Tuesday, 23 April 2013

First radiation detected in Japan from N. Korea February nuke test

Possible radioactive traces from a North Korean nuclear test in February have been detected for the first time, although it remains unclear what fissile material ...

Fukushima nuclear plant cleanup may take more than 40 years: IAEA

A U.N. nuclear watchdog team said Japan may need longer than the projected 40 years to decommission the Fukushima power plant and urged Tepco to ...

Eternal reminder: Teen erects tsunami monument

Yusaku Yoshida, a 16-year-old high school student in Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, has put up a wooden monument on a hill in the town on March ...

Sequestration-linked furloughs spur U.S. airport mayhem

After months of inside-the-Beltway drama, the impact of sequestration cutbacks moved to center stage America on Monday as the aviation system was slowed by the ...

LDP plans expansion of JET program

The number of teachers hired for the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program would be doubled in three years under a proposal drafted by the Liberal ...

Girl’s rape highlights police apathy

Child rights activists say the rape last week of a 5-year-old girl is just the latest case in which Indian police failed to take urgent ...

North Korea’s nuclear puzzle

Additional evidence that North Korea is about to deploy nuclear-tipped long-range missiles will raise a question that no Asian or Western leader wants to answer.

Boston’s terrible theater of terrorism

The attack on the Boston Marathon is a reminder of the adage that terror is theater — as is the response to terror. It matters ...

Worrying defense spending trends

The 0.5 percent decline in military spending worldwide in 2012 was the first real drop since 1998. But a closer look at the numbers leaves ...

The Chechen connection

Beginning in the mid-1990s under the regime of President Boris Yeltsin and continuing into the early part of the 2000s under Vladimir Putin, Russia fought ...

Edoya Nekohachi entertains with animal voices

Animal mimicry artist Edoya Nekohachi, 63, is a third-generation Japanese performer whose precise renditions of hundreds of bird species' songs, as well as frog croaks, ...

Yoshimoto seeks laughs and profit beyond Japan

Osaka-based Yoshimoto Kogyo, the giant talent agency that celebrated its 100th anniversary last year, has made an enduring business out of that fleeting phenomenon: laughter.

Mao certain to face massive pressure if she tries to retire

Mao Asada’s recent proclamation at the World Team Trophy that she “intends” to retire after next year’s Sochi Olympics took many by surprise, but I ...

Manchester United captures 20th English League crown

With 75,000 delirious Manchester United fans chanting “Champions! Champions!” at full voice, Rio Ferdinand tugged the back of Robin van Persie’s jersey near the forward’s ...

King Felix collects 100th career victory against lowly Astros

Seattle's Felix Hernandez was relieved to reach his 100th career win on Monday night against Houston after failing to reach the milestone in three previous ...

Paul, Clippers take 2-0 lead

Making game-winning shots in the final seconds is one reason the Los Angeles Clippers brought Chris Paul to town. He came up big with a ...

Canucks secure fifth straight division title

Daniel Sedin helped the Vancouver Canucks clinch their fifth straight Northwest Division title in style. Sedin scored a breakaway goal and added an assist on the ...