Roh seeks to conclude wartime command talks with U.S. in 2006
January 24, 2006South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun said Wednesday that the government will aim to reach an agreement with the United States this year on taking back wartime military operational command. ''South Korea has treated the U.S. as its closest ally. We will solve the wartime command and other pending issues this year through close consultations,'' Yonhap News Agency quoted Roh as saying in a speech prior to his New Year's press conference at his office.
Fuji TV chief says not selling Livedoor shares may be one option
January 24, 2006Fuji Television Network Inc. Chairman Hisashi Hieda said Wednesday there is a possibility that the broadcaster may continue to maintain its shareholdings in scandal-hit Livedoor Co. Hieda told reporters that holding Livedoor shares is regarded as part of Fuji TV's investment. ''It is possible to keep the shares stably or it may go the other way around,'' he said.
Transplant surgery to be covered by health insurance
January 24, 2006Transplant surgery will be covered by health insurance from April, after an advisory panel to the health minister approved it Wednesday. Following the introduction of the new system endorsed by the Central Social Insurance Medical Council, the surgery cost for a heart transplant that a patient needs to pay will fall to less than 200,000 yen from some 3 million yen at present, according to health ministry officials.
Livedoor made losses on purpose to cover fake profit in 2004 book
January 24, 2006Livedoor Co. intentionally carried out loss-making operations over a period of two months after releasing its financial report in the business year that ended in September 2004, so as to wipe out about 2.4 billion yen in fake profits it had recorded in its books, sources familiar with the matter said Wednesday. Livedoor is believed to have erased the fictitious figures to prevent getting itself into trouble later.
Emperor, empress to visit Miyake Island in March
January 24, 2006Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko will visit Miyake Island, off Tokyo, in early March to encourage islanders in efforts to rebuild their communities, which have been affected by a series of major volcanic eruptions since 2000, government sources said Wednesday. They are expected to make a one-day trip to the Pacific island, about 200 kilometers south of Tokyo, by air and see the post-disaster lives of around 2,900 islanders, the sources said.
Prosecutors set to cut into Livedoor accounting fraud
January 24, 2006Prosecutors are planning to file accounting fraud charges against Livedoor Co. as one of its arrested executives has admitted the allegations, investigative sources said Tuesday. The prosecutors, investigating the Livedoor group's alleged market manipulation over one of its subsidiaries' merger and accounting deals, arrested four group executives Monday.
Livedoor Marketing picks new head after arrest of Okamoto
January 24, 2006Livedoor Marketing Co. said Tuesday it has given Director Satoshi Hoyano the right to represent the company, a step taken due to the arrest Monday of its President Fumito Okamoto. Hoyano, 44, joined Livin' on the Edge Inc., the predecessor of Livedoor Co., Livedoor Marketing's parent firm, in 2000 as one of its board members. He became a director of ValueClick Japan Inc., Livedoor Marketing's predecessor, in 2004.
Koizumi admits responsibility for backing Horie's candidacy
January 24, 2006Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Tuesday acknowledged his responsibility for supporting the candidacy of arrested former Livedoor Co. President Takafumi Horie in the general election last fall. ''I would humbly accept responsibility'' if a political party is to take the blame for backing a candidate who has been later found to have violated law, Koizumi, leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, told reporters at his official residence.
Tennis: Asagoe reaches Australian Open women's doubles semis
January 24, 2006Japan's Shinobu Asagoe and her Slovenian partner Katarina Srebotnik upset the 2004 Wimbledon women's doubles champions in three sets Tuesday to reach the semifinals at the Australian Open. The ninth seed pair beat second-seeded Cara Black of Zimbabwe and Australian Rennae Stubbs 6-3, 4-6, 6-0 in the quarterfinals, making Asagoe the first Japanese to reach the women's doubles semifinals in Grand Slam tournaments since Ai Sugiyama at the U.S. Open in 2004.
Horie steps down, Livedoor execs reverse earlier claims
January 24, 2006Livedoor Co. President Takafumi Horie stepped down Tuesday, a day after he was arrested on suspicion of violating securities laws and the company named Kozo Hiramatsu, its senior vice president, as president. Meanwhile, prosecutors quoted Livedoor executives as saying, contrary to their earlier claims, that Horie was involved in some of the corporate takeover deals currently being investigated.
TSE to cut Livedoor stock's daily trading to 1.5 hours
January 24, 2006The Tokyo Stock Exchange said Tuesday it will limit daily trading hours for Livedoor Co. stock to 1.5 hours, starting Wednesday, to prevent a torrent of sell orders for the stock from paralyzing the entire Tokyo bourse. Investors will only be allowed to trade shares in the Internet firm, which has been the focus of recent media attention over allegations of accounting fraud, between 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m., the TSE said. Livedoor President Takafumi Horie and three other Livedoor group executives were arrested Monday over the allegations of fraud involving mergers and acquisitions and share swaps.