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The trade deficit came in at 2 trillion yen ($14.8 billion) - the fourth month in a row it has hit that level or more. Exports grew 20%, in line with estimates and also hitting a record, led by U.S. demand for cars and mining machinery. "What caught my eye was continued weak exports to China," said Takayuki Miyajima, senior economist at Sony Financial Group. Japan has logged a cumulative trade deficit this year of 18.5 trillion yen, more than the record annual 12.8 trillion yen trade deficit for 2014. Exports to the United States rose 32.5%, EU-bound exports climbed 32% while exports to Asia (excluding China) grew 11.6%.

☆ U.S. confirms another Honda death from faulty air bag
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Toru Hanai/File PhotoWASHINGTON, Dec 9 (Reuters) - A U.S. auto safety regulator on Friday said it had confirmed a new crash death from a faulty air bag in a Honda (7267.T) car, as it urged owners to get recall repairs completed. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it had confirmed that the February death of the driver of a 2002 Honda Accord in Bowling Green, Kentucky, was due to a faulty air bag inflator. Four Takata air bag deaths have been confirmed this year, including two Stellantis (STLA.MI) vehicles and one Ford (F.N) vehicle. Also last month, the NHTSA confirmed a new death due to a defective Takata air bag inflator in a 2006 Ford (F.N) Ranger pickup. Last year, the NHTSA opened a probe into 30 million vehicles built by nearly two dozen automakers that have potentially defective Takata air bag inflators.

Japan is a country of more than 127 million people, but it rarely sees more than 10 gun deaths a year. Culture is one reason for the low rate, but gun control is a major one, too. Japan, a country of 127 million people and yearly gun deaths rarely totaling more than 10, is one such country. Japan is a country with regulations upon regulationsJapan's success in curbing gun deaths is intimately linked with its history. The government has since loosened the law, but the fact Japan enacted gun control from the stance of prohibition is important.

A 12.4% decline in auto-related production - the sector's steepest fall in eight months - drove down the overall index. Manufacturers surveyed by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) expected output to fall another 0.4% in October and rise 0.8% in November. "Rather, with rising procurement costs on the weak yen, coupled with (higher) energy prices, some firms have voiced concerns for their business conditions." Separate data showed retail sales rose 4.5% year-on-year in September, extending a rebound since March when the government ended domestic COVID-19 containment measures. On a seasonally adjusted month-on-month basis, retail sales grew 1.1% in September, rising for a third month.

☆ 'Mr. Yen' says the currency could plunge further — and 170 per dollar is 'well on the scope'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Jihye Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Toru Hanai | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesThe Japanese currency could weaken even further to 170 levels against the U.S. dollar next year, according to Japan's former vice minister of finance for international affairs, Eisuke Sakakibara. Commenting on reports of yet another intervention being conducted by officials late last week, Sakakibara said, "Most of the business people are now expecting further depreciation of the yen. Sakakibara's forecast for the yen comes as Japanese officials remain tight-lipped on publicly confirming a second intervention taking place to defend the currency. watch nowA majority of economists polled by Reuters expected no change to the nation's dovish monetary policy in its next meeting slated for Thursday. 'A history of failed interventions'Even if authorities continue to intervene to defend its currency, it won't have much of an effect, Sakakibara said.

☆ Max Verstappen crowned world champion in chaotic circumstances at Japanese Grand Prix
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-09 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Max Verstappen was crowned Formula One world champion in bizarre circumstances following a dominant victory at the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday. So when Verstappen finished, he initially only celebrated a race victory – his 12th of the season – and completed his first post-race interview accordingly. I am hearing different things,” Verstappen said, after he was initially crowned world champion during a second post-race interview. It was confirmed again, and he sat down in front of a ‘World Champion’ banner in a throne room. “Am I the world champion?” Verstappen asked Jensen Button before his interview on the podium.

☆ Tellurian says Driftwood LNG deals with Shell, Vitol scrapped
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Toru HanaiSept 23 (Reuters) - Tellurian Inc (TELL.A) lost two of its biggest potential customers after the U.S. liquefied natural gas developer disclosed scrapped LNG supply deals with Shell Plc (SHEL.L) and Vitol SA on Friday. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterHouston-based Tellurian said Shell had delivered it a notice to cancel its agreement to purchase LNG from Tellurian's two Driftwood LNG export plants. Tellurian also said it sent a termination notice to global energy trader Vitol related to their separate Driftwood LNG agreement. Tellurian would have sold 3 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of LNG each to Shell and Vitol for 10 years from its 27.6-mtpa Driftwood plants as part of the separate deals signed in 2021. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Ruhi Soni in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju SamuelOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Exxon Mobil shuts Fos-Sur-Mer refinery in France due to strike
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Rowena Edwards | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Toru HanaiCompanies Exxon Mobil Corp FollowSept 22 (Reuters) - ExxonMobil is gradually shutting down its 235,000 barrel per day (bpd) Fos-Sur-Mer refinery in France as a result of ongoing strike action, the company said in an emailed statement on Thursday. read moreFrench unions CGT and Force Ouvriere called for a strike on Tuesday following wage negotiations with Exxon Mobil related to rising inflation in Europe. "This unfortunate situation may impact our customers, contractors, suppliers, and employees, and affects the international reputation of Exxon Mobil activities in France," the statement said. Workers at Exxon's Toulouse depot have also joined the strike, CGT Exxon Mobil said on its blog. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Rowena Edwards; editing by David EvansOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ At U.N., Micronesia denounces Japan plan to release Fukushima water into Pacific
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A worker, wearing protective suits and masks, takes notes in front of storage tanks for radioactive water at Tokyo Electric Power Co's (TEPCO) tsunami-crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Okuma town, Fukushima prefecture, Japan February 10, 2016. REUTERS/Toru HanaiUNITED NATIONS, Sept 22 (Reuters) - The president of the Pacific island state of Micronesia denounced at the United Nations on Thursday Japan's decision to discharge what he called nuclear-contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station into the Pacific Ocean. Japan said in July that its nuclear regulators had approved a plan to release into the Pacific ocean water used to cool reactors in the aftermath of the March 2011 Fukushima disaster. Panuelo also highlighted the threat posed by climate change, to which Pacific island states are particularly vulnerable. He called on geopolitical rivals the United States and China to consider it "a non-political and non-competitive issue for cooperation."

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