- Asian markets tumble as US jobs data stoke recession fears
- China consumer prices edge up to six-month high in August
- Kenya starts DNA testing to identify school fire victims
- Ukraine's Paralympics success 'a win for Ukrainian disabled people's rights'
- Paralympics flame still burns brightly for military veterans
- Genitalia from girls mutilated in I. Coast sold for magic
- Algeria's Tebboune re-elected president for second term
- US takes on Google's ad tech empire in antitrust trial
- Apple AI expected to star as new iPhones are unveiled
- Awe and trepidation as AI comes for smartphones
- Philippines arrests pastor wanted by US for child sex trafficking
- Soccer great Morgan bids farewell in final match
- Drugs test row 'still on my mind' says US Open champion Sinner
- Paris Paralympics close with a party after 'historic summer'
- Dolphins ace Hill baffled by 'crazy' police arrest
- 'I let lot of people down', says Fritz after US Open final loss
- Vatican thriller 'Conclave' drums up Oscars buzz in Toronto
- More civilians killed hours after Sudan rejects UN experts' report
- Ronaldo strikes late to seal Portugal win over Scotland
- Drought sinks longest Polish river to record-low level
- East Timor prepares for first papal visit since independence
- Tearful Sinner dedicates US Open title to seriously ill aunt
- Three things on US Open champion Jannik Sinner
- Ten-man Spain sink Switzerland in 4-1 romp
- Hill sparks Dolphins comeback in wild NFL opening day
- Sinner sweeps to US Open title for second Grand Slam triumph
- Smith heroics for England remind Collingwood of Gilchrist
- Thousands protest Mexican judicial reform
- Nissanka leaves Sri Lanka in sight of third Test win over England
- Kendrick Lamar to headline 2025 Super Bowl halftime show
- Thousands defy roadblocks in rally for Pakistan ex-PM Khan
- Roglic wins record-equalling fourth Vuelta
- Russia advances in east Ukraine, launches deadly air strikes
- Cowboys quarterback Prescott agrees record $240 mln extension
- Swiss double in Paralympic wheelchair marathons, Dutch women retain basketball title
- New 'Beetlejuice' creeps its way to top of N.America box office
- South Africa captain Kolisi leaves Racing 92: French Top 14 club
- Funeral for slain athlete Cheptegei in Uganda on Sept 14
- Dolphins star Hill arrested on way to season-opener
- Smith hits back after England collapse against Sri Lanka
- Weather delays final regattas in Louis Vuitton Cup
- Venezuela's Gonzalez Urrutia: from placeholder to opposition pointman
- Marquez thanks rain for San Marino MotoGP win as leader Martin pays for gamble
- Boeing, union reach preliminary deal to avert Seattle-area strike
- Neuville wins Acropolis Rally to close in on world title
- Venezuela's opposition figure fled to Spain to save 'his life'
- Trump, Harris tied on eve of televised presidential debate
- Paris Paralympics the greatest ever, say former Olympics executives
- Pope exit revives Sri Lanka's hopes in third Test against England
- Gunman kills 3 Israelis at West Bank crossing as Gaza war rages
Weak yen helps Toyota compensate for Japan problems
Toyota reported a modest rise in first-quarter net profits on Thursday as a weak yen and cost cuts helped the Japanese auto giant overcome a drop in production and sales in its home market.
The firm said net income rose 1.7 percent to 1.33 trillion yen ($8.9 billion) and operating profit jumped 16.7 percent to 1.31 trillion yen. Revenues climbed 12.2 percent to 11.8 trillion yen.
The world's largest automaker by sales also kept unchanged its full-year forecasts, predicting net profit of 3.57 trillion yen, marking a drop of 27.8 percent, on sales of 46 trillion yen, which would be a gain of 2.0 percent.
"Our operating income was 1.3 trillion yen despite a decrease in production and sales volume in Japan, due to the effects of foreign exchange rates and cost reduction efforts," Toyota said in a statement.
"Despite the inability to maintain stable production in Japan due to factors such as certification issues and recalls, we achieved an increase in profit, thanks to the support of all our stakeholders, including suppliers and dealers," it said.
In June, the government instructed five firms -- Toyota, Honda, Mazda, Suzuki and Yamaha -- to stop delivering certain vehicle models within Japan because of certification issues.
This week Toyota was also slapped with a correction order by the transport ministry over a failure to comply fully with national vehicle inspection standards.
That followed inspections in June by officials at its headquarters in the central Aichi region to probe breaches declared by the company related to domestic shipment certifications.
Toyota last year reported record bumper results, with net profit doubling to 4.94 trillion yen and revenues soaring by a fifth to 45.1 trillion yen, helped by strong sales of hybrid vehicles.
The company pioneered hybrid cars -- combining internal combustion engines and batteries -- with its popular Prius model.
But it has been criticised along with other Japanese automakers for being slow to embrace purely battery-powered vehicles, allowing firms like Tesla and China's BYD to steal a march and gain market share.
However, there are signs consumers are going cold on pure EVs because of high prices and worries about reliability, range and a lack of charging points.
Toyota aims to sell 1.5 million pure EVs annually by 2026 and 3.5 million by 2030. Last year it sold 10.3 million vehicles.
The firm is also hoping to mass-produce solid-state batteries, a potential game-changing technological breakthrough that could mean faster charging times and greater range.
Its rivals Honda and Nissan announced in March that they are exploring a "strategic partnership" in EVs in a bid to catch up with competitors.
The scope for possible cooperation includes EV software and joint procurement of parts, the companies said.
The two firms were due to hold a news conference later Thursday, with reports saying they will announce a basic agreement to form the alliance.
Media reports reported that Mitsubishi was also in talks to join the tie-up.
P.L.Madureira--PC