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Kyodo news summary -5-(Japan Economic Newswire Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) ---------- 15 arrested in anti-terror raids in Sydney, Brisbane SYDNEY - Australian police on Thursday detained 15 people in a sweeping counter-terrorism operation following a call from a senior Islamic State militant for "demonstration killings," according to authorities. The predawn raids in Sydney involved at least 800 New South Wales state police and Australian Federal Police officers. ---------- Defense chief, U.S. envoy agree to ease Okinawa's base-linked burden TOKYO - Defense Minister Akinori Eto and U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy agreed Thursday to work together toward a reduction in the burden on Okinawa Prefecture of hosting the bulk of U.S. military bases and other facilities in Japan. During a meeting at the Defense Ministry, Eto told Kennedy that the Japanese government intends to move forward the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station within the southernmost prefecture, but that "it's important to gain support from the people of Okinawa." ---------- Japan's key bond yield rises on higher stocks TOKYO - The yield on the bellwether 10-year Japanese government bond finished higher Thursday on selling amid a rise in Tokyo stocks. The yield on the No. 335, 0.5 percent issue, the main yardstick of long-term interest rates, ended interdealer trading at 0.565 percent, up 0.015 percentage point from Wednesday's close. ---------- Toshiba to cut 900 jobs in loss-making PC business TOKYO - Toshiba Corp. said Thursday it will cut about 900 jobs in its loss-making personal computer business at home and abroad by the end of fiscal 2014 next March. The measure is aimed at slashing fixed costs in the unprofitable PC business, affected by the spread of smartphones and tablet computers, according to the electronics maker. ---------- H.K. activists set sail again for disputed islets HONG KONG - A Hong Kong activist group championing Chinese sovereignty over the Japan-controlled Senkaku Islands set sail again Thursday for the islets in the East China Sea three days after bad weather foiled their original voyage to "fish" near the uninhabited islets. Five members of the Action Committee for Defending Diaoyu Islands, as the Senkaku Islands are called in China, along with four crew members are onboard the Kai Fung 2 fishing boat, group leader Lo Chau said. ---------- Tokyo Game Show reflects rise of indie game developers CHIBA, Japan - The Tokyo Game Show opened Thursday in Chiba, east of the capital, with this year's showcase reflecting the growing influence of small, independent developers and the rising popularity of smartphone games. The annual gaming extravaganza, one of the world's biggest game shows, is expected to draw 220,000 visitors to the Makuhari Messe convention center over four days. The show will open to the public Saturday and Sunday. ---------- Japan's 3 largest metros see 1st residential land price rises in 6 yrs TOKYO - Residential land prices in Japan's three largest metropolitan regions rose for the first time in six years in the year to July 1, while average commercial land prices also increased in the Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya areas, the government said Thursday. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism attributed the rise to the low interest rates produced by monetary easing, which helped boost investment in commercial districts, as well as to the impact of tax breaks for home buyers. ---------- Dollar hits 6-year high of upper 108 yen on Fed guidance, eyes on Scotland vote TOKYO - The U.S. dollar rose to a six-year high of 108.87 yen Thursday in Tokyo after the U.S. Federal Reserve raised its projection for the trajectory of its key interest rate. At 5 p.m., the dollar fetched 108.54-55 yen compared with 108.32-42 yen in New York and 107.26-28 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Wednesday. It traded at a low of 108.37 yen during the day and changed hands most frequently at 108.55 yen. (c) 2014 Kyodo News |