Japan's August retail sales climbed 2.8% year on year, beating Reuters poll estimates of a 2.3% rise, and up from a revised 2.7% rise in July.

By Wayne Cole SYDNEY (Reuters) -Share markets turned hesitant in Asia on Monday as strife in the Middle East offset more policy measures in China, while the Nikkei dived on concerns Japan's new prime minister favoured normalising interest rates.

O/R] The week is packed with major U.S. economic data including a payrolls report that could decide whether the Federal Reserve delivers another outsized rate cut in November. The Nikkei led the early action with a dive of 4.

Japan's Ueno Zoological Garden announced the safe return of elderly pandas Shin Shin and Ri Ri to China for medical treatment. The duo had arrived in 2011, becoming a source of joy following Japan's devastating earthquake and tsunami.

Thousands of Japanese fans have bid farewell to their beloved panda couple that made their final public appearance at Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo before returning to China for medical treatment

Japan's beloved elderly giant pandas Shin Shin and Ri Ri were safely returned to China on Sunday, Tokyo's Ueno Zoological Garden reported on its website.