Hamas wins parliament majority, Fatah opts for opposition
January 26, 2006The Palestinian Cabinet resigned en masse Thursday after unofficial results showed Hamas won a parliamentary majority in Wednesday's elections, paving the way for the Islamic militant group to form a new government, the Associated Press reported. Hamas officials said their top leader, Khaled Mashaal, spoke with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas about a possible political partnership between Hamas and Abbas' Fatah party, but senior Fatah official Saeb Erekat later announced that Fatah will be in the opposition.
Police officer arrested for allegedly pointing gun at man
January 26, 2006A police officer was arrested Thursday on suspicion of pointing a gun at a man to force him to confess during questioning over a minor crime in the city of Nagasaki. Lieutenant Norihiko Irie, 53, of the Oura police station has denied the allegations, saying he has never taken out a gun, according to the police.
3 Kyoto Univ. students arrested over alleged gang rape
January 26, 2006Police on Thursday arrested three Kyoto University students for allegedly raping two female university students, Kyoto police officials said. Jumpei Shirai, 22, Ryo Ikeguchi, 23, and Masahiro Kido, 22, all seniors at the prestigious national university and Kyoto residents, were arrested, the officials said. The three have denied the allegations.
Taiwan to promote ties with Libya, hope for Chen's trip dim: FM
January 26, 2006Taiwan will continue seeking to develop bilateral ties with Libya despite rival China's opposition, the island's new foreign minister, James Huang, said Thursday. Huang's comments follow the Libyan government's recent pledge to uphold Beijing's ''one-China'' policy after a senior Libyan official visited Taiwan early last week and extended an invitation to President Chen Shui-bian to visit the North African country.
Hamas wins parliament majority, Fatah opts for opposition
January 26, 2006The Palestinian Cabinet resigned en masse Thursday after unofficial results showed Hamas won a parliamentary majority in Wednesday's elections, paving the way for the Islamic militant group to form a new government, the Associated Press reported. Hamas officials said their top leader, Khaled Mashaal, spoke with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas about a possible political partnership between Hamas and Abbas' Fatah party, but senior Fatah official Saeb Erekat later announced that Fatah will be in the opposition.
Capital gains from shady Livedoor buyout deals paid in dividends
January 26, 2006The Livedoor Co. group made investment unions under its control transfer gains on sales of stocks they had received in connection with equity swap deals to the parent firm in the form of dividends, sources familiar with those buyout deals said Thursday. The sources said such gains were treated in Livedoor's financial statements as extraordinary gains, instead of capital surpluses which some accountants suggest is the proper way to deal with profits made through the sell-off of a company's own shares.
Livedoor mulls correcting past financial records
January 26, 2006Livedoor Co. is considering changing the company's auditor and correcting its past financial statements, a Livedoor official said Thursday. Yokohama-based Koyo & Co. was in charge of auditing Livedoor's financial statements.