| Probe launched after Anglo Irish execs' calls leaked BY FINBARR FLYNN A former executive at Anglo Irish Bank Corp. said it would be “fantastic” if the state took over the lender, as “we’d all get to keep our jobs” and sang “Deutschland uber alles” as the bank won German deposits, according to tapes of 2008 ... Japanese robot: ISS mission one 'big stride' for androids A talking robot that will accompany a Japanese astronaut in space this summer says the cosmic tour will be one giant leap for androids everywhere. In a scene straight out of “Star Wars,” the pint-sized Kirobo fielded questions from curious journalists who asked what ... Economic reports lift U.S. markets Wall Street got back to focusing on the economy instead of the Federal Reserve on Tuesday, sending U.S. stocks higher. Four reports showed a brightening U.S. economy. Housing and manufacturing continued to improve and consumer confidence hit its highest level in 5½ years. The ... Greenback hovers around ¥97.50 The dollar drifted around ¥97.50 in late Tokyo trading Wednesday after shedding most of its gains following stock price declines in Japan and China. At 5 p.m., the dollar was at ¥97.55-57, compared with ¥97.40-42 at the same time Tuesday. The euro stood at ... JT sues Thailand over pack warnings Japan Tobacco Inc. has sued the government of Thailand over a plan to increase the size of health warnings on cigarette packages, claiming the move is unconstitutional. Thailand announced a plan in April to increase the size of graphic health warnings to 85 percent ... Three top banks to bump up mortgage rates in July Three major banks are considering hiking their housing loan rates more in July as record-low long-term interest rates continue to edge up, sources said. Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Mizuho Bank and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. are likely to raise their 10-year fixed-rate mortgages by ... Nikkei can't sustain morning gains, ends lower Stocks erased early gains to end lower Wednesday amid nervous trading due to lingering worries over the Chinese economy. The Nikkei 225 average closed down 135.33 points at 12,834.01. On Tuesday, the key market gauge lost 93.44 points. The Topix fell 9.38 points to ... | 
