Olympics: Swiss dash Japan's hopes in women's curling
February 20, 2006The gallant Olympic campaign of the Japanese women's curlers ended Monday when their hopes for a semifinal spot were dashed after an 11-5 loss to Switzerland in their final match of the preliminary round at the Turin Games. The Swiss, who had already qualified for the last four, raced to a 3-0 lead after two ends and scored four points in the fourth to take a commanding 7-2 lead en route to their seventh win in the 10-team round robin.
Olympics: Swiss dash Japan's hopes in women's curling
February 20, 2006The gallant Olympic campaign of the Japanese women's curlers ended Monday when their hopes for a semifinal spot were dashed after an 11-5 loss to Switzerland in their final match of the preliminary round at the Turin Games. The Swiss, who had already qualified for the last four, raced to a 3-0 lead after two ends and scored four points in the fourth to take a commanding 7-2 lead en route to their seventh win in the 10-team round robin.
Olympics: Hopes sink further for Japan in Turin
February 20, 2006Japan's hopes to win a medal at the Turin Olympics took a colossal leap backwards Monday after the spirit-boosting women's curling team was denied a spot into the semifinals with defeat to Switzerland. Realistically out of reach of its target of five medals, Japan has been left red-faced and will now be pinning a shred of hope on the collective talents of figure skaters Miki Ando, Fumie Suguri and Shizuka Arakawa when the women's short program gets under way Tuesday.
Olympics: Sasaki crashes out in giant slalom
February 20, 2006Japanese slalom skier Akira Sasaki warmed up for his specialty event with a giant slalom run but veered off the course and failed to finish at the Turin Games on Monday. Sasaki had a strong early run before losing control to miss a gate in the midsection as he became one of the 35 casualties who did not complete their first runs on a technically demanding course in the Italian Alps.
Some DPJ lawmakers express doubt about Livedoor e-mail
February 20, 2006Some lawmakers of the Democratic Party of Japan began to express doubts Monday about the authenticity of an e-mail which fellow party members allege was sent by Livedoor Co. founder Takafumi Horie telling the recipient to transfer 30 million yen to the younger son of Tsutomu Takebe, the secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. The development comes after the main opposition party presented a copy of the e-mail to the executive board of the House of Representatives Budget Committee earlier Monday and called for invoking parliamentary investigation rights so the related bank account can be checked.
Prosecutors claim Livedoor padded earnings by 4 bil. yen
February 20, 2006Prosecutors have found that Livedoor Co. dressed up its profits to the tune of 4 billion yen in the year through September 2004, investigation sources said Monday, as former executives of the Internet and financial services firm are expected to face further charges soon. Prosecutors are likely to serve new arrest warrants on former Livedoor President Takafumi Horie and three other former executives, possibly on Tuesday, over the alleged accounting fraud aimed at boosting the company's share price.
Lawyers move to protect Livedoor shareholders
February 20, 2006A group of lawyers set up a team Monday to help investors who bought Livedoor Co. shares and incurred heavy losses due to the plunge in the stock take legal steps against the Internet and financial company, a move that could lead to large-scale lawsuits. In the wake of allegations that Livedoor committed accounting fraud, the lawyers said there is a need to protect shareholders in spite of the principle of personal responsibility for stock investments.
15-meter stretch of Tokyo's Yamanote Line railway sinking
February 20, 2006East Japan Railway Co. said Monday it found a 15-meter stretch of railway track on Tokyo's Yamanote Line sinking up to 2 centimeters between Shimbashi and Hamamatsucho stations, after some train drivers felt abnormal shakiness. JR East suspended operations on one direction of the bidirectional loop line in central Tokyo for checking for almost three hours from around 7:55 a.m., affecting some 112,000 passengers, it said.
Mazda begins making CX-7 compact SUV for sale in N. America
February 20, 2006Mazda Motor Corp. said Monday it has begun building at its No. 2 Ujina plant in Hiroshima its all-new CX-7 compact sport utility vehicle for sale in North America from this spring. Mazda said it developed the five-seater SUV, a crossover vehicle combining the convenience of an SUV and the styling of a sports car, under the motto of creating a car ''that will be fun to drive.''
Loud explosion rocks Philippine presidential palace
February 20, 2006A loud explosion on Monday rocked the Malacanang presidential palace compound, causing no injuries or damage. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was hosting a luncheon meeting inside the palace when the explosion occurred near one of the buildings in the compound.