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TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, in her first major policy speech on Friday, pledged to further accelerate Japan’s military buildup and spending and complete an early upgrade of the country’s security strategy as tensions rise with China, North Korea and Russia.Takaichi took office Tuesday after being elected Japan’s first female leader. That ended months of a political vacuum amid power struggles within her party following consecutive election defeats that led to the ruling coalition’s loss of a majority in both houses of parliament.Takaichi said Friday her government will hit an annual military spending target of 2% of…

ISTANBUL (AP) — On the streets of Istanbul, porters hauling massive sacks wrapped in white plastic — on their backs or in handcarts — are a ubiquitous yet often overlooked part of the city’s fabric. Known as hamallık in Turkish, porterage is a profession that has endured from the Ottoman Empire to the present day.It remains especially common in Istanbul’s historic trade quarters — the Egyptian Bazaar, the Grand Bazaar, and the Eminönü district — where traditional commercial buildings known as hans contain workshops and businesses that produce jewelry, textiles and other goods. Porters haul loads up the stairway in…

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — World shares were mixed on Friday after the White House confirmed plans for President Donald Trump to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping next week.The confirmation reduced some of the uncertainty surrounding trade tensions between the two biggest economies, though prospects for a significant trade deal remain unclear. The future for the S&P 500 rose 0.2% while that for the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up nearly 0.1%. Oil prices have declined after surging a day earlierIn early European trading, Germany’s DAX rose 0.1% to 24,235.73, while Britain’s FTSE 100 edged less than 0.1% higher to…

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq is weeks away from parliamentary elections that will set the country’s course during one of the Middle East’s most delicate moments in years.While the ceasefire in Gaza may have tamped down regional tensions, fears remain of another round of conflict between Israel and Iraq’s neighbor, Iran. Iraq managed to stay on the sidelines during the brief Israel-Iran war in June.Meanwhile, Baghdad faces increasing pressure from Washington over the presence of Iran-linked armed groups in Iraq.Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani came to power in 2022 with the backing of a group of pro-Iran parties but has…

Jeff KassoufOct 23, 2025, 08:30 PM ETCloseJeff Kassouf covers women’s soccer for ESPN, focusing on the USWNT and NWSL. In 2009, he founded The Equalizer, a women’s soccer news outlet, and he previously won a Sports Emmy at NBC Sports and Olympics.CHESTER, Pa. — Everywhere fans turned on Thursday at Subaru Park, there were reminders of Alex Morgan’s illustrious United States national team career, from the eponymous pink pre-wrap headband station outside the gates to a Morgan bobblehead handed out to the first couple thousand fans through the gate.U.S. Soccer honored the career of Morgan on Thursday as the USWNT…

Something happened that caused Donald Trump to “cancel” the expected meeting between himself and Vladimir Putin in Budapest. Consider this: Plans were moving ahead for the meeting. Hungary’s Foreign Minister arrived in Washington to work on planning for the meeting. While he was still here, Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a “productive” phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov – and then recommended that Trump cancel the Putin meeting. The primary issue is over the US demand for a ceasefire in place. The Russians, said Lavrov, would never agree to any such thing, so Rubio told the President…

Oct 23, 2025, 06:49 PM ETMorgan Gibbs-White said he feels like he “can finally breathe” again after Nottingham Forest put a difficult few months behind them with a Europa League victory against Porto in Sean Dyche’s first game.The Reds had not won since the opening day of the season, leading to popular boss Nuno Espirito Santo’s sacking and successor Ange Postecoglou being axed on Saturday after just 39 days in charge.Dyche became Forest’s third manager of the season on Tuesday and two days later oversaw a much-needed 2-0 victory against previously unbeaten Porto as the City Ground celebrated a first…

Oct 23, 2025, 04:39 PM ETBarcelona are closely monitoring the situation of Atlético Madrid striker Julián Álvarez, while goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen is a potential loan option for Chelsea, while the Catalan club. Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.Transfers home page | Men’s grades | Women’s gradesTOP STORIES- Real Madrid to let Endrick to leave on loan in January- Bayern Munich extend Kompany’s contract to 2029- Forest hire Dyche as Postecoglou replacementCould Barcelona end up signing Julián Álvarez? (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)TRENDING RUMORS- Barcelona are “closely monitoring” the situation of Atlético…

Oct 23, 2025, 04:35 PM ETAston Villa boss Unai Emery said his side have to become more clinical from the penalty spot after a shock Europa League defeat to Dutch minnows Go Ahead Eagles.Emiliano Buendía missed a late spot-kick as Villa squandered an early lead to suffer a 2-1 humbling in Deventer.Evann Guessand put them on course for a sixth successive win in all competitions, but they missed a host of chances to kill the game and came unstuck as goals from Mathis Suray and Mats Deijl either side of halftime gave Go Ahead a famous victory in one of…

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is going to Japan and South Korea next week to promote an epic financial windfall — at least $900 billion in investments for U.S. factories, a natural gas pipeline and other projects.Japan and South Korea made those financial commitments in August to try to get Trump to ratchet down his planned tariff rates from 25% to 15%. But as the U.S. president is set to depart Friday night for Asia, the pledges are more of a loose end than money in the bank for American industry.Japan pledged $550 billion in investments, but it wants…