Topic: Japan

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Cover Story Boston bombing reveals a new American maturity toward insecurity

The post-9/11 'new normal' has evolved: The tactical and emotional responses to the Boston Marathon bombings show what experts call a national maturity toward terrorism that echoes longer experience with such crises in England, Spain, Russia, Japan, and Israel.
USA Update Alan Wood dies, leaves legacy of Iwo Jima flag

Alan Wood dies: The US Navy veteran brought a flag from Pearl Harbor to the Battle of Iwo Jima. Alan Wood later served as the Jet Propulsion Lab spokesman.
Briefing Chemical weapons 101: Six facts about sarin and Syria’s stockpile

President Obama said Assad's use of chemical weapons would be a 'red line' for US. Did he use sarin or any other chemical weapon against his own people?
Robert Reich GDP growth slows: why Washington must repeal the sequester

GDP grew only 2.5 percent in the first quarter. It's evidence that the economy is slowing, the recovery is stalling, and Washington must repeal the sequester, Reich writes.
Is Japan's Shinzo Abe finally acting on his true nationalist colors?

Japan's prime minister appears to be stepping up his campaign to reinterpret Japan's wartime history, aggravating China and South Korea at a time when the region should be uniting to deal with North Korea.
Olive Press Israel seeks another type of coexistence – between tourists and the earth

Although an economic boon, tourism can be a destructive force for the environment. Israel, filled with religious tourism destinations, is exploring ways to make pilgrimages sustainable.
In Gear Nissan Leaf electric taxis launch in New York

New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg joined with Nissan officials Monday to announce that six Nissan Leaf taxis would go into service this spring. Nissan Leaf taxis already operate in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Osaka, Japan,
US military chief in Beijing warns of North Korea 'miscalculation'

US Joint Chiefs of Staff Dempsey is in China looking for help on North Korea. Though Beijing indicated it was 'working on' it, there are a number of reasons why China might be reluctant to push the North too hard.
China tests its borders again, this time in the mountains

India is alleging a Chinese border incursion in the Himalayan region of Ladakh, putting diplomatic pressure on an otherwise warming relationship between the two Asian giants.
Global News Blog China sends largest fleet yet to disputed islands

China sent a fleet of patrol ships today to the sea area it disputes with Japan, following a controversial visit by Japanese officials to a war shrine. The latest moves are seen as a setback for a diplomatic resolution.
Pink full moon Thursday: Who gets to see it?

April's full moon is traditionally called the 'pink moon,' a reference to pink phlox, one of the earliest flowers of spring. This week's 'pink moon' might actually appear pinkish in Europe, Africa, or Asia, where spectators will see a partial lunar eclipse.
The Monitor's View The right way to put more women in boardrooms

Japan and Germany each announced goals last week to put more women in top company slots. Yet their approaches differ. And new research indicates gender qualities can't be stereotyped according to sexual differences. This suggests official bias based on sex could be misplaced.
Difference Maker Paul Giniès turned a failing African university into a world-class problem-solver

Today 2iE is recognized as a 'center of excellence' producing top-notch home-grown African engineers ready to address the continent's problems.
3 novels with unforgettable main characters

These protagonists will still be on your mind long after you've reached the last page.
Opinion Talks with North Korea? Better to apply financial pressure (+video)

South Korea and the US must be skeptical about future talks, not least because North Korea has no incentive to change. However, the North is vulnerable to financial pressure, as seen when the US once sanctioned an Asian bank that handled North Korean money.
Southern Europe digs in against further austerity, as IMF calls for relief

But the EU has little room to give, as Europe waits for signals from September elections in Germany – the ultimate decider of Europe's economic direction.
Asian shares dip amidst slowing economic recovery

Worries about trends in global growth, drove down U.S. and European equities, commodities and Asian markets on Wednesday. Earnings forecasts continue to be revised downward, say analysts.
Energy Voices A global fracking revolution? Curb your enthusiasm.

While China, Saudi Arabia, and other nations are pushing to replicate America's shale boom, they face huge logistical obstacles. Some nations may find the investment is just too big.
Stocks bounce back from worst day of year

Stocks rose on Wall Street Tuesday the day after they had their biggest decline since November. Tuesday's strong housing and earning reports helped stocks recover.
Opinion Long live the purity of seeds for broccoli

The majority of the world's seed for broccoli, cauliflower, and similar veggies is produced in Oregon's Willamette Valley. But the seeds can be easily contaminated by pollen from canola, which the state recently allowed in the valley. The legislature must ban the canola.
The Monitor's View Alternative currencies like bitcoin are a mirror of their users

The e-currency bitcoin spiked and then fell last week, sowing doubts about alternative currencies, whether on the Internet or in local communities. Such experiments need a firm basis of trust.
Boston Marathon winners: An Ethiopian and a Kenyan

Boston Marathon: Ethiopian Lelisa Desisa was the 2013 winner of the men's marathon. Kenyan Rita Jeptoo won the women's race. Americans finished fourth in both the men's and women's marathon.
Decoder Wire Why hasn't North Korea fired its Musudan missile yet?

Satellite imagery has detected the movement of several Musudan missiles toward the east coast of North Korea, and a test is widely expected. But April 15 is not likely to be the day. Here's why.
$25 billion offer: Dish Network bids for Sprint Nextel

$25 billion offer: Dish Network is offering to buy Sprint Nextel Corp. in a cash-and-stock deal Dish values at more than $25 billion, saying its bid for Sprint Nextel is superior to that of Japanese phone company SoftBank.
North Korea's Kim Jong-un celebrates missile-free holiday (+video)

Officials in South Korea, the United States, and Japan say that intelligence indicates North Korea, which tested a nuclear device in February, is ready to test a medium-range missile.