Annan condemns suicide bombing in Iraq
January 4, 2006U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan condemned a bombing that took place during a funeral service in Miqdadiya on Wednesday. ''He condemns this horrendous crime committed against innocent civilians in total disrespect for human life and dignity,'' a statement said.
36 killed in suicide bombing at Shiite funeral in Iraq
January 4, 2006A suicide bomber killed about 36 people and wounded 40 others during a Shiite Muslim funeral near Baghdad on Wednesday, Reuters news agency reported, quoting Iraqi police and security officials. The attack on mourners at a cemetery in Miqdadiya, some 100 kilometers northeast of Baghdad, marks the bloodiest attack since Iraq's Dec. 15 assembly election, the report said.
Economic rebound likely to fuel unions' demand for higher wages
January 4, 2006Japan's economic rebound is likely to embolden many labor unions to demand higher wages with greater vehemence during this year's spring labor-management talks after years of cheerlessness and resignation, union officials said Wednesday. The Japanese Electrical Electronic and Information Union, and the Japan Federation of Basic Industry Workers' Unions, two umbrella labor organizations, earlier adopted a policy of having unions under their wings seek increases of 2,000-3,000 yen in monthly wages.
China power companies plan to break H.K. electricity monopolies
January 4, 2006China Power International Holding Ltd. announced Wednesday a new joint venture company that could enter Hong Kong's electricity market as early as in 2007 when there is expected to be a surplus in power supply in southern China. China Hong Kong Power Development Co. is a trio joint venture of Hong Kong-listed CPI and media publishing firm Vertex Communications & Technology Group, and China Southern Power Grid Co.
Nikkei index forecast to rise to 18,000 level in 1st half of 2006
January 4, 2006Securities analysts by and large expect Tokyo stocks, as measured by the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, to rise back to the 18,000 level in the first half of 2006 against the backdrop of Japan's improving economic environments. The bullish outlook reflects increased expectations for an end to Japan's deflation and improving corporate earnings.
DPJ's Maehara studying moving up leadership race from September
January 4, 2006Democratic Party of Japan President Seiji Maehara said Wednesday he is studying moving the main opposition party's presidential election up from September as scheduled to avoid a parallel leadership election with the governing Liberal Democratic Party. ''My term of office as DPJ president runs through September,'' Maehara said. ''Some forward rescheduling of the election must be studied while looking at developments of the LDP presidential race (in late September).''