Japan rethinks defense

September 18, 2015 - Daily News Briefing

A nation that has renounced war in its Constitution is poised to take a more active role in regional security.

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Thousands of residents of the small northern Chilean city of Illapel slept outside Thursday after a powerful earthquake destroyed their homes, forced more than 1 million to evacuate and killed at least 10 people in the quake-prone South American nation. Several coastal towns were flooded from small tsunami waves set off by late Wednesday's quake, which shook the Earth so strongly that rumbles were felt across South America. The magnitude-8.3 quake lasted for three minutes, causing buildings to sway in the capital, Santiago, and prompting authorities to issue a tsunami warning for the Andean nation's entire Pacific coast. People sought safety in the streets of inland cities, while others along the shore took to their cars to race to higher ground.

The Federal Reserve is keeping US interest rates at record lows in the face of threats from a weak global economy, persistently low inflation and unstable financial markets. Ending a highly anticipated meeting, Fed officials said Thursday that while the US job market is solid, global pressures may "restrain economic activity" and further drag down already low inflation. Signs of a sharp slowdown in China have intensified fear among investors about the US and global economy. And low oil prices and a high-priced dollar have kept inflation undesirably low. Before year's end, many analysts still expect the Fed to raise its key short-term rate, which it's kept near zero since 2008. A higher Fed rate would eventually send rates up on many consumer and business loans.

While gunfire rang out in the streets, Burkina Faso's military took to the airwaves Thursday to declare it now controls the West African country in a coup mounted weeks before elections. A former aide to ex-President Blaise Compaore, who was ousted in a popular uprising last year, was named the new head of state. In a telephone interview with The Associated Press, the general said the scheduled Oct. 11 election date was too soon.

Croatia staggered Thursday as thousands of asylum seekers poured in from Serbia. Dozens were injured or trampled in a mad rush to get on the few buses and trains authorities could provide, and some police even stood behind trees to protect themselves from the melee. The Balkan nation has suddenly become the latest hotspot in the 1,000-mile plus exodus toward Western Europe after Hungary sealed off its border Tuesday with a razor-wire fence and then used tear gas, batons and water cannons to keep the migrants out.

Federal prosecutors announced a settlement with General Motors that resolves a criminal investigation into how the Detroit automaker concealed a deadly problem with small-car ignition switches. Under the deal, GM will pay a fine of around $900 million in a deferred prosecution agreement on a wire fraud charge. That means any charges would be dismissed if GM complies with oversight and other terms for three years.

The United States and Cuba should be able to transform their new diplomatic relationship into a deeper commercial partnership before the end of the year, with direct postal service to begin and an agreement on regularly scheduled commercial flights between the two countries, an American official said. Washington also plans to publish new regulations soon making it easier for US citizens to visit the island and do business with its growing ranks of independent entrepreneurs.

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