TOKYO, Sep. 2, 2010 (Kyodo News International) -- ----------
N. Korea to mark political event of great significance: China's Wen
BEIJING - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has told a senior North Korean official that a Workers' Party of Korea conference slated for early September ''would mark a political event of great significance for the party, the state and the people'' of North Korea, the North's official media reported Thursday.
At the party conference, whose date is yet unknown, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il's third son and heir apparent Kim Jong Un is expected to get a key post, paving the way for eventual succession, according to analysts and diplomatic sources.
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Delta helped by rise in Japanese travelers on yen appreciation
TOKYO - Delta (NYSE:DAL) Air Lines Inc. said Thursday its business has been helped by great increases in the number of travelers from Japan due to the recent appreciation of the yen.
''We have seen a significant improvement in our outbound travel (from Japan) because of the strength of the yen,'' Edward Bastian, president of the U.S. airline, said in a press briefing in Tokyo. ''It's been an important contributor to (Delta's) recovery from the economic recession.''
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Apple unveils new iPod lineup
SAN FRANCISCO - Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) unveiled Wednesday fully redesigned iPod media players, including the iPod nano which is nearly half the size and weight of the previous generation.
Apple started accepting orders the same day for the new iPod nano, iPod touch and iPod shuffle, which will be available next week.
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Thai king names new army chief
BANGKOK - Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej approved Gen. Prayut Chanocha on Thursday as army commander-in-chief to replace Gen. Anupong Paochinda who is due to retire at the end of September.
Prayut, 56, played a key role in army operations against antigovernment protesters, the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship, in Bangkok earlier this year.
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Kyodo to launch redesigned English website Friday
TOKYO - Kyodo News will launch a redesigned website for its English-language service Friday afternoon as part of efforts to strengthen its multilingual and multimedia services.
The new site, with a more user-friendly interface and bigger photos plus slideshow function, will offer a wide range of subscription options.
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Yen's recent rise may require market intervention: Ozawa
TOKYO - Democratic Party of Japan heavyweight Ichiro Ozawa said Thursday that the recent sharp rise of the yen may require the government to step into the currency market to stem its appreciation, but also said intervention by Japan alone may not be effective.
Unilateral Japanese action ''may not have impact as long as the world accepts a stronger yen,'' Ozawa, who is challenging Prime Minister Naoto Kan in the Sept. 14 DPJ presidential election, said during a public debate with Kan. He also said the yen's rise is so fast that Japan ''should act with certain preparedness.''
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Tokyo stocks extend gains on upbeat U.S. data but caution weighs
TOKYO - Tokyo stocks continued to advance Thursday as stronger-than-expected U.S. manufacturing data helped ease economic worries ahead of upcoming economic indicators.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 135.82 points, or 1.52 percent, from Wednesday to end at 9,062.84, coming further off a 16-month intraday low in the 8,700 range hit the day before.
