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Squabbles erupt as G7 leaders open summit in French resort
Squabbles erupted among G7 nations on Saturday as their leaders gathered for an annual summit, exposing sharp differences on global trade tensions, Britain's exit from the EU and how to respond to the fires raging in the Amazon rainforest. French President Emmanuel Macron, the summit host, planned the three-day meeting… Read
Abe becomes 2nd-longest-serving Japanese prime minister
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe became Japan's second-longest-serving prime minister Saturday, exceeding Eisaku Sato, his great-uncle, who served for 2,798 days in the 1960s to 1970s. Abe, who has now become the country's longest-serving leader after World War II, stands a good chance of winning the title of all time in… Read
In high-tech Japan, cash is still king
Once a pioneer in cashless transactions, Japan is now lagging behind as the world's biggest economies increasingly embrace electronic payments -- because its ageing population still prefers physical money. Four out of five purchases are still made with cash in Japan, despite its reputation as a futuristic and innovative nation.… Read
Muted in country of their birth, three women try to find their voice
As Japan's demographic sands shift, with its graying population, declining regional communities and doors inching slowly further open to immigrant workers, three young Tokyoite women are envisioning a new way forward. One is Korean, one is Chinese and the other is Japanese, but they all want to make the country… Read
China hits out at 'bullying' U.S. over new tariffs
China on Saturday angrily hit out at the latest U.S. tariff hikes on its goods, saying a "bullying" Washington would eventually "eat its own bitter fruit". European leaders have also warned U.S. President Donald Trump of the dangers of trade skirmishes with China and Europe, which look set to dominate… Read
'Star Wars' and 'Frozen 2' footage wows Disney fan fest
New "Star Wars" footage, sequels to "Frozen" and "Black Panther," and an animated epic fantasy about dragons were among a raft of movies presented to screaming fans at Disney's D23 convention Saturday. Hollywood's reigning hitmaker Disney set out a full roster of its upcoming films in a wide-ranging, two-hour "studio… Read
60% of para athletes worry public interest may wane after Tokyo Games
Over 60 percent of leading athletes aiming to compete in next year's Tokyo Paralympics are worried that public interest in disabled sports may wane once the world event is over, a survey by Kyodo News showed Saturday. Sunday marks exactly one year to go until the Paralympics start. The survey… Read
Britain's Prince Andrew denies witnessing Epstein abuse
Britain's Prince Andrew insisted on Saturday that "at no stage" during his friendship with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein did he "witness... any behavior of the sort that subsequently led to his arrest". The prince, Queen Elizabeth II's second son, is under heavy fire over his relationship with the disgraced U.S.… Read
76-year-old man killed, wife wounded in Ibaraki farmhouse
A 76-year-old man was killed and his 73-year-old wife seriously injured by an apparent intruder in their farmhouse in Yachiyo, Ibaraki Prefecture, on Saturday morning. According to police, the couple’s 42-year-old son who lives in another residence near the farmhouse, called 119 at around 3:15 a.m. from . The son… Read
End of S Korea-Japan pact undermines bid to assess N Korea threats
South Korea's decision to scrap an intelligence-sharing pact with Japan could harm efforts to assess threats from North Korea, and potentially weaken the ability to monitor its missile launches, officials and analysts say. South Korea's announcement on Thursday that it would abandon the accord drew a swift protest from Tokyo… Read
