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Kyodo news summary -6-
[September 30, 2014]

Kyodo news summary -6-


(Japan Economic Newswire Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) ---------- China approves sales of iPhone 6 BEIJING - China on Tuesday approved Apple Inc.'s iPhone 6 for sale from mid-October after the company said it addressed government concerns about possible security flaws in the newest model of the popular mobile phone.



The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology delayed the release of the phone due to concerns that three of the diagnostic tools used by the phone's operating system might capture users' personal information, the ministry said in a statement on its website.

---------- Opposition parties start questioning of Abe over sales tax, defense TOKYO - Japan's opposition parties began questioning Prime Minster Shinzo Abe on Tuesday over the controversial issues of another sales tax hike and collective self-defense, criticizing him for trying to bypass Diet debate.


"The prime minister is stubbornly refusing to discuss important issues," said Banri Kaieda, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan as he kicked off the first day of a question and answer session about Abe's policy speech the day before.

---------- Panasonic allies with Spanish firm to develop vehicle safety systems OSAKA - Panasonic Corp. said Tuesday it has signed an agreement to form a capital and business alliance with Spanish automobile parts maker Ficosa International SA as the Japanese electronics maker aims to develop advanced vehicle safety systems.

Panasonic will take a 49 percent stake in Ficosa through steps such as purchasing newly issued shares. The two companies plan to launch the alliance by the end of next March, subject to approval by antitrust regulators, the Osaka-based firm said.

---------- Aug. housing starts fall 12.5% for 6th straight monthly decline TOKYO - Housing starts in Japan fell 12.5 percent in August from a year earlier to 73,771 units for the sixth straight monthly decline, government data showed Tuesday.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism attributed the drop to strong demand ahead of the April consumption tax increase and the difficulty of acquiring land to develop condos in downtown Tokyo.

---------- Japan supports Hong Kong's free, open system: spokesman TOKYO - Japan hopes Hong Kong will maintain its free and open system under its "one country, two systems" principle, a government spokesman said Tuesday, as prodemocracy demonstrators opposed to Beijing's plan for a restrictive leadership election in the territory took to the streets.

"A democratic Hong Kong that is prosperous and stable will play an extremely important role for countries in the Asia-Pacific region, including Japan," Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroshige Seko said at a press conference.

---------- Japan gov't to require companies develop plans to hire, promote women TOKYO - The Japanese government plans to require companies with more than 300 employees develop action plans to hire more women and promote more to managerial positions, officials said Tuesday.

The requirement will be a pillar of a bill the government intends to submit to parliament in October to promote greater female participation in the economy and make greater use of the talents and potential of Japanese women.

(c) 2014 Kyodo News

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