LDP approves bill to revise Hansen Disease compensation law
January 23, 2006The ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Tuesday approved a draft of a revision bill for the Hansen Disease compensation law to provide 8 million yen each to former leprosy patients who were placed in leprosariums in South Korea and Taiwan during Japan's colonial rule. The bill will be approved at the ongoing Diet session as early as next week as the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan has already endorsed it, LDP officials said.
Japan's service industry activity inches up 0.1% in November
January 23, 2006Japan's service industry activity index inched up 0.1 percent in November from the previous month for the second straight monthly gain, supported by good results in the wholesale and retail businesses as well as financial services, the government said Tuesday. The tertiary industry index -- a measure of demand for services -- climbed to a seasonally adjusted 108.0 against the base of 100 for 2000, hitting its highest level since the base year, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said in a preliminary report.
Ministers rap Livedoor, defend LDP backup of Horie in election
January 23, 2006Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and his Cabinet members on Tuesday criticized Livedoor Co. for its alleged securities law violations, but defended a Liberal Democratic Party's move to informally support Livedoor President Takafumi Horie when he ran in the general election last year. ''The incident and the fact that senior LDP officials gave some support (to Horie) are separate matters,'' Koizumi told a House of Councillors meeting Tuesday morning, while expressing his regrets over the ongoing scandal of the Internet service company which further developed with the arrest of Horie the previous day.
Bush vows to work aggressively to reopen Japan's beef market
January 23, 2006U.S. President George W. Bush said Monday the United States will work aggressively to reopen the Japanese beef market after Tokyo reimposed a ban on American beef last week, expressing hope that the trade problem will be resolved quickly. ''The problem we've recently had reflects what is necessary to make sure that trade works,'' Bush said in commenting for the first time over the incident in which cattle backbone material, which is considered to be a risk material for mad cow disease and is prohibited in Japan, was discovered in a shipment of U.S. beef that arrived at Narita International Airport, outside Tokyo, on Friday.
Takebe apologizes for supporting Horie's candidacy
January 23, 2006Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Tsutomu Takebe apologized Tuesday for supporting the candidacy of arrested Livedoor Co. President Takafumi Horie in the general election last year, saying it was his own decision. But Takebe rejected the argument that the LDP effectively supported Horie, who was arrested Monday for alleged security law violations, in the House of Representatives election in September.
Revision in realignment plan possible amid local concerns: Aso
January 23, 2006Foreign Minister Taro Aso indicated Tuesday that an agreement between Japan and the United States to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps Futemma Air Station in Ginowan to Nago, both in Okinawa Prefecture, could be revised in a way to ease local concerns over noise pollution. ''It is natural to give the utmost consideration to noise pollution to obtain the understanding of the local community,'' Aso said at a news conference after a Cabinet meeting. Noise pollution is one of the reasons locals oppose the agreement.
S. Korean lobbyist indicted in Iraq oil-for-food scandal
January 23, 2006Park Tong Sun, a South Korean lobbyist who is famous for his role in a bribery scandal called ''Koreagate'' in the 1970s, was indicted by a grand jury Monday at a district court in Manhattan. In court documents, Park, 70, is charged with moneylaundering, as well as acting as an unregistered agent of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's government and violating the foreign registrations act during his involvement with the U.N. Oil-for-Food Program.
22 homeless face ultimatum to remove tents from parks
January 23, 2006The Osaka city government on Tuesday gave final notice to 22 homeless people that it will dismantle their tents in two parks if they do not do so voluntarily first, city officials said. The decision for the removal, which is expected to take place as early as next week, came as the city prepares to host the World Rose Convention 2006 in May.
China, Saudi Arabia sign agreements on energy, economic cooperation
January 23, 2006Chinese President Hu Jintao and visiting Saudi Arabian King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz signed a series of agreements Monday on economic cooperation and energy for fuel-hungry China. Hu and King Abdullah, who is making his first China visit, agreed in a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to work together on oil, natural gas and minerals.
FSA negative on TSE shortening trading hours permanently
January 23, 2006Financial Services Agency Commissioner Hirofumi Gomi said Monday he wants the Tokyo Stock Exchange to normalize trading hours, shortened since last week, at an early date. ''I think it is desirable that the stock trading hours be normalized as soon as possible,'' Gomi said at a news conference.
U.N. asks Japan for airplane to aid air transport in Iraq
January 23, 2006The United Nations has asked Japan for a small aircraft to be at its disposal for air transportation assistance in Iraq, the U.N. deputy special representative for Iraq said Monday. ''One small plane of 20 seats at full-time disposal of the U.N. in Iraq would do miracles because we would be able to quickly move without having to wait days for the coalition,'' Staffan de Mistura said after talks with Japanese officials in Tokyo.
New Nago mayor prefers sea-based airfield in Futemma relocation
January 23, 2006Yoshikazu Shimabukuro, the newly elected mayor of Nago in Okinawa, said Monday the current plan to relocate a U.S. military airport to the city is ''unacceptable'' and that he prefers building a complete off-shore airfield. Shimabukuro, 59, also told a news conference a day after his electoral victory that he is ready to hold talks with the central government over the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps Futemma Air Station in the city of Ginowan if the state makes modifications that are acceptable to the local communities.