Japan

Former World Bank president Robert Zoellick said Monday Japan's economic drive needed accompanying structural reforms, voicing fear that recent growth could be just a "sugar high." Japan posted 0.9% quarter-to-quarter growth in the three months through March, during which time Prime Minister Shinzo Abe took charge with a platform that…

Iraq's wave of bloodshed sharply escalated Monday with more than a dozen car bombings across the country, part of attacks that killed at least 95 people and brought echoes of past sectarian carnage and fears of a dangerous spillover from Syria's civil war next door. The latest spiral of violence…

Japanese rock band X Japan's drummer Yoshiki, second from left, smiles next to his wax figure, third from left, with vocalist Toshi, right, as the members' wax figures are unveiled at Madame Tussauds Tokyo on Monday.

Silence and politics don’t mix. Politics is speech – perpetual, ceaseless speech. Small wonder if the tongue slips, or if politicians blurt out more than is good for them. The latest casualty is Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) co-leader and Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto. Wartime “comfort women” –…

A large majority of Japanese people disagree with Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto who said women forced to provide sex during World War II were a military necessity, polls issued Monday said. Up to 200,000 "comfort women" from Korea, China, the Philippines and elsewhere were forcibly drafted into brothels catering to…

Brazilian organizers acknowledge there were setbacks in the inauguration of the stadium which will host the opener of the Confederations Cup, vowing to try to fix the problems in time for the second and final test event at the venue next Sunday. After a series of delays, the Estadio Nacional…

A blood-soaked vengeance tale from Japan drew the biggest boos in the race for the Cannes Film Festival's top prize Monday, with critics savaging a "risible" parade of cliches. Japanese director Takashi Miike unveiled "Shield of Straw" (Wara No Tate) about a nationwide bounty hunt for a child rapist who…

Japan will be boosted by the return of defender Yuto Nagatomo for next month's 2014 World Cup qualifier against Australia after the Inter Milan full back said he has fully recovered from knee ligament damage. The 26-year-old took the field for the first time since February in Inter Milan's 5-2…

The recovery of the Japanese economy, just as a recession in Europe digs in, is renewing pressure on European policymakers to shift course from austerity to stimulus. Data released on May 16 showed Japan's economy grew markedly in the first quarter, only weeks after a new government and a new…

Yokohama Mayor Fumiko Hayashi on Monday announced that the city no longer has any children on its waiting list for daycare centers in any of its 18 wards. Three years ago, Yokohama -- which has a population of 3.7 million -- set 2013 as its target for reducing the number…