JAPAN

Persons with diabetes have a much greater chance of developing dementia than others, new research indicates.

The United States on Wednesday expressed concern about recent cyber attacks on defense contractors in Japan, which build U.S.-designed missiles, warships and military aircraft, calling for the attacks to be taken seriously.

Future Group, which owns the Pantaloon Retail chain, is in talks with Japan's convenience store chain Lawson Inc to sell a 49 percent stake in its foods sourcing and manufacturing operations, the Economic Times reported.

Japan's exports rose in the year to August at less than half the pace expected as a global economic slowdown, a strong currency and Europe's sovereign debt crisis put Japan's own recovery increasingly in doubt.

Asian stocks drifted slightly lower Wednesday and the euro clawed back lost ground as investors waited for the end of a Federal Reserve policy meeting that may act to stimulate the U.S. economy.

Asian stocks drifted slightly lower and the euro clawed back lost ground as investors waited for the end later on Wednesday of a Federal Reserve policy meeting expected to announce further steps to stimulate the flagging U.S. economic recovery.

The U.S. government is concerned about cyber attacks on Japanese defense contractors including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which builds F-15 fighter jets, Patriot missiles and other U.S. designed weapons for Japan's military, urging such attacks be taken seriously, the U.S. embassy in Tokyo said.

Strong policies are urgently needed to increase economic growth and reduce the risk of a double-dip recession in the developed world, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in its revised World Economic Outlook. The IMF also decreased its 2011 global GDP growth forecast to 4 percent, down 0.3 percentage points from the June 2011 forecast.

Europe will come under heavy pressure this week to stem its deepening debt crisis but talks among the self-proclaimed guardians of global finance are unlikely to yield bold action.

Europe needs to get its act together and deal with its worsening sovereign debt crisis, the International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday, warning of the risk of severe repercussions for global growth.

The Gunners came from behind to beat the Shrews

Six thousand troops have been deployed to the India-Nepal border, where a 6.9 magnitude earthquake hit Sunday night. The current death toll has risen to 90 people, about 50 from the Indian state of Sikkim, along with others in Nepal and Tibet.

Diabetes does not just take its toll on the heart, a new study in Japan has found. It dramatically increases the risks of developing Alzheimer's or dementia in later life.

Europe and the United States could slip back into recession next year unless they quickly tackle economic problems that could infect the rest of the world, the International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday.

The defense ministry was reportedly angered by the company’s security breach and pushed for an immediate probe into its cause.

Royal wedding and winning (as in Charlie Sheen's catch-phrase) were the two most used phrases on television in 2011, according to a survey released on Tuesday.

FBR Capital Markets believes Prudential Financial Inc. (NYSE: PRU) will execute the $1.5- billion stock repurchase and will maintain an additional capital margin of $3.2 billion through the year-end 2013.

Standard & Poor's cut Italy's credit rating on Tuesday in a surprise move that increased strains on the debt-stressed euro zone and raised pressure on policymakers to take more decisive action to resolve the crisis.

Japan told its biggest weapons supplier, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, to investigate a cyber attack on its computers on Tuesday, warning it may have breached contracts to supply billions of dollars of equipment by keeping quiet about the online assault.

Standard & Poor's cut Italy's credit rating on Tuesday in a surprise move that increased strains on the debt-stressed euro zone and raised pressure on policymakers to take more decisive action to resolve the crisis.

Scientists at a Japanese university say people suffering from diabetes have a greater chance of developing dementia.