Tokyo votes in crucial election for Abe’s ruling party

TOKYO — Voters in Tokyo head to the ballot box Sunday to deliver their verdict on Shinzo Abe's ruling party after scandals sent support...

Trump to speak with Chinese president and Japan PM on North Korea

WASHINGTON — President Donald J. Trump will speak by telephone with the leaders of China and Japan on Sunday, in talks likely to be...

One-off abdication law eyed for Japanese emperor Akihito

TOKYO -- Japan could pass a one-off bill allowing its retirement-ready emperor to step down, a government panel said Monday, in what would be...

Russia seeks Syria peace with Iran, Turkey as US sidelined

ASTANA -- A joint effort to end the war in Syria by Russia, Turkey and Iran enters a new phase on Monday with peace...

South Korea culture ministry apologizes for ‘blacklist’ of artists

SEOUL -- South Korea’s culture ministry apologized on Monday for a blacklist of artists which excluded them from government support, admitting there was a...

China signals it would cooperate with Trump gov’t

BEIJING -- Confronted by the challenge of a Donald Trump-led White House, China is signaling it’s ready to work with the new administration and...

Japan’s PM says will keep seeking Trump’s understanding on TPP

TOKYO -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Monday he believed US President Donald Trump understood the value of free trade and that...

MH370 families to appeal for search to continue at Australia-Malaysia meet

SYDNEY -- Grieving relatives of MH370 passengers will appeal for the hunt for the missing airliner to continue at a meeting between the Australian...

‘No provocation’ can stop China’s military drills — Party newspaper

BEIJING -- China’s military will carry out drills regardless of foreign provocations and pressure, the Communist Party’s paper said on Sunday, adding that exercises...

7.9 earthquake hits Papua New Guinea

SYDNEY -- A powerful 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck Papua New Guinea Sunday, shaking homes and sparking a tsunami alert, but there were no immediate reports...

No signs of life on Day 4 of Italy avalanche rescue

PENNE, ITALY -- Rescuers combing the wreckage of an Italian hotel in a bid to find survivors of a devastating avalanche detected no signs...

Ugandans invent ‘smart jacket’ designed to diagnose pneumonia

UGANDA -- A team of Ugandan engineers has invented a “smart jacket” that diagnoses pneumonia faster than a doctor, offering hope against a disease...