The deeper agenda behind 'Abenomics'
TOKYO - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is riding a wave of popularity, spurred by voters' hopes that his prescription for fixing Japan's economy will end two decades of stagnation. But interviews with some two dozen allies and insiders show "Abenomics" was a late addition to his platform. Full Article
Volatile Nikkei keeps Asian stocks on edge
SYDNEY - Asian stocks fell to one-month lows on Friday and the yen rebounded broadly as extreme volatility in the Nikkei kept investors on edge.
- Private consumption helps German economy to meager growth
- Truck strike may have caused Washington state bridge collapse, officials says
- BA plane makes Heathrow emergency landing after engine fire
- China says hopes visit of North Korean envoy can ease tension
- Magnitude 5.7 quake strikes Northern California
- Procter & Gamble brings back former CEO to fix company
Londoners shocked to hear one of their own
LONDON - In the lurid scene of the red-handed knifeman describing his motives for hacking to death a British soldier in broad daylight, perhaps the most chilling aspect for many Londoners was the man's unmistakably familiar accent. Full Article
IRS official at center of scandal put on leave
WASHINGTON - Lois Lerner, an Internal Revenue Service official at the center of the scandal over the agency's extra scrutiny of conservative groups, was put on administrative leave after she refused to resign, a senator said. Full Article
Syrian opposition scrambles for credibility
ISTANBUL - The Syrian opposition in exile met to decide whether to attend a peace conference that the United States and Russia see as a crucial path to ending two years of civil war. Full Article
Google faces new federal antitrust probe
WASHINGTON - U.S. regulators are in the early stages of an antitrust probe into whether Google, the top player in Web display advertising, breaks antitrust law in how it handles some advertising sales, a source told Reuters. Full Article
Century-old ban on openly gay scouts lifted
GRAPEVINE, Texas - The Boy Scouts of America voted to lift a century-old ban on openly gay scouts in a major victory for gay rights activists, but the decision means a sea of change for an organization that depends heavily on faith-based groups. Full Article
Markets fear rough summer ride ahead
NEW YORK - For the past few months, the Federal Reserve has been squarely in the financial markets' corner. But signs that the central bank is discussing reducing support by purchasing fewer bonds mean that trading is likely to get bumpier. Full Article
Reuters Today: More froth to come off whippy markets?
May 24 - Another volatile day in Japan, where market "bubbles" are set to deflate further, says BONY Mellon's Simon Derrick. But Europe and the US calmer. Draghi back in London, Lego's X-Wing lands in NY.
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Changing Assad’s calculus
Even as the international community discusses 'grand strategy,' Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is taking decisive action. Commentary
Some cracks in the technocrat cult
We are living in the age of the technocrats, but there are sound reasons why not to rely mechanically on technocratic solutions. That’s why it is worth reading a new paper by Daron Acemoglu of MIT and James Robinson of Harvard University. Commentary
Lessons of the London butchers
The cases of the butchers of London and the Boston bombers raise an even more fundamental question: What exactly is terrorism? Since 9/11, the central management of al Qaeda’s operation has been defeated and the duty to continue the Islamist fight has passed to individual jihadists. Commentary
The many interpretations of Ben Bernanke
The reaction to Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's tediously familiar statement, and release of the equally repetitive minutes of the last Fed meeting, was some of the wildest gyrations seen in the world’s financial markets for months. Commentary
Civil wars and Syria: lessons from history
Removing Assad would no more end the Syrian conflict than overthrowing Saddam Hussein in 2003 brought stability to Iraq. The U.S. must create a more integrated overall strategy, argue Michael O'Hanlon and Sean Zeigler. Commentary
Prosperity without power
Across the BRIC nations, frustrated members of the middle class are demanding change, but traditional power holders from Russia’s Vladimir Putin to India’s large political parties remain entrenched. Commentary
The secret to Lenovo's success
The plain-vanilla personal computer industry may be hurting, but Lenovo is raking in the cash. Here's how. Video
















