PM visits Hokkaido as toll hits 42

TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited the quake-hit northern region of Hokkaido on Sunday, as officials confirmed two more deaths bringing the toll to 42.

Activists criticize vandalism of 'comfort women' memorial statue in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO - A "comfort women" memorial in San Francisco in California has recently become the target of vandalism ahead of the anniversary of its installment, and activists said the act may have been motivated by hate.

Trump slams NYT as aides cry 'Not me!'

WASHINGTON - One after another, US President Donald Trump's top lieutenants stepped forward to declare: "Not me."

Leading candidate injured in knife attack

RIO DE JANEIRO - Brazilian presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro is in serious condition after being hospitalized from a stab wound, local media reported on Thursday.

Idlib crisis dominates summit in Teheran

TEHERAN - The presidents of Iran, Russia and Turkey began a meeting in the Iranian capital on Friday to discuss the fate of the rebelheld province of Idlib in Syria as rival factions there prepared for what could be the conflict's last major battle.

West backs UK over alleged poisoning

WASHINGTON - Major Western nations on Thursday expressed firm support for the United Kingdom's accusations against Russia over the alleged poisoning of an ex-spy and his daughter, despite the denial of any involvement from Moscow.

IN BRIEF (Page 8)

Quake toll rises as rescue continues

TOKYO - Rescue workers with bulldozers and sniffer dogs scrabbled through the mud on Friday to find survivors from a landslide that buried houses after a powerful quake, as the death toll rose to 18.

Indian women empowered through blogging

NEW DELHI - The empowerment of women is being witnessed in India through the blogging platform "wemedia", thanks to Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba.

'Comfort women' story told in pictures

An exhibition featuring photographs of 12 "comfort women" survivors from World War II has opened in the California State Building.

Minister criticizes Trump for focus on Iran at UN

UNITED NATIONS - Iran's foreign minister has sharply criticized President Donald Trump for "abusing" the US presidency of the Security Council this month by holding a meeting on Iran's international activities during the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations in late September.

Russia rejects UK's 'unacceptable' Kremlin claim

The United Kingdom will seek to intensify diplomatic pressure on the Kremlin after naming two Russian military intelligence officers it said were ordered to carry out the Novichok poisoning attack in Salisbury.