Japanese auto major, Toyota Motor Corp is aiming to produce about 8.7 million vehicles under the Toyota and Lexus brands during 2013.

The company expects to have produced about the same number of vehicles at about 8.74 million vehicles in the current year. The Japanese automaker said on Wednesday that the global sales of its Toyota and Lexus brands are expected to be at 8.9 million vehicles during the coming year, 2013.

Tokyo, Dec 26 : Children in Fukushima are getting fatter as outdoor activities have been cut in the area due to radiation fears after last year''s nuclear disaster, according to a Japanese government report.

The education ministry said it had surveyed the heights and weights of about 7,00,000 children, aged between five and 17, at schools and kindergartens across the country this year.

It compared the number of obese children, defined as weighing at least 20 percent more than the average for their age and height, among the 47 prefectures, reports News24.

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader Shinzo Abe has been appointed as the new Prime Minister of Japan by the lawmakers of the country n Wednesday following an election victory by his party recently.

Abe gained 328 votes of 478 valid votes in the 480-seat chamber in the lower house. On the other hand, he did not more than half of votes in the first round election. However, Abe defeated his rival Banri Kaieda, the new leader of the DPJ in the second round to become the new PM of the country, which is facing a difficult economic situation and adverse relationship with China.

Tokyo, Dec 26 : Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday that it expects to achieve 9.9 million global auto sales in 2013, up 2 percent from the figure expected this year.

The company also said that it plans to produce 9.94 million units globally next year, almost the same level as in 2012.

The figures were both group-wide which include sales and outputs at Daihatsu Moto Co. and Hino Motors Ltd.

Toyota expects its global production under the Toyota and Lexus brands only to hit 8.7 million units in 2013, nearly the same as the 8.74 million vehicles it sets for 2012, the automaker said.

Tokyo, Dec 26 : The leader of Liberal Democratic Party, Shinzo Abe has become Japan's new prime minister, giving top priority to overcoming the prolonged economic slump.

Abe, who led the LDP to a landslide victory in this month's general election after three years in opposition, will form a new Cabinet later in the day with his close allies.

After parliament formally installed him as Japan's seventh premier in six years, the 58-year-old will be replacing Yoshihiko Noda of the Democratic Party.

Tokyo, Dec 26 - Shinzo Abe, the leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), was elected Japan's new prime minister in the lower house of parliament Wednesday.

Abe, who held the post from 2006 to 2007, will immediately unveil his new cabinet, reported Xinhua.

In the election, Abe got 328 votes from 478 valid votes in the 480-seat lower house.

The LDP and its coalition partner hold 325 seats in the more powerful lower house after winning a landslide victory in the Dec 16 election.

The Japanese Yen is trading at its lowest level in several months against the US dollar and the Euro amid indications that the authorities is moving aggressive to boost the economic growth.

Japan's central bank, the Bank of Japan (BOJ) is expected to announce new plans to buy more government bonds and take aggressive actions to boost the economic growth in the country following the general elections in the country. Analysts said that the fall is due to expectations for additional political pressure on the Bank of Japan after this week's elections in the country.

Aston Luxury Group Ltd, a fully owned subsidiary of GGL has acquired a 15.3% stake in Verite Co. Ltd in Japan. Verite Co. has 101 jewellery retail stores in Japan. This acquisition will open the Japanese market to GGL, enabling it to establish itself as one of the major jewellery brands in the world. Last year, GGL acquired a 30% stake in Gems TV which is a Japanese jewellery selling TV Channel.

Innovation in jewellery and expertise in diamond market:

Japan's central bank, the Bank of Japan (BOJ) is expected to announce new plans to buy more government bonds and take aggressive actions to boost the economic growth in the country following the general elections in the country.

The Bank of Japan said on Thursday that it is expanding its scheme to purchase treasury bills and government bonds by 10 trillion yen or about $119 billion. The latest addition would take the total to a whooping 101 trillion yen and is aimed at reviving the slowing growth in the world's third largest economy.

India's most valued drugmaker, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries is now planning to acquire the generic drugs business of US-based URL Pharma.

Sun Pharmaceutical will acquire the control of the business unit form Japan's Takeda Pharmaceutical and will be the second acquisition for the Indian company in the US within two months. Sun had recently agreed to buy skin treatment firm Dusa Pharmaceuticals for US$ 230 million.

The shares of power utilities in Japan have risen after the election win of the Liberal Democratic Party, which is believed to be a supporter of the nuclear power.

The next wave of HCL Technologies' growth will be driven by non-traditional markets such as Japan, China and Korea, chairman Shiv Nadar said.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of third anniversary of VidyaGyan School, established by his philanthropic foundation, Nadar said that HCL was not present in markets like Japan, China and Korea in any significant way, and those newer geographies would offer big business opportunities for the company to grow.

The Japanese has recorded a decline for the fifth straight week against the US dollar on speculation that the country's central bank would launch an aggressive stimulus package.

The Japanese Yen has fallen against the US dollar and the euro on indications that the central bank of the country, the Bank of Japan would take aggressive steps to boost economy.

According to polls, Japan's main opposition party, the Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner might be able to secure a majority in the parliament to form a new government. It is widely believed that the Bank of Japan under the new government will continue to aggressively take steps aimed at boosting the economy in the world’s third largest economy.

The Japanese Yen has fallen to its lowest level in several months following this Sunday's general elections in the country amid hopes that the BOJ will continue to take steps to boost the economy.

It is widely believed that the Bank of Japan under the new government will continue to aggressively take steps aimed at boosting the economy in the world's third largest economy. Polls shows that the Japan's main opposition party, the Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner might be able to secure a majority in the parliament to form a new government.

Genting Singapore, a leading gaming company, is looking to enter the Japanese market where the new government is likely to approve a plan to legalizing casinos in the coming a year or a year and a half.

Gaming operator, which operates casino and entertainment complex Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore, is aiming to expand to newer markets at a time when it is facing stricter regulations and a slowing economy in the island nation. The company had recorded a fall of 20 per cent in its revenues from gaming during the third quarter compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

Goodman Fielder has said that it has sold its New Zealand flour milling business to Japan's New Zealand to Nisshin Flour Milling in a deal valued at $51 million.

Australia's Goodman Fielder said that the Japanese firm has said that it will retail all the staff at Champion flour milling business in New Zealand. The deal is expected to be closed by February 2013.

Champion claims that it produces about 60 per cent of the country's flour and cereal-based products at its two units in Christchurch and Mt Maunganui.

On Monday, US consumer electronic bigwig Amazon announced the availability of its digital Kindle Paperwhite reader in Japan; a market in which the Amazon device will take on rivals like e-commerce firm Rakuten's Kobo e-reader.

Amazon said in an announcement that the shipping of the Kindle Paperwhite units to Japanese customers who had pre-ordered the device through the Amazon Web page began on Monday; while some of the country's leading department stores will start selling the e-reader from Tuesday onwards.

The governments of Japan, China and South Korea will begin negotiations for a trilateral free trade agreement and discussions will begin next year.

Japan's minister for Economy, Trade and Industry Yukio Edano, Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming and South Korean Minister for Trade Bark Tae Ho came to an agreement to begin talks on free trade agreement during their meeting in Cambodia's capital. The development is a positive sign amid growing rift between Japan and China over disputed islands.

It is believed that the Bank of Japan will most likely keep the policy steady and hold any further stimulus for the economy until early next year.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has already dissolved the country's parliament ahead of an election on December 16, in which the ruling political party is expected to get a poor response from the voters. The central bank is looking to consider the policies of the new government before making decisions.