Bylines Agence France-Presse

World’s auto industry turns attention to Tokyo Motor Show

The Tokyo Motor Show kicks off Wednesday with Japanese automakers showcasing their latest electronic technology and green cars aimed at the growing low-emissions sector.…

‘Cars thrown like tumbleweed’ by typhoon; more than 10,000 feared dead

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — The death toll from a supertyphoon that decimated entire towns in the Philippines could soar well over 10,000, authorities warned Sunday, making it the country’s worst recorded natural disaster. The horrifying estimates came…

Tiananmen car blast that killed Filipino tourist may have Xinjiang tie – media

BEIJING – A fatal car crash in Tiananmen Square may have links to China’s restive far western region of Xinjiang, state-run media said on Tuesday, a day after the high-profile incident that killed a Filipino tourist and…

Classic car enthusiasts hit Myanmar roads

YANGON — A group of classic car enthusiasts on Monday embarked on a road trip around Myanmar — an event organizers hope will help save the country’s ageing automobiles from the scrapheap. Twenty cars including marques such…

Vettel seizes historic world title with Indian Grand Prix domination

GREATER NOIDA — Sebastian Vettel roared into history as Formula One’s youngest four-time champion in superlative style as he dominated the Indian Grand Prix on Sunday. Pole-sitter Vettel pitted early to change his soft tyres but then…

YouTube drunk-driving confessor gets 6-1/2 years in prison

Matthew Cordle, 22, stood passively and attentively as gravel-voiced Judge David Fais sent him to jail after replaying in court the emotional video confession that has now been seen online more than 2.3 million times. “It should…

Toyota recalls 885,000 vehicles to fix water leak risk

WASHINGTON—Toyota said Thursday it was recalling 885,000 vehicles worldwide to fix a problem with air-conditioning equipment that could cause a leak and affect air bags. Toyota said the recall was for model years 2012 and 2013 of…

The deadliest natural disasters in the Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — A deadly earthquake in the central Philippines on Tuesday highlighted the Southeast Asian archipelago’s vulnerability to natural disasters. The Philippines is located along a typhoon belt and the so-called Ring of Fire, a vast…

Iglesia ni Cristo event shuts down Manila

MANILA, Philippines — More than 1.5 million people converged here Monday for a powerful Christian sect’s evangelical event, causing traffic chaos that shut down large parts of the megacity. The gathering of the secretive and politically influential…

Vettel wins Japanese Grand Prix, Alonso fourth

SUZUKA, Japan – Sebastian Vettel won the Japanese Grand Prix Sunday but missed out on sealing his fourth successive world title as his nearest rival, Fernando Alonso, stayed just in touch by placing fourth. Vettel, third from…