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DC5m United States in english 26 articles, created at 2016-10-31 16:50 articles set mostly negative rate -3.3

1 0.0 Mexican peso holds above 3-week low as FBI set to review Clinton emails

(13.99/14) , Oct 31 (Reuters) - The Mexico peso held firm in Asia on Monday, keeping some distance from a three-week low hit late last week following news that the... 2016-10-31 03:03 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk

2 0.6 Clinton embraces Trump in grisly Japan Halloween Tokyo nursed a giant pumpkin-sized hangover Monday after a weekend of Halloween revelry which saw blood-spattered ghouls, fluffy animals and fake presidential (12.99/14) candidates cut loose. 2016-10-31 08:14 4KB www.timeslive.co.za

3 1.1 Nikkei drops on US election uncertainty but shipping stocks steam ahead (1.06/14) TOKYO, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei fell on Monday as heightened uncertainty over the U. S. presidential election kept investors on edge, but shares of m... 2016-10-31 06:51 1KB www.dailymail.co.uk

4 0.0 Sony cuts annual profit outlook due to sale of battery business

(1.06/14) TOKYO, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Sony Corp said on Monday it was cutting its annual profit outlook due to impairment losses related to the sale of its battery busin... 2016-10-31 06:24 1KB www.dailymail.co.uk

5 1.0 Japan lines MOL, NYK, K Line to join shipping, terminal ops (1.02/14) Three major Japanese container shipping lines said Monday they plan to merge their shipping and overseas terminal operations as the industry struggles with overcapacity and mounting losses. 2016-10-31 06:54 2KB www.thenewstribune.com

6 2.3 Investors buy yen, shun risk in Asia as Clinton losing edge in US polls

(1.02/14) By Vidya Ranganathan SINGAPORE, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Investors in Asia bought the Japanese yen, sold South Korean stocks and stayed away from volatile assets o... 2016-10-31 05:52 3KB www.dailymail.co.uk

7 2.9 Japan industrial output stalls, retail sales miss, in bad sign for BOJ target (1.02/14) Lackluster factory output, weak consumption and falling consumer prices could hike expectations the BOJ will push back its price target. 2016-10-31 00:53 3KB www.cnbc.com 8 0.0 Tokyo bourse's trading volume plunges to 4-year low in October

(1.00/14) TOKYO, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Monthly trading volume plunged to a four-year low on the Tokyo Stock Exchange's main board and turnover hit its lowest for this yea... 2016-10-31 06:47 1KB www.dailymail.co.uk

9 3.1 Hideki Matsuyama leaves Japan to conquer the world SHANGHAI (AP) — No one from Japan has more than Hideki Matsuyama's three PGA

(0.01/14) Tour victories. No one from Japan ever won a World Golf Championship. None of th... 2016-10-31 07:00 5KB www.dailymail.co.uk

10 2.7 Japan to conduct first racism survey after record rise in foreign residents Justice ministry will ask 18,500 foreigners and tourists about their experiences of discrimination in unprecedented poll 2016-10-31 07:26 3KB www.theguardian.com

11 4.5 Toyota gives the Rav4 crossover SUV a sporty edge Toyota adds a bit more styling and a sporty edge to the popular Rav4 with the new SE trim level. 2016-10-31 07:20 3KB wtop.com

12 0.4 Ties between the U. S. and Philippines run deep. It won't be easy for Rodrigo Duterte to unravel them Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte arrived in China this month and declared his “ separation ” from the United States. Then he went to Japan and threatened to kick American troops out of his country, throwing the future relationship of two longtime partners into doubt. 2016-10-31 06:00 8KB www.latimes.com

13 1.9 Fart sparks fire during surgery in Japan; patient seriously burnt A patient's fart during a surgical procedure allegedly sparked a fire which caused her to be seriously burnt, the Tokyo Medical University Hospital in Ward said. 2016-10-31 00:00 1KB newsinfo.inquirer.net

14 1.1 Japanese pop band sparks uproar with 'Nazi-like' costumes Halloween nightmare ensue for popular girl group after stage outfits spark sinister backlash on social media. 2016-10-31 05:50 2KB www.jpost.com 15 0.9 Panasonic slashes profit estimate, feels pinch of strong yen TOKYO (AP) — Japanese electronics company Panasonic Corp. has cut its forecast for net profit for this fiscal year, citing the impact of a strong currency and weaker earnings from sales of its solar energy systems for home use. ... 2016-10-31 05:49 781Bytes article.wn.com

16 0.9 Tepco still plans to sell bonds by March 2017 though Fukushima costs rise TOKYO, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Tokyo Electric Power Co Holdings Inc (Tepco) still plans to sell bonds by the end of March 2017 even though costs are rising from d... 2016-10-31 05:17 1KB www.dailymail.co.uk

17 1.1 Crime-busting deliveryman foils Japan mobsters Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's... Deliveryman! A mystery crime-fighting superhero is striking fear into the hearts of Japan's criminals after bravely foiling an 'armed' hold-up by a pair of gangsters, local media reported. 2016-10-31 05:10 2KB www.digitaljournal.com

18 0.0 Tokyo could ban US troops from stationing on disputed isles if Moscow hands them over – report — RT News Ahead of Vladimir Putin’s December trip to Japan, diplomatic sources told local media that Japan could block the US from being stationed on the islands off Hokkaido in the strategic Sea of Okhotsk, if this helps persuade Russia to give them back. 2016-10-31 05:07 3KB www.rt.com

19 2.3 Honda 2Q net profit up 39 percent, raises full-year forecast Honda 2Q net profit up 39 percent, raises full-year forecast Associated Press - 31 October 2016 04:17-04:00 News Topics: Business, General news, Sales figures, Automobile manufacturing, Earnings reports, Financial performance, Corporate news, Consumer product manufacturing,... 2016-10-31 04:59 1KB article.wn.com

20 2.7 MGM Resorts ready to bet up to $10 bln on Japan casino, possibly via REIT By Thomas Wilson and Emi Emoto TOKYO, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Las Vegas-based MGM Resorts International could plough almost $10 billion into a Japanese casino via... 2016-10-31 04:48 3KB www.dailymail.co.uk

21 0.0 Halloween revelers roam Toyko's iconic Shibuya district TOKYO, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Scores of Marios, zombies and witches roamed the streets of the Japanese capital Tokyo on Sunday, transforming several city blocks... 2016-10-31 04:29 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk 22 0.0 Japan shippers devise enclosure merger Image copyright Reuters Three of Japan's biggest 2016-10-31 00:00 1KB headlinenewstoday.net

23 6.2 Sunday's roundup: Matsuyama dominates in Shanghai He becomes the first Asian to win a World Golf Championships event since the series began in 1999. 2016-10-31 03:45 7KB rssfeeds.detroitnews.com

24 0.0 FedEx Cup rankings Oct 31 (Gracenote) - FedEx Cup rankings 1. (3) Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) 850 2. (1) Justin Thomas (U. S.) 614 3. (2) Brendan Steele (U. S.) 533 4. (17) Cody Gri... 2016-10-31 03:06 1KB www.dailymail.co.uk

25 0.0 Oil falls as non-OPEC yet to pledge concrete output steps By Aaron Sheldrick TOKYO, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Oil prices extended declines on Monday after non-OPEC producers made no specific commitment to join OPEC in limi... 2016-10-31 02:52 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk

26 1.1 List of Japanese-Cubans sent to internment camps during World War II found A list of about 350 Japanese-Cubans who were sent to internment camps by the Cuban government during World War II was found in the Central American country recently, shining a light on a long-forgotten fact in its history. A copy of the list of Japanese immigrants... 2016-10-31 00:10 1KB article.wn.com Articles

DC5m United States japan in english 26 articles, created at 2016-10-31 16:50

1 /26 0.0 Mexican peso holds above 3-week low as FBI set to review Clinton emails (13.99/14) TOKYO, Oct 31 (Reuters) - The Mexico peso held firm in Asia on Monday, keeping some distance from a three-week low hit late last week following news that the FBI is planning to review more emails related to Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's private email server. Market players cautioned, however, that the ramifications of the FBI's move are far from clear and that the peso, seen as the best barometer of the market's perception on the U. S. election, could slip further depending on upcoming polls. The peso traded at around 18.96 to the dollar, off its three-week low of 19.1005 touched on Friday, when it had fallen 0.7 percent. Trading volume in the peso in Asia is much larger than the usual, according to Thomson Reuters data available at Eikon FX Volume Heatmap. The peso is being used as a proxy on bets on the U. S. election because Mexico is considered to be the most vulnerable to Republican Donald Trump's protectionist policy as the country sends 80 percent of its exports to the United States. "The support for Clinton seems to be falling sharply. Her victory does not seem secure as it was before. Having said that, the e-mail issue has been around and I'm not sure how much impact it will have," a senior emerging currency trader at a Japanese bank. Clinton had opened a recent lead over Trump in national polls, but it had been narrowing even before the email controversy resurfaced. In an ABC News/Washington Post poll, Clinton's lead over Trump shrank to 1 percent by Sunday from 12 percent just about a week ago. Traders were also rushing to buy peso put options, or rights to sell the peso, to protect them against a victory by Trump. The implied volatility on the dollar/peso options rose sharply, with one-month volatility rising to above 20 percent, its highest level in more than two weeks, from near 15 percent just a week ago. The FBI said on Friday it is investigating more emails as part of a probe into Clinton's private email system. Clinton fought back, challenging FBI Director James Comey to provide a fuller explanation of investigative steps he is taking. (Reporting by Hideyuki Sano; Editing by Kim Coghill)

Hillary Clinton fends off FBI Clinton email server probe World Markets Live: FBI FBI's Clinton email email fallout as polls narrow opens questions about obtains warrant to search bombshell not illegal but article.wn.com Huma Abedin and FBI's new Hillary Clinton emails raises questions about investigation cnbc.com Comey, bureau dailymail.co.uk cnbc.com Clinton maintains her lead FBI obtains warrant to Newly discovered emails Clinton supporters shrug off over Trump after new FBI examine Clinton emails: unlikely to change FBI FBI email fallout email investigation source decision not to charge newsinfo.inquirer.net announced article.wn.com Clinton, experts say charlotteobserver.com aol.com

2016-10-31 03:03 Reuters www.dailymail.co.uk

2 /26 0.6 Clinton embraces Trump in grisly Japan Halloween

(12.99/14) For the normally reserved Japanese, the macabre celebration of the dead is an excuse to slip on a wacky costume and let their hair down at boozy parties decorated with tombstones, skeletons and spiders.

A participant in costume poses to a camera after a Halloween parade in Kawasaki, south of Tokyo, Japan October 30, 2016.

"We got into Halloween when our children started to go to kindergarten," Eriko Yoshino told AFP, dressed as the Alice in Wonderland character Tweedledum at a kids parade.

A participant in costume poses for the camera after a Halloween parade in Kawasaki, south of Tokyo, Japan October 30, 2016.

"The children love it and it's fun to wear fancy dress and cook pumpkin dishes," she added, confiding: "Nothing too fancy -- something I can pop in the microwave. "

A participant in costume poses for the camera after a Halloween parade in Kawasaki, south of Tokyo, Japan October 30, 2016.

With Halloween falling on a Monday this year, major weekend parades in Tokyo and Kawasaki, south of the capital, drew some 250,000 party-goers while Tokyo Disneyland also enjoyed a bumper two days.

Participants in costumes rest on a bench after a Halloween parade in Kawasaki, south of Tokyo, Japan October 30, 2016.

Halloween is a billion-dollar industry in Japan with an estimated 20 million people nationwide getting into the grisly spirit. Shops and bars are decked out with pumpkins and jack-o'-lanterns, while restaurants and convenience stores offer pumpkin-flavoured drinks and desserts.

"I'll tell you why I've flown in," said a young reveller dressed as a rooster and identifying himself only as Chicken Shota.

"Too many chickens are being gobbled up around the world," he added, perched dexterously on a hoverboard outside a pub.

"My message for people is to stop persecuting chickens. "

Dastardly pirates swigging from beer cans caroused with skimpily clad fairies and Harry Potter hexed a crooning Elvis as police battled to control heaving crowds during a long Saturday fright night at Shibuya's scramble crossing.

"In the spirit of Halloween I've come to offer an olive branch to Donald," said one reveller in a rubber Hillary Clinton mask as she, or he, put a friendly arm around a Donald Trump lookalike. "He's not so bad. "

Less politically motivated trick-or-treaters gathered in Tokyo's trendy Shimokitazawa neighbourhood, competing for sweets being handed out by shop owners.

"I love Halloween," said Haruka Ebino, aged four and a half, her face barely visible beneath a furry dinosaur costume.

Cradled by her father, she added with a gap-toothed grin: "My Godzilla suit is nice and warm. "

Among Ebino's pint-sized friends were stormtroopers, ninja turtles and a team of ghostbusters.

But the freaks came out at night as Ebino and her cohorts were safely tucked up in bed.

"Drink this," drooled a vampire bartender, fake blood dribbling from his chin as he offered a smouldering concoction served in a test tube. "You will turn into Dracula. "

At the same Halloween bash, flesh-eating zombie nurses squirted blood-red alcohol shots into the mouths of club-goers, who would all be back at their desks on Monday morning dressed more sensibly.

"Japanese people love dressing up," said 29-year-old Mitsuo Kaneshiro with a swish of his Batman cape.

"It's nice to be able to escape your daily life now and again. I'll be back in the office in a suit and tie tomorrow. "

Trump says Clinton could let Trump and Clinton on Trump claims Clinton could Trump: Clinton would let 650 650 million new immigrants immigration let 650M immigrants into US million people into US in one into U.S. wral.com nypost.com week – video cbsnews.com theguardian.com Clinton’s email probe is As Clinton struggles, Trump Four in 10 Donald Trump Policy Prescriptions: Trump going to help her beat tries to raise doubts supporters think Hillary and Clinton on immigration Trump: Analyst dailymail.co.uk Clinton 'is an actual demon' article.wn.com cnbc.com article.wn.com

2016-10-31 08:14 AFP www.timeslive.co.za

3 /26 1.1 Nikkei drops on US election uncertainty but shipping stocks steam ahead (1.06/14) TOKYO, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei fell on Monday as heightened uncertainty over the U. S. presidential election kept investors on edge, but shares of major shipping firms jumped after news that they will merge their container shipping businesses. Trading was choppy as most investors opted to stay on the sidelines before major events this week such as the Bank Of Japan's policy meeting, which ends on Tuesday. The BOJ is likely to hold off on expanding stimulus after a major policy overhaul last month. Investors are also focused on a U. S. Federal Reserve policy review on Wednesday and U. S. jobs data on Friday, ahead of the Nov. 8 presidential election which some polls now suggest may be too close to call. The Nikkei fell 0.1 percent to 17,425.02 points, while the broader Topix was marginally higher, adding 0.04 percent to 1,393.02. The Nikkei benchmark index rose 5.9 percent this month. Turnover on the Tokyo Stock Exchange's first section in October hit the lowest this year, while volume was the lowest since September 2012. The JPX- Nikkei Index 400 added 0.1 percent to 12,487.46. (Reporting by Ayai Tomisawa; Editing by Kim Coghill)

FOREX-Dollar off recent JGBs edge up, futures log Nippon Yusen, Mitsui OSK, FOREX-Dollar on the back highs after FBI's move on lowest monthly volume Kawasaki to merge foot as FBI's move on Clinton causes a stir since 2002 container shipping ops Clinton causes a stir dailymail.co.uk dailymail.co.uk dailymail.co.uk dailymail.co.uk Nikkei drops as US election uncertainty sours mood; shippers jump dailymail.co.uk

2016-10-31 06:51 Reuters www.dailymail.co.uk

4 /26 0.0 Sony cuts annual profit outlook due to sale of battery business (1.06/14) TOKYO, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Sony Corp said on Monday it was cutting its annual profit outlook due to impairment losses related to the sale of its battery business to Murata Manufacturing Co. The consumer electronics giant now expects to post 270 billion yen ($2.6 billion) in operating profit for the year ending in March, down 30 billion yen from its previous forecast made in July. Sony said it has agreed to sell its battery business for about 17.5 billion yen and expects to book an impairment charge of 33 billion yen related to the sale. It will announce its first-half results and further details of its full-year outlook on Tuesday. ($1 = 104.7500 yen) (Reporting by Taiga Uranaka; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)

Sony Announces a Loss Sony cuts annual profit Sony surprises with profit Related to the Transfer of outlook by 10% warning on sale of battery the Battery Business and a article.wn.com business Revision of the Consolidated dailymail.co.uk Results Forecast for the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2017 (Sony Corporation of America) article.wn.com

2016-10-31 06:24 Reuters www.dailymail.co.uk

5 /26 1.0 Japan lines MOL, NYK, K Line to join shipping, terminal ops (1.02/14) Three major Japanese container shipping lines said Monday they plan to merge their shipping and overseas terminal operations as the industry struggles with overcapacity and mounting losses.

Mitsui O. S. K. Lines, Nippon Yusen K. K. and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, or K Line, said in a statement that they are forming a joint venture to unite their shipping operations. They also are merging terminal management businesses outside Japan. Slowing global trade combined with increased fleet sizes have caused freight rates to tank, prompting a wave a consolidation in the container industry.

The three carriers said they hoped to attain a more competitive scale through their joint venture. It will rank sixth worldwide, with a combined fleet capacity of 1.4 million TEUs, or Twenty-foot Equivalent Units, and a 7 percent global market share, they said.

Container shippers have been booking heavy losses as freight rates have sunk. The three Japanese shippers, which belong to The Alliance, of Hapag-Lloyd and the Yang Ming Line, expect to save 110 billion yen ($1.1 billion) in costs by merging.

"Due to low oil prices, sluggish cargo demand and over-supply of trade capacity, container freight rates are at historic lows," the statement said, adding that there were limits to how much the three companies could manage to save on their own.

Nippon Yusen, or NYK, will contribute 38 percent of the equity in the approximately 300 billion yen ($2.9 billion) joint venture, with Mitsui O. S. K. and K Line each providing 31 percent.

The companies' terminal operations in Japan and other businesses, such as bulk shipping, ferries and logistics will not be merged.

The deal is subject to approval by regulators.

Last month, 's top ocean shipping company, Hanjin Shipping Co., launched bankruptcy proceedings following years of losses. The company's woes rippled through the global trading system as creditors seized ships and ports refused to handle Hanjin-hauled cargo.

"The quest for scale and expectations that weak demand and excess capacity will continue for at least another two years are driving the wave of consolidation that has swamped the liner shipping industry this year," Greg Knowler, Maritime & Trade expert, IHS Markit, said in a commentary.

He said the next moves of consolidation may come among Taiwan's major shippers, Evergreen Marine Corp, Yang Ming Line and Wan Hai Lines. Nippon Yusen, Mitsui OSK, Kawasaki to merge container shipping ops dailymail.co.uk

2016-10-31 06:54 By ELAINE www.thenewstribune.com

6 /26 2.3 Investors buy yen, shun risk in Asia as Clinton losing edge in US polls (1.02/14) By Vidya Ranganathan SINGAPORE, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Investors in Asia bought the Japanese yen, sold South Korean stocks and stayed away from volatile assets on Monday, reacting to opinion polls showing Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton's lead over her Republican rival Donald Trump narrowing further in the U. S. presidential election. The subtle shift in trading positions came after Friday's unexpected revelation that Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey had written to the U. S. Congress informing it that the agency is again reviewing emails related to the private server Clinton used when she was secretary of state. Clinton's lead over Trump had been narrowing even before the email controversy resurfaced. News of the fresh email discovery, coming in the final days of the White House race, caused investors to further pare their bets on a Clinton win and price for more volatility. "The market doesn't seem to be viewing James Comey's letter as a big enough deal to install Trump in the White House, but is pricing in a little more risk," said Sean Callow, a currency strategist with Westpac in Sydney. "Our strategy this week would be to prepare for increased volatility over the next 10 days. " As was the case with Britain's Brexit vote in the middle of this year, investors were unsure how to trade the FBI's review, and whether it would in any way change expected outcomes in the election. That uncertainty played out in the U. S. dollar which fell initially on Friday but held its ground against the emerging Asian currencies. An ABC News/Washington Post poll released on Sunday showed Clinton with a statistically insignificant 1-point national lead on Trump. The dollar inched up against the yen, remaining just below Friday's three-month high of 105.54. But against the Mexican peso, which is seen as the best barometer on the markets' view on the U. S. election, it was fractionally lower than Friday's three-week low of 19.1005. The peso has become a proxy for bets on the U. S. election because Mexico is considered to be the most vulnerable to Trump's protectionist policies as the country sends 80 percent of its exports to the United States. Korean stocks, which are prone to volatility because of their high levels of foreign ownership, fell more than half a percent. Westpac's Callow said he would consider staying long on the yen, possibly through options. "The yen is a proven winner in turbulent times," he said. ANZ's senior currency strategist Khoon Goh expects the Singapore dollar and Korean won to react the most in the coming days, given their open economies and the South Korean market's exposure to foreign investment. "The markets have been forced to revise somewhat the estimate of a possible Trump win, having spent most of the last one month pricing out that risk," said Ray Attrill, global co-head of currency strategy at National Australia Bank. "We were almost at a point where the U. S. election was becoming a non-market factor. " "My view is if we were to have an unexpected Trump victory and a significant short-term bout of global markets risk aversion, you'd still probably expect the U. S. dollar to strengthen on that. Because that's been the case so far. " (Additional reporting by Faith Hung in TAIPEI, Swati Pandey in SYDNEY, Nichola Saminather in SINGAPORE; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)

Clinton loses popularity edge in tight race with Trump, new Post-ABC Tracking Poll finds washingtonpost.com

2016-10-31 05:52 Reuters www.dailymail.co.uk

7 /26 2.9 Japan industrial output stalls, retail sales miss, in bad sign for BOJ target (1.02/14) Japan 's industrial output stalled in September in a worrying sign that the economy may be losing some momentum due to weak consumer spending and exports.

Separate data showed retail sales fell more than expected in September, further evidence that private consumption remains a drag on growth.

Industrial output was unchanged in September from the previous month. That compares with the median estimate in a Reuters poll of a 1.0 percent increase and followed a 1.3 percent increase in August, data by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry showed on Monday.

Lackluster factory output, along with other data showing weak consumption and falling consumer prices could heighten expectations that the Bank of Japan will yet again push back the timing of its price target.

Industrial output was flat in September as declines in semiconductor and personal computer production offset gains in autos and construction equipment.

Manufacturers surveyed by the ministry expect output to rise 1.1 percent in October and gain 2.1 percent in November, but their forecasts are often overly optimistic.

Retail sales fell 1.9 percent in September from a year earlier, slightly more than a median market forecast for a 1.8 percent decline, separate data from the trade ministry showed.

The BOJ is likely to hold off on expanding stimulus at a meeting ending on Nov. 1. In a quarterly evaluation of its forecasts due at the rate-setting meeting, the central bank will cut next fiscal year's inflation forecast slightly, reflecting weak consumption and falling import costs from a strong yen, sources have told Reuters.

The review may also extend the timeframe for hitting its ambitious inflation target beyond BOJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda's five-year term that ends in April 2018. At present, the BOJ projects inflation to reach 2 percent during the fiscal year ending in March 2018.

Kuroda has said that he saw no immediate need to act, although the bank stood ready to ease if external shocks threaten achievement of the inflation target.

Analysts are also of the view the BOJ would be in no rush to ease because its new policy framework, which targets interest rates rather than base money, is one better suited for a long- term battle to reach its price goal.

Japan Sept industrial output stalls in worrying sign for economy dailymail.co.uk

2016-10-31 00:53 CNBC www.cnbc.com

8 /26 0.0 Tokyo bourse's trading volume plunges to 4-year low in October (1.00/14) TOKYO, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Monthly trading volume plunged to a four-year low on the Tokyo Stock Exchange's main board and turnover hit its lowest for this year in October as liquidity was capped by the Bank of Japan's scheme to buy exchange-traded funds, traders said. Just 34.29 trillion shares changed hands on the first section in October, the lowest since September 2012, TSE and Thomson Reuters Eikon data showed on Monday. That resulted in turnover of 38.4 trillion yen ($366 billion) for the month, below the previous low for this year of 38.9 trillion yen set in May. The lows came despite a 5.9 percent rise for the Nikkei share average in October. Traders said the central bank's buying of ETFs to support the market creates low volatility, which results in low liquidity. ($1 = 104.8000 yen) (Reporting by Hirotoshi Sugiyama and Ayai Tomisawa; Editing by Chris Gallagher)

JGBs edge up, futures log lowest monthly volume since 2002 dailymail.co.uk 2016-10-31 06:47 Reuters www.dailymail.co.uk

9 /26 3.1 Hideki Matsuyama leaves Japan to conquer the world

(0.01/14) SHANGHAI (AP) — No one from Japan has more than Hideki Matsuyama's three PGA Tour victories. No one from Japan ever won a World Golf Championship. None of this might have been possible if Matsuyama had never left home so quickly. Even after he blew away a world-class field in the HSBC Champions to reach No. 6 in the world, the 24-year-old Matsuyama was not comfortable being mentioned with the five players ahead of him in the ranking or other Japanese players before his time. That starts with Jumbo Ozaki, who won more than 100 tournaments and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame five years ago. But there's one big difference. Ozaki rarely played outside the Japan Golf Tour. His only victory away from home was the 1972 New Zealand PGA Championship. Matsuyama stopped playing a full Japanese schedule after one year, instead coming to America to see how he stacked up against the best. His first PGA Tour victory in 2014 at the Memorial led tournament host Jack Nicklaus to say, "I think you've just seen the start of what's going to be truly one of your world's great players over the next 10 to 15 years. " Matsuyama won the Phoenix Open in a playoff over Rickie Fowler earlier this year. And then he played the final 45 holes at Sheshan International for a seven-shot victory Sunday over British Open champion Henrik Stenson and Daniel Berger to become the first Asian to win a World Golf Championship. "If I would have just stayed in Japan, I don't think my golf game would have improved as much as it has," Matsuyama said. "I needed to go out. I needed to go to America. Winning this week proves to me that I did make the right decision, and it gives me more motivation to win more. " Told he was No. 6 in the world, Matsuyama paused from signing tournament flags and said with a smile, "That makes me very happy. " He speaks limited English, though he understands enough, and so when he heard words suggesting he was No. 1 in Japan, he stopped what he was doing. "I don't feel that I am the No. 1 player in Japan," he said. "There are so many greats that have paved the way, that have enabled me to be where I'm at today. " Early in his career, Matsuyama played in Japan with Ozaki. He said he didn't fully grasp Ozaki's feats until much later, and believes the legend he calls "Jumbo-san" has established a standard that no one will ever touch. At least in Japan. Around the world, Matsuyama has been making his mark long before his victory in Shanghai. He won the Asia Amateur in 2010 by five shots to earn a spot in the 2011 Masters, made the cut at Augusta National and tied for 27th. Later that year, at 19 and still going to college, he won the Taiheiyo Masters, one of the top tournaments in Japan. Matsuyama also won another Asia Amateur, and then made another cut at the Masters. Once he finished his college degree in Japan, he won four times as a rookie and finished the year at No. 23 in the world, one spot behind American rookie Jordan Spieth. Perhaps the reason he never received enough attention was that Japan didn't have a history of success away from home. Now it does. He said winning the Memorial "showed me that I can compete with some of the best players in the world. " The Phoenix Open was validation. "And then today's win proves to me I can compete with everyone," he said. "It will give me great confidence going forward, especially in the majors. " That's the next stop, and it's one reason he won't put himself in the same class as the five players ahead of him in the world ranking — Jason Day at No. 1, followed by Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Stenson and Spieth. All of them have won majors. Matsuyama finished fifth and seventh at the Masters the past two years. He was in the mix at Muirfield in the 2013 British Open his rookie year before tying for sixth. He shot all four rounds in the 60s at Baltusrol and tied for fourth in the PGA Championship this year. "I'm thrilled to be No. 6 in the world," he said. "But being on the same level as those other players, I've got to win a lot more to be considered with them. " Still to come is the World Cup later this month with Ryo Ishikawa, his close friend who has returned from back injury with five straight top 10s, including a victory. Matsuyama will never face the scrutiny of Ishikawa, who won a Japan Golf Tour event as a 15-year-old amateur and for years received the kind of rock- star treatment at home that only Tiger Woods could appreciate. What makes them different is their youth. Ishikawa is only five months older. "All the great players before me came to the United States when they were in their 30s," Matsuyama said. "Both of us have come earlier. If there's a difference, it's the age we came to the U. S. " It's a different path, indeed. But it's working.

Now for a major, says Japan's golf sensation Matsuyama dailymail.co.uk

2016-10-31 07:00 Associated Press www.dailymail.co.uk

10 /26 2.7 Japan to conduct first racism survey after record rise in foreign residents Japan is to ask thousands of foreigners about their encounters with racism as the country adapts to a record number of non- Japanese residents and tourists.

In an unprecedented survey, the justice ministry will ask 18,500 foreign residents aged over 17 to describe their experiences of being discriminated against at the workplace or in their free time, and how they would like the government to respond, newspaper reported.

They will also be asked if they have witnessed racist incidents. The number of foreign residents in Japan stands at about 2.3 million – or about 2% of the total population – and a record 20 million foreign tourists have visited the country so far this year.

International pressure on Japan to take racism more seriously has grown amid a rise in reports of hate speech in the past three years, mostly targeting members of its large ethnic Korean population.

Many of the 400,000 Korean residents who have not taken Japanese citizenship are the descendants of people who were brought over as forced labourers during Japan’s 1910-1945 colonial rule of the Korean peninsula.

Tokyo, and other cities have experienced a rise in anti-Korean demonstrations by rightwing extremist groups such as , whose supporters have described ethnic Koreans as “criminals” and “cockroaches” and called for them to be killed.

In response to Zaitokukai’s activities, the national police agency in 2014 deemed the group a potential threat to law and order due to its “extreme nationalist and xenophobic” ideology.

Makoto Sakurai , the former head of Zaitokukai, won 110,000 votes in this summer’s election for Tokyo governor on a platform that included calls for the abolition of public assistance for non- Japanese people.

In a rare court ruling against racial discrimination, the group was ordered in 2013 to stop a hate speech campaign against a school for children whose families have ties to North Korea and pay 12m yen (£94,000) in damages.

Japan’s parliament passed a law against hate speech in June. The law, which has been criticised for not carrying penalties for offenders, encourages local governments to take measures to eradicate hate speech.

Osaka, which is home to a large ethnic Korean community, became the first city to enact a hate speech ordinance the following month.

Racist incidents of a different nature collated by the justice ministry last year involved non- Japanese people who were refused bookings at hotels or denied contracts for apartments, and children who were bullied at school.

The ministry’s survey will be conducted in 13 languages, including English, Chinese and Korean, and the results will be released by the end of March.

2016-10-31 07:26 Justin McCurry www.theguardian.com

11 /26 4.5 Toyota gives the Rav4 crossover SUV a sporty edge WASHINGTON —Sport utility vehicles don’t have as much sport in them as they used to. Many are trading the “sport” in for a more refined car-like ride with better fuel economy. The Toyota RAV4, one of the more popular compact models, has pumped a bit of sport back into the little crossover, with the new SE trim level.

So what’s different from the other RAV4s? The RAV4 was redone for 2016, and right off, the SE has a slightly sportier edge than other trim levels. The sleek LED headlights add a new look for the front end. Much of the trim is blacked out, with just a few chrome- colored pieces on the side below the windows. Even the stylish 18-inch wheels have black painted accents to complete the sporty look. My tester came with a flashy Hot Lava paint color. This orange stands out and looks pretty good.

The SE trim level adds a firmer suspension than other RAV4s, and feels a bit more connected to the road. I didn’t feel like I was driving a track star, but there is a little less body lean in turns. The large bumps are more pronounced but never really rough or tiresome during my trek on city streets or the highway.

This RAV4 seems quiet compared to the one I drove a few years ago, with less wind noise. There is some tire and road noise on the highway, but it’s much less than before. One thing that hasn’t changed from other RAV4s is the power: The 176-horsepower, 4-cylinder engine does the job fine, but a few more ponies would be nice to have for the SE models. It never felt under- powered, but neither did it feel fast.

The automatic does a good job of keeping the Toyota in the power when called upon and offers smooth shifts when commuting. Fuel economy for the week was 24.2 in my 300 miles of mixed driving — close to the 25 mpg advertised on the sticker.

Inside, the redone RAV4 is a nicer space than before, but if you want all the toys it’s going to cost you $34,000. The improved interior starts with nice leather seats and higher-quality materials throughout. The space for two adults in the back is rather good, but a third person would be pushing it; the rear seat doesn’t seem very wide. Two child seats fit, but there’s not enough width for a booster. The latch system is a bit of pain as the child seat has to go far back for the latch to connect.

Cargo space is pretty good for a compact, and the power lift gate is a nice touch. My car had nice options, such as a cool bird’s-eye camera system that lets you see around the car when parking in small spaces. The NAV works well. There are touch-screen controls, and there is even a knob for the radio’s volume and tuning – what a novel concept.

The RAV4 SE is another way Toyota stays so popular in the compact SUV/crossover market. More style and a bit of sport only adds to the appeal of this ride. Now with an improved and more upscale interior and the ability to add options to satisfy more buyers, this new RAV4 looks to win in this tough crossover market.

Mike Parris is a member of the Washington Automotive Press Association. The vehicles are provided by STI, FMI or Event Solutions for the purpose of this review. comments

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© 2016 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. 2016-10-31 07:20 Mike Parris wtop.com

12 /26 0.4 Ties between the U. S. and Philippines run deep. It won't be easy for Rodrigo Duterte to unravel them Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte arrived in China this month and declared his “ separation ” from the United States. Then he went to Japan and threatened to kick American troops out of his country, throwing the future relationship of two longtime partners into doubt.

His rancor tests one of America’s most crucial alliances in Asia. Duterte’s comments stoke indignation about U. S. treatment of its former colony, but they also discount deep economic and military bonds — ones that would prove difficult for the tough-talking leader to unravel.

“It’s quite hard to underestimate the depth and complexity of the relationship,” said Malcolm Cook, a senior fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore.

“The harm would be much more on the side of the Philippines than the U. S.”

The U. S. is the nation’s second-largest trading partner after China and one of its biggest foreign direct investors. A predominately Catholic population has absorbed America’s fast food, basketball and pop culture.

More than 90% of Filipinos regard the U. S. favorably, according to a 2015 Pew Research Center survey, a larger percentage than any other country polled — including the U. S.

That relationship extends to California, which holds the majority of some 4 million Filipinos and Filipino Americans who live in the U. S. The money they send back makes up nearly half of all remittances from overseas Philippine workers. Total payments home contribute about one-tenth of the nation’s gross domestic product.

The U. S. provides some equipment and training for the military, and American troops have helped fight Islamic separatists in the southern Philippines. A defense treaty affirming support against outside attacks dates back nearly seven decades.

“It’s clear Duterte’s special sensitivities to the U. S. may not be shared by the vast majority of Filipinos,” said Gerard Finin, director of the East-West Center’s Pacific Islands Development Program in Honolulu.

The U. S. paid Spain $20 million for the Philippines in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. The purchase drew the U. S. into an ongoing battle with Philippine rebels over independence. The violence led to tens of thousands of Filipino solider deaths and, in some instances, massacres of women and children. Then-Indiana Sen. Albert Beveridge justified the conflict when he said the U. S. had a duty to civilize “a barbarous race.” Relations improved during World War II when American Gen. Douglas MacArthur helped rid the nation of Japanese invaders. Soon after, the U. S. granted the Philippines independence.

But left-leaning nationalists like Duterte, a former prosecutor and populist mayor, believe America has failed to atone for its conquests. Some still seethe at its support for autocratic ruler Ferdinand Marcos, which allowed the U. S. to operate its largest overseas military bases: Clark Air Base and Subic Bay Naval Base.

He has compared himself to Hitler, called President Obama a “son of a whore,” and overseen a wave of extrajudicial violence that has left thousands of people dead.

Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippines’ 71-year-old president — a former city mayor with a level gaze and an aura of casual dishevelment...

He has compared himself to Hitler, called President Obama a “son of a whore,” and overseen a wave of extrajudicial violence that has left thousands of people dead.

Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippines’ 71-year-old president — a former city mayor with a level gaze and an aura of casual dishevelment...

The next government eliminated foreign military bases.

Philippines’ foreign minister, Perfecto Yasay, in September demanded the U. S. stop viewing the nation as its “little brown brother,” a reference to the term used for Filipinos when Americans controlled the island.

Some think “it’s time for the U. S. to wake up and not treat the Philippines as a doormat … but more maturely as a friend,” said Eduardo Araral, vice dean of research and associate professor at the National University of Singapore’s public policy school.

The U. S. considers the Philippines a vital partner in the face of China’s swelling ambitions, particularly in the South China Sea.

Duterte’s recent call to evict American troops takes aim at a 2014 agreement, which allows the U. S. to return soldiers to five Philippine military bases. The deal offered the Obama administration a strategic spot to boost its Asia Pacific influence, a move Chinese leaders view as an attempt to contain it.

Duterte’s predecessor, Benigno Aquino III , inched closer to Washington out of fears about China’s assertiveness in the contested waterway. An international tribunal this summer ruled in favor of the Philippines and invalidated China’s claims to the South China Sea. But Duterte has downplayed the decision, instead connecting himself with the communist country’s “ideological flow” on a recent visit and signing a whirlwind of trade deals.

“China is the clear winner in this,” Araral said.

The apparent realignment also may benefit its Southeast Asian neighbor. Philippine officials on Friday said China appears to have stopped blocking Filipino fishermen from entering waters near the disputed Scarborough Shoal.

But analysts caution against reading too much into posturing from a president new to foreign policy and just four months into office. Duterte later couched his U. S. separation comments and said he wanted to maintain diplomatic ties.

Otherwise, “the Filipinos in the United States will kill me,” he said.

Duterte’s threats are compounded by his bloody campaign against drugs, a spate of extrajudicial killings that has left more than 3,000 dead.

The Obama administration has responded cautiously, labeling his rhetoric “troubling” and gently reinforcing a decades-long partnership.

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest last week said the administration has received no formal indication that relations will shift.

Duterte’s comments have “injected some unnecessary uncertainty in the relationship,” he said. “It’s not indicative of the seven-decade-long alliance between our two countries. It’s not indicative of the deep cultural ties between our two countries.”

Administration officials are caught. They can respond and incite further outbursts, or wince and wait to see whether his rhetoric will spur actual changes.

“While Duterte is more talk than policy, there are going to be some policy implications,” said Richard Javad Heydarian, assistant professor of political science at Manila's De La Salle University, “but it’s not as severe as his language suggests.”

Los Angeles' new federal courthouse, SAG actors strike, familial DNA leads to controversy, CA's National Guard members won't have to pay back enlistment bonuses, new civil rights lawyers step to the plate, Jonathan Gold's new 101 best restaurants in L. A. is out, Bruce Springsteen's fans have opposite political views from him, and a Los Feliz teen's backyard haunted house.

A backyard Halloween attraction, where will George Lucas' museum go , the battle in Iraq is getting closer to Mosul , and women account for 1 in 3 homeless people in L. A. County.

Hundreds of residents have been flocking back to villages newly freed from Islamic State's grasp.

Christopher Van Meter, former California Army Reserve captain and Iraq veteran

Proposition 66 would speed up the death penalty system. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Proposition 66 would speed up the death penalty system. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

2016-10-31 06:00 Los Angeles www.latimes.com

13 /26 1.9 Fart sparks fire during surgery in Japan; patient seriously burnt A patient’s fart during a surgical procedure allegedly sparked a fire which caused her to be seriously burned, the Tokyo Medical University Hospital in Shinjuku Ward said.

The incident was reported in Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun.

The fire occurred at the university hospital in Tokyo on April 15. The patient, in her 30s, was undergoing an operation which involved applying a laser to her cervix, the lower part of the uterus.

The laser is believed to have been ignited by the gas she passed. The fire burned much of her body, including her waist and legs, the report said.

A committee of external experts who examined the case said in a report released on Oct 28 that no flammable materials were in the operation room during the surgery.

It also mentioned that the operation equipment was functioning normally.

“When the patient’s intestinal gas leaked into the space of the operation (room), it ignited with the irradiation of the laser, and the burning spread, eventually reaching the surgical drape and causing the fire,” the report said.

2016-10-31 00:00 The Straits newsinfo.inquirer.net

14 /26 1.1 Japanese pop band sparks uproar with 'Nazi-like' costumes Members of a Japanese girl idol band have come under fire recently on social media for donning Halloween costumes that resembled Nazi SS officer uniforms, The Japan Times reported Monday. According to the report, J-pop group Keyakizaka46 sparked uproar after wearing the military-inspired black, button-up trench dresses at a concert labeled "Perfect Halloween 2016" on October 22 in Japan's second-largest city, Yokohama.

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#Keyakizaka46 @ PERFECT HALLOWEEN 2016 pic.twitter.com/RaG4ZxeMP9 — Nogizaka46 Club⊿◢ (@NogiClub) October 24, 2016 The costume worn by member of the up-and-coming troupe also featured a black-buttoned cape and peaked hat laden with a bird emblem, which critics compared to the Nazi Reichsadler or "Imperial Eagle. " The musical group, which consists of over a dozen young women ranging from their mid-teens to early 20s, typically performs in corresponding stage outfits. However many in the Japanese social media sphere lambasted this particular wardrobe choice as "unacceptable" with some in the Twittersphere posting side-by-side photographs comparing the pop band's attire to that of the Nazi's infamous Waffen-SS.

秋元康ってネトウヨ?欅坂46の 新衣装が思い切りナチスドイツの 軍服なんですけど。

安倍政権がナチス崇拝だから問題ないの かな?:(ヽ'ω‘): pic.twitter.com/fWpWnwDecH — いちごoじゃむo (@xoxo_me_chuchu) October 23, 2016 The Japan Times quoted one Twitter user, @batayanF3 as condemning the apparel-choice, writing: “Just because you didn’t know or because you don’t praise Nazis doesn’t mean you can do these kinds of things. It’s unforgivable considering how influential they are as talents.” The newspaper also cited Berlin-based Japanese writer Ichika Rokuso as writing a Twitter post invoking the tragic memory of World War II, during which Japan was defeated along with Germany and Italy. “Dear young people,” her message began. "Seventy-one years have passed since the war ended, but there are still so many people who have lost their family members, friends and their loved ones. Even in Japan. You should understand that. "

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2016-10-31 05:50 Jpost Com www.jpost.com

15 /26 0.9 Panasonic slashes profit estimate, feels pinch of strong yen TOKYO (AP) — Japanese electronics company Panasonic Corp. has cut its forecast for net profit for this fiscal year, citing the impact of a strong currency and weaker earnings from sales of its solar energy systems for home use. ...

2016-10-31 05:49 system article.wn.com

16 /26 0.9 Tepco still plans to sell bonds by March 2017 though Fukushima costs rise TOKYO, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Tokyo Electric Power Co Holdings Inc (Tepco) still plans to sell bonds by the end of March 2017 even though costs are rising from decommissioning its Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant, President Naomi Hirose told reporters on Monday. Tepco planned to delay its first bond issuance in about six years due to a steeper-than-expected rise in decommissioning costs, the Yomiuri newspaper reported in September. The utility expects to sell about 330 billion yen ($3.1 billion) worth of bonds around the beginning of 2017, pushed back from a September- October time frame, the Yomiuri reported without citing sources. Hirose was speaking at an earnings press conference. ($1 = 104.9500 yen) (Reporting by Yuka Obayashi; Writing by Aaron Sheldrick)

2016-10-31 05:17 Reuters www.dailymail.co.uk

17 /26 1.1 Crime-busting deliveryman foils Japan mobsters Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's... Deliveryman!

A mystery crime-fighting superhero is striking fear into the hearts of Japan's criminals after bravely foiling an 'armed' hold-up by a pair of yakuza gangsters, local media reported.

When the mobsters waved a replica gun in the face of the 38-year-old courier in an attempt to steal a luxury watch, they got more than they bargained for.

The intrepid deliveryman -- whose true identity, in the best superhero tradition, remains unknown -- snatched the fake weapon and forcibly took back the package, according to Tokyo police.

Suspects Yusuke Kodama, 32, and Hidekazu Oba, 35, both gang members from the Matsuba- kai crime syndicate, were arrested on suspicion of attempted extortion, the Metropolitan Police Department said.

Oba had ordered an $8,000 Rolex wristwatch but when the beefy deliveryman arrived and handed it over the two mobsters staged a fight to avoid paying up, telling the courier: "You had better get out of here. "

Rather then flee in terror, however, the deliveryman overpowered them before calling the police. A police spokesperson confirmed that Oba had confessed to the crime, saying: "The deliveryman was too tough, we were no match for him. "

Japan's yakuza, who are notorious for their strict codes of conduct, are facing increased resistance from not only police but ordinary citizens, who are under pressure to shun the mobs or be named and shamed.

In recent years, laws have been passed to put the squeeze on firms who do business with the yakuza, famous for removing their own pinkies as a sacrifice for offending their bosses.

Tougher anti-gang laws and years of economic stagnation have seen the number of active mobsters drop to around 53,000, from 80,000 in 2009, according to the national police agency.

The yakuza, who are not outlawed but regulated and monitored, depend largely on drug trafficking, loan sharking and protection rackets for their income, although they also run legitimate enterprises.

2016-10-31 05:10 www.digitaljournal.com

18 /26 0.0 Tokyo could ban US troops from stationing on disputed isles if Moscow hands them over – report — RT News The islands are inhabited, and in Russia are called the Southern Kurils – but for Japan they are Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan, and the Habomai islet group. These territories, which became Russian after Japan’s defeat in World War II under the San Francisco Peace Treaty of 1951, saw a rift between the two countries preventing them from signing the peace treaty to formally end the war. Tokyo insists the four islets are not part of the Kuril chain and should be returned under its control.

In September, Russian President Vladimir Putin told Bloomberg that Russia does not “trade territories.” But ahead of his visit to Tokyo in mid-December, Japan’s diplomatic sources told Kyodo News that Moscow would hand over Shikotan and Habomai islet group following the peace deal, as stated by the 1956 Japan-Soviet Joint Declaration.

The sources, however, said Russia may be concerned that the US military could be stationed on the territories after Japan gets them back. According to Article 5 of the Japan-US security treaty, Washington is allowed to station its troops in areas administered by Japan.

The Japanese government is now looking into the potential consequences, should they exclude the islands from Article 5, the sources said, with one of them adding that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe could go as far as announcing that the islands do not fall under Article 5.

Other sources, however, think that “a realistic scenario is that the prime minister shows his political will and seeks consent from the United States.”

At the same time, “Russia won’t agree to hand over [the islands] unless the possibility of stationing the US military there is ruled out,” a source familiar with the Japanese-Russian ties told The Japan Times over the weekend.

Nevertheless, convincing the US to okay such conditions seems very difficult, a Japanese government source said, adding that “It could even shake the foundations of the [Japan-US military] alliance.”

For Russia, the area around the disputed islands is of “extremely high importance” because it faces the Sea of Okhotsk, a Japanese government source said, and a foreign military in these waters could hamper both essential military drills and the use of a major access route to the Pacific Ocean.

Tokyo has already rejected the report, saying they are not planning to review Article 5, TASS news agency said, citing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida reiterated it, adding that the Japan-US treaty “applies and will apply” to all territories and waters which are administered by Japan.

Earlier in the month, Tokyo also denied Nikkei’s report that Japan and Russia were discussing joint administration of the Kuril Islands.

“There is no change in Japan’s fundamental position that Japan will conclude the peace treaty with Russia by resolving the issue of the possession of the four northern islands,” Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesman Yasuhira Kawamura told Reuters in an email at that time.

Russia has always insisted that any change in the status of the islands is out of the question, as it would constitute a reassessment of the results of World War II, which is expressly banned by international treaties.

2016-10-31 05:07 www.rt.com

19 /26 2.3 Honda 2Q net profit up 39 percent, raises full-year forecast Honda 2Q net profit up 39 percent, raises full-year forecast Associated Press - 31 October 2016 04:17-04:00 News Topics: Business, General news, Sales figures, Automobile manufacturing, Earnings reports, Financial performance, Corporate news, Consumer product manufacturing, Consumer products and services, Earnings People, Places and Companies: Japan, East Asia Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

2016-10-31 04:59 system article.wn.com

20 /26 2.7 MGM Resorts ready to bet up to $10 bln on Japan casino, possibly via REIT By Thomas Wilson and Emi Emoto TOKYO, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Las Vegas-based MGM Resorts International could plough almost $10 billion into a Japanese casino via a publicly traded real estate investment trust, its chief executive said on Monday, as Tokyo inches closer to legalising the industry. Casinos are currently banned in Japan, but the odds of their legalisation have improved sharply thanks to political shifts that could open the world's next great frontier for high-roller gambling. Chief Executive Officer James Murren said MGM would spend between 500 billion yen and one trillion yen ($4.8 billion-$9.5 billion) on an "integrated resort" - a large-scale project combining casinos with hotels, shopping and conference space - in Tokyo, Yokohama or Osaka. Multiple blue-chip companies would look for an equity stake in an MGM-led project, he said, suggesting high hopes for a Japanese gaming market that brokerage CLSA says could be worth $40 billion annually. "We think there would be a tremendous amount of demand, and ultimately a public listing of these types of Japanese resorts would be very appealing," Murren told Reuters in an interview. Rival operators keen to enter the market include Las Vegas Sands Corp, which said in 2014 it would invest up to $10 billion in Japan. If a law laying the framework for legalised casinos passes the Japanese parliament, fresh legislation would set out details such as the location of the casinos. MGM could spend 100 billion yen to 300 billion yen on a resort in a regional area, Murren said, possibly Hokkaido in northern Japan or the southernmost main island of Kyushu, although it was mainly interested in a metro area. The company has previously flagged its desire to invest in a Japanese resort but it has not disclosed details of how it would do so. Murren said he envisaged a REIT where an MGM-controlled operating company responsible for expenses and investment would pay rent to a property company owned by private investors and domestic and foreign companies. "That could be an interesting way to expand the level of involvement, as there are many investors who are risk averse and looking for yield and others who are more risk tolerant," he said. A resort in Tokyo, Osaka or Yokohama could be built by 2022-23, Murren said, speaking to Reuters after a closed-door discussion with Japanese and international businesses on casino resorts. Beverage maker Suntory Holdings Ltd Chief Executive Takeshi Niinami, and ruling Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Takeshi Iwaya, both prominent casino backers, also spoke at the discussion, people familiar with the matter said. A Suntory spokeswoman confirmed Niinami's attendance at the event. In April, MGM launched in the U. S. a publicly traded REIT consisting of 10 of its U. S. properties, MGM Growth Properties LLC. ($1 = 104.8500 yen) (Reporting by Thomas Wilson; Editing by Stephen Coates)

2016-10-31 04:48 Reuters www.dailymail.co.uk

21 /26 0.0 Halloween revelers roam Toyko's iconic Shibuya district TOKYO, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Scores of Marios, zombies and witches roamed the streets of the Japanese capital Tokyo on Sunday, transforming several city blocks into a huge Halloween street party. The scary holiday has grown in popularity over the past decade and Tokyo police have struggled to keep the crowds of costumed revelers from disrupting traffic. This year, police halted traffic in parts of the trendy Shibuya shopping district on the weekend and might do the same on Monday's Halloween night depending on the crowd size. "I wanted my son to enjoy his first Halloween," said Mikako Hashimoto, a 36-year old housewife who was pushing a stroller through the crowd on Sunday night. "I spent 5,000 yen (about $50) on candy to pass out to people, because Halloween is a time for giving and receiving, and having fun," she said. In the country that delights in "costume play", there were plenty of creative examples on display. A Pac-Man character pretended to devour anyone who posed for a photo inside its mouth. Two strangers in nearly identical homemade zombie bride costumes met and laughed before taking a selfie together and moving on. A pack of high school girls dressed as Pokemon's Pikachu character competed for attention with a group of men wearing white tutus and long-necked swan heads that towered above the crowd. Ryota Koyama, a 27 year-old IT worker, dressed up as Japanese social media star Pikotaro, complete with pen, pineapple and apple accessories. "Since Piko-Taro has become quite famous, I decided to wear a costume of him this year," he said. Squads of costumed volunteers picked up litter after news reports noted complaints of trash left behind by partygoers. "Seeing the news that tons of trash were left here yesterday, we decided to collect garbage to do something good to enjoy Halloween," said 25-year-old Zak, who led a group of red-suited trash collectors dressed as Nintendo Pikmin characters. (Reporting by Megumi Lim and Kwiyeon Ha; Additional reporting and writing by Lisa Twaronite; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)

2016-10-31 04:29 Reuters www.dailymail.co.uk

22 /26 0.0 Japan shippers devise enclosure merger Three of Japan’s biggest shipping companies are merging their enclosure operations to turn some-more efficient.

Nippon Yusen, Mitsui O. S. K. Lines and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha pronounced a corner try would see assets of some-more than $1bn (£820m) a year.

With a swift of 256 enclosure vessels, a due business would reason about 7% of a universe shipping market.

Globally a shipping attention is pang from overcapacity and diseased mercantile growth.

That has left hundreds of ships station idle and progressing this year led to a fall of South Korea’s Hanjin – a world’s seventh largest enclosure shipping firm.

In a matter a 3 Japanese companies pronounced that “by strengthening a tellurian classification and enhancing a ship network, a new joint-venture association aims to yield aloft peculiarity and some-more rival services in sequence to surpass a clients’ expectations”.

The joined group, that would turn a world’s sixth largest enclosure shipping operation by capacity, is not approaching to start handling until Apr 2018.

2016-10-31 00:00 admin headlinenewstoday.net

23 /26 6.2 Sunday's roundup: Matsuyama dominates in Shanghai He never felt higher. His game never felt better. And the 24-year-old Japanese star can only hope that he’s just getting started.

Matsuyama never gave anyone a chance Sunday, closing with a 6-under 66 for a seven-shot victory that made him the first Asian to win a World Golf Championships event since the series began in 1999.

And it was only fitting that he won at the event billed as “Asia’s major.”

“He was brilliant,” said defending champion Russell Knox, who played in the last group and was along for the ride. “No weaknesses the last two days. He drove the ball well and far, and his iron play was very good. And he made it look very easy.”

The only trouble came when it no longer mattered. Matsuyama realized that one last birdie would give him 30 for the week, so he went for the green on the par-5 18th and his shot bounced out of a bush and tumbled into the water. No problem. He took his drop in the rough, hit wedge to 18 feet and made one last putt to extend a streak of playing the final 45 holes without a bogey.

“No special number,” he said of his goal to make 30 birdies. “I made 19 birdies the first few days, so then I was thinking, ‘Well, if I make 11 more, I can win.’ So that was kind of my goal was to get to 30 birdies.”

He really didn’t need any of them.

Matsuyama finished at 23-under 265, one short of the tournament record that Dustin Johnson set three years ago. He won by seven over British Open champion Henrik Stenson (65) and Daniel Berger (69).

One week after becoming the first Japanese player since Jumbo Ozaki in 1998 to reach the top 10 in the world, the victory moved Matsuyama up to No. 6.

There was one moment early in the round when it looked as though there would be a two-shot swing would have cut his deficit to two shots over Berger. Matsuyama made his 15-foot par putt on the par-3 fourth hole, hit his approach to 4 feet on the next hole for birdie and was on his way. Three straight birdies on the back nine, including a 9-iron out of the rough on the tough 15th that settled 3 feet away, turned this into a rout.

“I’ve never won by that many even in Japan,” Matsuyama said.

It was the largest margin of victory in the HSBC Champions, and the largest in a WGC event since Tiger Woods won by seven in the 2013 Bridgestone Invitational.

He won for the 10th time in his career, and his third PGA Tour-sanctioned victory tied him with Shigeki Maruyama for most by a Japanese player. Matsuyama won the Memorial in 2014, and he won the Phoenix Open in February in a playoff over Rickie Fowler.

“Shigeki Maruyama is a good friend of mine, and he always said that I was going to pass his records,” Matsuyama said. “But at least I’ve tied him now. That was a great honor, because I have great respect for him.”

The next stop is a major. Y. E. Yang at the 2009 PGA Championship is the only Asian to win a men’s major.

“Winning today I feel has got me closer to being able to compete a lot better in the major tournaments, and so my next goal is, of course, to win a major,” he said. “And I’m going to do all that I can to prepare well for that.”

In the last three weeks since he finished his best PGA Tour season with fifth place at the Tour Championship, Matsuyama won the Japan Open, was runner-up in Malaysia to Justin Thomas in the CIMB Classic, and then won his biggest tournament yet.

“Hideki played just unbelievable and it was a pleasure to watch. You can learn a lot from watching Hideki play,” Berger said. “He’s struck it well. He’s putted well. He’s chipped well. He’s done everything well, and that’s why he’s won by so many.”

Knox, playing in the final group for the second straight week, closed with a 74 and tied for ninth.

Rory McIlroy closed with a 66 to share fourth with Bill Haas (69). McIlroy said he would skip the Turkish Airlines Open next week, presumably because of security concerns over recent weeks, which makes him a long shot for the Race to Dubai on the European Tour.

Masters champion Danny Willett remains in front. Stenson’s 20-foot birdie putt on the last hole gave him a share of second, which at least helped him close the gap. He also moved up one spot to No. 4, knocking Jordan Spieth down one notch.

Shanshan Feng won the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia to cap a string of high finishes that started with an Olympic bronze medal.

The 27-year-old Chinese star beat Suzann Pettersen by three strokes at TPC Kuala Lumpur, shooting a 4-under 67 after finishing off a third-round 64 in the morning.

Feng won the tournament for the second time to push her LPGA Tour victory total to five, ending a drought that stretched to her 2014 win in Kuala Lumpur. She has finished no worse than a tie for fourth in her last six events. After Rio, she tied for fourth at Evian in France, then opened the Asia Swing in China with a fourth-place tie at Reignwood, was second in Taiwan and tied for third in South Korea.

Tied with Anna Nordqvist after the Swede’s tap-in birdie on the par-4 13th, Feng regained the lead with a sweeping 18-foot birdie putt on the par-4 14th. She followed with a downhill 15- footer on the par-3 15th, and had a three-stroke lead moments later when Nordqvist three-putted the 14th for bogey.

Feng finished at 17-under 267.

Pettersen shot her second straight 66. Nordqvist had a 70, hitting into the water on the par-4 18th for a double bogey that dropped her into a tie for third with Amy Yang (69) at 12 under.

Tom Pernice Jr. won the first playoff event in PGA Tour Champions history, beating Colin Montgomerie by a stroke at Sherwood in the PowerShares QQQ Championship.

The 57-year-old Tom Pernice Jr. closed with a 2-under 70, breaking a tie for the lead with Montgomerie with an 8-foot birdie putt on the par-4 14th and adding a 15-footer on the par-3 15th.

Pernice bogeyed the par-3 17th and two-putted for par from 15 feet on the par-4 18th.

The former UCLA player won for the fifth time on the 50-and-over tour, ending a drought that stretched to the 2014 Charles Schwab Cup Championship. The two-time PGA Tour winner had a 13-under 203 total.

Montgomerie parred the final five holes for a 70.

The top 72 players on the money list earned spots at Sherwood, and the top 54 advanced to the Dominion Charity Classic next week in Richmond, Virginia. The field will be cut to 36 for the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship the following week in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Each dollar earned in the first two events is worth two points and will be added to the regular- season total. At the Charles Schwab Championship, points will be reset so that the top five only have to win to capture the Charles Schwab Cup.

Cody Gribble won the Sanderson Farms Championship for his first PGA Tour title, closing with a 7-under 65 for a four-stroke victory.

The 26-year-old rookie started the day a stroke behind playing partners Chris Kirk and Luke List. Gribble had two birdies on the front nine to stay in contention, then ran off birdies on Nos. 11, 13, 15, 16 and 17 to turn a tight tournament into a blowout. He finished at 20-under 268.

Gribble looked as if he might have trouble just making the cut at the Country Club of Jackson after an opening 73. He bounced back with a 63 in the second round to jump into contention.

Kirk and List each shot 70 to tie for second with England’s Greg Owen (68).

2016-10-31 03:45 Doug Ferguson rssfeeds.detroitnews.com

24 /26 0.0 FedEx Cup rankings Oct 31 (Gracenote) - FedEx Cup rankings 1. (3) Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) 850 2. (1) Justin Thomas (U. S.) 614 3. (2) Brendan Steele (U. S.) 533 4. (17) Cody Gribble (U. S.) 375 5. (3) Patton Kizzire (U. S.) 300 6. (89) Daniel Berger (U. S.) 265 7. Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 258 8. (7) Paul Casey (Britain) 240 9. (5) Derek Fathauer (U. S.) 214 10. (6) Scott Piercy (U. S.) 200 11. (17) Chris Kirk (U. S.) 192 12. (38) Bill Haas (U. S.) 172 13. (8) Anirban Lahiri (India) 163 14. (16) Emiliano Grillo (Argentina) 149 15. (50) Luke List (U. S.) 145 16. (23) Russell Knox (Britain) 143 17. (9) Keegan Bradley (U. S.) 138 18. (10) Michael Kim (U. S.) 134 18. (10) Johnson Wagner (U. S.) 134 20. (35) Sergio Garcia (Spain) 129 21. Rory McIlroy (Britain) 128 22. (12) Kevin Na (U. S.) 124 23. (23) Adam Scott (Australia) 123 24. Greg Owen (Britain) 117 25. (23) Rafael Cabrera-Bello (Spain) 114 26. (13) Marc Leishman (Australia) 110 27. Rickie Fowler (U. S.) 96 27. Francesco Molinari (Italy) 96 29. (28) Kim Meen- Whee (South Korea) 89 30. (14) Tyrone Van Aswegen (South Africa) 88

2016-10-31 03:06 Reuters www.dailymail.co.uk

25 /26 0.0 Oil falls as non-OPEC yet to pledge concrete output steps By Aaron Sheldrick TOKYO, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Oil prices extended declines on Monday after non-OPEC producers made no specific commitment to join OPEC in limiting oil output levels to prop up prices, suggesting they wanted the oil producing group to solve its differences first. Officials and experts from OPEC countries and non-OPEC nations including Azerbaijan, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Oman and Russia met for consultations in Vienna on Saturday and only agreed to meet again in November before a scheduled regular OPEC meeting on Nov. 30, they said in a statement. London Brent crude for December delivery was down 29 cents, or 0.6 percent, at $49.42 a barrel by 0229 GMT after settling down 76 cents on Friday. NYMEX crude for December delivery was trading down 23 cents, or 0.5 percent, at $48.47 a barrel, after closing down $1.02 on Friday. "There was a lot of talk and nobody managed to agree on anything. That has been pushing the market down," said Jeffrey Halley, senior market analyst at OANDA brokerage in Singapore. The potential tightening of the U. S. presidential race after news of a renewed FBI probe of Democratic candidate Hilary Clinton was also affecting sentiment and putting investors off riskier assets, Halley said. OPEC and non-OPEC said in a joint statement that Saturday's meeting was a "positive development" towards reaching a global output limiting deal on Nov. 30. Russia expects to increase its oil output by 0.7 percent next year and a further 0.9 percent in 2018, the draft federal budget showed. Crude production is seen at a record-high 548 million tonnes in 2017 and 553 million tonnes in both 2018 and 2019, up from an estimated 544 million tonnes this year, the document showed. The cabinet of the United Arab Emirates approved a 48.7 billion dirham ($13.3 billion) federal budget for 2017, almost steady from 2016, suggesting UAE authorities remain cautious about spending as low oil prices pressure state finances. Money managers cut their net long U. S. crude futures and options positions for the first time in five weeks in the week ended Oct. 25, the U. S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) said on Friday. (Additional reporting by Osamu Tsukimori; Editing by Richard Pullin)

2016-10-31 02:52 Reuters www.dailymail.co.uk

26 /26 1.1 List of Japanese-Cubans sent to internment camps during World War II found A list of about 350 Japanese-Cubans who were sent to internment camps by the Cuban government during World War II was found in the Central American country recently, shining a light on a long-forgotten fact in its history. A copy of the list of Japanese immigrants to Cuba and their descendants, compiled by one of the immigrants who was relocated to one of the camps, was handed to members of a group of Japanese journalists affiliated with Kyodo News in October when they visited the country. ... 2016-10-31 00:10 system article.wn.com

Total 26 articles.

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Created at 2016-10-31 16:50