepting refugees and migrants.