Vaccines, masks? Japan puzzling over sudden virus success

TOKYO (AP) — Almost overnight, Japan has become a stunning, and somewhat mysterious, coronavirus success story. Daily new COVID-19 cases have plummeted from a mid-August peak of nearly 6,000 in Tokyo, with caseloads in the densely populated capital now routinely below...

Nun imprisoned over peace activism, Megan Rice, dies at 91

ROSEMONT, Penn. (AP) — Megan Rice, a nun and Catholic peace activist who spent two years in federal prison while in her 80s after breaking into a government security complex to protest nuclear weapons, has died. She was 91. Rice died of congestive heart failure Oct....

Japan PM says Fukushima wastewater release can't be delayed

TOKYO (AP) — Japan's new prime minister on Sunday said the planned mass disposal of wastewater stored at the tsunami-wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant cannot be delayed, despite concerns from local residents. Speaking at his first visit to the facility since taking...

Japan's premier sends offering to controversial Tokyo shrine

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s new prime minister donated ritual offerings Sunday to a Tokyo shrine viewed by Chinese and Koreans as a symbol of Japanese wartime aggression, though he did not make a visit in person. Fumio Kishida donated “masakaki” religious ornaments to...

Japanese figure skaters win Olympic test event in Beijing

BEIJING (AP) — Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama and Mai Mihara have won the men's and women's singles titles at the Asia Open figure skating event. The 18-year-old world silver medalist Kagiyama scored 179.98 in the free skate for a 277.78 total in the 2022 Beijing Olympics test...

Japan, S Korea leaders look to deepen ties despite strains

TOKYO (AP) — The leaders of Japan and South Korea spoke by phone on Friday, saying they would look to deepen ties in the face of regional security threats despite strained bilateral relations. Although are both military allies of the U.S. and share common concerns over...

Russia says it pushed US destroyer from area near its waters

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia’s Defense Ministry said a Russian warship on Friday prevented a U.S. Navy destroyer from what it described as an attempt to intrude into Russia’s territorial waters in the Sea of Japan. Hours later, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command called the Russian...

Russian Defense Ministry: Russian warship pushed U.S. destroyer from an area near Russia's waters in the Sea of Japan

Nippon Steel sues Japan business partner Toyota over patent

TOKYO (AP) — Nippon Steel Corp. is suing Toyota Motor Corp. over a patent for a technology used in electric motors in a rare case of legal wrangling between Japan’s top steelmaker and top automaker over intellectual property. Tokyo-based Nippon Steel filed the...

TSMC plans chip plant in Japan, says supply shortages easing

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp. has confirmed it is planning to build a computer chip factory in Japan. TSMC’s CEO C.C. Wei said the company, the world’s biggest contract producer of semiconductors, was expanding to better serve its customers and enhance its...