After years of soggy&nbsp;inflation&nbsp;and the long reign of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-delhi-tokyo-will-be-working-on-third-country-projects-in-indias-vicinity-says-indian-envoy-to-japan-230663">Japan's</a>&nbsp;tight-fisted shoppers, businesses in the world's third-largest economy are adopting new methods to lift prices, from artificial intelligence to simple packaging tweaks.

Despite many rounds of stimulus,&nbsp;Japan's&nbsp;policymakers have failed to jolt households out of the deflationary mindset that followed the 1990s property crash, which meant businesses refused to raise prices for fear of losing customers.

Demand-based dynamic pricing,&nbsp;however, has allowed some Japanese&nbsp;retailers to discretely bump up prices without triggering the kind of customer backlash seen in more blatant attempts at repricing in the past.

Yokohama Marinos, for example, a club in&nbsp;Japan's&nbsp;top football league, introduced artificial intelligence last year to more closely align ticket prices with demand.

"Previously, it was difficult to find the best prices between demand and value of each match," said Hiroshi Nagai, General Manager for fan relationships at the club.

"The most fascinating thing about dynamic pricing is that it can offer more choices to customers", Nagai added.

Dynamic pricing, or surge pricing, is common among data-driven businesses such as ride-hailing services but is a relatively new concept for most traditional Japanese&nbsp;firms.

Using the technology, the Marinos sold tickets for a popular seating area for a March 2 match at 7,400 Yen, two weeks before the game, but cut prices to as low as 4,000 yen to fill empty seats as the match approached.

Koji Kawashimo, a 34-year old who has been a Marinos fan for more than a decade, said he had no problem with his team adopting dynamic pricing.

"I would pay for what I like. I want to pay if it's worth it," he said.

Hotels are also introducing dynamic pricing in their room rates including Centurion International, which operates over 20 hotels in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-the-us-reaches-trade-deals-with-japan-no-word-on-cars-250133">Japan</a>.

Centurion began using AI to collect information to charge higher prices when demand is strong and offer discounts when demand falls to reduce vacancies.

"The system provides us [with] information on competitors such as the pace of reservation, which is great. It's a big advantage," said Hironobu Bun, revenue manager at Centurion International.

Changing Mindsets

Economists believe that it will take more meaningful structural changes to&nbsp;Japan's&nbsp;economy to revive stagnant prices, which will, in turn, help businesses deal with sticky overheads and restore profits.

However, developments like the adoption of dynamic pricing lay the groundwork for more radical changes in&nbsp;how&nbsp;companies set prices for their goods and services.

"If dynamic pricing can change people's mindset so that they believe price can fluctuate more, there's a chance&nbsp;firms&nbsp;may be able to raise prices more easily where demand is strong," said Izuru Kato, chief economist at Totan Research.

At the same time, other businesses are looking at more cosmetic ways to drive the consumer to accept higher prices.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-helping-india-to-become-5-trillion-economy-pm-modi-to-indian-diaspora-230864">Japan's</a>&nbsp;"gyudon" beef rice bowls have become a symbol of the country's deflation due to their aggressively low prices. But some outlets are turning that trope around by offering "premium bowls" with better-quality meat for more than double the standard price.

The 500,000 "sukiyaki" beef rice bowls offered by fast-food chain Yoshinoya Holdings Co in August were sold out in about two weeks - much faster than the company had expected - despite a price tag of 860 yen per bowl, double that of a standard dish.

"The customer response has been good. If they see value in it, they would pay even if price is a little higher," said Yuji Terasawa, a spokesman of the company.

While such tactics seem to work, they take careful planning and preparation. Fast&nbsp;Retailing Co Ltd, whose budget clothing chain Uniqlo boomed during the country's deflation era, learned the hard way when sales slumped after it raised prices in 2014.&nbsp;

In contrast, discount barber chain QB House earlier this year raised prices for a 10-minute haircut to 1,200 yen from 1,080 Yen, explaining it was needed to increase salaries to secure better-trained barbers.

That move followed eight years of checking the customer mood through regular marketing surveys.

While the hike triggered a 2 per cent&nbsp;decline in customers from the previous year, the drop was much smaller than the company's projection of a 6 per cent&nbsp;fall.

"The price of a haircut is still lower than other places," said Kazuaki Mimura, a 34-year-old employee of a service-sector firm.

"I'm willing to accept a hike of a few hundred yen because the service here is quick and my haircut is done properly."

After years of soggy inflation and the long reign of Japan's tight-fisted shoppers, businesses in the world's third-largest economy are adopting new methods to lift prices, from artificial intelligence to simple packaging tweaks.

After years of soggy inflation and the long reign of Japan's tight-fisted shoppers, businesses in the world's third-largest economy are adopting new methods to lift prices, from artificial intelligence to simple packaging tweaks. Despite many rounds of stimulus, Japan's policymakers have failed to jolt households out of the deflationary mindset that followed the 1990s property crash, which meant businesses refused to raise prices for fear of losing customers. Demand-based dynamic pricing, however, has allowed some Japanese retailers to discretely bump up prices without triggering the kind of customer backlash seen in more blatant attempts at repricing in the past. Yokohama Marinos, for example, a club in Japan's top football league, introduced artificial intelligence last year to more closely align ticket prices with demand. "Previously, it was difficult to find the best prices between demand and value of each match," said Hiroshi Nagai, General Manager for fan relationships at the club. "The most fascinating thing about dynamic pricing is that it can offer more choices to customers", Nagai added. Dynamic pricing, or surge pricing, is common among data-driven businesses such as ride-hailing services but is a relatively new concept for most traditional Japanese firms. Using the technology, the Marinos sold tickets for a popular seating area for a March 2 match at 7,400 Yen, two weeks before the game, but cut prices to as low as 4,000 yen to fill empty seats as the match approached. Koji Kawashimo, a 34-year old who has been a Marinos fan for more than a decade, said he had no problem with his team adopting dynamic pricing. "I would pay for what I like. I want to pay if it's worth it," he said. Hotels are also introducing dynamic pricing in their room rates including Centurion International, which operates over 20 hotels in Japan. Centurion began using AI to collect information to charge higher prices when demand is strong and offer discounts when demand falls to reduce vacancies. "The system provides us [with] information on competitors such as the pace of reservation, which is great. It's a big advantage," said Hironobu Bun, revenue manager at Centurion International. Changing Mindsets Economists believe that it will take more meaningful structural changes to Japan's economy to revive stagnant prices, which will, in turn, help businesses deal with sticky overheads and restore profits. However, developments like the adoption of dynamic pricing lay the groundwork for more radical changes in how companies set prices for their goods and services. "If dynamic pricing can change people's mindset so that they believe price can fluctuate more, there's a chance firms may be able to raise prices more easily where demand is strong," said Izuru Kato, chief economist at Totan Research. At the same time, other businesses are looking at more cosmetic ways to drive the consumer to accept higher prices. Japan's "gyudon" beef rice bowls have become a symbol of the country's deflation due to their aggressively low prices. But some outlets are turning that trope around by offering "premium bowls" with better-quality meat for more than double the standard price. The 500,000 "sukiyaki" beef rice bowls offered by fast-food chain Yoshinoya Holdings Co in August were sold out in about two weeks - much faster than the company had expected - despite a price tag of 860 yen per bowl, double that of a standard dish. "The customer response has been good. If they see value in it, they would pay even if price is a little higher," said Yuji Terasawa, a spokesman of the company. While such tactics seem to work, they take careful planning and preparation. Fast Retailing Co Ltd, whose budget clothing chain Uniqlo boomed during the country's deflation era, learned the hard way when sales slumped after it raised prices in 2014. In contrast, discount barber chain QB House earlier this year raised prices for a 10-minute haircut to 1,200 yen from 1,080 Yen, explaining it was needed to increase salaries to secure better-trained barbers. That move followed eight years of checking the customer mood through regular marketing surveys. While the hike triggered a 2 per cent decline in customers from the previous year, the drop was much smaller than the company's projection of a 6 per cent fall. "The price of a haircut is still lower than other places," said Kazuaki Mimura, a 34-year-old employee of a service-sector firm. "I'm willing to accept a hike of a few hundred yen because the service here is quick and my haircut is done properly."

Inflation by stealth: How Japan's firms fight the frugal retail psyche

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/japan-us-target-broad-bilateral-trade-deal-by-september-nikke-240552">United States and Japanese</a> officials insist a&nbsp;bilateral trade deal will be a "win-win", but some Japanese cattle farmers fear the agreement could sound the death knell for their sector.

Cattle farmers are already struggling to adjust to the terms of two major free trade deals inked by Japan in recent years - the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and an agreement with the European Union.

But they fear the US trade deal will put much greater pressure on them.

"We were able to maintain a market for our products in competition with the TPP members, because our beef quality is good enough to compete, even if imported beef was cheaper," said Harumi Yoshikawa, an official in-charge of livestock at an agricultural cooperative in Hokkaido.

"But American beef rivals ours in terms of quality and in that sense we are worried", he added.

"Politicians are not thinking about us farmers at all", said Akio Kawai, 61, who runs a ranch of some 4,300 beef cattle in Shikaoi town in northern Hokkaido, said:

He added that&nbsp;he is determined to stay afloat "but others may think about quitting this business".

"Japanese beef may be delicious and offer a sense of safety to consumers, but US beef is absolutely cheaper, and that's attractive to some," Kawai said.

Worries for the future

Under the deal announced in New York on Wednesday, Japan will eliminate or reduce tariffs on $7.2 billion worth of US food and agricultural products.

Milk cow farmers fear that they too will struggle, despite assurances of assistance from Japanese government officials.

The deal "will be a further blow to small cow farmers like us who keep just 30 to 50 cows," said one dairy and beef cattle farmer in Kanagawa prefecture, south of Tokyo.

"Various costs -- the price of feed crops, salaries for workers -- are already weighing on us, and this deal will be another factor to worry about in terms of the future of this business," he said.

"I wonder if many cow farmers, many of whom are ageing, will decide to quit the job... And I wonder if it's right for Japan to lose these small-sized farmers... who are the majority of the Japanese farm industry," he added.

Japan came to the negotiating table reluctantly, after President Donald Trump's administration withdrew from the TPP and threatened Tokyo's key auto sector with sanctions.

But <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-the-us-reaches-trade-deals-with-japan-no-word-on-cars-250133">Japanese</a> experts question whether the country's negotiators have done enough to protect local farmers.

"Japan could have drawn more concessions from the US because it is Americans who withdrew from the TPP" and wanted more access, argued Akio Shibata, head of the Natural Resource Research Institute and former researcher for trading house Marubeni.

"Even if the levels of tariff cuts are same as those of the TPP, it will discourage Japanese farmers -- who are already struggling to survive -- from continuing their businesses," he said.

'Chew on car parts'

Manufacturing, including the auto industry, is seen as the main driver of Japan's economic growth, accounting for roughly 20 per cent of nominal GDP.&nbsp;

By contrast, the country's agriculture sector accounts for just one per cent of GDP.

The deal announced Wednesday is only the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-japan-agree-trade-deal-in-principle-245579">first phase of the talks,</a> with Washington saying the second phase will include Japan's auto sector.

Washington continues to wield the threat of imposing tariffs of up to 25 per cent on Japan's auto sector, which US officials view as a key tool to keep negotiations moving.

Nobuhiro Suzuki, an expert on agricultural trade at the University of Tokyo, said Japanese negotiators were offering agricultural concessions to protect the auto sector.

The "mindset is if the US threatens them with punitive measures on the auto sector, they offer (compromise in) agriculture...The result will be a further reduction of agricultural production in this country",&nbsp;he told AFP.

Kawai agreed, saying,&nbsp;"I wonder what the government is thinking about food safety and self-sufficiency rate."

"The price of milk is already cheaper than (bottled) water. That's unfair... If the government think it's okay to import 100 percent of the milk Japan consumes, then that's fine. When a food emergency occurs, they can enjoy chewing on steel car parts",&nbsp;he added.

The United States and Japanese officials insist a bilateral trade deal will be a "win-win", but some Japanese cattle farmers fear the agreement could sound the death knell for their sector.

The United States and Japanese officials insist a bilateral trade deal will be a "win-win", but some Japanese cattle farmers fear the agreement could sound the death knell for their sector. Cattle farmers are already struggling to adjust to the terms of two major free trade deals inked by Japan in recent years - the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and an agreement with the European Union. But they fear the US trade deal will put much greater pressure on them. "We were able to maintain a market for our products in competition with the TPP members, because our beef quality is good enough to compete, even if imported beef was cheaper," said Harumi Yoshikawa, an official in-charge of livestock at an agricultural cooperative in Hokkaido. "But American beef rivals ours in terms of quality and in that sense we are worried", he added. "Politicians are not thinking about us farmers at all", said Akio Kawai, 61, who runs a ranch of some 4,300 beef cattle in Shikaoi town in northern Hokkaido, said: He added that he is determined to stay afloat "but others may think about quitting this business". "Japanese beef may be delicious and offer a sense of safety to consumers, but US beef is absolutely cheaper, and that's attractive to some," Kawai said. Worries for the future Under the deal announced in New York on Wednesday, Japan will eliminate or reduce tariffs on $7.2 billion worth of US food and agricultural products. Milk cow farmers fear that they too will struggle, despite assurances of assistance from Japanese government officials. The deal "will be a further blow to small cow farmers like us who keep just 30 to 50 cows," said one dairy and beef cattle farmer in Kanagawa prefecture, south of Tokyo. "Various costs -- the price of feed crops, salaries for workers -- are already weighing on us, and this deal will be another factor to worry about in terms of the future of this business," he said. "I wonder if many cow farmers, many of whom are ageing, will decide to quit the job... And I wonder if it's right for Japan to lose these small-sized farmers... who are the majority of the Japanese farm industry," he added. Japan came to the negotiating table reluctantly, after President Donald Trump's administration withdrew from the TPP and threatened Tokyo's key auto sector with sanctions. But Japanese experts question whether the country's negotiators have done enough to protect local farmers. "Japan could have drawn more concessions from the US because it is Americans who withdrew from the TPP" and wanted more access, argued Akio Shibata, head of the Natural Resource Research Institute and former researcher for trading house Marubeni. "Even if the levels of tariff cuts are same as those of the TPP, it will discourage Japanese farmers -- who are already struggling to survive -- from continuing their businesses," he said. 'Chew on car parts' Manufacturing, including the auto industry, is seen as the main driver of Japan's economic growth, accounting for roughly 20 per cent of nominal GDP. By contrast, the country's agriculture sector accounts for just one per cent of GDP. The deal announced Wednesday is only the first phase of the talks, with Washington saying the second phase will include Japan's auto sector. Washington continues to wield the threat of imposing tariffs of up to 25 per cent on Japan's auto sector, which US officials view as a key tool to keep negotiations moving. Nobuhiro Suzuki, an expert on agricultural trade at the University of Tokyo, said Japanese negotiators were offering agricultural concessions to protect the auto sector. The "mindset is if the US threatens them with punitive measures on the auto sector, they offer (compromise in) agriculture...The result will be a further reduction of agricultural production in this country", he told AFP. Kawai agreed, saying, "I wonder what the government is thinking about food safety and self-sufficiency rate." "The price of milk is already cheaper than (bottled) water. That's unfair... If the government think it's okay to import 100 percent of the milk Japan consumes, then that's fine. When a food emergency occurs, they can enjoy chewing on steel car parts", he added.

Japan cattle farmers fear US trade deal will be death knell

The 23rd edition of trilateral maritime exercise 'Malabar' between navies of India, Japan, and the US will begin on Thursday off the coast of Japan.

&nbsp;A Defence Ministry release said two frontline indigenously designed and built Indian naval ships multi-purpose guided-missile frigate Sahyadri and ASW Corvette Kiltan have arrived at Sasebo to participate in the exercise.

In addition to the ships, a 'P8I' Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft has also reached Japan for the exercise.

The release said the participation of Indian naval ships and aircraft in the exercise would significantly bolster the strong maritime bonds of friendship between the three countries and "contribute to security and stability in the region".

The US Navy is being represented by USS McCampbell, a Los Angeles-Class Attack Submarine, and a 'P8A' Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft.

The JMSDF (Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force) would be participating with its Izumo class helicopter destroyer JS Kaga, guided-missile destroyers JS Samidare and Choukai and a 'P1' Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft.

Malabar 2019 would endeavour to further strengthen India-Japan-US naval cooperation and enhance interoperability, based on shared values and principles.

The exercise would involve complex maritime operations in the surface, sub-surface and air domains and focus on anti-submarine warfare, anti-air and anti-surface firings, maritime interdiction operations (MIO) including visit board search and seizure (VBSS) and tactical scenario-based exercise at sea.

In addition, the partner navies would conduct official protocol visits, professional interactions including subject matter expert exchanges (SMEE), reciprocal ship visits, sports fixtures, and social events during the harbour phase.

The exercise will conclude on October 4.

The 23rd edition of trilateral maritime exercise 'Malabar' between navies of India, Japan, and the US will begin on Thursday off the coast of Japan. A Defence Ministry release said two frontline indigenously designed and built Indian naval ships multi-purpose guided-missile frigate Sahyadri and ASW Corvette Kiltan have arrived at Sasebo to participate in the exercise.

The 23rd edition of trilateral maritime exercise 'Malabar' between navies of India, Japan, and the US will begin on Thursday off the coast of Japan. A Defence Ministry release said two frontline indigenously designed and built Indian naval ships multi-purpose guided-missile frigate Sahyadri and ASW Corvette Kiltan have arrived at Sasebo to participate in the exercise. In addition to the ships, a 'P8I' Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft has also reached Japan for the exercise. The release said the participation of Indian naval ships and aircraft in the exercise would significantly bolster the strong maritime bonds of friendship between the three countries and "contribute to security and stability in the region". The US Navy is being represented by USS McCampbell, a Los Angeles-Class Attack Submarine, and a 'P8A' Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft. The JMSDF (Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force) would be participating with its Izumo class helicopter destroyer JS Kaga, guided-missile destroyers JS Samidare and Choukai and a 'P1' Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft. Malabar 2019 would endeavour to further strengthen India-Japan-US naval cooperation and enhance interoperability, based on shared values and principles. The exercise would involve complex maritime operations in the surface, sub-surface and air domains and focus on anti-submarine warfare, anti-air and anti-surface firings, maritime interdiction operations (MIO) including visit board search and seizure (VBSS) and tactical scenario-based exercise at sea. In addition, the partner navies would conduct official protocol visits, professional interactions including subject matter expert exchanges (SMEE), reciprocal ship visits, sports fixtures, and social events during the harbour phase. The exercise will conclude on October 4.

India, Japan, US naval exercise Malabar begins on September 26

Why Asia's biggest economies are backing hydrogen fuel cell cars

A <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-japan-trade-agreement-will-be-model-for-indo-pacific-pence-177013">US-Japan trade deal</a> hit a last-minute snag as Japanese officials sought assurances that the Trump administration will not impose national security tariffs on Japanese-built cars and auto parts, people familiar with the talks said on Monday.

US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-japan-agree-trade-deal-in-principle-245579">Shinzo Abe</a> have been aiming to sign a trade deal at a meeting this week during the United Nations General Assembly in New York that provides increased access to Japan for US agricultural goods and bilateral cuts in industrial goods tariffs.

But the limited trade deal is not expected to include changes to tariffs and trade rules governing autos, the biggest source of the $67.6 billion US&nbsp;trade deficit with Japan.

Trump has refrained thus far from following through on his threat to impose tariffs of up to 25 per cent&nbsp;on Japanese and European car and parts imports, citing ongoing trade negotiations with these partners.

The New York Times earlier reported that Japan was demanding a "sunset clause" that would cancel any trade benefits for the United States if Trump imposes the auto tariffs on Japanese vehicles.

Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesman Masato Ohtaka said that Japan still hoped to sign the US&nbsp;trade deal by the end of September and that there was still time to work out remaining issues.

"Frankly speaking, we still have some time and all my colleagues in the government are making their best efforts to actually meet this target," Ohtaka said.

"With the UN&nbsp;General Assembly meeting in mind, we are accelerating the remaining work, including the wording of a trade agreement", Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said.

Executives at two automakers briefed on the matter said Japan has expressed concerns about signing a deal without assurances that Trump will refrain from imposing tariffs on Japanese automotive exports as he benefits from Japanese agricultural concessions.

These people, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the issue could delay the signing of a US-Japan trade deal until subsequent weeks.

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi told reporters after talks with US&nbsp;Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer that significant work was underway to finalise the deal but that he did not expect much delay beyond an end-September target signing off on the deal. He added that he expected a "good ceremony" when Abe and Trump meet.

"I think the content will not be something to worry about", Motegi said about the US threat of added tariffs on Japanese autos.

Details of the US-Japan trade deal have not been disclosed, but people familiar with it say that it will provide US&nbsp;farmers who have been battered by the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-japan-to-open-trade-talks-amid-china-deal-optimism-210692">US&nbsp;trade war with China</a> some relief through increased access to Japan, including for American beef and pork.

But some people say it will provide less than the access they would have received had the United States remained in the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, which Trump pulled the United States out of on his third day in office in January 2017.

The deal also includes a modernization of digital trade rules, which is expected to reinforce the US&nbsp;model of internet development, prohibiting cross-border taxation of e-commerce and data localization requirements.

Trump and Abe, a year ago at the UN&nbsp;General Assembly agreed to discuss an arrangement that protects Japanese automakers from further tariffs while negotiations are underway.

The trade deal would not require congressional approval, using a trade law provision that allows the US&nbsp;President to make executive agreements to mutually reduce tariffs with a foreign trading partner.

A US-Japan trade deal hit a last-minute snag as Japanese officials sought assurances that the Trump administration will not impose national security tariffs on Japanese-built cars and auto parts, people familiar with the talks said on Monday.

A US-Japan trade deal hit a last-minute snag as Japanese officials sought assurances that the Trump administration will not impose national security tariffs on Japanese-built cars and auto parts, people familiar with the talks said on Monday. US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe have been aiming to sign a trade deal at a meeting this week during the United Nations General Assembly in New York that provides increased access to Japan for US agricultural goods and bilateral cuts in industrial goods tariffs. But the limited trade deal is not expected to include changes to tariffs and trade rules governing autos, the biggest source of the $67.6 billion US trade deficit with Japan. Trump has refrained thus far from following through on his threat to impose tariffs of up to 25 per cent on Japanese and European car and parts imports, citing ongoing trade negotiations with these partners. The New York Times earlier reported that Japan was demanding a "sunset clause" that would cancel any trade benefits for the United States if Trump imposes the auto tariffs on Japanese vehicles. Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesman Masato Ohtaka said that Japan still hoped to sign the US trade deal by the end of September and that there was still time to work out remaining issues. "Frankly speaking, we still have some time and all my colleagues in the government are making their best efforts to actually meet this target," Ohtaka said. "With the UN General Assembly meeting in mind, we are accelerating the remaining work, including the wording of a trade agreement", Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said. Executives at two automakers briefed on the matter said Japan has expressed concerns about signing a deal without assurances that Trump will refrain from imposing tariffs on Japanese automotive exports as he benefits from Japanese agricultural concessions. These people, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the issue could delay the signing of a US-Japan trade deal until subsequent weeks. Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi told reporters after talks with US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer that significant work was underway to finalise the deal but that he did not expect much delay beyond an end-September target signing off on the deal. He added that he expected a "good ceremony" when Abe and Trump meet. "I think the content will not be something to worry about", Motegi said about the US threat of added tariffs on Japanese autos. Details of the US-Japan trade deal have not been disclosed, but people familiar with it say that it will provide US farmers who have been battered by the US trade war with China some relief through increased access to Japan, including for American beef and pork. But some people say it will provide less than the access they would have received had the United States remained in the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, which Trump pulled the United States out of on his third day in office in January 2017. The deal also includes a modernization of digital trade rules, which is expected to reinforce the US model of internet development, prohibiting cross-border taxation of e-commerce and data localization requirements. Trump and Abe, a year ago at the UN General Assembly agreed to discuss an arrangement that protects Japanese automakers from further tariffs while negotiations are underway. The trade deal would not require congressional approval, using a trade law provision that allows the US President to make executive agreements to mutually reduce tariffs with a foreign trading partner.

US-Japan trade deal hits snag as Tokyo seeks assurances on car tariffs

Typhoon Tapah approached southwestern Japan Sunday, with heavy rain and strong winds grounding hundreds of regional flights.

Tapah, with gusts up to 162 kilometres&nbsp;per hour, was expected to draw near Nagasaki prefecture overnight, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

It was on course to travel through the channel between Japan and the Korean Peninsula before moving toward northern Japan on Monday when it is expected to weaken and be downgraded, the agency said.

The storm prompted cancellations of more than 400 domestic flights, according to national broadcaster NHK.

"Serious caution is warranted for violent winds, high waves, and landslides," said Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency in a statement.

So far the typhoon has caused 21 minor injuries, mostly in a southern island region of Okinawa that was hit by the storm earlier.

Evacuation advisories have been issued to more than 2,000 regional residents, according to the disaster management agency.

Tapah follows on the trail of Typhoon Faxai, which barrelled through Tokyo earlier this month, packing record winds that brought down power lines, caused travel chaos and disrupted Rugby World Cup preparations.

It resulted in a lengthy blackout on the outskirts of Tokyo that left tens of thousands of people without power for more than a week.

Typhoon Tapah approached southwestern Japan Sunday, with heavy rain and strong winds grounding hundreds of regional flights. Tapah, with gusts up to 162 kilometres per hour, was expected to draw near Nagasaki prefecture overnight, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

Typhoon Tapah approached southwestern Japan Sunday, with heavy rain and strong winds grounding hundreds of regional flights. Tapah, with gusts up to 162 kilometres per hour, was expected to draw near Nagasaki prefecture overnight, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. It was on course to travel through the channel between Japan and the Korean Peninsula before moving toward northern Japan on Monday when it is expected to weaken and be downgraded, the agency said. The storm prompted cancellations of more than 400 domestic flights, according to national broadcaster NHK. "Serious caution is warranted for violent winds, high waves, and landslides," said Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency in a statement. So far the typhoon has caused 21 minor injuries, mostly in a southern island region of Okinawa that was hit by the storm earlier. Evacuation advisories have been issued to more than 2,000 regional residents, according to the disaster management agency. Tapah follows on the trail of Typhoon Faxai, which barrelled through Tokyo earlier this month, packing record winds that brought down power lines, caused travel chaos and disrupted Rugby World Cup preparations. It resulted in a lengthy blackout on the outskirts of Tokyo that left tens of thousands of people without power for more than a week.

Flights cancelled as Typhoon Tapah approaches Japan

Japanese tennis sensation Naomi Osaka beat Elise Mertens of Belgium on Saturday to reach the final of the Pan Pacific Open, thrilling her Japanese fans in the city of her birth.

Top seed Osaka dispatched No. 9 seed Mertens 6-4, 6-1 in Osaka, western Japan, to reach her first final since winning the Australian Open.

The pair both held their serves for the first set until Osaka broke Mertens in the 10th game.

Osaka, 21, rounded into form in the second, and after the pair traded early breaks, won the last four games of the match to sprint to victory in just over an hour.

"It's been kind of rough like the past couple of months so I'm really glad that I made it to the final," she said.

She tried to stay calm because the 23-year-old Belgian player is "an amazing player and it's so hard to hit her balls," she said.

Earlier in the day, Osaka saw off Yulia Putintseva in straight sets, even as she was tricked at times by the Kazakh player's slices and drop shots.

"For me, I learned a lot from when I played her at Wimbledon, and I know that a hard court is where I feel most comfortable," Osaka told press after beeting Putintseva.

Last week, Osaka announced she was splitting with her coach, her second break-up this year as she battles to regain form after slipping from the top of the world rankings to number four.

Osaka had already caught the tennis world by surprise when she announced she was parting ways with coach Sascha Bajin, who had overseen her stunning rise to win two Grand Slams -- the US Open in 2018 and the Australian Open title in January.

Her challenger in the final will be Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia, 28, who ousted former world number one Angelique Kerber of Germany 6-3, 6-3.

Japanese tennis sensation Naomi Osaka beat Elise Mertens of Belgium on Saturday to reach the final of the Pan Pacific Open, thrilling her Japanese fans in the city of her birth.

Japanese tennis sensation Naomi Osaka beat Elise Mertens of Belgium on Saturday to reach the final of the Pan Pacific Open, thrilling her Japanese fans in the city of her birth. Top seed Osaka dispatched No. 9 seed Mertens 6-4, 6-1 in Osaka, western Japan, to reach her first final since winning the Australian Open. The pair both held their serves for the first set until Osaka broke Mertens in the 10th game. Osaka, 21, rounded into form in the second, and after the pair traded early breaks, won the last four games of the match to sprint to victory in just over an hour. "It's been kind of rough like the past couple of months so I'm really glad that I made it to the final," she said. She tried to stay calm because the 23-year-old Belgian player is "an amazing player and it's so hard to hit her balls," she said. Earlier in the day, Osaka saw off Yulia Putintseva in straight sets, even as she was tricked at times by the Kazakh player's slices and drop shots. "For me, I learned a lot from when I played her at Wimbledon, and I know that a hard court is where I feel most comfortable," Osaka told press after beeting Putintseva. Last week, Osaka announced she was splitting with her coach, her second break-up this year as she battles to regain form after slipping from the top of the world rankings to number four. Osaka had already caught the tennis world by surprise when she announced she was parting ways with coach Sascha Bajin, who had overseen her stunning rise to win two Grand Slams -- the US Open in 2018 and the Australian Open title in January. Her challenger in the final will be Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia, 28, who ousted former world number one Angelique Kerber of Germany 6-3, 6-3.

Naomi Osaka advances to Pan Pacific final in home city

A Japanese court on Thursday cleared three energy firm bosses of professional negligence in the only criminal trial stemming from the 2011 Fukushima nuclear meltdown.

The three men were senior officials at the TEPCO firm operating the Fukushima Daiichi plant and had faced up to five years in prison if convicted.

"All defendants are not guilty", the presiding judge said, ruling that the executives could not have predicted the scale of the tsunami that overwhelmed the plant and triggered the accident.

The decision is likely to be appealed, extending the legal wrangling over responsibility for the worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl, more than eight years after the disaster.

Outside the courtroom, dozens of people staged a rally, including some who had travelled from the Fukushima region to hear the verdict.

"It is absolutely an unjust ruling. We absolutely cannot accept this," one woman said angrily, addressing the crowd.

"We will appeal this and continue our fight," shouted a man nearby.

TEPCO declined to comment on the verdict, repeating its "sincere apologies for the great inconvenience and concern" caused by the disaster.

The three former executives were accused of professional negligence resulting in death and injury for failing to act on information about the risks from a major tsunami, but they argued the data available to them at the time was unreliable.

Judge Kenichi Nagafuchi said the verdict turned on the "predictability" of the massive tsunami that swamped the nuclear plant in March 2011 after a 9.0-magnitude undersea earthquake.

He pointed out there had been no proposal from the government's nuclear watchdog "that TEPCO should suspend operations until (safety) measures are taken."

Complex path to trial

No one was killed in the nuclear meltdown, but the tsunami left 18,500 dead or missing.

The ex-TEPCO executives faced trial in relation to the deaths of more than 40 hospitalised patients who died after having to be evacuated following the nuclear disaster.

Prosecutors twice declined to proceed with the case, citing insufficient evidence and a slim chance of conviction, but were forced to after a judicial review panel composed of ordinary citizens ruled that the trio should face trial.

All three defendants -- former TEPCO chairman Tsunehisa Katsumata, 79, and former vice presidents Sakae Muto, 69, and Ichiro Takekuro, 73 -- had pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutors said the men were present at meetings where experts warned of the anticipated height of a tsunami off the Fukushima coast and should have taken better safety measures.

They argued the executives were presented data warning a tsunami exceeding 10 metres (33 feet) could trigger power loss and a major disaster at the plant.

And a TEPCO internal study, based on a government report, concluded that a wave of up to 15.7 metres could hit after a magnitude-8.3 quake.

In the event, when a 9.0-magnitude quake hit offshore on March 11, 2011, waves as high as 14 metres swamped the reactors' cooling systems.

The resulting meltdown forced massive evacuations and left parts of the surrounding area uninhabitable -- in some cases possibly forever.

'No one taking responsibility'

The three defendants have apologised, but argued they could not have foreseen the disaster based on the available evidence and that they thought officials in the firm responsible for nuclear safety had taken appropriate measures.

"It is difficult to deal with issues that are uncertain and obscure," Takekuro said during the trial.

Separately from the criminal case, dozens of civil lawsuits have been filed against the government and TEPCO.

Some district courts have granted damages to local residents, ordering TEPCO and the government to pay.

Before the verdict, protestors outside the court said the trial was a chance to hold someone accountable for the disaster.

"If we don't hear guilty verdicts, our years-long efforts to bring this to court will not have been rewarded," said Saki Okawara, 67, who came from Miharu in the Fukushima region to hear the verdict.

"And Japanese society's culture of no one taking responsibility will continue."

A Japanese court on Thursday cleared three energy firm bosses of professional negligence in the only criminal trial stemming from the 2011 Fukushima nuclear meltdown.

A Japanese court on Thursday cleared three energy firm bosses of professional negligence in the only criminal trial stemming from the 2011 Fukushima nuclear meltdown. The three men were senior officials at the TEPCO firm operating the Fukushima Daiichi plant and had faced up to five years in prison if convicted. "All defendants are not guilty", the presiding judge said, ruling that the executives could not have predicted the scale of the tsunami that overwhelmed the plant and triggered the accident. The decision is likely to be appealed, extending the legal wrangling over responsibility for the worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl, more than eight years after the disaster. Outside the courtroom, dozens of people staged a rally, including some who had travelled from the Fukushima region to hear the verdict. "It is absolutely an unjust ruling. We absolutely cannot accept this," one woman said angrily, addressing the crowd. "We will appeal this and continue our fight," shouted a man nearby. TEPCO declined to comment on the verdict, repeating its "sincere apologies for the great inconvenience and concern" caused by the disaster. The three former executives were accused of professional negligence resulting in death and injury for failing to act on information about the risks from a major tsunami, but they argued the data available to them at the time was unreliable. Judge Kenichi Nagafuchi said the verdict turned on the "predictability" of the massive tsunami that swamped the nuclear plant in March 2011 after a 9.0-magnitude undersea earthquake. He pointed out there had been no proposal from the government's nuclear watchdog "that TEPCO should suspend operations until (safety) measures are taken." Complex path to trial No one was killed in the nuclear meltdown, but the tsunami left 18,500 dead or missing. The ex-TEPCO executives faced trial in relation to the deaths of more than 40 hospitalised patients who died after having to be evacuated following the nuclear disaster. Prosecutors twice declined to proceed with the case, citing insufficient evidence and a slim chance of conviction, but were forced to after a judicial review panel composed of ordinary citizens ruled that the trio should face trial. All three defendants -- former TEPCO chairman Tsunehisa Katsumata, 79, and former vice presidents Sakae Muto, 69, and Ichiro Takekuro, 73 -- had pleaded not guilty. The prosecutors said the men were present at meetings where experts warned of the anticipated height of a tsunami off the Fukushima coast and should have taken better safety measures. They argued the executives were presented data warning a tsunami exceeding 10 metres (33 feet) could trigger power loss and a major disaster at the plant. And a TEPCO internal study, based on a government report, concluded that a wave of up to 15.7 metres could hit after a magnitude-8.3 quake. In the event, when a 9.0-magnitude quake hit offshore on March 11, 2011, waves as high as 14 metres swamped the reactors' cooling systems. The resulting meltdown forced massive evacuations and left parts of the surrounding area uninhabitable -- in some cases possibly forever. 'No one taking responsibility' The three defendants have apologised, but argued they could not have foreseen the disaster based on the available evidence and that they thought officials in the firm responsible for nuclear safety had taken appropriate measures. "It is difficult to deal with issues that are uncertain and obscure," Takekuro said during the trial. Separately from the criminal case, dozens of civil lawsuits have been filed against the government and TEPCO. Some district courts have granted damages to local residents, ordering TEPCO and the government to pay. Before the verdict, protestors outside the court said the trial was a chance to hold someone accountable for the disaster. "If we don't hear guilty verdicts, our years-long efforts to bring this to court will not have been rewarded," said Saki Okawara, 67, who came from Miharu in the Fukushima region to hear the verdict. "And Japanese society's culture of no one taking responsibility will continue."

Japan court acquits energy bosses over Fukushima disaster

US President Donald Trump said on Monday Washington had struck trade agreements with Tokyo that could be implemented without congressional approval, but stopped short of assuring Japan that new tariffs would not be slapped on vital auto exports.

In a letter to the US&nbsp;Congress released by the White House, Trump said that he intends to enter into the agreements on tariff barriers and digital trade "in the coming weeks" and was notifying lawmakers that the tariff deal would be made under a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-japan-agree-trade-deal-in-principle-245579">trade</a> law provision allowing the US&nbsp;president to make reciprocal tariff reductions by proclamation.

"In addition, I also will be entering into an Executive Agreement with Japan regarding digital trade," Trump said in the letter.

Neither agreement would require a vote in Congress under the so-called "fast track" approval process.

The Trump administration last year notified Congress that it would pursue negotiations with Japan under this method.

On a critical issue to Japan, Trump's announcement left unclear whether he has agreed not to impose threatened national security tariffs on Japanese vehicles and auto parts.

Avoiding the "Section 232" tariffs of up to 25 per cent&nbsp;was a major motivating factor for Tokyo in negotiating with Washington on trade.

"At the finishing stage, we plan to reconfirm that 232 won't be imposed," Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, Japan's lead negotiator, told a regular news conference in Tokyo on Tuesday.

Finance Minister Taro Aso said the deal won't contain any provision on currencies another worry for Tokyo.

Japan wants to avoid any agreement hindering its ability to intervene in the foreign-exchange markets in the event of a spike in the yen, or to expand the Bank of Japan's massive monetary stimulus.

Trump said after the&nbsp;G7 summit last month that he was not considering auto tariffs "at this moment".

Over much of the past year, the scope of talks has narrowed to exclude the automotive sector, the source of most of the $67 billion US&nbsp;trade deficit with Japan.

Instead, Trump and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in August announced an agreement in principle of a deal that covered reductions in tariffs on agricultural and industrial goods, but not autos.

A spokesman for US&nbsp;Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer could not immediately be reached for comment on the letter and the trade deals.

Trump and Abe said at the G7 summit in France that they hoped to sign the agreement at this month's United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Trump's letter did not disclose any content of the agreements, but Japan had previously said it was willing to consider a deal that would reduce agriculture tariffs to levels previously contemplated under the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade deal that Trump quit on his third day in office in 2017.

Trump's letter said that the United States would pursue further trade negotiations with Japan.

"My Administration looks forward to continued collaboration with the Congress on further negotiations with Japan to achieve a comprehensive trade agreement that results in more fair and reciprocal trade between the United States and Japan," Trump said.

The US&nbsp;technology industry officials say they expect the digital trade agreement with Japan to be closely aligned with provisions in the new US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which follow the US&nbsp;model for internet development.

The USMCA provisions aim to ensure the free flow of data across borders without taxation, prohibit data server localization requirements and limit governments' ability to require the disclosure of source code by the companies they regulate.

For Trump, the signing of even a partial trade deal with Japan centred largely on agriculture would provide some relief to US&nbsp;farmers who have been battered by a 14-month US-China trade war and lost market share.

US President Donald Trump said on Monday Washington had struck trade agreements with Tokyo that could be implemented without congressional approval, but stopped short of assuring Japan that new tariffs would not be slapped on vital auto exports.

US President Donald Trump said on Monday Washington had struck trade agreements with Tokyo that could be implemented without congressional approval, but stopped short of assuring Japan that new tariffs would not be slapped on vital auto exports. In a letter to the US Congress released by the White House, Trump said that he intends to enter into the agreements on tariff barriers and digital trade "in the coming weeks" and was notifying lawmakers that the tariff deal would be made under a trade law provision allowing the US president to make reciprocal tariff reductions by proclamation. "In addition, I also will be entering into an Executive Agreement with Japan regarding digital trade," Trump said in the letter. Neither agreement would require a vote in Congress under the so-called "fast track" approval process. The Trump administration last year notified Congress that it would pursue negotiations with Japan under this method. On a critical issue to Japan, Trump's announcement left unclear whether he has agreed not to impose threatened national security tariffs on Japanese vehicles and auto parts. Avoiding the "Section 232" tariffs of up to 25 per cent was a major motivating factor for Tokyo in negotiating with Washington on trade. "At the finishing stage, we plan to reconfirm that 232 won't be imposed," Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, Japan's lead negotiator, told a regular news conference in Tokyo on Tuesday. Finance Minister Taro Aso said the deal won't contain any provision on currencies another worry for Tokyo. Japan wants to avoid any agreement hindering its ability to intervene in the foreign-exchange markets in the event of a spike in the yen, or to expand the Bank of Japan's massive monetary stimulus. Trump said after the G7 summit last month that he was not considering auto tariffs "at this moment". Over much of the past year, the scope of talks has narrowed to exclude the automotive sector, the source of most of the $67 billion US trade deficit with Japan. Instead, Trump and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in August announced an agreement in principle of a deal that covered reductions in tariffs on agricultural and industrial goods, but not autos. A spokesman for US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer could not immediately be reached for comment on the letter and the trade deals. Trump and Abe said at the G7 summit in France that they hoped to sign the agreement at this month's United Nations General Assembly in New York. Trump's letter did not disclose any content of the agreements, but Japan had previously said it was willing to consider a deal that would reduce agriculture tariffs to levels previously contemplated under the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade deal that Trump quit on his third day in office in 2017. Trump's letter said that the United States would pursue further trade negotiations with Japan. "My Administration looks forward to continued collaboration with the Congress on further negotiations with Japan to achieve a comprehensive trade agreement that results in more fair and reciprocal trade between the United States and Japan," Trump said. The US technology industry officials say they expect the digital trade agreement with Japan to be closely aligned with provisions in the new US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which follow the US model for internet development. The USMCA provisions aim to ensure the free flow of data across borders without taxation, prohibit data server localization requirements and limit governments' ability to require the disclosure of source code by the companies they regulate. For Trump, the signing of even a partial trade deal with Japan centred largely on agriculture would provide some relief to US farmers who have been battered by a 14-month US-China trade war and lost market share.

Trump says the US reaches trade deals with Japan, no word on cars

Japan has agreed to phase out tariffs on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-wants-to-make-meaningful-progress-in-china-trade-talks-249287">US</a> wine imports as part of a bilateral <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/american-business-community-wants-trade-deal-between-us-china-249649">trade deal</a> expected to be signed at the end of the month, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Sunday.

Japan will eliminate the tariffs on US wine within five to seven years after the trade agreement goes into effect, the Nikkei reported without giving its sources.

Japan taxes imported wine at a rate of 15 per cent&nbsp;or 125 yen ($1.16) per litre, whichever is cheaper, according to the Nikkei.

The elimination of the tariff could cut the cost of US wine by about 13 per cent&nbsp;for wine distributors, the Nikkei said.

The trade agreement between the United States and Japan, which is expected to be signed on the sidelines of the UN&nbsp;General Assembly meeting, is also expected to gradually lower tariffs on US&nbsp;beef imports to 9&nbsp;per cent in 2033 from 38.5 per cent&nbsp;now, the Nikkei said.

Officials from Japan's trade ministry were not immediately available for comment.

Last month, the United States and Japan agreed in principle on the core elements of a free-trade deal that would cool a trade dispute between the allies. 
The United States is also trying to de-escalate its year-long trade war with China.

Chinese trade deputies are expected to meet their US&nbsp;counterparts in Washington before minister-level meetings in early October in the US&nbsp;capital. 
&nbsp;

Japan has agreed to phase out tariffs on US wine imports as part of a bilateral trade deal expected to be signed at the end of the month, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Sunday.

Japan has agreed to phase out tariffs on US wine imports as part of a bilateral trade deal expected to be signed at the end of the month, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Sunday. Japan will eliminate the tariffs on US wine within five to seven years after the trade agreement goes into effect, the Nikkei reported without giving its sources. Japan taxes imported wine at a rate of 15 per cent or 125 yen ($1.16) per litre, whichever is cheaper, according to the Nikkei. The elimination of the tariff could cut the cost of US wine by about 13 per cent for wine distributors, the Nikkei said. The trade agreement between the United States and Japan, which is expected to be signed on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting, is also expected to gradually lower tariffs on US beef imports to 9 per cent in 2033 from 38.5 per cent now, the Nikkei said. Officials from Japan's trade ministry were not immediately available for comment. Last month, the United States and Japan agreed in principle on the core elements of a free-trade deal that would cool a trade dispute between the allies. The United States is also trying to de-escalate its year-long trade war with China. Chinese trade deputies are expected to meet their US counterparts in Washington before minister-level meetings in early October in the US capital.

Japan to eliminate tariffs on United States wine in trade deal: Report

Pope Francis will travel to Thailand in November, the Vatican said Friday, in a visit to Asia that will sweep in the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki which were both decimated by atomic bombs in 1945.

It has been nearly four decades since a pontiff visited Thailand and Japan, both Buddhist-majority countries.

The late Pope John Paul II went to Japan -- where Shinto and Buddhism are the main religions -- in 1981, and he travelled to Thailand three years later where he met with the late King Rama IX and the Queen Mother.

The current pontiff will travel to Thailand from November 20-23, and then Japan to November 26, the Vatican said.

In Bangkok, Pope Francis will "preside at religious ceremonies and pastoral visits to Catholic communities," said a press statement from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Thailand.

He would hold "two masses", added Monsignor Vissanu Thanya-anan of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Thailand.

The four-day papal visit will mark the 350th anniversary of the founding of the "Mission de Siam", which was first established by Pope Clement IX in 1669.

Today, the 388,000-strong Christian community makes up an estimated 1 per cent of the population in Thailand, with the majority residing in the north and many within ethnic minority groups like the Jarai and the Akha.

Embattled ethnic groups, like the Montagnards who fled religious persecution in neighbouring communist Vietnam, also reside in Thailand seeking asylum.

Sister Ana Rosa Sivori, the Pope's second cousin who runs a Catholic girls' school in northeast Thailand, said his visit to a Buddhist-majority Thailand is meant as an outreach to other religions.

"This visit shows his desire... to bring a message of peace," she told AFP, adding that she would be with her cousin during the Bangkok visit and hopes for some "private" time.

A-bomb sites

The Vatican also provided more details of a visit to Japan, which was announced in January. The Pope had wanted to work in the country as a missionary in his youth but the plan was abandoned following a lung operation.

Japan is home to some 450,000 Catholics and 510,000 Protestants.

"During the latter visit, the Holy Father will visit Tokyo, Nagasaki, and Hiroshima," said the statement, adding that an official schedule will be provided on a later date.

Hiroshima and Nagasaki were decimated after the US dropped nuclear bombs at the end of World War II in 1945.

More than 140,000 people were killed in Hiroshima, while the port city of Nagasaki suffered a death toll of 74,000.

The Pope has referenced the bombings in the past.

In January last year, he printed cards with a 1945 photo of victims of the Nagasaki bombing, inscribing the words "the fruit of war" in Italian on the card above his signature.

The photo, captured by American photographer Joe O'Donnell, showed a young boy standing ramrod straight carrying his dead younger brother on his back while waiting for his turn at a cremation site.

Since Pope Francis' election six years ago, he has made two trips to Asia, visiting the Philippines and Sri Lanka in 2014, followed by Myanmar and Bangladesh in 2017.

In Dhaka, he met with Rohingya refugees who fled from Myanmar following a brutal military crackdown, which UN investigators have said amounts to "genocide".

Referring to the Muslim minority group as "Rohingya", he asked for their forgiveness for their persecution -- his words sparking great controversy in neighbouring Myanmar, where they are reviled as so-called "Bengali" illegal immigrants.

Pope Francis on Tuesday returned to Rome after a weeklong visit to Africa, with stops in Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius -- a prosperous island nation where he urged citizens to welcome migrants in search of a better life.

Pope Francis will travel to Thailand in November, the Vatican said Friday, in a visit to Asia that will sweep in the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki which were both decimated by atomic bombs in 1945.

Pope Francis will travel to Thailand in November, the Vatican said Friday, in a visit to Asia that will sweep in the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki which were both decimated by atomic bombs in 1945. It has been nearly four decades since a pontiff visited Thailand and Japan, both Buddhist-majority countries. The late Pope John Paul II went to Japan -- where Shinto and Buddhism are the main religions -- in 1981, and he travelled to Thailand three years later where he met with the late King Rama IX and the Queen Mother. The current pontiff will travel to Thailand from November 20-23, and then Japan to November 26, the Vatican said. In Bangkok, Pope Francis will "preside at religious ceremonies and pastoral visits to Catholic communities," said a press statement from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Thailand. He would hold "two masses", added Monsignor Vissanu Thanya-anan of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Thailand. The four-day papal visit will mark the 350th anniversary of the founding of the "Mission de Siam", which was first established by Pope Clement IX in 1669. Today, the 388,000-strong Christian community makes up an estimated 1 per cent of the population in Thailand, with the majority residing in the north and many within ethnic minority groups like the Jarai and the Akha. Embattled ethnic groups, like the Montagnards who fled religious persecution in neighbouring communist Vietnam, also reside in Thailand seeking asylum. Sister Ana Rosa Sivori, the Pope's second cousin who runs a Catholic girls' school in northeast Thailand, said his visit to a Buddhist-majority Thailand is meant as an outreach to other religions. "This visit shows his desire... to bring a message of peace," she told AFP, adding that she would be with her cousin during the Bangkok visit and hopes for some "private" time. A-bomb sites The Vatican also provided more details of a visit to Japan, which was announced in January. The Pope had wanted to work in the country as a missionary in his youth but the plan was abandoned following a lung operation. Japan is home to some 450,000 Catholics and 510,000 Protestants. "During the latter visit, the Holy Father will visit Tokyo, Nagasaki, and Hiroshima," said the statement, adding that an official schedule will be provided on a later date. Hiroshima and Nagasaki were decimated after the US dropped nuclear bombs at the end of World War II in 1945. More than 140,000 people were killed in Hiroshima, while the port city of Nagasaki suffered a death toll of 74,000. The Pope has referenced the bombings in the past. In January last year, he printed cards with a 1945 photo of victims of the Nagasaki bombing, inscribing the words "the fruit of war" in Italian on the card above his signature. The photo, captured by American photographer Joe O'Donnell, showed a young boy standing ramrod straight carrying his dead younger brother on his back while waiting for his turn at a cremation site. Since Pope Francis' election six years ago, he has made two trips to Asia, visiting the Philippines and Sri Lanka in 2014, followed by Myanmar and Bangladesh in 2017. In Dhaka, he met with Rohingya refugees who fled from Myanmar following a brutal military crackdown, which UN investigators have said amounts to "genocide". Referring to the Muslim minority group as "Rohingya", he asked for their forgiveness for their persecution -- his words sparking great controversy in neighbouring Myanmar, where they are reviled as so-called "Bengali" illegal immigrants. Pope Francis on Tuesday returned to Rome after a weeklong visit to Africa, with stops in Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius -- a prosperous island nation where he urged citizens to welcome migrants in search of a better life.

Pope Francis to visit Thailand, Japan in November

This segment of WION brings to you top stories of the evening from across the globe. Watch this video to get updated with the latest information.

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - September 12th, 2019

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - September 11th, 2019

Japan's Shinzo Abe on Wednesday appointed new foreign and defence ministers and promoted a popular rising political star, in a cabinet reshuffle that fuelled speculation over the prime minister's successor.

The spectacular appointment as environment minister of the telegenic Shinjiro Koizumi, the 38-year-old son of much-loved former PM Junichiro Koizumi, set tongues wagging in Tokyo political classes as the Abe era draws to a close.

"Abe intends to start an open race to pick the next prime minister or even the one after that," said SMBC Nikko Securities chief market economist Yoshimasa Maruyama.

A darling of the Japanese media, Shinjiro Koizumi received blanket coverage for his recent marriage to television broadcaster Christel Takigawa, which was announced at the prime minister's office.

He is the third-youngest minister appointed to the cabinet in Japan since the end of World War II, in a country where seniority is prized in politics and many other walks of life.

Despite intense media spotlight, he has been coy on expressing his view on the issues of the day and there will be close scrutiny over his policies on nuclear power, particularly on whether he will break with his father's anti-nuclear stance.

Abe is set to become Japan's longest-serving prime minister in November but is expected to step down at the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership election in 2021 and the jostling for position is already beginning.

Japan's new foreign minister is Toshimitsu Motegi, who was promoted as a reward for his work in negotiating a trade deal with the United States.

Outgoing foreign minister Taro Kono was shifted to the defence portfolio, in a move seen as reinforcing Tokyo's hard line towards South Korea at a time of worsening ties between the two neighbours.

Kono, who has amused commentators by interacting with people on social media even offering relationship advice at times struck a hard line during the recent spat with Seoul that has infected their trade and security ties.

Motegi, 63, is a Harvard-educated political veteran who worked as a McKinsey consultant before winning a lower house seat in 1993.

Analysts do not expect the shake-up to herald significant changes to Japan's diplomatic policy, which is managed largely by the prime minister's office.

But it may also put Motegi in the starting blocks in the race to succeed Abe, noted Tobias Harris, an expert on Japanese politics at consultancy Teneo.

Abe retained the services of his trusted associate Taro Aso as deputy prime minister and finance minister, as well as Yoshihide Suga as the powerful chief cabinet secretary.

The PM also kept key allies and aides within the cabinet and top layers of the party to shore up his position for the next two years.

The Abe government is poised to hike its consumption tax from eight per cent to 10 per cent on October 1, amid fears this could act as a brake on the world's third-largest economy.

He is also hoping to achieve his long-cherished ambition of amending Japan's post-war constitution to change the status of the country's Self Defense Forces.

Ahead of the cabinet announcement, Abe told party members he wanted a "united front in the party, and (to) powerfully push for a revision of the constitution," calling it the LDP's "long-term earnest desire."

Abe also kept LDP Secretary-General Toshihiro Nikai, who has deep contacts in China, as Japan prepares for an expected state visit by Xi Jinping in 2020.

Among other key figures is former Olympic speed skater Seiko Hashimoto, who became the latest in a string of Olympic ministers ahead of the 2020 summer Games.

Hashimoto is one of just two women out of 19 in the new cabinet despite Abe's much-heralded "womenomics" programme. His previous cabinet included just one woman.

Japan ranked 125th in the 2018 World Economic Forum's Gender Gap Report in terms of women's political empowerment.

The other woman is Sanae Takaichi, appointed as interior minister. She is seen as a hard-right nationalist, who regularly visits the Yasukuni shrine housing war criminals that enrage South Korea and China.

During her previous stint as interior minister, she threatened to cut off TV news stations over perceived unfriendly coverage.

Japan's Shinzo Abe on Wednesday appointed new foreign and defence ministers and promoted a popular rising political star, in a cabinet reshuffle that fuelled speculation over the prime minister's successor.

Japan's Shinzo Abe on Wednesday appointed new foreign and defence ministers and promoted a popular rising political star, in a cabinet reshuffle that fuelled speculation over the prime minister's successor. The spectacular appointment as environment minister of the telegenic Shinjiro Koizumi, the 38-year-old son of much-loved former PM Junichiro Koizumi, set tongues wagging in Tokyo political classes as the Abe era draws to a close. "Abe intends to start an open race to pick the next prime minister or even the one after that," said SMBC Nikko Securities chief market economist Yoshimasa Maruyama. A darling of the Japanese media, Shinjiro Koizumi received blanket coverage for his recent marriage to television broadcaster Christel Takigawa, which was announced at the prime minister's office. He is the third-youngest minister appointed to the cabinet in Japan since the end of World War II, in a country where seniority is prized in politics and many other walks of life. Despite intense media spotlight, he has been coy on expressing his view on the issues of the day and there will be close scrutiny over his policies on nuclear power, particularly on whether he will break with his father's anti-nuclear stance. Abe is set to become Japan's longest-serving prime minister in November but is expected to step down at the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership election in 2021 and the jostling for position is already beginning. Japan's new foreign minister is Toshimitsu Motegi, who was promoted as a reward for his work in negotiating a trade deal with the United States. Outgoing foreign minister Taro Kono was shifted to the defence portfolio, in a move seen as reinforcing Tokyo's hard line towards South Korea at a time of worsening ties between the two neighbours. Kono, who has amused commentators by interacting with people on social media even offering relationship advice at times struck a hard line during the recent spat with Seoul that has infected their trade and security ties. Motegi, 63, is a Harvard-educated political veteran who worked as a McKinsey consultant before winning a lower house seat in 1993. Analysts do not expect the shake-up to herald significant changes to Japan's diplomatic policy, which is managed largely by the prime minister's office. But it may also put Motegi in the starting blocks in the race to succeed Abe, noted Tobias Harris, an expert on Japanese politics at consultancy Teneo. Abe retained the services of his trusted associate Taro Aso as deputy prime minister and finance minister, as well as Yoshihide Suga as the powerful chief cabinet secretary. The PM also kept key allies and aides within the cabinet and top layers of the party to shore up his position for the next two years. The Abe government is poised to hike its consumption tax from eight per cent to 10 per cent on October 1, amid fears this could act as a brake on the world's third-largest economy. He is also hoping to achieve his long-cherished ambition of amending Japan's post-war constitution to change the status of the country's Self Defense Forces. Ahead of the cabinet announcement, Abe told party members he wanted a "united front in the party, and (to) powerfully push for a revision of the constitution," calling it the LDP's "long-term earnest desire." Abe also kept LDP Secretary-General Toshihiro Nikai, who has deep contacts in China, as Japan prepares for an expected state visit by Xi Jinping in 2020. Among other key figures is former Olympic speed skater Seiko Hashimoto, who became the latest in a string of Olympic ministers ahead of the 2020 summer Games. Hashimoto is one of just two women out of 19 in the new cabinet despite Abe's much-heralded "womenomics" programme. His previous cabinet included just one woman. Japan ranked 125th in the 2018 World Economic Forum's Gender Gap Report in terms of women's political empowerment. The other woman is Sanae Takaichi, appointed as interior minister. She is seen as a hard-right nationalist, who regularly visits the Yasukuni shrine housing war criminals that enrage South Korea and China. During her previous stint as interior minister, she threatened to cut off TV news stations over perceived unfriendly coverage.

Japan PM Abe appoints new foreign, defence ministers; brings in rising star Shinjiro Koizumi

Strong wind and rain from Typhoon Faxai pummelled Japan's east coast on Sunday (September 8) as the storm made landfall. Watch this video to know more.

Storm makes landfall in Japan, over 290,000 households lose power

The CEO of crisis-hit Japanese automaker Nissan plans to resign, reports said Monday, as the firm's board meets to discuss an audit launched after former chief Carlos Ghosn's arrest over financial misconduct.

Hiroto Saikawa's reported decision to step down comes days after he admitted receiving <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nissan-probe-finds-ceo-saikawa-other-executives-overpaid-in-compliance-failure-report-247752">overpayments</a>, and is the latest blow to the firm after Ghosn's arrest and ouster.

Nissan said it had no immediate comment on the reports, which first emerged overnight.

The timing of Saikawa's resignation, as well as who will succeed him, has reportedly not yet been decided but the embattled CEO is said to have informed several Nissan executives of his decision.

Nissan's board, including executives from the firm's alliance partner Renault, will meet at the company's Yokohama headquarters outside Tokyo from Monday afternoon.

Their discussions, which will include the results of an internal Nissan audit, are expected to "run late into the night", sources told AFP.

Alleged overpayments

The audit was launched in the wake of the Ghosn scandal but appears to have implicated Saikawa and other executives for receiving excess pay as part of a scheme under which directors can earn a bonus if their company's share price rises above a certain level in a set period.

Saikawa is suspected of improperly adding 47 million yen ($440,000) to his compensation by altering the terms of a bonus, according to reports.

Nissan has not confirmed the details of the payments, but Saikawa apologized last week while denying any wrongdoing.

"I left the issue to someone else so I had thought it was dealt with in an appropriate manner," he told reporters.

The carmaker is currently undergoing an overhaul intended to strengthen governance after the Ghosn scandal.

In June, Nissan shareholders voted in favour of various measures including the establishment of three new oversight committees responsible for the appointment of senior officials, pay issues and auditing.

They also approved the election of 11 directors as the firm restructures, among them two Renault executives as well as Saikawa.

The reforms are designed to put Nissan on a more stable footing after the arrest of Ghosn, who has been sacked from his leadership roles at the Japanese firm and others.

He is awaiting trial on charges of under-reporting millions of dollars in salary and of using company funds for personal expenses.

Ghosn has denied any wrongdoing and accuses Nissan executives opposed to his plans to further integrate the firm with France's Renault of plotting against him.

Calls for Saikawa's resignation&nbsp;

Saikawa, a one-time Ghosn protege, turned sharply against his former mentor after his arrest, referring to the "dark side" of the tycoon's tenure and accusing him of accruing unchecked power that allowed his alleged wrongdoing to go undetected.

But the CEO has come under pressure himself in the scandal's wake, facing calls to resign from shareholders who view him as too heavily associated with the Ghosn era.

And while he resisted calls to step down immediately, he has said that he plans to hand over the reins after Nissan is back on track.

The Ghosn scandal has proved disastrous for Nissan, which in July announced that net profit plunged nearly 95 per cent in the April-June quarter, and confirmed it would cut 12,500 jobs worldwide.

The Japanese firm has also struggled to steady its relationship with Renault as part of a tripartite alliance with Mitsubishi Motors that Ghosn founded and once led.

Renault holds a 43 per cent stake in the Japanese automaker, which in turn controls 15 per cent of the French firm but has no voting rights -- an arrangement that has caused tensions.

"There are working theories" on a possible reform of the cross-holding structure between the two firms, a source close to the issue told AFP, adding that "nothing is official".

And Nissan faces other challenges, with Bloomberg News reporting that Christina Murray, the executive who led the company's audit, is also resigning, without giving details on why.

The CEO of crisis-hit Japanese automaker Nissan plans to resign, reports said Monday, as the firm's board meets to discuss an audit launched after former chief Carlos Ghosn's arrest over financial misconduct.

The CEO of crisis-hit Japanese automaker Nissan plans to resign, reports said Monday, as the firm's board meets to discuss an audit launched after former chief Carlos Ghosn's arrest over financial misconduct. Hiroto Saikawa's reported decision to step down comes days after he admitted receiving overpayments, and is the latest blow to the firm after Ghosn's arrest and ouster. Nissan said it had no immediate comment on the reports, which first emerged overnight. The timing of Saikawa's resignation, as well as who will succeed him, has reportedly not yet been decided but the embattled CEO is said to have informed several Nissan executives of his decision. Nissan's board, including executives from the firm's alliance partner Renault, will meet at the company's Yokohama headquarters outside Tokyo from Monday afternoon. Their discussions, which will include the results of an internal Nissan audit, are expected to "run late into the night", sources told AFP. Alleged overpayments The audit was launched in the wake of the Ghosn scandal but appears to have implicated Saikawa and other executives for receiving excess pay as part of a scheme under which directors can earn a bonus if their company's share price rises above a certain level in a set period. Saikawa is suspected of improperly adding 47 million yen ($440,000) to his compensation by altering the terms of a bonus, according to reports. Nissan has not confirmed the details of the payments, but Saikawa apologized last week while denying any wrongdoing. "I left the issue to someone else so I had thought it was dealt with in an appropriate manner," he told reporters. The carmaker is currently undergoing an overhaul intended to strengthen governance after the Ghosn scandal. In June, Nissan shareholders voted in favour of various measures including the establishment of three new oversight committees responsible for the appointment of senior officials, pay issues and auditing. They also approved the election of 11 directors as the firm restructures, among them two Renault executives as well as Saikawa. The reforms are designed to put Nissan on a more stable footing after the arrest of Ghosn, who has been sacked from his leadership roles at the Japanese firm and others. He is awaiting trial on charges of under-reporting millions of dollars in salary and of using company funds for personal expenses. Ghosn has denied any wrongdoing and accuses Nissan executives opposed to his plans to further integrate the firm with France's Renault of plotting against him. Calls for Saikawa's resignation Saikawa, a one-time Ghosn protege, turned sharply against his former mentor after his arrest, referring to the "dark side" of the tycoon's tenure and accusing him of accruing unchecked power that allowed his alleged wrongdoing to go undetected. But the CEO has come under pressure himself in the scandal's wake, facing calls to resign from shareholders who view him as too heavily associated with the Ghosn era. And while he resisted calls to step down immediately, he has said that he plans to hand over the reins after Nissan is back on track. The Ghosn scandal has proved disastrous for Nissan, which in July announced that net profit plunged nearly 95 per cent in the April-June quarter, and confirmed it would cut 12,500 jobs worldwide. The Japanese firm has also struggled to steady its relationship with Renault as part of a tripartite alliance with Mitsubishi Motors that Ghosn founded and once led. Renault holds a 43 per cent stake in the Japanese automaker, which in turn controls 15 per cent of the French firm but has no voting rights -- an arrangement that has caused tensions. "There are working theories" on a possible reform of the cross-holding structure between the two firms, a source close to the issue told AFP, adding that "nothing is official". And Nissan faces other challenges, with Bloomberg News reporting that Christina Murray, the executive who led the company's audit, is also resigning, without giving details on why.

Crisis-hit Nissan CEO set to resign as board meets

Japan braced for Typhoon Faxai on Sunday cancelling trains and flights in Tokyo with destructive winds of up to 216 kph (134 mph) and heavy rain expected to hit the region overnight, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

Faxai, a woman's name in Lao, could dump as much as 300 millimetres of rain in the next 24 hours, said the agency.

"Winds and rains could pick up suddenly, causing severe storms at sea, and there is a risk of record-breaking winds in the capital and other regions," it said on its website.

National broadcaster NHK warned that high-speed winds could fell power lines and damage homes, while heavy rains could trigger flooding and landslides.

In preparation, the Central Japan Railway company said it would cancel or suspend around 50 bullet train services between Tokyo and Osaka from 0900 GMT and warned of the possibility of additional delays and destination changes due to the storm.

East Japan Railway services in the greater Tokyo area would be stopped from the start of Monday service to 2300 GMT -- during the city's peak morning rush -- due to expected heavy rains, NHK said.

Other railway companies warned services may be affected by storm-related delays or stoppages in the coming hours, while Central Nippon Expressway said it had closed some roads near the southern coast of Kanagawa Prefecture as a precaution of the approaching storm.

Both Japan Airlines and ANA Holdings said they had cancelled a number of flights to and from Tokyo's two airports on Sunday, adding that more flights would be cancelled on Monday.

Japan braced for Typhoon Faxai on Sunday cancelling trains and flights in Tokyo with destructive winds of up to 216 kph (134 mph) and heavy rain expected to hit the region overnight, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

Japan braced for Typhoon Faxai on Sunday cancelling trains and flights in Tokyo with destructive winds of up to 216 kph (134 mph) and heavy rain expected to hit the region overnight, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. Faxai, a woman's name in Lao, could dump as much as 300 millimetres of rain in the next 24 hours, said the agency. "Winds and rains could pick up suddenly, causing severe storms at sea, and there is a risk of record-breaking winds in the capital and other regions," it said on its website. National broadcaster NHK warned that high-speed winds could fell power lines and damage homes, while heavy rains could trigger flooding and landslides. In preparation, the Central Japan Railway company said it would cancel or suspend around 50 bullet train services between Tokyo and Osaka from 0900 GMT and warned of the possibility of additional delays and destination changes due to the storm. East Japan Railway services in the greater Tokyo area would be stopped from the start of Monday service to 2300 GMT -- during the city's peak morning rush -- due to expected heavy rains, NHK said. Other railway companies warned services may be affected by storm-related delays or stoppages in the coming hours, while Central Nippon Expressway said it had closed some roads near the southern coast of Kanagawa Prefecture as a precaution of the approaching storm. Both Japan Airlines and ANA Holdings said they had cancelled a number of flights to and from Tokyo's two airports on Sunday, adding that more flights would be cancelled on Monday.

Japan: Tokyo cancels flights, trains ahead of Typhoon Faxai

One person died and at least 34 were injured on Thursday when a truck and an express train with 500 people aboard collided in Japan's second-largest city of Yokohama, setting the truck on fire and derailing half the train.

The accident, which halted services on a busy rail link to the capital, Tokyo, smashed the glass in the driver's compartment and derailed three of the train's eight carriages, video images showed, leaving the lead carriage badly twisted.

"The sound of glass breaking was incredible," one passenger told national broadcaster NHK. "By the time I knew what had happened, the carriage was all smashed up."

The driver, a man in his 60s, died, fire officials said, while a woman was seriously hurt and three had less grievous injuries, with others suffering superficial wounds.

The train driver slammed on the brakes when he saw the truck in the crossing but was unable to stop in time, NHK quoted train company Keikyu Corp as saying. One passenger said she heard the train's whistle blow for a long time before she felt the crash.

The truck, carrying fruit, was crushed between the train and a wall and caught fire immediately after the accident. Smashed boxes and what looked like oranges and lemons littered the track as rescuers crowded the site.

Authorities, including the transport ministry, said they were investigating the cause of the accident but were unable to give details. Police confirmed a collision between a vehicle and the train, but could not elaborate, citing the investigation.

Some passengers posted a video on social media showing people getting off the train after the accident, a twisted electrical pole and train seats covered with broken glass. There were about 500 passengers on the train, NHK said.

The accident, which halted trains on the commuter line run by Keikyu, happened near a station used by more than 19,000 people every day, the train operator said. There was no word on when services might resume.

One person died and at least 34 were injured on Thursday when a truck and an express train with 500 people aboard collided in Japan's second-largest city of Yokohama, setting the truck on fire and derailing half the train.

One person died and at least 34 were injured on Thursday when a truck and an express train with 500 people aboard collided in Japan's second-largest city of Yokohama, setting the truck on fire and derailing half the train. The accident, which halted services on a busy rail link to the capital, Tokyo, smashed the glass in the driver's compartment and derailed three of the train's eight carriages, video images showed, leaving the lead carriage badly twisted. "The sound of glass breaking was incredible," one passenger told national broadcaster NHK. "By the time I knew what had happened, the carriage was all smashed up." The driver, a man in his 60s, died, fire officials said, while a woman was seriously hurt and three had less grievous injuries, with others suffering superficial wounds. The train driver slammed on the brakes when he saw the truck in the crossing but was unable to stop in time, NHK quoted train company Keikyu Corp as saying. One passenger said she heard the train's whistle blow for a long time before she felt the crash. The truck, carrying fruit, was crushed between the train and a wall and caught fire immediately after the accident. Smashed boxes and what looked like oranges and lemons littered the track as rescuers crowded the site. Authorities, including the transport ministry, said they were investigating the cause of the accident but were unable to give details. Police confirmed a collision between a vehicle and the train, but could not elaborate, citing the investigation. Some passengers posted a video on social media showing people getting off the train after the accident, a twisted electrical pole and train seats covered with broken glass. There were about 500 passengers on the train, NHK said. The accident, which halted trains on the commuter line run by Keikyu, happened near a station used by more than 19,000 people every day, the train operator said. There was no word on when services might resume.

Japan: One dead, 34 injured in train-truck collision near Tokyo

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ahead-to-day-2-of-packed-russia-visit-pm-modi-holds-talks-with-japanese-malaysian-counterparts-247669">Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo</a> Abe will be visiting India in December for the annual India-Japan Summit that alternates between India and Japan. PM Modi had visited Japan last year in October for the summit during which, in a special gesture, Prime Minister Abe had hosted a private dinner for him at his ancestral home in Yamanashi, the first such reception to be extended to a foreign leader.

The development comes in the backdrop of Modi-Abe bilateral that happened on Thursday morning on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in the far eastern Russian city of Vladivostok. It was decided before the summit in December, both sides will have the first 2+2 foreign and defence ministers' meet.

Indo-pacific and joint projects in Africa were discussed during the meeting. Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said, "There was a discussion on the Indo-Pacific, this is an issue on which India and Japan share similar views. PM Abe spoke about free and open Indo-Pacific and of the importance of bilateral cooperation in that regard both on the economic side and people-to-people ties".

Both leaders gave a "very positive assessment" on India-Japan-US trilateral that happened on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Argentina on December 2018 and in Japan on July 2018. 
&nbsp; 
Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) - a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between 16 nations - was also discussed with PM mentioning that India "has some issues of interest both in trade in goods and trade in services" and that this "should be kept in mind when any regional trading arrangement is made so that there is a comfort level on all sides" for the agreement.&nbsp;

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will be visiting India in December for the annual India-Japan Summit that alternates between India and Japan. PM Modi had visited Japan last year in October for the summit during which, in a special gesture, Prime Minister Abe had hosted a private dinner for him at his ancestral home in Yamanashi, the first such reception to be extended to a foreign leader.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will be visiting India in December for the annual India-Japan Summit that alternates between India and Japan. PM Modi had visited Japan last year in October for the summit during which, in a special gesture, Prime Minister Abe had hosted a private dinner for him at his ancestral home in Yamanashi, the first such reception to be extended to a foreign leader. The development comes in the backdrop of Modi-Abe bilateral that happened on Thursday morning on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in the far eastern Russian city of Vladivostok. It was decided before the summit in December, both sides will have the first 2+2 foreign and defence ministers' meet. Indo-pacific and joint projects in Africa were discussed during the meeting. Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said, "There was a discussion on the Indo-Pacific, this is an issue on which India and Japan share similar views. PM Abe spoke about free and open Indo-Pacific and of the importance of bilateral cooperation in that regard both on the economic side and people-to-people ties". Both leaders gave a "very positive assessment" on India-Japan-US trilateral that happened on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Argentina on December 2018 and in Japan on July 2018. Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) - a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between 16 nations - was also discussed with PM mentioning that India "has some issues of interest both in trade in goods and trade in services" and that this "should be kept in mind when any regional trading arrangement is made so that there is a comfort level on all sides" for the agreement.

Japanese PM Shinzo Abe to visit India in December 

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-russia-against-outside-influence-in-internal-matters-of-any-nation-modi-247605">Prime Minister Narendra Modi</a>, on the sidelines of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-russia-against-outside-influence-in-internal-matters-of-any-nation-modi-247605">India-Russia Summit</a> and Eastern Economic Forum (EEF), held bilaterals with world leaders including Japanese and Malaysian counterparts and the president of Mongolia.&nbsp;

In a press briefing, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale on Thursday touched upon the details of the three engagements.&nbsp;

Japanese PM Shinzo Abe and PM Modi discussed Africa and strengthening ties in trade, defence and economy between the two countries.&nbsp;

According to MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar, "A global partnership reinforced by robust bilateral ties PM @narendramodi met with PM @AbeShinzo on the margins of 5th EEF in #Vladivostok. Discussed deepening multi-faceted ties in economic, defense &amp; security, start-up &amp; 5G areas and exchanged views on regional situation," he tweeted.

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Foreign Secy on PM Modi-Japan's PM meeting: It's (Indo-Pacific) an issue on which Japan-India share similar views. PM Abe spoke of free&amp;open Indo-Pacific &amp; imp.of bilateral coop,on economic side&amp;in terms of people-to-people relations to build secure&amp;prosperous Indo-Pacific region <a href="https://t.co/WWuq5gtlz3">pic.twitter.com/WWuq5gtlz3</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1169451501086863361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2019</a></blockquote>
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This is the third meeting between Modi and Abe in a period of three months. In June, the two leaders held talks at the G-20 Summit in Osaka while they again met at the G7 Summit in Biarritz in August.

"Continuous engagement for concrete bilateral ties. Prime Ministers @AbeShinzo and @narendramodi meet in Vladivostok. This meeting comes after leaders interacted at the G-20 Summit in Osaka and @G7 in Biarritz. A wide range of subjects are being discussed in today`s meeting," a tweet from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) read.

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Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale on PM Modi's meeting with PM of Malaysia: Prime Minister Modi raised the issue of Zakir Naik's extradition. Both the parties have decided that our officials will stay in contact regarding the matter and it is an important issue for us. <a href="https://t.co/Av84Rds4p3">pic.twitter.com/Av84Rds4p3</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1169450609747136512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Regional trade cooperation was taken up with Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Bin Mohamad. Malaysia conveyed its position against any form terror and stated that officials from both the countries are in touch regarding the matter of Zakir Naik's extradition.&nbsp;

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Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale: Both leaders have agreed that the first 2+2 Ministerial meeting i.e. the Foreign and Defence Ministers of the two countries will have a meeting preferably before this Annual Summit. <a href="https://t.co/SWUtCzrbnX">pic.twitter.com/SWUtCzrbnX</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1169449226197094400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2019</a></blockquote>
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With the Mongolian President, PM Modi talked about boosting people-to-people connect and the cultural, spiritual connection between the two nations. The leaders&nbsp;also discussed ways to tackle air pollution. India will be taking up the project of building a major oil refinery in Mongolia to meet the country's needs.&nbsp;

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Foreign Secy Vijay Gokhale: A lot of discussion was on bilateral relationship with particular emphasis on the forthcoming visit of Japanese Prime Minister to India for the Annual Summit that would take place sometime in December. Dates will be negotiated &amp; announced in due course <a href="https://t.co/qZdBgH44V6">https://t.co/qZdBgH44V6</a> <a href="https://t.co/OKZuDQ4zL0">pic.twitter.com/OKZuDQ4zL0</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1169448430818619393?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2019</a></blockquote>
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The prime minister is slated to have a packed schedule on the second day of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pm-modi-president-putin-hold-bilateral-talks-in-vladivostok-exchange-several-mous-247560">Russia visit</a> today. To begin with, he will attend the plenary session of EEF, visit India Pavillion and will take part in a series of bilaterals with &nbsp;Russia. PM Modi is on a two-day visit to Vladivostok for participating in the 20th India-Russia annual bilateral summit and fifth edition of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF).

Modi, along with Putin, will address the summit as the chief guest later today. This is the Prime Minister's maiden visit to the Russian Far East region. He will head for India later in the evening.

(With inputs from ANI)&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the sidelines of the India-Russia Summit and Eastern Economic Forum (EEF), held bilaterals with world leaders including Japanese and Malaysian counterparts and the president of Mongolia.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the sidelines of the India-Russia Summit and Eastern Economic Forum (EEF), held bilaterals with world leaders including Japanese and Malaysian counterparts and the president of Mongolia. In a press briefing, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale on Thursday touched upon the details of the three engagements. Japanese PM Shinzo Abe and PM Modi discussed Africa and strengthening ties in trade, defence and economy between the two countries. According to MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar, "A global partnership reinforced by robust bilateral ties PM @narendramodi met with PM @AbeShinzo on the margins of 5th EEF in #Vladivostok. Discussed deepening multi-faceted ties in economic, defense & security, start-up & 5G areas and exchanged views on regional situation," he tweeted. Foreign Secy on PM Modi-Japan's PM meeting: It's (Indo-Pacific) an issue on which Japan-India share similar views. PM Abe spoke of free&open Indo-Pacific & imp.of bilateral coop,on economic side&in terms of people-to-people relations to build secure&prosperous Indo-Pacific region pic.twitter.com/WWuq5gtlz3 — ANI (@ANI) September 5, 2019 × This is the third meeting between Modi and Abe in a period of three months. In June, the two leaders held talks at the G-20 Summit in Osaka while they again met at the G7 Summit in Biarritz in August. "Continuous engagement for concrete bilateral ties. Prime Ministers @AbeShinzo and @narendramodi meet in Vladivostok. This meeting comes after leaders interacted at the G-20 Summit in Osaka and @G7 in Biarritz. A wide range of subjects are being discussed in today`s meeting," a tweet from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) read. Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale on PM Modi's meeting with PM of Malaysia: Prime Minister Modi raised the issue of Zakir Naik's extradition. Both the parties have decided that our officials will stay in contact regarding the matter and it is an important issue for us. pic.twitter.com/Av84Rds4p3 — ANI (@ANI) September 5, 2019 × Regional trade cooperation was taken up with Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Bin Mohamad. Malaysia conveyed its position against any form terror and stated that officials from both the countries are in touch regarding the matter of Zakir Naik's extradition. Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale: Both leaders have agreed that the first 2+2 Ministerial meeting i.e. the Foreign and Defence Ministers of the two countries will have a meeting preferably before this Annual Summit. pic.twitter.com/SWUtCzrbnX — ANI (@ANI) September 5, 2019 × With the Mongolian President, PM Modi talked about boosting people-to-people connect and the cultural, spiritual connection between the two nations. The leaders also discussed ways to tackle air pollution. India will be taking up the project of building a major oil refinery in Mongolia to meet the country's needs. Foreign Secy Vijay Gokhale: A lot of discussion was on bilateral relationship with particular emphasis on the forthcoming visit of Japanese Prime Minister to India for the Annual Summit that would take place sometime in December. Dates will be negotiated & announced in due course https://t.co/qZdBgH44V6 pic.twitter.com/OKZuDQ4zL0 — ANI (@ANI) September 5, 2019 × The prime minister is slated to have a packed schedule on the second day of Russia visit today. To begin with, he will attend the plenary session of EEF, visit India Pavillion and will take part in a series of bilaterals with Russia. PM Modi is on a two-day visit to Vladivostok for participating in the 20th India-Russia annual bilateral summit and fifth edition of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF). Modi, along with Putin, will address the summit as the chief guest later today. This is the Prime Minister's maiden visit to the Russian Far East region. He will head for India later in the evening. (With inputs from ANI)

Ahead to day-2 of packed Russia visit, PM Modi holds talks with Japanese and Malaysian counterparts

Asian shares extended gains on Thursday and US stock futures jumped after China said it will hold trade talks with the United States in early October, raising hopes they can de-escalate their trade war before it inflicts further damage on the global economy.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up 0.8%, while the Shanghai composite index surged 1.8%. Japan's Nikkei added 2.4%.

US stock futures reversed early losses and rose 1%.

The Chinese yuan jumped versus the dollar in offshore trade, while safe-haven assets such as gold and the yen fell.

China's confirmation of trade talks added to upbeat geopolitical news overnight. A parliamentary vote in Britain put the brakes on the nation's no-deal exit from the European Union, Hong Kong withdrew a contentious extradition bill that sparked recent protests and political turmoil in Italy appeared to be easing.

China's Commerce Ministry said its trade team will consult with their US counterparts in mid-September&nbsp;in preparation for negotiations in early October, hinting at progress in reducing trade friction.

Both sides had agreed to take actual actions to create favourable conditions, the ministry added, without giving more details.

"Since yesterday, there has been a limited downside in markets because of what happened in Hong Kong, but now the US-China talks are the story," said Masayuki Kichikawa, chief macro strategist at Sumitomo Mitsui Asset Management Co in Tokyo.

"It's the same about Brexit, which means less downside risk."

Hong Kong shares erased early losses to rise 0.5%. They had jumped in afternoon trade on Wednesday after leader Carrie Lam said she was withdrawing an extradition bill that had triggered months of often violent protests in the Asian financial hub.

In currency markets, sterling held onto gains against the dollar in Asia after rallying the most in more than five months on Wednesday after lawmakers voted to prevent Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking Britain out of the European Union without a deal on Oct. 31.

But, more than three years since the United Kingdom voted narrowly to leave the EU, the outcome of Brexit is still unclear, with possible outcomes ranging from a crash out of the EU to abandoning the whole endeavour.

Against the offshore yuan, the dollar fell 0.2% to 7.1324 yuan.

US Treasury yields extended gains in Asia and the yield curve steepened, both signs that investors were willing to take on riskier assets.

The 10-year yield rose to 1.4758%, while two-year yields rose to 1.4519%.

The spread between two- and 10-year Treasury yields, the most commonly used measure of the yield curve, rose to its highest since Aug&nbsp;21 on Wednesday but narrowed slightly in Asian trade.

The curve inverted on Aug 14 for the first time since 2007 when long-term yields traded below short-term yields, which is a widely accepted indicator of the coming recession.

US West Texas Intermediate crude also reversed losses to trade up 0.2%.

Asian shares extended gains on Thursday and US stock futures jumped after China said it will hold trade talks with the United States in early October, raising hopes they can de-escalate their trade war before it inflicts further damage on the global economy.

Asian shares extended gains on Thursday and US stock futures jumped after China said it will hold trade talks with the United States in early October, raising hopes they can de-escalate their trade war before it inflicts further damage on the global economy. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up 0.8%, while the Shanghai composite index surged 1.8%. Japan's Nikkei added 2.4%. US stock futures reversed early losses and rose 1%. The Chinese yuan jumped versus the dollar in offshore trade, while safe-haven assets such as gold and the yen fell. China's confirmation of trade talks added to upbeat geopolitical news overnight. A parliamentary vote in Britain put the brakes on the nation's no-deal exit from the European Union, Hong Kong withdrew a contentious extradition bill that sparked recent protests and political turmoil in Italy appeared to be easing. China's Commerce Ministry said its trade team will consult with their US counterparts in mid-September in preparation for negotiations in early October, hinting at progress in reducing trade friction. Both sides had agreed to take actual actions to create favourable conditions, the ministry added, without giving more details. "Since yesterday, there has been a limited downside in markets because of what happened in Hong Kong, but now the US-China talks are the story," said Masayuki Kichikawa, chief macro strategist at Sumitomo Mitsui Asset Management Co in Tokyo. "It's the same about Brexit, which means less downside risk." Hong Kong shares erased early losses to rise 0.5%. They had jumped in afternoon trade on Wednesday after leader Carrie Lam said she was withdrawing an extradition bill that had triggered months of often violent protests in the Asian financial hub. In currency markets, sterling held onto gains against the dollar in Asia after rallying the most in more than five months on Wednesday after lawmakers voted to prevent Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking Britain out of the European Union without a deal on Oct. 31. But, more than three years since the United Kingdom voted narrowly to leave the EU, the outcome of Brexit is still unclear, with possible outcomes ranging from a crash out of the EU to abandoning the whole endeavour. Against the offshore yuan, the dollar fell 0.2% to 7.1324 yuan. US Treasury yields extended gains in Asia and the yield curve steepened, both signs that investors were willing to take on riskier assets. The 10-year yield rose to 1.4758%, while two-year yields rose to 1.4519%. The spread between two- and 10-year Treasury yields, the most commonly used measure of the yield curve, rose to its highest since Aug 21 on Wednesday but narrowed slightly in Asian trade. The curve inverted on Aug 14 for the first time since 2007 when long-term yields traded below short-term yields, which is a widely accepted indicator of the coming recession. US West Texas Intermediate crude also reversed losses to trade up 0.2%.

Confirmation of US: China trade talks buoys global shares, investor spirit

At least 30 were injured on Thursday when a truck and an express train with 500 people aboard collided in Japan's second-largest city of Yokohama, setting the truck on fire and derailing half the train.

Japan: Train derailed after collision, More than 30 injured

Japanese government officials on Wednesday told diplomats they were still considering options for handling contaminated water at Tokyo Electric Power's wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant amid worries the water may be dumped into the ocean.

A massive body of tainted water - more than a million tons as of August - is building up at the plant, crippled by a 2011 earthquake and tsunami, as operator Tokyo Electric (Tepco) tries to cool the melted fuel cores by pouring water over them. Tepco has said it will run out of tank space by mid-2022.

The briefing for embassy officials in Tokyo follows a meeting in August of a government panel of experts looking into ways to solve the water problem. The final government decision will be made based on a report by the panel.

Asked by one of the participating embassy officials about the timing of the panel decision, Japanese officials said such timing has not been fixed, according to a media briefing held later on the day.

The briefing for diplomats was attended by 27 embassy officials from 22 countries and regions, including South Korea and the United States. No protests or demands have been made by the participating diplomats, according to the media briefing.

"With transparency in mind, Japan will continue providing the international community with information (on the Fukushima situation)," Koichiro Matsumoto, the Japanese Foreign Ministry's director of international cooperation, told diplomats at the start of the meeting, the outset of which was open to media.

The meeting comes after South Korea, locked in a trade and territorial rows with Japan, last month summoned a senior official from the Japanese embassy in Seoul, to ask about Japan's stance on dealing with the Fukushima water.

But a Japanese Foreign Ministry official told reporters that briefings for diplomats on the matter have been held more than 100 times since the March 2011 disaster, and the one on Wednesday was held to pass information discussed at the latest government panel meeting in August.

Japanese government officials on Wednesday told diplomats they were still considering options for handling contaminated water at Tokyo Electric Power's wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant amid worries the water may be dumped into the ocean.

Japanese government officials on Wednesday told diplomats they were still considering options for handling contaminated water at Tokyo Electric Power's wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant amid worries the water may be dumped into the ocean. A massive body of tainted water - more than a million tons as of August - is building up at the plant, crippled by a 2011 earthquake and tsunami, as operator Tokyo Electric (Tepco) tries to cool the melted fuel cores by pouring water over them. Tepco has said it will run out of tank space by mid-2022. The briefing for embassy officials in Tokyo follows a meeting in August of a government panel of experts looking into ways to solve the water problem. The final government decision will be made based on a report by the panel. Asked by one of the participating embassy officials about the timing of the panel decision, Japanese officials said such timing has not been fixed, according to a media briefing held later on the day. The briefing for diplomats was attended by 27 embassy officials from 22 countries and regions, including South Korea and the United States. No protests or demands have been made by the participating diplomats, according to the media briefing. "With transparency in mind, Japan will continue providing the international community with information (on the Fukushima situation)," Koichiro Matsumoto, the Japanese Foreign Ministry's director of international cooperation, told diplomats at the start of the meeting, the outset of which was open to media. The meeting comes after South Korea, locked in a trade and territorial rows with Japan, last month summoned a senior official from the Japanese embassy in Seoul, to ask about Japan's stance on dealing with the Fukushima water. But a Japanese Foreign Ministry official told reporters that briefings for diplomats on the matter have been held more than 100 times since the March 2011 disaster, and the one on Wednesday was held to pass information discussed at the latest government panel meeting in August.

Japan tells diplomats no decision yet on contaminated Fukushima water

Japan will not join a US-led security mission to protect merchant vessels passing through key Middle Eastern waterways, but will consider deploying its naval force independently, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Though the United States is Japan's most important ally, Tokyo has fostered economic ties with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-warns-eu-over-nuclear-commitments-as-deadline-for-further-steps-looms-247187">Iran</a>, and Japanese firms had been major buyers of Iranian oil until US sanctions forced them to find other suppliers.

Citing unidentified government sources, the Yomiuri said Japan was considering a plan to send its Maritime Self-Defense Force (SDF) on information-gathering missions in the areas around the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab shipping lane between Yemen, Djibouti and Eritrea.

It would also consider including the Strait of Hormuz in the SDF's sphere of activity if Iran agrees, the paper said.

Asked about the newspaper report, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga declined to mention specific measures that the government was considering to ensure the safety of Japanese vessels.

"As for what kind of steps would be effective to secure the safety of navigation of Japanese ships in the Middle East, we would like to look into the matter from various angles including stable crude oil supply, and Japan's ties with the United States and Iran," Suga told a regular news conference.

"As we investigate the issue, we want to keep our principle of maintaining our diplomatic effort for easing tensions and stabilising the situation in the Middle East."

Iran has denounced US efforts to set up the coalition and says countries in the region can protect waterways and work towards signing a non-aggression pact.

The Japanese government is set to make a final decision, including whether the plan is feasible, after the United Nations General Assembly later this month, the Yomiuri said.

Suga said arrangements are being made for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to meet with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly later this month.

Global commodity trading has been rocked in recent months by the seizure of a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/britain-sends-another-warship-to-gulf-245373">British tanker</a> and a series of attacks on international merchant vessels that the US and Britain have blamed on Iran. Tehran denies involvement.

Britain last month became the first US ally to announce its participation, although most European countries have been reluctant to sign up for fear of adding to tension in the region.

Japan will not join a US-led security mission to protect merchant vessels passing through key Middle Eastern waterways, but will consider deploying its naval force independently, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Japan will not join a US-led security mission to protect merchant vessels passing through key Middle Eastern waterways, but will consider deploying its naval force independently, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Tuesday. Though the United States is Japan's most important ally, Tokyo has fostered economic ties with Iran, and Japanese firms had been major buyers of Iranian oil until US sanctions forced them to find other suppliers. Citing unidentified government sources, the Yomiuri said Japan was considering a plan to send its Maritime Self-Defense Force (SDF) on information-gathering missions in the areas around the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab shipping lane between Yemen, Djibouti and Eritrea. It would also consider including the Strait of Hormuz in the SDF's sphere of activity if Iran agrees, the paper said. Asked about the newspaper report, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga declined to mention specific measures that the government was considering to ensure the safety of Japanese vessels. "As for what kind of steps would be effective to secure the safety of navigation of Japanese ships in the Middle East, we would like to look into the matter from various angles including stable crude oil supply, and Japan's ties with the United States and Iran," Suga told a regular news conference. "As we investigate the issue, we want to keep our principle of maintaining our diplomatic effort for easing tensions and stabilising the situation in the Middle East." Iran has denounced US efforts to set up the coalition and says countries in the region can protect waterways and work towards signing a non-aggression pact. The Japanese government is set to make a final decision, including whether the plan is feasible, after the United Nations General Assembly later this month, the Yomiuri said. Suga said arrangements are being made for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to meet with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly later this month. Global commodity trading has been rocked in recent months by the seizure of a British tanker and a series of attacks on international merchant vessels that the US and Britain have blamed on Iran. Tehran denies involvement. Britain last month became the first US ally to announce its participation, although most European countries have been reluctant to sign up for fear of adding to tension in the region.

Japan won't join US-led maritime coalition in Gulf: Report

Japan Kicks Off Taiji Cove Hunt Despite International Condemnation

Gravitas: Japan is hunting Dolphins again

Just over a month after resuming whaling, Japan on Sunday began its controversial dolphin hunt in the whaling town of Taiji, Wakayama Prefecture. &nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
The controversial hunting method involves herding dolphins into a cove which is a bay with a narrow entrance that is sealed. The dolphins are&nbsp;reportedly slaughtered by fishermen inside the cove with knives in shallow water. 
 
Japan had announced in July that it was leaving the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and would <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/first-whales-caught-as-japan-resumes-commercial-hunt-after-30-years-232177">resume commercial whaling</a> from July 1. A global whaling moratorium was imposed in 1986.

Watch: Japan is hunting dolphins again

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Prime Minister Shinzo Abe belongs to Shimonoseki, a whaling centre. The Japanese prime minister had long campaigned to restart commercial whaling which began last month.

 
Reports said the island nation had resumed hunting minke whales in the coastal areas off Hokkaido on Monday and is likely to reach the "catch quota" by month-end. The Abe government has reportedly set 1,700 dolphins to be killed or captured. The dolphin hunting season usually lasts for six months. 
 
The Japanese government has apparently&nbsp;set&nbsp;a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-under-pressure-over-past-hunting-of-endangered-whales-243496">catch quota of 53 minke whales</a>&nbsp;in order&nbsp;to prevent over-hunting, however, fishermen could reach the quota in September. 
 
Whales are widely consumed in Japan amounting to roughly 40-50 grams per Japanese person a year although just over 300 people are directly linked to hunting. 
 
Japan had pulled out of International Whaling Commission in December last year as it decided to resume commercial whaling. Japan has now joined Iceland and Norway in whale hunting in open defiance of other countries who signed up to the International Whaling Commission.

Just over a month after resuming whaling, Japan on Sunday began its controversial dolphin hunt in the whaling town of Taiji, Wakayama Prefecture. The controversial hunting method involves herding dolphins into a cove which is a bay with a narrow entrance that is sealed.

Just over a month after resuming whaling, Japan on Sunday began its controversial dolphin hunt in the whaling town of Taiji, Wakayama Prefecture. The controversial hunting method involves herding dolphins into a cove which is a bay with a narrow entrance that is sealed. The dolphins are reportedly slaughtered by fishermen inside the cove with knives in shallow water. Japan had announced in July that it was leaving the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and would resume commercial whaling from July 1. A global whaling moratorium was imposed in 1986. Watch: Japan is hunting dolphins again × Prime Minister Shinzo Abe belongs to Shimonoseki, a whaling centre. The Japanese prime minister had long campaigned to restart commercial whaling which began last month. Reports said the island nation had resumed hunting minke whales in the coastal areas off Hokkaido on Monday and is likely to reach the "catch quota" by month-end. The Abe government has reportedly set 1,700 dolphins to be killed or captured. The dolphin hunting season usually lasts for six months. The Japanese government has apparently set a catch quota of 53 minke whales in order to prevent over-hunting, however, fishermen could reach the quota in September. Whales are widely consumed in Japan amounting to roughly 40-50 grams per Japanese person a year although just over 300 people are directly linked to hunting. Japan had pulled out of International Whaling Commission in December last year as it decided to resume commercial whaling. Japan has now joined Iceland and Norway in whale hunting in open defiance of other countries who signed up to the International Whaling Commission.

Now, Japan begins dolphin hunt in whaling town of Taiji

By Pushan Dutt

Japan and South Korea are showing no signs of resolving an escalating trade dispute, which traces back to 1910. It now poses a threat to the world’s tech supply chain and has potentially severe consequences for the global economy. And the dispute is being played out within a complex confluence of historical grievances, domestic politics, the ongoing US-China trade war and a looming global recession.

Japan has officially removed South Korea from its list of trusted trade partners that receive preferential treatment for importing sensitive Japanese-made goods, as of August 28. The list of goods includes chemicals that are crucial to producing the semiconductor memory chips found in most modern electronic devices.

This means that Japanese companies will now have to apply for a licence to export the chemicals to South Korean companies, a process that could take up to 90 days. Semiconductors are South Korea’s top export item. With manufacturers reliant on the chemicals from Japan, any delay in their production could pose a significant threat to the country’s economy and the South Korean currency, the won, which has already dropped 8 per cent against the US dollar this year.

From a global perspective, South Korea semiconductor giants Samsung and SK Hynix, which supply 60 per cent&nbsp;of the world’s memory chips, have warned that they can’t rule out production disruption if the Japanese export restrictions remain in place. Any delay to supply could cause serious disruption to global tech supply chains and significantly impact other tech giants, like Apple and Huawei, who use memory chips and displays from Samsung.

A conflict with deep roots 
 
Japan has given no indication that it will change its mind. It claims the restrictions are a response to a national security concern, alluding to leaks to North Korea.

With no evidence put forward to support this, the likely scenario is that Japan’s action is part of an escalating and ongoing dispute involving historic grievances that date back to Japan’s colonisation of the Korean peninsula more than a century ago. During World War II, Japan conscripted more than 670,000 Koreans as forced labourers to support its military ambitions.

The recent decision to remove South Korea from trusted trade partner status originates with a South Korean high court ruling in October 2018. The court ordered Japanese companies to compensate individual victims of forced labour including the “comfort women” – Korean women taken as sex slaves and forced to work in war-time brothels.

Japan insists that most of the necessary compensation was settled as part of a $500m payout under a treaty signed in 1965 and then a new agreement that was reached in 2015. But the current South Korean president, Moon Jae-in, created a taskforce in 2018 which concluded that the 2015 agreement did not reflect the opinions of the victims, especially their demand that Japan admit direct responsibility. Tokyo refuses further discussion of this issue and the bilateral relationship has continued to deteriorate.

The dispute is an emotional one for both countries. Thousands of South Korean protesters have marched on the Japanese embassy in Seoul, to express their displeasure at being downgraded as a trading partner. Many South Koreans have also vowed to boycott Japanese products, and there are reports that petrol station operators have been urged to stop refuelling Japanese cars.

Global slowdown

Both Japan and South Korea are integral to the world economy and disruptions will have spillovers that will go beyond the two antagonists. The most immediate threat is to the global tech supply chain, but any slowdown increases the likelihood of a worldwide recession.

The dispute has come at a particularly bad time. Major economies are currently experiencing weak growth with negative numbers coming out of the UK and Germany and a general slowdown in the US, China and India. With the world’s two largest economies, the US and China, involved in an escalating tariff war that is chilling business investment, confidence and trade flows across the world, the Japan/Korean trade spat will only add to business uncertainty.

There is little indication as to when these disputes will be resolved, or in whose favour. Add to this the chaos surrounding Brexit and businesses are left wondering what will happen next. Not surprisingly, firms are already adopting a wait and see attitude, postponing investment and waiting for clarity amid increasing uncertainty, as bond markets &nbsp;send alarming signals of a looming recession.

Shifting power, weaponising trade

In the past, the US would have stepped in to prevent any flare up between its two South-east Asian allies from getting going out of hand. But the Trump administration has been hesitant to get involved, despite the important role both countries play in monitoring North Korea’s nuclear ambitions.

In a telling sign of shifting power in the region, China has already offered to step in and help mediate the dispute. The foreign ministers of the three countries met recently but failed to set a date for the annual meeting of their leaders.

China considers stability a priority and has been actively seeking to bolster regional economic integration as its relationship with the US sours. It will also be worried about the impact the Japan-South Korea trade spat could have on large Chinese technology companies like ZTE and Huawei, which rely on US suppliers like Qualcomm for chips and semiconductors. But if the US trade sanctions cut off this source of supply, they will be looking to South Korea for the vital components.

Another concern globally is Japan’s use of national security to justify its trade policy. This weaponising of trade follows Donald Trump’s citing of security concerns when putting tariffs on steel and aluminium imports. China sees the trade war as an attempt to disrupt its core development strategy, the Made in China 2025 plan, prevent it’s reemergence as a world power and views the trade dispute through the lens of security and sovereignty.

World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules which govern trade between countries are, to a large extent, based on norms. They include a national security exemption clause which relies on members applying it in good faith. Once member states start taking advantage of the provision, there is likely to be a cascading effect, tempting more countries to weaponise this exemption in a tit-for-tat trade war.

(Pushan Dutt is Professor of Economics, INSEAD) 
 
(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-a-century-old-dispute-between-japan-and-south-korea-threatens-the-global-supply-of-smartphones-122502">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

By Pushan Dutt Japan and South Korea are showing no signs of resolving an escalating trade dispute, which traces back to 1910. It now poses a threat to the world’s tech supply chain and has potentially severe consequences for the global economy.

By Pushan Dutt Japan and South Korea are showing no signs of resolving an escalating trade dispute, which traces back to 1910. It now poses a threat to the world’s tech supply chain and has potentially severe consequences for the global economy. And the dispute is being played out within a complex confluence of historical grievances, domestic politics, the ongoing US-China trade war and a looming global recession. Japan has officially removed South Korea from its list of trusted trade partners that receive preferential treatment for importing sensitive Japanese-made goods, as of August 28. The list of goods includes chemicals that are crucial to producing the semiconductor memory chips found in most modern electronic devices. This means that Japanese companies will now have to apply for a licence to export the chemicals to South Korean companies, a process that could take up to 90 days. Semiconductors are South Korea’s top export item. With manufacturers reliant on the chemicals from Japan, any delay in their production could pose a significant threat to the country’s economy and the South Korean currency, the won, which has already dropped 8 per cent against the US dollar this year. From a global perspective, South Korea semiconductor giants Samsung and SK Hynix, which supply 60 per cent of the world’s memory chips, have warned that they can’t rule out production disruption if the Japanese export restrictions remain in place. Any delay to supply could cause serious disruption to global tech supply chains and significantly impact other tech giants, like Apple and Huawei, who use memory chips and displays from Samsung. A conflict with deep roots Japan has given no indication that it will change its mind. It claims the restrictions are a response to a national security concern, alluding to leaks to North Korea. With no evidence put forward to support this, the likely scenario is that Japan’s action is part of an escalating and ongoing dispute involving historic grievances that date back to Japan’s colonisation of the Korean peninsula more than a century ago. During World War II, Japan conscripted more than 670,000 Koreans as forced labourers to support its military ambitions. The recent decision to remove South Korea from trusted trade partner status originates with a South Korean high court ruling in October 2018. The court ordered Japanese companies to compensate individual victims of forced labour including the “comfort women” – Korean women taken as sex slaves and forced to work in war-time brothels. Japan insists that most of the necessary compensation was settled as part of a $500m payout under a treaty signed in 1965 and then a new agreement that was reached in 2015. But the current South Korean president, Moon Jae-in, created a taskforce in 2018 which concluded that the 2015 agreement did not reflect the opinions of the victims, especially their demand that Japan admit direct responsibility. Tokyo refuses further discussion of this issue and the bilateral relationship has continued to deteriorate. The dispute is an emotional one for both countries. Thousands of South Korean protesters have marched on the Japanese embassy in Seoul, to express their displeasure at being downgraded as a trading partner. Many South Koreans have also vowed to boycott Japanese products, and there are reports that petrol station operators have been urged to stop refuelling Japanese cars. Global slowdown Both Japan and South Korea are integral to the world economy and disruptions will have spillovers that will go beyond the two antagonists. The most immediate threat is to the global tech supply chain, but any slowdown increases the likelihood of a worldwide recession. The dispute has come at a particularly bad time. Major economies are currently experiencing weak growth with negative numbers coming out of the UK and Germany and a general slowdown in the US, China and India. With the world’s two largest economies, the US and China, involved in an escalating tariff war that is chilling business investment, confidence and trade flows across the world, the Japan/Korean trade spat will only add to business uncertainty. There is little indication as to when these disputes will be resolved, or in whose favour. Add to this the chaos surrounding Brexit and businesses are left wondering what will happen next. Not surprisingly, firms are already adopting a wait and see attitude, postponing investment and waiting for clarity amid increasing uncertainty, as bond markets send alarming signals of a looming recession. Shifting power, weaponising trade In the past, the US would have stepped in to prevent any flare up between its two South-east Asian allies from getting going out of hand. But the Trump administration has been hesitant to get involved, despite the important role both countries play in monitoring North Korea’s nuclear ambitions. In a telling sign of shifting power in the region, China has already offered to step in and help mediate the dispute. The foreign ministers of the three countries met recently but failed to set a date for the annual meeting of their leaders. China considers stability a priority and has been actively seeking to bolster regional economic integration as its relationship with the US sours. It will also be worried about the impact the Japan-South Korea trade spat could have on large Chinese technology companies like ZTE and Huawei, which rely on US suppliers like Qualcomm for chips and semiconductors. But if the US trade sanctions cut off this source of supply, they will be looking to South Korea for the vital components. Another concern globally is Japan’s use of national security to justify its trade policy. This weaponising of trade follows Donald Trump’s citing of security concerns when putting tariffs on steel and aluminium imports. China sees the trade war as an attempt to disrupt its core development strategy, the Made in China 2025 plan, prevent it’s reemergence as a world power and views the trade dispute through the lens of security and sovereignty. World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules which govern trade between countries are, to a large extent, based on norms. They include a national security exemption clause which relies on members applying it in good faith. Once member states start taking advantage of the provision, there is likely to be a cascading effect, tempting more countries to weaponise this exemption in a tit-for-tat trade war. (Pushan Dutt is Professor of Economics, INSEAD) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

How a century-old dispute between Japan and South Korea adds to global trade uncertainty

The GAVI global vaccines alliance on Friday called on donors for $7.4 billion to help immunize 300 million children against life-threatening diseases between 2021 and 2025, and save up to eight million lives.

GAVI, which is backed by the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/global-measles-cases-three-times-higher-than-last-year-who-246324">World Health Organisation (WHO)</a>, donor governments and others, funds immunisation programmes for poor nations that cannot afford to buy vaccines at rich-world prices.

"Over the past two decades the Vaccine Alliance has helped to protect a generation against some of the world's deadliest diseases," GAVI CEO Seth Berkley said in a statement.

"However, 1.5 million people are still dying every year from vaccine-preventable diseases ... This calls for an urgent response to ensure people continue to be protected against disease, to prevent deadly outbreaks and to help the next generation prosper."

The announcement was made in Yokohama, where Japan is hosting a three-day international conference on African development.&nbsp;

Democratic Republic of Congo, a mineral-rich Central African country, is being hit by the outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus.

The GAVI global vaccines alliance on Friday called on donors for $7.4 billion to help immunize 300 million children against life-threatening diseases between 2021 and 2025, and save up to eight million lives.

The GAVI global vaccines alliance on Friday called on donors for $7.4 billion to help immunize 300 million children against life-threatening diseases between 2021 and 2025, and save up to eight million lives. GAVI, which is backed by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Health Organisation (WHO), donor governments and others, funds immunisation programmes for poor nations that cannot afford to buy vaccines at rich-world prices. "Over the past two decades the Vaccine Alliance has helped to protect a generation against some of the world's deadliest diseases," GAVI CEO Seth Berkley said in a statement. "However, 1.5 million people are still dying every year from vaccine-preventable diseases ... This calls for an urgent response to ensure people continue to be protected against disease, to prevent deadly outbreaks and to help the next generation prosper." The announcement was made in Yokohama, where Japan is hosting a three-day international conference on African development. Democratic Republic of Congo, a mineral-rich Central African country, is being hit by the outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus.

Vaccines group seeks $7.4 billion to save up to 8 million lives

Two people were confirmed dead on Wednesday as heavy rains pounded southwest Japan, prompting flood and landslide warnings, and orders for 670,000 people to seek safety.

The evacuation orders came after the Japan Meteorological Agency issued its highest-level alert for several parts of the northern Kyushu region.

The alert is issued "if there is a significant likelihood of catastrophes" and is activated once a disaster is declared, ordering people to take measures to protect their lives.

Nearly a million more people are under a lower-level evacuation advisory over the heavy rains.

Evacuation orders and advisories are issued by local authorities but are not mandatory even though officials urge residents to heed them.

The fire and disaster management agency said it had already received multiple reports of houses flooded in Saga prefecture and officials were working to confirm details of the damage.

"We are seeing unprecedented levels of heavy rains in cities where we issued special warnings," the Japan Meteorological Agency added in a hastily organised press conference Wednesday morning.

"It is a situation where you should do your best to protect your lives," weather agency official Yasushi Kajiwara said.

He also urged those currently facing evacuation advisories to act before the warning was upgraded further.

"Please don't wait," he said.

The JMA's emergency warnings affect areas in Saga, Fukuoka and Nagasaki in northern Kyushu, where the rains have already killed one person.

A Saga official confirmed to AFP a man was found dead in his car on Wednesday after being swept away by floodwaters.

The severe weather has also disrupted transport, with train services partially suspended in parts of northern Kyushu and some roads closed.

Footage on local television showed rivers swollen by rainwater and parked cars surrounded by muddy brown water rising nearly up to the vehicles' roofs.

In some parts of the affected area, small landslides have already been reported.

Inside Saga station, stranded passengers were sat on benches with water around their ankles.

Japanese authorities regularly urge people to take evacuation orders seriously, particularly after disastrous heavy rains last summer in Japan's west killed more than 200 people.

Many of the deaths were blamed on the fact that evacuation orders were issued too late and some people failed to follow them. Entire neighbourhoods were buried beneath landslides or submerged in floodwaters during the disasters.

Two people were confirmed dead on Wednesday as heavy rains pounded southwest Japan, prompting flood and landslide warnings, and orders for 670,000 people to seek safety.

Two people were confirmed dead on Wednesday as heavy rains pounded southwest Japan, prompting flood and landslide warnings, and orders for 670,000 people to seek safety. The evacuation orders came after the Japan Meteorological Agency issued its highest-level alert for several parts of the northern Kyushu region. The alert is issued "if there is a significant likelihood of catastrophes" and is activated once a disaster is declared, ordering people to take measures to protect their lives. Nearly a million more people are under a lower-level evacuation advisory over the heavy rains. Evacuation orders and advisories are issued by local authorities but are not mandatory even though officials urge residents to heed them. The fire and disaster management agency said it had already received multiple reports of houses flooded in Saga prefecture and officials were working to confirm details of the damage. "We are seeing unprecedented levels of heavy rains in cities where we issued special warnings," the Japan Meteorological Agency added in a hastily organised press conference Wednesday morning. "It is a situation where you should do your best to protect your lives," weather agency official Yasushi Kajiwara said. He also urged those currently facing evacuation advisories to act before the warning was upgraded further. "Please don't wait," he said. The JMA's emergency warnings affect areas in Saga, Fukuoka and Nagasaki in northern Kyushu, where the rains have already killed one person. A Saga official confirmed to AFP a man was found dead in his car on Wednesday after being swept away by floodwaters. The severe weather has also disrupted transport, with train services partially suspended in parts of northern Kyushu and some roads closed. Footage on local television showed rivers swollen by rainwater and parked cars surrounded by muddy brown water rising nearly up to the vehicles' roofs. In some parts of the affected area, small landslides have already been reported. Inside Saga station, stranded passengers were sat on benches with water around their ankles. Japanese authorities regularly urge people to take evacuation orders seriously, particularly after disastrous heavy rains last summer in Japan's west killed more than 200 people. Many of the deaths were blamed on the fact that evacuation orders were issued too late and some people failed to follow them. Entire neighbourhoods were buried beneath landslides or submerged in floodwaters during the disasters.

Life-threatening rains in south Japan kill two, emergency warning issued

Pyongyang appears to be developing warheads to penetrate a ballistic missile shield defending Japan, the country's defence chief said on Tuesday, pointing to the irregular trajectories of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-launches-short-range-missiles-again-complicating-us-attempts-for-talks-245221">latest missiles launched by North Korea</a>.

Defence Minister Takeshi Iwaya told a news conference that Japan believes the rockets were a new short-range ballistic missile, according to a ministry spokesman who confirmed his comments carried by domestic media.

Recent short-range missile tests by Pyongyang have stoked alarm in neighbouring Japan even as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-us-has-really-good-relationship-with-north-korea-245245">US&nbsp;President Donald Trump</a> has dismissed the launches as unimportant.

Saturday's test firings came a day after Seoul said it was ending a military intelligence-sharing pact with Tokyo, amid a worsening spat over wartime forced labour.

Iwaya and other Japanese officials called Seoul's decision "irrational" as the threat posed by North Korea grows.

Japan and the United States have Aegis destroyers deployed in the Sea of Japan armed with interceptor missiles designed to destroy warheads in space. Japan also plans to build two land-based Aegis batteries to bolster its ballistic missile shield.

Those defence systems, however, are designed to counter projectiles on regular and therefore, predictable, trajectories, and any variation in flight path would make interception trickier.

Detailed analysis of the latest North Korean launches was underway with the United States, an official of South Korea's defence ministry said on Tuesday.

Pyongyang appears to be developing warheads to penetrate a ballistic missile shield defending Japan, the country's defence chief said on Tuesday, pointing to the irregular trajectories of the latest missiles launched by North Korea.

Pyongyang appears to be developing warheads to penetrate a ballistic missile shield defending Japan, the country's defence chief said on Tuesday, pointing to the irregular trajectories of the latest missiles launched by North Korea. Defence Minister Takeshi Iwaya told a news conference that Japan believes the rockets were a new short-range ballistic missile, according to a ministry spokesman who confirmed his comments carried by domestic media. Recent short-range missile tests by Pyongyang have stoked alarm in neighbouring Japan even as US President Donald Trump has dismissed the launches as unimportant. Saturday's test firings came a day after Seoul said it was ending a military intelligence-sharing pact with Tokyo, amid a worsening spat over wartime forced labour. Iwaya and other Japanese officials called Seoul's decision "irrational" as the threat posed by North Korea grows. Japan and the United States have Aegis destroyers deployed in the Sea of Japan armed with interceptor missiles designed to destroy warheads in space. Japan also plans to build two land-based Aegis batteries to bolster its ballistic missile shield. Those defence systems, however, are designed to counter projectiles on regular and therefore, predictable, trajectories, and any variation in flight path would make interception trickier. Detailed analysis of the latest North Korean launches was underway with the United States, an official of South Korea's defence ministry said on Tuesday.

North Korea developing warheads to penetrate missile defences: Japan

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-koreas-moon-open-to-dialogue-with-japan-amid-trade-row-243077">South Korean President Moon Jae-in</a> has put more than 50 million won (around $41,000) of his own money into a fund investing in firms looking to replace Japanese suppliers, his office said Monday, as the Asian neighbours remain locked in a bitter trade dispute.

It was the first-ever stock market investment by Moon, a former human rights lawyer whose economic policies critics blame for slowing growth in the once-booming South.

Seoul and Tokyo are embroiled in a tit-for-tat row that has seen them remove each other from their lists of trusted trade partners, raising concerns in Washington, which has security treaties with both.

Tokyo imposed restrictions on exports crucial to tech giants such as Samsung following a series of South Korean court rulings ordering Japanese firms to pay for forced labour during World War II.

Japan dominates the global market for some vital materials, but Moon has announced measures he hopes will help develop domestic supply chains.

The Victory Korea Fund was launched by Nonghyup Bank earlier this month to invest in listed South Korean firms that manufacture materials, components and equipment.

"It has become a very important time to raise the competitiveness of our materials, components and equipment industry," he said, according to his office.

Japan's new export restrictions last month caught South Korean firms off guard and sent tech giants such as Samsung and SK Hynix scrambling.

Both Japan and South Korea are market economies and major US allies faced with an overbearing China and nuclear-armed North Korea.

But their relationship continues to be heavily affected by Japan's 35-year colonial rule of the Korean peninsula in the early 20th century.

Japan says a 1965 treaty that normalised relations with a significant financial contribution effectively settled all reparation claims. 
&nbsp;

South Korean President Moon Jae-in has put more than 50 million won (around $41,000) of his own money into a fund investing in firms looking to replace Japanese suppliers, his office said Monday, as the Asian neighbours remain locked in a bitter trade dispute.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in has put more than 50 million won (around $41,000) of his own money into a fund investing in firms looking to replace Japanese suppliers, his office said Monday, as the Asian neighbours remain locked in a bitter trade dispute. It was the first-ever stock market investment by Moon, a former human rights lawyer whose economic policies critics blame for slowing growth in the once-booming South. Seoul and Tokyo are embroiled in a tit-for-tat row that has seen them remove each other from their lists of trusted trade partners, raising concerns in Washington, which has security treaties with both. Tokyo imposed restrictions on exports crucial to tech giants such as Samsung following a series of South Korean court rulings ordering Japanese firms to pay for forced labour during World War II. Japan dominates the global market for some vital materials, but Moon has announced measures he hopes will help develop domestic supply chains. The Victory Korea Fund was launched by Nonghyup Bank earlier this month to invest in listed South Korean firms that manufacture materials, components and equipment. "It has become a very important time to raise the competitiveness of our materials, components and equipment industry," he said, according to his office. Japan's new export restrictions last month caught South Korean firms off guard and sent tech giants such as Samsung and SK Hynix scrambling. Both Japan and South Korea are market economies and major US allies faced with an overbearing China and nuclear-armed North Korea. But their relationship continues to be heavily affected by Japan's 35-year colonial rule of the Korean peninsula in the early 20th century. Japan says a 1965 treaty that normalised relations with a significant financial contribution effectively settled all reparation claims.

South Korean president invests in local firms fund amid Japan row

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