Asian stocks slipped on Tuesday ahead of the US Federal Reserve&#39;s two-day meeting that begins later in the day&nbsp;amid growing worries that this month&#39;s referendum in Britain could see it exit the European Union. 
 
The Pound and Euro have suffered in recent sessions as economists fear a so-called Brexit would tip Europe back into recession. Voters appear divided ahead of the June 23-referendum, with the &quot;Out&quot; campaign widening its lead over the &quot;In&quot; camp, according to two opinion polls published by ICM on Monday. 
 
MSCI&#39;s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was down 0.6 per cent&nbsp;after Wall Street lost ground for the third straight session. 
 
Japan&#39;s Nikkei stock index skidded 1.5 per cent after tumbling 3.5 per cent on Monday. 
 
&quot;Short-term hedge funds have started betting on Brexit&nbsp;and futures players will likely dominate the market&#39;s move today,&quot; said Norihiro Fujito, senior investment strategist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities. 
 
The benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond yield fell to as low as minus 0.175 per cent, a fresh record, before edging back to minus 0.170 per cent. 
 
Uncertainty over this week&#39;s Federal Reserve policy meeting has weighed on markets, even while the US central bank is widely expected to leave rates unchanged after the much weaker-than-expected May non-farm payrolls report. 
 
&quot;The committee was actively preparing markets for a June-July rate hike until the release of the May employment report and is unlikely to give up its tightening bias absent additional information that labour markets are weakening,&quot; analysts at Barclays wrote. 
 
&quot;Nevertheless, the abrupt slowing in employment and falling long-run inflation expectations should raise alarm bells, and risk management concerns suggest delaying action until after the outcome of the UK referendum,&quot; they said. 
 
The Bank of England, Swiss National Bank and the Bank of Japan will also meet this week, and are similarly expected to stand pat on policy with the Brexit vote looming. 
 
The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of six rival currencies, edged up slightly to 94.395, moving back toward the overnight high of 94.750. That was its highest since the downbeat US jobs report toppled the dollar on June 3. 
 
The perceived safe-haven Yen has benefited from investors&#39; risk aversion. The dollar was down 0.2 per cent at 105.99 Yen, moving back toward Monday&#39;s low of 105.735, its weakest level since early May. 
 
Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso issued a fresh warning against renewed strength in the Yen, saying that he would &quot;firmly respond&quot; if rapid and speculative moves persisted in the foreign exchange market. 
 
The Euro was slightly lower at $1.1290. Against the Yen, it skidded 0.3 per cent to 119.69, moving back toward a more than three-year low plumbed in the previous session. 
 
Sterling also notched a three-year low against the Yen on Monday, and was last down 0.8 per cent at 150.35 Yen. Against the Dollar, the Pound dropped 0.6 per cent to $1.4180. 
 
Crude oil prices continued to slip, pressured by the strong US dollar and worrying economic prospects in Europe and Asia, though losses were contained by ongoing supply outages in Nigeria. 
 
Brent was down 1 per cent at $49.84 per barrel, while US crude shed 1.1 per cent to $48.34.

The Pound and Euro have both suffered over fears that UK leaving the EU will cause another European recession

Asian stocks slipped on Tuesday ahead of the US Federal Reserve's two-day meeting that begins later in the day amid growing worries that this month's referendum in Britain could see it exit the European Union. The Pound and Euro have suffered in recent sessions as economists fear a so-called Brexit would tip Europe back into recession. Voters appear divided ahead of the June 23-referendum, with the "Out" campaign widening its lead over the "In" camp, according to two opinion polls published by ICM on Monday. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was down 0.6 per cent after Wall Street lost ground for the third straight session. Japan's Nikkei stock index skidded 1.5 per cent after tumbling 3.5 per cent on Monday. "Short-term hedge funds have started betting on Brexit and futures players will likely dominate the market's move today," said Norihiro Fujito, senior investment strategist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities. The benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond yield fell to as low as minus 0.175 per cent, a fresh record, before edging back to minus 0.170 per cent. Uncertainty over this week's Federal Reserve policy meeting has weighed on markets, even while the US central bank is widely expected to leave rates unchanged after the much weaker-than-expected May non-farm payrolls report. "The committee was actively preparing markets for a June-July rate hike until the release of the May employment report and is unlikely to give up its tightening bias absent additional information that labour markets are weakening," analysts at Barclays wrote. "Nevertheless, the abrupt slowing in employment and falling long-run inflation expectations should raise alarm bells, and risk management concerns suggest delaying action until after the outcome of the UK referendum," they said. The Bank of England, Swiss National Bank and the Bank of Japan will also meet this week, and are similarly expected to stand pat on policy with the Brexit vote looming. The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of six rival currencies, edged up slightly to 94.395, moving back toward the overnight high of 94.750. That was its highest since the downbeat US jobs report toppled the dollar on June 3. The perceived safe-haven Yen has benefited from investors' risk aversion. The dollar was down 0.2 per cent at 105.99 Yen, moving back toward Monday's low of 105.735, its weakest level since early May. Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso issued a fresh warning against renewed strength in the Yen, saying that he would "firmly respond" if rapid and speculative moves persisted in the foreign exchange market. The Euro was slightly lower at $1.1290. Against the Yen, it skidded 0.3 per cent to 119.69, moving back toward a more than three-year low plumbed in the previous session. Sterling also notched a three-year low against the Yen on Monday, and was last down 0.8 per cent at 150.35 Yen. Against the Dollar, the Pound dropped 0.6 per cent to $1.4180. Crude oil prices continued to slip, pressured by the strong US dollar and worrying economic prospects in Europe and Asia, though losses were contained by ongoing supply outages in Nigeria. Brent was down 1 per cent at $49.84 per barrel, while US crude shed 1.1 per cent to $48.34.

Asian shares slip as Brexit vote looms

Japan&#39;s first &quot;naked restaurant&quot; opens in Tokyo next month with draconian rules of entry -- podgy prospective diners will be weighed and ejected if found to be too fat. 
 
&quot;If you are more than 15 kilos (33 pounds) above the average weight for your height, we ask you refrain from making a reservation,&quot; a list of rules posted on the restaurant&#39;s website states, explaining that patrons could be weighed if they do not appear to be within the correct weight range. 
 
Guests found to be &quot;overweight&quot; will be refused entry to the restaurant, which opens on July 29, and will not be entitled to a refund, its website points out. All payments must be made in advance on an online booking page. 
 
Following the lead of establishments in London and Melbourne, &quot;The Amrita&quot; -- Sanskrit for &#39;immortality&#39; -- also has strict age restrictions, with only patrons between 18 and 60 allowed in, after they check in their clothes and put on paper underwear provided by the restaurant. 
 
The list of rules asks visitors not to &quot;cause a nuisance to other guests&quot; by touching or talking to fellow diners. Tattooed customers are barred from entry. 
 
Those who meet the restaurant&#39;s entry requirements will be asked to lock away mobile phones and cameras in a table-top box. 
 
The restaurant owners were not immediately available for comment when contacted by AFP. 
 
Guests will fork out up to $750 for tickets entitling them to eat food served by muscle-bound men wearing g-strings and watch a dance show featuring male models. 
 
Meal tickets, not including a show, will cost from $131 to $262 depending on choice of menu.

Patrons cannot be more than 15 kgs above the average weight for their height -- and there will be no refunds

Japan's first "naked restaurant" opens in Tokyo next month with draconian rules of entry -- podgy prospective diners will be weighed and ejected if found to be too fat. "If you are more than 15 kilos (33 pounds) above the average weight for your height, we ask you refrain from making a reservation," a list of rules posted on the restaurant's website states, explaining that patrons could be weighed if they do not appear to be within the correct weight range. Guests found to be "overweight" will be refused entry to the restaurant, which opens on July 29, and will not be entitled to a refund, its website points out. All payments must be made in advance on an online booking page. Following the lead of establishments in London and Melbourne, "The Amrita" -- Sanskrit for 'immortality' -- also has strict age restrictions, with only patrons between 18 and 60 allowed in, after they check in their clothes and put on paper underwear provided by the restaurant. The list of rules asks visitors not to "cause a nuisance to other guests" by touching or talking to fellow diners. Tattooed customers are barred from entry. Those who meet the restaurant's entry requirements will be asked to lock away mobile phones and cameras in a table-top box. The restaurant owners were not immediately available for comment when contacted by AFP. Guests will fork out up to $750 for tickets entitling them to eat food served by muscle-bound men wearing g-strings and watch a dance show featuring male models. Meal tickets, not including a show, will cost from $131 to $262 depending on choice of menu.

Fatties not allowed: Overweight diners will not be allowed into Japan's first 'naked' restaurant

A Japanese boy abandoned in a dense forest by his parents to discipline him was found alive and unharmed today, nearly a week after his disappearance set off a massive search that kept Japan riveted. 
 
Seven-year-old Yamato Tanooka was discovered in a building on a Japanese military base around 4 km (2.5 miles) from where he disappeared last Saturday after his parents left him by the side of a road, reportedly to discipline him for throwing stones at cars. 
 
&quot;One of our soldiers was preparing for drills this morning and opened the door of a building on the base, and there he was,&quot; a member of Japan&#39;s Self-Defence Forces told Nippon Hoso Kyokai(NHK). 
&quot;When he asked &#39;are you Yamato?&#39; the boy said yes. Then he said he was hungry, so the soldier gave him some water, bread and riceballs.&quot; 
 
Yamato was taken to &nbsp;hospital for check up and was healthy except for low body temperature and would be kept overnight as a precaution, a doctor told a news conference. 
 
A tearful Takayuki Tanooka, the boy&#39;s father, thanked rescuers for their efforts and apologised for causing trouble. 
 
&quot;We&#39;ve reflected on what we did and it was really excessive,&quot; Tanooka said. 
&quot;We - well, we loved him before, but I hope to give him even more attention now,&quot; he said. 
 
Yamato&#39;s parents first said he disappeared while they foraged for edible plants, but later told police they had left him by the road to discipline him after he threw stones at people and cars. 
 
They said when they drove back a few minutes later the boy had disappeared. The area is so remote that residents of the region say they rarely go through it. 
 
The boy somehow managed to survive for nearly a week in the densely forested area, where night temperatures fell as low as 7 degrees Celsius (45 Fahrenheit) and heavy rain had fallen, despite wearing only a t-shirt and jeans. 
 
Yamato said he had &quot;walked through the mountains&quot; until he found the building, which was unlocked. He drank water from a nearby faucet and slept on mattresses spread on the floor. 
 
The search for Yamato gripped Japan. At its peak, it involved several hundred shouting rescuers beating through heavy bush, as well as soldiers on motorbikes and police on horseback. 
 
News programmes gave regular updates throughout the week, and NHK sent a news flash when he was found. 
 
The incident set off a flood of social media comments, with most of those criticising the parents for their carelessness. Today, most expressed relief. 
 
&quot;To be honest, I was certain of a sad result. As the parent of a 7-year-old myself, all I can say is that I am really, really happy,&quot; one comment said.

The 7-year-old boy was found in a Japanese military base a few miles from the forest where his parents had left him, a week ago.

A Japanese boy abandoned in a dense forest by his parents to discipline him was found alive and unharmed today, nearly a week after his disappearance set off a massive search that kept Japan riveted. Seven-year-old Yamato Tanooka was discovered in a building on a Japanese military base around 4 km (2.5 miles) from where he disappeared last Saturday after his parents left him by the side of a road, reportedly to discipline him for throwing stones at cars. "One of our soldiers was preparing for drills this morning and opened the door of a building on the base, and there he was," a member of Japan's Self-Defence Forces told Nippon Hoso Kyokai(NHK). "When he asked 'are you Yamato?' the boy said yes. Then he said he was hungry, so the soldier gave him some water, bread and riceballs." Yamato was taken to hospital for check up and was healthy except for low body temperature and would be kept overnight as a precaution, a doctor told a news conference. A tearful Takayuki Tanooka, the boy's father, thanked rescuers for their efforts and apologised for causing trouble. "We've reflected on what we did and it was really excessive," Tanooka said. "We - well, we loved him before, but I hope to give him even more attention now," he said. Yamato's parents first said he disappeared while they foraged for edible plants, but later told police they had left him by the road to discipline him after he threw stones at people and cars. They said when they drove back a few minutes later the boy had disappeared. The area is so remote that residents of the region say they rarely go through it. The boy somehow managed to survive for nearly a week in the densely forested area, where night temperatures fell as low as 7 degrees Celsius (45 Fahrenheit) and heavy rain had fallen, despite wearing only a t-shirt and jeans. Yamato said he had "walked through the mountains" until he found the building, which was unlocked. He drank water from a nearby faucet and slept on mattresses spread on the floor. The search for Yamato gripped Japan. At its peak, it involved several hundred shouting rescuers beating through heavy bush, as well as soldiers on motorbikes and police on horseback. News programmes gave regular updates throughout the week, and NHK sent a news flash when he was found. The incident set off a flood of social media comments, with most of those criticising the parents for their carelessness. Today, most expressed relief. "To be honest, I was certain of a sad result. As the parent of a 7-year-old myself, all I can say is that I am really, really happy," one comment said.

Missing Japanese boy found alive, unharmed

Toyota Motor Corp&nbsp;said on Tuesday that&nbsp;it was recalling a total of about 490,000 vehicles in Japan, China, Europe and other regions over potentially faulty air bag inflators produced by Takata Corp, further widening a massive global recall.

The Japanese automaker said it was recalling around 45,000 vehicles from its Lexus line in Japan for passenger-side airbags produced between 2005 and 2011.

It added that it was recalling around 140,000 Lexus vehicles in China, along with 80,000 Lexus and Toyota vehicles in Europe and 120,000 vehicles from both brands in South America and other regions. Around 100,000 Toyota vehicles would be recalled in Mexico, the company said.

Automakers are ramping up global recalls of Takata airbag inflators after the auto parts maker, under pressure from the US&nbsp;government, agreed last month to declare more of its airbags as defective in the United States.

Toyota Motor Corp recalled about 490,000 vehicles in Japan, China, Europe and other regions over potentially faulty airbag inflators produced by Takata Corp

Toyota Motor Corp said on Tuesday that it was recalling a total of about 490,000 vehicles in Japan, China, Europe and other regions over potentially faulty air bag inflators produced by Takata Corp, further widening a massive global recall. The Japanese automaker said it was recalling around 45,000 vehicles from its Lexus line in Japan for passenger-side airbags produced between 2005 and 2011. It added that it was recalling around 140,000 Lexus vehicles in China, along with 80,000 Lexus and Toyota vehicles in Europe and 120,000 vehicles from both brands in South America and other regions. Around 100,000 Toyota vehicles would be recalled in Mexico, the company said. Automakers are ramping up global recalls of Takata airbag inflators after the auto parts maker, under pressure from the US government, agreed last month to declare more of its airbags as defective in the United States.

Toyota recalls 490,000 vehicles in Japan, other regions over airbag concerns

United States President Barack Obama became the first American leader to visit Hiroshima, one of the two cities &mdash; the other was Nagasaki &mdash; to have been destroyed by an atom bomb in August, 1945. It was an event that had shaken people all over the world, and made many of them into militant peaceniks. Their mission in life became to bury the nuclear weapons of all the countries. Pugwash and Conference of Nuclear Disarmament (CND) became the ardent champions of nuclear disarmament. In the real world, nuclear weapons did not disappear. The two super-powers and ideological rivals &mdash; the United States and the Soviet Union &mdash; piled up nuclear stocks.
Though there was the constant apprehension of a nuclear war, the Cold War passed.

It was only Japan that had remained a pacifist country because of the atom bomb trauma, more at the level at the people even as many countries tested nuclear weapons, including United Kingdom and France, followed by China and then by India and Pakistan. The irony could not be hidden that while Japan opposed nuclear weapons anywhere in the world, it had accepted the nuclear umbrella provided by the US.

Apart from the strategic and political aspects, there were the unresolvable moral dilemmas. The Chinese media had acerbically reminded that Japan is trying to be the victim in the case of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Chinese harbour bitter memories of Japanese aggression and cruelty through the Second World War. The question of Japan being aggressor/victim comes in the wake of the demand and expectation that President Obama would apologise to the people of Japan, especially to the dead and survivors of the two ill-fated cities for the overwhelming devastation caused by the dropping of the atomic bombs. But Obama did not apologise and instead spoke of the two cities being a reminder of the need to abolish nuclear weapons, which was an evasive homily if there was one.

Of course, Obama must have consulted experts in the matter and he must have taken the historical, political and moral implications of an apology if ever he thought of offering one. The decision to use the bomb was a momentous one taken by then President Harry S Truman. But it was a well-considered move, which is believed to have hastened the Japanese surrender. Military historians and others have questioned the logic of it and cited counter-evidence that it was a gratuitous use of force, and therefore it was immoral. Obama and his advisers must have pondered over the issue and they did not feel convinced that pleading guilty would undo the whole principle behind fighting the war.

Japan had been forced to admit the war guilt, but the people from South Korea and China through south-east Asia have neither forgiven or forgotten Japan&rsquo;s war crimes against the people of this region. It remains an indelible scar in their collective memory. But there&rsquo;s no taking away the fact that the destruction that was visited on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was no ordinary event. It was apocalyptic. It should make anyone anywhere shudder at the destructive potential of mankind. It poses a moral dilemma to every people and every leader and not just to the Americans and the Japanese. That is why, Hiroshima and Nagasaki should trouble every thinking person across the world. It goes much beyond Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, or even the Chinese. It cannot be confined to a local grouse among the apparent stakeholders in the region.

The US remains the only power to have ever used a nuclear weapon and Japan the only country to have suffered the frightening devastation

United States President Barack Obama became the first American leader to visit Hiroshima, one of the two cities — the other was Nagasaki — to have been destroyed by an atom bomb in August, 1945. It was an event that had shaken people all over the world, and made many of them into militant peaceniks. Their mission in life became to bury the nuclear weapons of all the countries. Pugwash and Conference of Nuclear Disarmament (CND) became the ardent champions of nuclear disarmament. In the real world, nuclear weapons did not disappear. The two super-powers and ideological rivals — the United States and the Soviet Union — piled up nuclear stocks. Though there was the constant apprehension of a nuclear war, the Cold War passed. It was only Japan that had remained a pacifist country because of the atom bomb trauma, more at the level at the people even as many countries tested nuclear weapons, including United Kingdom and France, followed by China and then by India and Pakistan. The irony could not be hidden that while Japan opposed nuclear weapons anywhere in the world, it had accepted the nuclear umbrella provided by the US. Apart from the strategic and political aspects, there were the unresolvable moral dilemmas. The Chinese media had acerbically reminded that Japan is trying to be the victim in the case of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Chinese harbour bitter memories of Japanese aggression and cruelty through the Second World War. The question of Japan being aggressor/victim comes in the wake of the demand and expectation that President Obama would apologise to the people of Japan, especially to the dead and survivors of the two ill-fated cities for the overwhelming devastation caused by the dropping of the atomic bombs. But Obama did not apologise and instead spoke of the two cities being a reminder of the need to abolish nuclear weapons, which was an evasive homily if there was one. Of course, Obama must have consulted experts in the matter and he must have taken the historical, political and moral implications of an apology if ever he thought of offering one. The decision to use the bomb was a momentous one taken by then President Harry S Truman. But it was a well-considered move, which is believed to have hastened the Japanese surrender. Military historians and others have questioned the logic of it and cited counter-evidence that it was a gratuitous use of force, and therefore it was immoral. Obama and his advisers must have pondered over the issue and they did not feel convinced that pleading guilty would undo the whole principle behind fighting the war. Japan had been forced to admit the war guilt, but the people from South Korea and China through south-east Asia have neither forgiven or forgotten Japan’s war crimes against the people of this region. It remains an indelible scar in their collective memory. But there’s no taking away the fact that the destruction that was visited on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was no ordinary event. It was apocalyptic. It should make anyone anywhere shudder at the destructive potential of mankind. It poses a moral dilemma to every people and every leader and not just to the Americans and the Japanese. That is why, Hiroshima and Nagasaki should trouble every thinking person across the world. It goes much beyond Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, or even the Chinese. It cannot be confined to a local grouse among the apparent stakeholders in the region.

Obama in Hiroshima

Japan&#39;s&nbsp;military&nbsp;on Wednesday joined the&nbsp;search&nbsp;for a seven-year-old&nbsp;boyabandoned&nbsp;in a dense northern forest by his parents as&nbsp;punishment&nbsp;for being naughty.

Seventy five members of the Self-Defence Forces joined 200 police and civilians beating their way through thick brush in the mountainous forest on Hokkaido island.

A local hunter was also added to the&nbsp;search&nbsp;for Yamato Tanooka after fresh bear tracks were found in the area where he vanished on Saturday, Jiji news agency said.

The&nbsp;boy&#39;s parents first said he disappeared while they foraged for edible plants, but later told police they had left him by the road to discipline him after he threw stones at people and cars.

They said when they drove back a few minutes later the&nbsp;boy&nbsp;had disappeared. The area is so remote that residents of the region say they rarely go through it.

Despite the larger&nbsp;search&nbsp;party no leads turned up on Wednesday, with many worrying the&nbsp;boymight not have survived heavy rains which fell on Tuesday night. He was last seen wearing a t-shirt and jeans in an area where the overnight temperatures can fall as low as 7 Celsius (45 Fahrenheit).

The&nbsp;search&nbsp;has gripped Japan, with news programmes offering hourly updates, and thousands have taken to the internet to both pray for the&nbsp;boy&#39;s survival and excoriate his parents for what is seen as neglect.

&quot;If I was a small child in this situation I would either run after the car or wait there until they came back. I just hope he is safely found,&quot; one person wrote.

Japan's?military?on Wednesday joined the?search?for a seven-year-old?boy abandoned?in a dense northern forest by his parents as?punishment?for being naughty

Japan's military on Wednesday joined the search for a seven-year-old boyabandoned in a dense northern forest by his parents as punishment for being naughty. Seventy five members of the Self-Defence Forces joined 200 police and civilians beating their way through thick brush in the mountainous forest on Hokkaido island. A local hunter was also added to the search for Yamato Tanooka after fresh bear tracks were found in the area where he vanished on Saturday, Jiji news agency said. The boy's parents first said he disappeared while they foraged for edible plants, but later told police they had left him by the road to discipline him after he threw stones at people and cars. They said when they drove back a few minutes later the boy had disappeared. The area is so remote that residents of the region say they rarely go through it. Despite the larger search party no leads turned up on Wednesday, with many worrying the boymight not have survived heavy rains which fell on Tuesday night. He was last seen wearing a t-shirt and jeans in an area where the overnight temperatures can fall as low as 7 Celsius (45 Fahrenheit). The search has gripped Japan, with news programmes offering hourly updates, and thousands have taken to the internet to both pray for the boy's survival and excoriate his parents for what is seen as neglect. "If I was a small child in this situation I would either run after the car or wait there until they came back. I just hope he is safely found," one person wrote.

Military joins search for Japanese boy abandoned as punishment

Japanese scientists have developed a new tool that can predict the risk of Zika virus importation and local transmission around the world. 
Countries that are well connected to/from Brazil have been at particularly high risk of importation, researchers said. 
However, subtropical and tropical countries with a history of dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases have the greatest risk of the virus spreading once it arrives in the country, they said. 
This means many nations in South and Central America, as well as the Caribbean, face the highest risk of infection and should take measures to prevent mosquito bites, researchers said. 
France, southern parts of China, and the UAE also fall into this category having experienced previous outbreaks. 
&quot;We have shown that the predicted risk of local transmission was frequently seen in tropical and subtropical countries with dengue or chikungunya epidemic experience, while the risk of importation was more scattered around the world,&quot; said Hiroshi Nishiura, a professor of hygiene at Hokkaido University. 
The Zika virus was first found in Uganda in 1947, and then detected in 39 countries around the world, including the US, India and Japan, researchers said. 
In early 2015, a Zika virus outbreak in Brazil was soon followed by a high number of microcephaly cases, in which babies are born with abnormally small heads. 
The link between the two is not definitively understood, but is strongly suspected. Since the Brazil outbreak, Zika virus has been detected in an additional 39 countries, including in Europe, the UK, South America and Asia. 
Many researchers are working to anticipate the virus&#39;s potential spread, especially given that it can be carried by lightly infected travellers and then passed onto others by mosquitoes. 
Global concern and attention are elevated with thousands of visitors set to attend the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro this summer. 
Nishiura and colleagues predicted the virus&#39; potential of importation and local transmission by the end of this year using a survival analysis model, information about airline transportation networks, and transmission data for dengue and chikungunya viruses, which are also transmitted by the same mosquito species. 
They collected Zika data up to January 31 this year and they note that new cases were confirmed in more countries shortly thereafter.

In early 2015, a Zika virus outbreak in Brazil was followed by a high number of microcephaly cases, in which babies are born with abnormally small heads. In January 2016, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued travel guidance on affected countries, including the use of enhanced precautions, and guidelines for pregnant women.

Japanese scientists have developed a new tool that can predict the risk of Zika virus importation and local transmission around the world. Countries that are well connected to/from Brazil have been at particularly high risk of importation, researchers said. However, subtropical and tropical countries with a history of dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases have the greatest risk of the virus spreading once it arrives in the country, they said. This means many nations in South and Central America, as well as the Caribbean, face the highest risk of infection and should take measures to prevent mosquito bites, researchers said. France, southern parts of China, and the UAE also fall into this category having experienced previous outbreaks. "We have shown that the predicted risk of local transmission was frequently seen in tropical and subtropical countries with dengue or chikungunya epidemic experience, while the risk of importation was more scattered around the world," said Hiroshi Nishiura, a professor of hygiene at Hokkaido University. The Zika virus was first found in Uganda in 1947, and then detected in 39 countries around the world, including the US, India and Japan, researchers said. In early 2015, a Zika virus outbreak in Brazil was soon followed by a high number of microcephaly cases, in which babies are born with abnormally small heads. The link between the two is not definitively understood, but is strongly suspected. Since the Brazil outbreak, Zika virus has been detected in an additional 39 countries, including in Europe, the UK, South America and Asia. Many researchers are working to anticipate the virus's potential spread, especially given that it can be carried by lightly infected travellers and then passed onto others by mosquitoes. Global concern and attention are elevated with thousands of visitors set to attend the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro this summer. Nishiura and colleagues predicted the virus' potential of importation and local transmission by the end of this year using a survival analysis model, information about airline transportation networks, and transmission data for dengue and chikungunya viruses, which are also transmitted by the same mosquito species. They collected Zika data up to January 31 this year and they note that new cases were confirmed in more countries shortly thereafter.

Japanese scientists develop new tool to predict spread of Zika virus

The Japanese lower house on Tuesday defeated a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Shinzo Abe&#39;s cabinet, submitted by four opposition parties that criticised his economic and other policies ahead of the July upper house election.

Opposition parties argue Abe&#39;s decision, expected to be announced on Wednesday, to postpone a proposed sales tax hike is an admission his efforts to reboot the stale economy have not only failed but increased inequality.

Abe first delayed the sales tax rise and called a snap election in December 2014, and speculation had simmered that he would do so again in tandem with the scheduled July election for the upper chamber.

However, a senior ruling party official&nbsp;said&nbsp;he believed the Prime Minister has&nbsp;no such plan.

Shinzo Abe, the Prime Minister of Japan, had earlier postponed a tax raise after there were warnings of an economic slump.

The Japanese lower house on Tuesday defeated a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's cabinet, submitted by four opposition parties that criticised his economic and other policies ahead of the July upper house election. Opposition parties argue Abe's decision, expected to be announced on Wednesday, to postpone a proposed sales tax hike is an admission his efforts to reboot the stale economy have not only failed but increased inequality. Abe first delayed the sales tax rise and called a snap election in December 2014, and speculation had simmered that he would do so again in tandem with the scheduled July election for the upper chamber. However, a senior ruling party official said he believed the Prime Minister has no such plan.

Japan lower house defeats no-confidence motion against Abe's cabinet

Tokyo, May 28 (IANS) Japan`s transport ministry on Saturday announced it will recall another seven million vehicles fitted with defective airbags. 
 
 
This brings the total number of vehicles affected by the faulty airbag inflators manufactured by Japanese company Takata, up to 19.6 million, EFE news reported. 
 
In addition to cars affected in Japan and other countries, the global figure of cars being recalled over the Takata-made airbags could top 100 million, according to Japanese news agency Kyodo. 
 
Faulty Takata airbag inflators have been linked to least 10 deaths in the US and one in Malaysia. 
&nbsp;
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&mdash; Hindustan Times (@htTweets) <a href="https://twitter.com/htTweets/status/736460856225988609">May 28, 2016</a></blockquote>
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The defect in the airbag inflators has caused some bags to rupture during deployment and send metal and plastic flying towards passengers. 
 
The problem is caused by the use of ammonium nitrate as a propellant which degrades over time due to factors including high temperatures and humidity. 
 
The automakers most affected by the defect include Nissan, Toyota, Honda, Ford, Mazda, Honda, BMW, Mitsubishi, Volkswagen and the Chrysler Group.&nbsp; 
 
--IANS

Japan`s transport ministry on Saturday announced it will recall another seven million vehicles fitted with defective airbags. This brings the total number of vehicles affected by the faulty airbag inflators manufactured by Japanese company Takata, up to 19.6 million, EFE news reported.

Tokyo, May 28 (IANS) Japan`s transport ministry on Saturday announced it will recall another seven million vehicles fitted with defective airbags. This brings the total number of vehicles affected by the faulty airbag inflators manufactured by Japanese company Takata, up to 19.6 million, EFE news reported. In addition to cars affected in Japan and other countries, the global figure of cars being recalled over the Takata-made airbags could top 100 million, according to Japanese news agency Kyodo. Faulty Takata airbag inflators have been linked to least 10 deaths in the US and one in Malaysia. #CBSE Class 10 results: Here’s how to calculate percentage from CGPA (by @nileshmathur1) https://t.co/NdDSGqUpc2 pic.twitter.com/63IAkzEXhH — Hindustan Times (@htTweets) May 28, 2016 The defect in the airbag inflators has caused some bags to rupture during deployment and send metal and plastic flying towards passengers. The problem is caused by the use of ammonium nitrate as a propellant which degrades over time due to factors including high temperatures and humidity. The automakers most affected by the defect include Nissan, Toyota, Honda, Ford, Mazda, Honda, BMW, Mitsubishi, Volkswagen and the Chrysler Group. --IANS

Japan to recall another 7 mn vehicles over airbags

<div style="text-align: justify;">Human flesh and hair were found inside the stomach of a bear suspected of attacking at least one of four people in northern Japan who appeared to have died from such assaults, officials said Tuesday. 
 
Bear attacks on humans are not unusual in the mountainous Akita prefecture on Japan&#39;s main island of Honshu, but fatal ones are, with only eight tallied from 1979 to 2015. 
 
Last month, however, three men,&nbsp;two in their 70s and one in his 60s, died in what appeared to be bear attacks while harvesting bamboo shoots in three separate incidents in a mountain forest. 
 
The body of a fourth victim, a badly mauled 74-year-old woman, was discovered Friday. The woman had reportedly been picking wild plants. 
 
Hunters killed a bear just 10 metres from the spot where her remains were discovered. 
 
Hideki Abe, an Akita prefectural official, told AFP that human remains and hair samples were discovered inside the bear&#39;s stomach on Monday. 
 
Abe described the body part as &quot;a piece of human flesh,&quot; without elaborating.&nbsp;He, however,&nbsp;stressed that it remained to be determined if that particular bear was responsible for the woman&#39;s death. 
 
&quot;Two thirds of the stomach was filled with bamboo shoots,&quot; he said, suggesting that little human flesh was likely consumed by the bear, and that it was not the only one involved in the attacks. 
 
Bamboo shoots are a staple food for bears at this time of year, while Japanese go into the mountains to harvest the popular seasonal plants to eat or sell. 
 
The prefecture has not captured any bears in traps set up on Friday in Kazuno city&nbsp;where the mountain is located, Abe added. 
Prefecture and city officials have told locals to stay away, but some are not heeding the warnings. 
 
Police and firefighters are patrolling the mountains daily, encouraging anyone found there to leave, according to the prefecture. 
(AFP)</div>

Last month three men died in probable bear attacks while harvesting bamboo shoots in three separate incidents in a mountain forest

Human flesh and hair were found inside the stomach of a bear suspected of attacking at least one of four people in northern Japan who appeared to have died from such assaults, officials said Tuesday. Bear attacks on humans are not unusual in the mountainous Akita prefecture on Japan's main island of Honshu, but fatal ones are, with only eight tallied from 1979 to 2015. Last month, however, three men, two in their 70s and one in his 60s, died in what appeared to be bear attacks while harvesting bamboo shoots in three separate incidents in a mountain forest. The body of a fourth victim, a badly mauled 74-year-old woman, was discovered Friday. The woman had reportedly been picking wild plants. Hunters killed a bear just 10 metres from the spot where her remains were discovered. Hideki Abe, an Akita prefectural official, told AFP that human remains and hair samples were discovered inside the bear's stomach on Monday. Abe described the body part as "a piece of human flesh," without elaborating. He, however, stressed that it remained to be determined if that particular bear was responsible for the woman's death. "Two thirds of the stomach was filled with bamboo shoots," he said, suggesting that little human flesh was likely consumed by the bear, and that it was not the only one involved in the attacks. Bamboo shoots are a staple food for bears at this time of year, while Japanese go into the mountains to harvest the popular seasonal plants to eat or sell. The prefecture has not captured any bears in traps set up on Friday in Kazuno city where the mountain is located, Abe added. Prefecture and city officials have told locals to stay away, but some are not heeding the warnings. Police and firefighters are patrolling the mountains daily, encouraging anyone found there to leave, according to the prefecture. (AFP)

Human flesh, hair found inside Japan bear after fatal attacks

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