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[1/3] Passengers wait for their train in front of a TV broadcasting a news report on North Korea firing a ballistic missile off its east coast, at a railway station in Seoul, South Korea, July 12, 2023. REUTERS/Kim Hong-JiSEOUL/TOKYO, July 12 (Reuters) - North Korea fired a long-range missile off its east coast on Wednesday, as leaders of South Korea and Japan were set to meet on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Lithuania to discuss rising threats including the nuclear-armed North. Japan's Coast Guard said what was believed to be a ballistic missile appeared to have landed as of mid-morning. United Nations Security Council resolutions ban North Korea's use of ballistic missile technology, including for satellite launches. The Security Council, as well as a number of nations, have imposed sanction on North Korea for its missile and nuclear weapons programmes.

Persons: Kim Hong, Fumio Kishida, Kishida, Yoon Suk, Hirokazu Matsuno, Matsuno, Yoon, Kim Yo Jong, Kim Jong, Kim, Leif, Eric Easley, Elaine Lies, Tom Hogue Organizations: REUTERS, Ji, NATO, Japan's Coast Guard, Asahi, Japanese, South Korean, United Nations, Security, Ewha Womans University, Thomson Locations: North Korea, Seoul, South Korea, Ji SEOUL, TOKYO, Japan, Lithuania, American, Japan's, Korean, Australia, New Zealand, Beijing, Korea, United States, Pyongyang, Tokyo, Lincoln

CNN —Japan will soon begin releasing treated radioactive water into the ocean following approval from the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog for a controversial plan that comes 12 years after the Fukushima nuclear meltdown. Radioactive wastewater contains some dangerous elements, but the majority of these can be removed from the water, said TEPCO. The real issue is a hydrogen isotope called radioactive tritium, which cannot be taken away. A survey by Asahi Shimbun in March found that 51% of 1,304 respondents supported the wastewater release, while 41% opposed it. People in Tokyo protest against the Japanese government's plan to release nuclear wastewater into the sea on May 16, 2023.

Persons: Rafael Grossi, Fumio Kishida, Daniel Campisi, Grossi, ” Robert H, Richmond, ”, ” Grossi, “, Han Duck, Yonhap, aren’t, Tim Mousseau, Wang Yiliang, Zhang Xiaoyu Organizations: CNN, United Nations, International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, UN, Tokyo Electric Power Company, TEPCO, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Kewalo, Laboratory, University of Hawaii, Forum, World Health Organization, State Department, Atomic Energy Council, Pacific Islands Forum, Korean, US, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, University of South, Reuters, Getty, Asahi Shimbun, – Locations: Japan, Fukushima, China, Manoa, Richmond, Asia, Pacific, California, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, University of South Carolina, South Korea, Seoul, Xinhua, Tokyo

☆ Travel news: Living in lighthouses, delivering during a flight and touring Japan
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-01 | by ( Lilit Marcus | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

This week has been rough for air travelers in the United States, but we have flight attendants’ secrets for surviving summer travel. Waterfront real estateThe US General Services Administration is giving away or auctioning lighthouses in New England. Like the small towns in Italy selling off houses for just 1 euro, these lighthouses come with stipulations. Written in stoneAnd while we’re on the subject of summer travel peak season, this period is often tourists-behaving-badly season. Dr. Sij Hemal was on a flight from Paris to New York when a fellow passenger reported severe abdominal pains.

Persons: CNN — It’s, you’ve, Ivan, Haley, ”, Sig Hemal, Susan Shepherd, Sij Hemal, Chelsea Dickenson, Dickenson, Richard Quest, Beckham Organizations: CNN, General Services Administration, Police, Cleveland, Asahi Shimbun Locations: United States, New England, Italy, Rome, United Kingdom, Paris, New York, Japan, Tottori Sand, Tokyo, Nagoya, Tottori, British, Macao, Vegas of Asia

☆ BOJ policymaker calls for keeping low rates, focus on wages
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Leika Kihara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Noguchi also warned of risks to Japan's economy, such as uncertainty over global economic and market developments. Under yield curve control (YCC), the BOJ sets a -0.1% target for short-term interest rates and caps the 10-year bond yield around 0% to reflate growth and inflation. With inflation exceeding its target, markets are simmering with speculation the BOJ will soon tweak YCC due to criticism the policy is distorting market pricing and crushing financial institutions' profit margins. BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda has stressed the need to keep monetary policy ultra-loose until there is more evidence wages will keep rising next year, helping Japan sustainably hit the 2% inflation target. Reporting by Leika Kihara Editing by Chang-Ran Kim and Sam HolmesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Asahi Noguchi, Noguchi, Seiji Adachi, Kazuo Ueda, Leika, Chang, Ran Kim, Sam Holmes Organizations: Noguchi, Global, Bank of Japan, Thomson Locations: Japan, TOKYO, Naha

☆ Allied to sell UDC portfolio to KDDI Corp for C$1.35 bln
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 21 (Reuters) - Allied Properties Real Estate Investment Trust (AP_u.TO) on Wednesday said it has entered into an agreement to sell its urban datacenter portfolio to Japanese telecommunications provider KDDI Corporation (9433.T) for C$1.35 billion ($1.02 billion). The portfolio comprises Toronto's 151 Front Street West and 905 King Street West, along with a leasehold interest in 250 Front Street West. Allied will use around C$1 billion of the sale proceeds to retire debt and the balance to fund its upgrade and development activity over the remainder of 2023 and into 2024, the company said. Scotiabank, CBRE and Aird & Berlis LLP are advisers to Allied for the transaction, while BofA Securities, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP and Nishimura & Asahi are acting as advisers to KDDI. ($1 = 1.3222 Canadian dollars)(This story has been corrected to change to Canadian dollar from U.S. dollar throughout and adds conversion)Reporting by Pratyush Thakur in Bengaluru; Editing by Dhanya Ann Thoppil and Pooja DesaiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Berlis, Borden Ladner Gervais, Pratyush Thakur, Dhanya Ann Thoppil, Pooja Desai Organizations: Real, Investment Trust, KDDI Corporation, King Street, West, Scotiabank, BofA Securities, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Nishimura, Asahi, Thomson Locations: CBRE, Bengaluru

☆ Japan to open up Apple- and Google-dominated phone apps to competition
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] An Apple logo hangs above the entrance to the Apple store on 5th Avenue in the Manhattan borough of New York City, July 21, 2015. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File PhotoTOKYO, June 17 (Reuters) - Japan plans to stoke competition in smartphone app payments, dominated by Apple (AAPL.O) and Google, by banning major app store operators from forcing software developers to use the operators' own payment systems, a government panel said. Apple's iOS and Android from Alphabet's (GOOGL.O) Google roughly split Japan's mobile OS market. Apple allows users to download iPhone apps only through its own app store, while both Apple and Google require software developers to use proprietary payment systems that charge commissions of up to 30%. Members of the government panel include Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura and Economy Minister Shigeyuki Goto.

Persons: Mike Segar, Yasutoshi Nishimura, Shigeyuki Goto, Kiyoshi Takenaka, Lincoln Organizations: Apple, REUTERS, stoke, Google, Asahi Shimbun, Industry, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York City, TOKYO, Japan

☆ Tired of Converse? Try These Cooler Canvas Sneakers Instead
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Nathan Taylor Pemberton | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

FRESH CANVAS Three great styles. From left: Asahi Sneakers, $165, us.OfficineGenerale.com; Shoes Like Pottery by Moonstar Sneakers, $81, GoodWeaver.jp; Novesta Sneakers, $99, AlexMill.com Photo: Joel Arbaje/The Wall Street JournalMAY TO OCTOBER is canvas-shoe season for guys. When it’s warm out, simple sneakers made of light cloth and vulcanized (hardened) rubber take on an air of inevitability. So ubiquitous are Converse Chuck Taylors that the iconic, century-old kicks can appear to be the only canvas option on the menu. Their trademark five-pointed stars (or, in trendier neighborhoods, hearts from Converse’s popular Comme des Garçons Play collab) dominate sidewalks across America.

Persons: Joel Arbaje, Taylors Organizations: Asahi, Converse Locations: trendier, America

☆ Japan’s largest brewer sets its sights on China — again
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Charmaine Jacob | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Japan's Asahi Group Holdings has plans to dive back into the China market as it looks to revive investments in the world's largest beer market. The company divested from China years ago due to the lack of "premiumized products" and "very low" prices at that time, Katsuki said. In 2017, Asahi announced it would sell its nearly 20% stake in China's Tsingtao Brewery to Fosun Group and its subsidiaries. "But with the entry of the international brands and also craft beer, the premium segment in China is now really taking off and growing substantially." "Asahi Super Dry has the largest sales already from the China market now and it's growing double digits every year, so we want to continue to really invest into this premium market," he added.

Persons: We've, Atsushi Katsuki, CNBC's Martin Soong, we're, Katsuki Organizations: Japan's Asahi Group Holdings, Asahi, Fosun Group Locations: China, Tsingtao

[1/5] TANAKA whose real name is Kim Kyung-wook, speaks during an interview with Reuters in Seoul, South Korea, May 16, 2023. Now Kim exemplifies the changing attitudes of young Koreans as ties with Japan thaw. DEMAND REBOUNDThe quarrels are being left behind as the enthusiasm of young Koreans fuels a sharp rebound in demand for Japanese consumer products. That compared with a 90% drop in imports of Japanese beer in 2019, when the intensifying feuds made it an early target of a sweeping boycott. "China is clearly less preferred than countries like the United States and Japan," Kim said, citing Beijing's curbs on freedom in Hong Kong and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Persons: TANAKA, Kim Kyung, Kim Hong, Ji, Jeong, Tanaka, idolises, I've, it's, Kim, Fumio Kishida, Yoon Suk, James Kim, Hyonhee Shin, Heekyong Yang, Jimin Jung, Daewoung Kim, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: Reuters, REUTERS, South, Korea's, Relations, Asahi Group Holdings, Costco, Hankook Research, Asan Institute, Policy Studies, Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Ji SEOUL, South Korean, Japan, Tokyo, Korean, China, Russia, North Korea, United States, Hong Kong

☆ The cost pressure is big when it comes to our glass bottles, Asahi Group CEO says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailThe cost pressure is big when it comes to our glass bottles, Asahi Group CEO saysAtsushi Katsuki of the food and drinks business says the company isn't optimistic about the outlook on inflation.

CNN —Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky compared the damage in Bakhmut to the destruction wrought on Hiroshima after it was hit by an atomic bomb, as he denied Russia had captured the frontline city. Zelensky – who traveled to Japan for a meeting of the Group of Seven (G7) – said pictures of Hiroshima “really remind” him of Bakhmut and other Ukrainian towns. “Just the same, nothing alive left, all of the buildings have been ruined,” Zelensky told a news conference. Zelensky rallies alliesIf confirmed, the capture of Bakhmut would mark Russia’s first gain in months, but the city’s symbolism always outweighed its strategic importance. At the G7 Ukraine’s allies reiterated their support, with British Prime Minister RIshi Sunak saying “Ukraine must not only win the war but win a just and lasting peace.”

☆ The world’s largest lakes are shrinking dramatically and scientists say they have figured out why
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Laura Paddison | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Lake water levels fluctuate in response to natural climate variations in rain and snowfall, but they are increasingly affected by human actions. The Caspian Sea, between Asia and Europe – the world’s largest inland body of water – has long been declining due to climate change and water use. NASA NASA The Caspian Sea is rapidly shrinking due to climate change and human activity. NASAThe researchers used satellite measurements of nearly 2,000 of the world’s largest lakes and reservoirs, which together represent 95% of Earth’s total lake water storage. The report found losses in lake water storage everywhere, including in the humid tropics and the cold Arctic.

Kirin has offered A$95 cash per Blackmores share, a 23.7% premium to the stock's last close, and a tad higher than its 22.4% jump in morning trade. Before the Kirin deal, its shares had been trading at one-third of their value at the height of the daigou craze in 2016. The board of Blackmores has unanimously recommended shareholders support the deal, with top shareholder and former chairman Marcus Blackmore also agreeing to vote in favour. Blackmores' share price rose as much as 22.4% to A$94, its highest since December 2021. Blackmores shareholders will be able to vote on the offer at a shareholder meeting in July and the companies expect the deal to close in early August.

The incident exposes vulnerabilities in Japan's security system and a failure to institute changes following the killing of former prime minister Shinzo Abe during an election campaign last year, four experts interviewed by Reuters said. Fukuda said for such big, international events, authorities are able to provide solid security by mobilising a huge police presence. The government has instructed authorities to strengthen security measures and to ensure safety precautions at gatherings of VIPs, he added. read moreIn Saturday's attack, the suspect was about 10 metres from Kishida, according to media reports. He said it showed that a review of security plans by the National Police Agency could only go so far.

☆ Goldman Sachs invests $2 billion in Black women-owned businesses — the first chapter of a bigger plan
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Frank Holland | In Frank-Holland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The logo for Goldman Sachs is seen on the trading floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, November 17, 2021. Goldman Sachs is investing more than $2.1 billion into Black women-owned businesses and nonprofits via the investment bank's One Million Black Women program — and leaders say it's only the first chapter. One Million Black Women launched in March 2021 with the bigger goal of having a positive impact on the lives of 1 million Black women by 2030. "Turbo boosting Black women entrepreneurs is a key part of the work that we do," Pompey said. The ripple effect of investing in a Black woman entrepreneur is tremendous."

☆ Hotel chief apologizes for only changing the water in a spa bath twice a year instead of once a week, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A Japanese guesthouse owner has apologized for rarely changing the water in a spa bath, per CNN. The water in the bath should have been changed weekly, according to local regulations. The traditional Japanese bath, known as an onsen, was found to contain potentially deadly bacteria during a health inspection, CNN affiliate TV Asahi reported. Legionella bacteria was found in the Japanese bath at 3,700 times the permitted level, the news outlet reported. According to the report, the bath water, which comes from volcanically heated hot springs, should have been changed weekly to abide by local regulations.

☆ Toyota to accept full union demand for wage hike for 3rd straight year - Asahi
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T), the world's biggest automaker, will accept a union demand in full for a rise in wages and bonus payments for a third consecutive year, the Asahi newspaper reported on Wednesday. Toyota will disclose its decision at the first round of wage negotiations scheduled on Wednesday, the paper said. As one of the country's biggest employers, Toyota has long served as a bellwether of the spring labour talks. Toyota's labour union has said that this time it is seeking a base salary increase that would be "the highest level in the past 20 years". The Asahi said it was also seeking one-off bonus payments worth 6.7 months of wages.

☆ A Japan Airlines flight was turned away and had to fly 550 miles back to Tokyo after missing an airport's closing time by 10 minutes, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Aditi Bharade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Japan Airlines flight was turned back after missing a curfew, per a Japanese newspaper. Fukuoka Airport does not allow flights to land after 10 p.m. due to noise concerns. The flight, JL331 by Japan Airlines, was turned back just outside Fukuoka Airport on Sunday February 19 after just missing the curfew for landing, The Asahi Shimbun reported. A Japan Airlines flight was turned back. In an email to Insider, Japan Airlines said it covered cab fares and hotels for everyone on board.

TOKYO, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T), the world's biggest automaker, said on Wednesday it would accept a union demand for the biggest base salary increase in 20 years and a rise in bonus payments, as Japan steps up calls for businesses to hike pay. As one of Japan's biggest employers, Toyota has long served as a bellwether of the spring labour talks, which are in full swing at major companies. The All Toyota Workers' Union is set to hold a media briefing later on Wednesday. "We will boost consumption and expand domestic demand by promoting efforts toward structural wage increases," Kishida said at a lower house budget committee session on Wednesday. Video game maker Nintendo Co Ltd (7974.T) said earlier this month that it planned to lift workers' base pay by 10%, despite trimming its full-year profit forecast.

☆ We would see rising wages in Japan as favorable, Asahi Group CEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWe would see rising wages in Japan as favorable, Asahi Group CEOAtsushi Katsuki of the food and drinks business says rising wages would lead to an increase in personal consumption, "which is good for our company's business performance."

☆ Britain's BrewDog aims to put Punk IPA on the map in China
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( Sarah Young | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Punk IPA, Lost Lager, Elvis Juice and Hazy Jane have helped turn BrewDog into a household name in Britain. "I think the internationalisation of our business is kind of very key to our IPO plans," BrewDog founder and chief executive James Watt told Reuters. While BrewDog has had a presence in China since 2015, Watt said it had been hard to scale up without a local partner. It's a similar model to a partnership deal BrewDog signed with Asahi in Japan, which saw sales there double in its first year. In 2021, the last year for which results are available, it made an operating loss of 5.5 million pounds ($6.6 million) on revenues of 286 million pounds.

☆ Investors need to embrace these stocks that we love
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-12 | by ( Paul R. La Monica | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

I’ve typically done this stock picking feature in early to mid February as a Stocks We Love type of story, pegging it to Valentine’s Day. The restaurant stocks in particular could do well. Inflation is obviously still a concern for big consumer brands. Consumer prices rose 6.5% over the past 12 months through December, down from a 7.1% pace in November. Up nextMonday: Earnings from TreeHouse Foods (THS), Avis Budget (CAR), FirstEnergy (FE), IAC (IAC) and PalantirTuesday: US CPI; Japan GDP; UK employment report; earnings from Coca-Cola, Asahi Group, Marriott (MAR).

☆ Ex-Tokyo Olympics official, ad execs arrested in bid-rigging scandal
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Kantaro Komiya | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

TOKYO, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Japanese prosecutors arrested on Wednesday a former Tokyo Olympics organising committee official and executives at three advertising agencies on suspected bid-rigging of test events for the Games, the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office said. The media reports later said the prosecutors also arrested three executives at advertising and event-planning firms Dentsu Inc (4324.T), Cerespo Co (9625.T) and Fuji Creative Corporation, a subsidiary of Fuji Media Holdings Inc (4676.T). Dentsu said in a statement that a former employee, who currently works at a group firm in Japan, was arrested. The bid-rigging investigation comes after a bribery scandal, in which Haruyuki Takahashi, a former member of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics board and before that a Dentsu executive, was arrested in August on suspicion of receiving bribes from Olympic sponsors. Executives from ADK, suits retailer Aoki Holdings (8214.T) and publishing firm Kadokawa (9468.T) have also been arrested in connection with the bribery scandal.

☆ Ghostly flying 'whirlpool' that appeared above Hawaii could be leftover SpaceX rocket fuel
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Chris Panella | Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Japanese telescope captured footage of the anomaly after a SpaceX navigation satellite launch. "The Subaru-Asahi Star Camera captured a mysterious flying spiral over Maunakea, Hawai`i," the Subaru Telescope said on Twitter on January 19. SpaceX launches a Falcon 9 rocket carrying a pair of television broadcasting satellites at Cape Canaveral, Florida. Michael Weekes Jr./ReutersThis isn't the first time a spiral has been spotted in the sky after a SpaceX launch. The SpaceX rocket is also known for the "space jellyfish" it often paints across the sky as it climbs through the atmosphere.

☆ Debt bomb, biotech bump and a bond rally: 2023 money predictions
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Chris Taylor | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

What does 2023 hold for investors? Prediction: Debt bombSarah NewcombSarah Newcomb, director of financial psychology at Morningstar“I’m concerned about the lack of saving in America as a whole. We had a moment of higher savings rates when the pandemic first hit, and people realized they needed to be prepared for anything. The optimism of these entrepreneurs for continued growth in the new year points to resilience amid some tough financial decisions they’ll likely make in 2023. “For instance, we expect to see a rise in debt consolidation as business owners look to combat the rate environment.

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