TOKYO - Nationalist Shinzo Abe, a proponent of a tight alliance with the United States and a more assertive military, won election as Japan's new prime minister Tuesday, scoring comfortable majorities in both houses.

George Spencer awakened in an angry mood on Dec. 7, 1941. The 21-year-old hadn’t gotten to bed until the wee hours of the morning after attending a dance the previous night as a civilian guest at the Naval Officers Club, near Pearl Harbor.

At Hohokam Park on Friday night, the events accompanying the Mesa Miners' game were slightly unorthodox, even for minor league baseball.

Throwing a party is challenge enough for most people. Throwing a party on the patio just ups that challenge.

TOKYO — Japanese cast ballots Sunday in hotly contested parliamentary elections in which the ruling conservative party, battered by a laggard economy and voter desire for change after more than half a century of virtual one-party rule, was expected to suffer an overwhelming defeat.

MTV put Lake Havasu City on the map for the spring break set, but city officials there are clamping down on partying, and it’s doing wonders for the town of Parker.

May 5, 2005

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - An Argentine couple captured the stage category at the World Tango Championships on Saturday, followed by Chilean and Japanese pairs.

It’s called “The Pounder,” and the 20-ounce hamburger will set you back about $11 at Cheeburger Cheeburger at the southwest corner of Arizona Avenue and Ocotillo Road in Chandler.

“Republicans continue to accuse President Obama of throwing Israel under the bus. They should know: They wrote the book on it. Look at all of the veterans they threw under the filibuster bus from wars they started.”

UNITED NATIONS - Supporters of a resolution that would impose limited sanctions on North Korea agreed to delay a vote in the hope that China can pressure Pyongyang to return to six-party talks on its nuclear program and halt missile tests, U.S. Ambassador John Bolton said Monday.

BEIJING - China's president issued an unusual public appeal Tuesday to a visiting North Korean leader to avoid aggravating tensions with its missile test program, as the U.S. and Japan urged Beijing to press its ally Pyongyang for concessions.

LOS ANGELES - Britney Spears' request for a restraining order against a Japanese fan will be dismissed as part of an out-of-court agreement between both parties, court officials said Wednesday.

LOS ANGELES - Police say they are investigating an alleged fight between reality-TV star Sharon Osbourne and a Hollywood agent.

TOKYO - Smiling and waving to screaming fans, Michael Jackson arrived in Japan on Sunday for his second visit in recent years to host an exclusive party where admirers pay $3,500 to spend 30 seconds with the pop icon.

BEIJING - Disarmament talks on North Korea's nuclear weapons program will resume next week, China said Monday, announcing an apparent end to Pyongyang's 13-month-old boycott of the negotiations over U.S. financial sanctions.

HANOI, Vietnam - Envoys meeting on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific economic summit, tried Wednesday to cobble together a united strategy for upcoming talks aimed at convincing North Korea to drop its nuclear weapons program.

" Tribune headline: ‘White nationalist party pushing candidate for Mesa council.' In a city that would elect the likes of J.T. Ready and Russell Pearce to office, I've no doubt he'll do smashingly!"

TOKYO - Japan has announced a total ban on North Korean imports. North Korean ships will not be allowed in Japanese ports and most North Korean nationals will not be permitted to enter Japan.

SEOUL, South Korea - North Korea test-launched six missiles including a long-range Taepodong in an early morning barrage Wednesday, defying international warnings of retaliation. A North Korean official said the country has the right to such launches.

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Kidnappers have released up to 12 foreigners taken hostage in Iraq, a member of the U.S.-appointed Governing Council said Monday.

Thousands of motorcyclists will rumble and roll into Scottsdale on Friday for the start of Arizona Bike Week.