Baseball: Japanese reliever Mori to join Tampa Bay Devil Rays
January 11, 2006The Tampa Bay Devil Rays said Wednesday the major league baseball club and Japanese reliever Shinji Mori have signed a two-year deal believed to be worth $1.5 million. ''Shinji Mori is a talented reliever who will add depth to our bullpen,'' Andrew Friedman, the Rays' executive vice president for baseball operations, said on the club's website.
Terror bombs forced decline in visits to London but future looks bright
January 11, 2006The terrorist bombing attacks on London's transport network in July 2005 may be the reason for a decline in last year's visits by overseas residents to Britain, and in particular London, provisional figures released Wednesday revealed. According to the data published by the government's Office for National Statistics, there was a 2 percent fall, to 3.7 million, in the number of visits to London between July and September -- the third quarter of 2005 -- compared with the same quarter of 2004.
Soccer: Oguro introduced by Grenoble, aiming for goals
January 11, 2006Japan striker Masashi Oguro officially signed for Grenoble of the French second division Tuesday and said he is ready to give his best for his new Japanese-owned club. ''I'll just try to score a number of goals for this club which has given me an opportunity to make a new start,'' Oguro said as he was introduced by Grenoble at a press conference attended by more than 30 local media people.
METI to work out consumption tax hike plan based on industrial trends
January 11, 2006The Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry is planning to make a new proposal on a possible consumption tax hike from the current 5 percent based on estimated economic growth rates, taking into consideration industrial trends such as technological innovations and the decline in labor force, ministry sources said Wednesday. The tax plan will be included in METI's ''new growth strategy,'' which will be compiled by May to strengthen global competitiveness of the Japanese economy and stimulate the country's regional economies, they said.