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Kyodo news summary -4-(Japan Economic Newswire Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) ---------- Khmer Rouge court begins new hearing on genocide against ex-leaders PHNOM PENH - The U.N.-supported tribunal for trying former Khmer Rouge leaders began Wednesday in Cambodia, a second hearing against the regime's ex-leaders focusing mainly on genocide. The first case was concluded in October last year and the verdict will be announced Aug. 7. ---------- Toyota set to become world's top car seller in 1st half of 2014 TOKYO - Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday its global auto sales reached a record 5.09 million units in the first half of 2014, likely making it the world's best-selling automaker in the period for the third consecutive year. The sales volume, including Daihatsu Motor Co. and Hino Motors Ltd. vehicles, gained 3.8 percent from a year earlier in the January to June period, supported by strong performances in North America and China as well as brisk demand in Japan before the consumption tax hike in April. ---------- Foreign "cosplayers" visit Japan ministry before int'l event TOKYO - Young people from China, Finland and Mexico involved in "cosplay," in which they dress as characters from Japanese animation, manga and video games, visited the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday before competing at the 12th World Cosplay Summit in Nagoya. A costumed pair from each of the three countries met with Parliamentary Vice Foreign Minister Seiji Kihara ahead of Saturday's contest that will draw performers from 22 countries and territories. Kihara told the visitors, "Pop culture is very effective in deepening bonds between countries and between people." ---------- Tokyo stocks edge higher on strong corporate results, weaker yen TOKYO - Tokyo stocks gained slightly Wednesday as buying backed by strong corporate results and a weaker yen offset selling to lock in recent gains. The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 28.16 points, or 0.18 percent, from Tuesday at 15,646.23. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange finished 1.83 points, or 0.14 percent, higher at 1,292.24. ---------- Japan's key bond yield up slightly ahead of Fed policy meeting TOKYO - The yield on the bellwether 10-year Japanese government bond finished higher Wednesday on selling for position adjustments ahead of a decision by the U.S. central bank's policy-making Federal Open Market Committee due out later in the day. The yield on the No. 334, 0.6 percent issue, the main yardstick of long-term interest rates, ended interdealer trading at 0.525 percent, up 0.005 percentage point from Tuesday's close. ---------- Microsoft asserts China unit broke no laws BEIJING - Microsoft Corp. said Wednesday its Chinese unit has consistently followed the law, a day after local authorities confirmed they have opened an anti-monopoly investigation into the U.S. software giant. "Obeying each country's laws and regulations is our basic principle," Joanna Li, Microsoft's China spokeswoman, told Kyodo News in a statement, adding that the company is ready to actively respond to questions by the authorities. ---------- ANA returns to black in April-June for 1st time in 2 yrs TOKYO - ANA Holdings Inc. said Wednesday it returned to the black in the April to June period for the first time in two years due to an expansion in its international flight business. In the three-month period, the company posted a group net profit of 3.49 billion yen, against a year-earlier loss of 6.64 billion yen. The parent of All Nippon Airways Co. logged a consolidated operating profit of 347 million yen, compared with a year-earlier loss of 5.61 billion yen on revenue of 386.83 billion yen, up 10.0 percent from a year earlier. ---------- Mitsubishi Motors logs record-high net profit in April-June TOKYO - Mitsubishi Motors Corp. said Wednesday it logged its biggest ever group net profit of 28.16 billion yen ($275 million) for the April-June quarter as robust sales in North America, Europe and other parts of Asia offset sluggishness in Japan. The consolidated net profit rose 71.3 percent in the first quarter of fiscal 2014 from a year earlier, the Japanese carmaker said. ---------- Town picked as candidate for radiation-tainted waste disposal UTSUNOMIYA, Japan - The government notified a town in Tochigi Prefecture on Wednesday that it has been picked as a candidate site for the final disposal of some of the radiation-tainted waste resulting from the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster. Shioya Mayor Kazuhisa Mikata said the same day that the town "clearly" opposes the proposal, and that he conveyed the stance to Senior Vice Environment Minister Shinji Inoue during a meeting in the town earlier in the day. ---------- Yoko Ono asks youth to spread Hiroshima A-bomb peace message to world HIROSHIMA - Artist Yoko Ono on Wednesday urged youngsters gathered at a peace event in Hiroshima to help teach the world about the experiences of the city that was devastated by a U.S. atomic bomb attack in 1945. The 81-year-old widow of former Beatle John Lennon, told the roughly 300 participants, "'No more Hiroshima' is a global issue. I want you to spread the experiences of Hiroshima to the world as much as possible." ---------- Dollar remains firm in lower 102 yen as market awaits Fed decision, U.S. GDP TOKYO - The U.S. dollar remained firm in the lower 102 yen range Wednesday in Tokyo as traders awaited the outcome of a U.S. Federal Reserve policy meeting later Wednesday. At 5 p.m., the dollar fetched 102.16-17 yen compared with 102.07-17 yen in New York and 101.90-91 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Tuesday. It moved between 102.03 yen and 102.19 yen during the day, changing hands most frequently at 102.10 yen. (c) 2014 Kyodo News |