Official campaigning kicked off in Japan before a December 14 election which Prime Minister has described as a referendum on his faltering "Abenomics" growth blitz.
Kazakhstani figure skater Denis Ten has taken the third place at the 2014 Trophée Éric Bompard, the fifth event of the 2014–15 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating.
The Hollywood heart-throb has been joined by Pepper, a cheeky and chatty android, which its makers claim can answer customers' questions, to promote its Nescafe marque.
Residents of Japan's Okinawa Sunday elected a governor who opposes plans to relocate a US military base within the island chain, a fresh setback in efforts to resolve a thorny issue in military relations.
Japanese entertainment colossus Sony said it will debut a cable-style television service delivered through its popular PlayStation video game consoles.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he wanted deeper defence ties with the United States and Australia to ensure peace throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
The United States welcomed the meeting in Beijing between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as a chance to lower their simmering tensions.
Japan will provide up to $100 million in fresh aid to Ebola-hit West Africa, after the United States called for further global efforts to combat the deadly virus.