Japan

Global shares fall amid worries about inflation, oil prices

TOKYO (AP) — Global shares were mostly lower Thursday as investors watched for fresh signs of inflation, including soaring crude oil prices.

European shares declined in early trading. France’s CAC 40 slipped 0.7% in early trading to 6,404.59, while Germany’s DAX dropped 0.9% to 14,309.79. Britain’s FTSE 100 fell 0.7% to 7,543.28.

The future for the Dow industrials edged nearly 0.1% lower to 32,862.00. The S&P 500 future fell nearly 0.1% to 4,111.50.

In Asia, Biden pushes values he struggles to sell at home

TOKYO (AP) — Joe Biden spent his first trip to Asia as president strengthening economic and military commitments. He pushed new rules for the global economy and promoted democracy in launching a new trade pact. And he summoned fellow Indo-Pacific leaders to do more in defense of Ukraine even if it causes their people some economic pain.

The president was, in short, promoting the types of values abroad of greater economic investment, cooperation and democratic principles that he has s truggled to sell to voters in the U.S.

New Australian leader Albanese makes whirlwind world debut

TOKYO (AP) — Hours after being sworn in as Australia’s new prime minister, Anthony Albanese found himself fresh off a jet and thrown into the glare of a global spotlight Tuesday. He was rewarded with a warm welcome, as well as a bit of a gentle ribbing, from U.S. President Joe Biden and other leaders at an international summit in Japan.

Biden: Leaders navigating ‘dark hour’ after Ukraine invasion

TOKYO (AP) — President Joe Biden told fellow Indo-Pacific leaders assembled for a four-country summit Tuesday that they were navigating “a dark hour in our shared history” due to Russia’s brutal war on Ukraine and he urged the group to make a greater effort to stop Vladimir Putin’s aggression.

“This is more than just a European issue. It’s a global issue,” Biden said as the “Quad” summit with Japan, Australia and India got under way.

Quad 'not just a passing fad, we mean business': Biden

Tokyo, May 24 (PTI) US President Joe Biden on Tuesday said that Quad is "not just a passing fad but it means business," asserting that the four leaders of the grouping are here to get things done for the strategic Indo-Pacific region and that he is proud of what they are building together.

Addressing the second in-person meeting between Quad leaders, Biden attacked Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, saying Moscow is trying to extinguish a culture.

U.S. new Indo-Pacific economic framework faces headwinds

TOKYO, May 23 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday launched the so-called Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), which a number of countries including Japan have joined, as the new economic initiative raised concerns in the Asia-Pacific.

"In order to prepare our economies for the future, we are launching the process to establish the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity," said a joint statement by member nations of the United States, Australia, Brunei, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.

Biden: US would intervene with military to defend Taiwan

TOKYO (AP) — President Joe Biden said Monday that the U.S. would intervene militarily if China were to invade Taiwan, saying the burden to protect Taiwan is “even stronger’ after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It was one of the most forceful presidential statements in support of self-governing in decades.

Biden, at a news conference in Tokyo, said “yes” when asked if he was willing to get involved militarily to defend Taiwan if China invaded. “That’s the commitment we made,” he added.

US would intervene with military to defend Taiwan: Biden

Tokyo, May 23 (AP) President Joe Biden said Monday that the US would intervene militarily if China were to invade Taiwan, saying the burden to protect Taiwan is "even stronger' after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. It was one of the most forceful presidential statements in support of self-governing in decades.

Biden, at a news conference in Tokyo, said yes when asked if he was willing to get involved militarily to defend Taiwan if China invaded. That's the commitment we made, he added.

Biden starts Japan tour as protesters take to streets

TOKYO, May 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden arrived in Japan on Sunday, as about 750 protesters took to the streets here against the planned U.S.-Japan summit and the summit of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (the Quad).

A series of meetings are scheduled during Biden's three-day visit to Japan, following his trip to South Korea, including the summit of the Quad group involving Japan, Australia and India, during which the United States is expected to hustle the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF).

Japan to allow limited tour groups from May as step to full re-opening

TOKYO, May 17 (Reuters) - Japan said on Tuesday it would start conducting "test tourism" in the form of limited package tours in May as a way of gathering information prior to a full re-opening of the country to tourism.

Though tourism was a major pillar of Japan's economy, tourists have not been permitted to enter since it adopted strict border controls in 2020 at the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

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