DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — A government investigation found poor quality construction materials and building code violations were among the “series of irregularities” that caused the collapse of a building housing garment factories last month in Bangladesh, the committee head said Thursday.
Read more here: Building materials blamed in Bangladesh disaster
MIAMI (AP) — LeBron James made a layup as time expired in overtime, and the Miami Heat found a way to beat the Indiana Pacers 103-102 in a wild Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals Wednesday night.
Read more here: LeBron saves Heat at buzzer of Game 1
WASHINGTON (AP) — Urban renewal? New census estimates show that most of the nation’s largest cities further enhanced their allure last year, posting strong population growth for a second straight year.
Read more here: Urban renewal? Big US cities showing strong growth
(Reuters) – SoftBank Corp would appoint a “security director” to Sprint Nextel's board if its takeover bid succeeds, and would give the U.S. government the right to approve the nominee, an attempt to address security concerns raised by the proposed deal. Sprint said in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on May 1 that the new director appointed by the Tokyo-based SoftBank would oversee public safety concerns related to Sprint's wireless and wireline operations. …
Read more here: SoftBank would appoint "security director" to Sprint board
By Masayuki Kitano and Hideyuki Sano SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Japanese government bonds plunged on Thursday, taking yields to their highest in a year and leading a selloff in bonds globally after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's remarks sparked worries of a reduction in U.S. monetary stimulus. Bernanke's comments, suggesting the Fed's massive bond purchases could be scaled back in the next few policy meetings if the economy improves further, triggered a reaction across a swathe of markets, lifting the dollar to a three-year high versus a basket of currencies and the U.S. …
Read more here: JGB yields surge, markets spooked by Bernanke remarks
By Kentaro Sugiyama and Yoko Kubota TOKYO (Reuters) – Mitsubishi Motors Corp is taking steps toward resuming dividend payments after nearly a decade-long turnaround bankrolled by other Mitsubishi group companies, according to people with direct knowledge of the plans. Specifically, Mitsubishi Motors is considering asking shareholders to approve plans for a 10-for-1 reverse stock split, the people said. At the same time, the company may ask shareholders to approve a capital reorganization – a change in accounting that would make it possible to resume paying dividends. …
Read more here: Mitsubishi Motors weighs capital shift, dividends: sources
By Linda Sieg and Ruairidh Villar SAGAMIHARA, Japan (Reuters) – When Masayoshi Matsumoto joined the Japanese army in 1943 and was sent to occupied China as a medic, he thought he was taking part in a righteous war to free Asia from the yoke of Western imperialism. Seven decades later, the 91-year-old retired Christian pastor says it's his mission to speak out about the injustice of the war and the sufferings of women, mostly Asian and many Korean, forced to work in Japanese wartime military brothels. “I feel like a war criminal. …
Read more here: Japan's wartime brothels were wrong, says 91-year-old veteran
By Rob Taylor and Lincoln Feast CANBERRA (Reuters) – Ford Motor Co will shut its two Australian auto plants in October 2016, blaming a strong currency and costs that are hitting manufacturers just as the country looks for other sectors of its economy to cushion the end of a mining boom. Ford Australia will close its engine plant in Geelong and its vehicle assembly plant in Broadmeadows, both in Victoria state, with the loss of 1,200 jobs, Ford Australia Chief Executive Bob Graziano said on Thursday, the latest election-year blow to the struggling Labor government. …
Read more here: High costs, currency push Ford out of Australia car manufacturing
By Katie Schubert OMAHA, Nebraska (Reuters) – Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning on Wednesday filed a petition to revoke the license of the only nurse at a controversial abortion clinic in the state for allegedly providing substandard care and improperly administering drugs. …
Read more here: Nebraska attorney general wants abortion clinic nurse's license revoked
KATMANDU, Nepal (AP) — A Nepalese official says 80-year-old Japanese mountaineer Yuichiro Miura has become the oldest man to reach the top of Mount Everest.
Read more here: Japanese climber, 80, becomes oldest atop Everest
