Firms in Japan band together in campaign to aid starving people

Japanese businesses and individuals are starting a group in October to support the World Food Programme in trying to eradicate hunger in Africa. Uichiro Niwa, chairman of the trading company Itochu Corp, appealed to businesses and individuals in July to make donations of ¥100,000 ($895, £500). Altogether 67 companies, including House Foods Corp, Showa Shell Sekiyu KK and Nissan, have signed up.