Japan's jobless rate hits 7-year low of 4.4% in 2005
January 30, 2006Japan's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate hit a seven-year low of 4.4 percent in 2005, down from 4.7 percent in 2004, the government said Tuesday. It is the lowest annual average rate since the 4.1 percent registered in 1998. The jobless rate declined for the third straight year.
OPEC to leave output quota unchanged at 28 mil. barrels
January 30, 2006The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries will keep the official output quota for its members unchanged at 28 million barrels per day for a period beginning in April, officials said Monday. Saudi Arabia's Oil Minister Ali Naimi told reporters that the OPEC ministers who took part in Monday's preparatory talks agreed on maintaining the current output ceiling for now.
Mideast quartet warns Hamas on future funding over violence
January 30, 2006The United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations warned Monday that funding for Palestinians would be at risk if a future government led by the militant group Hamas continues to advocate violence. Representatives from the Middle East quartet said in a statement issued after talks in London that it was ''inevitable that future assistance to any new government would be reviewed by donors against that government's commitment to the principles of nonviolence.''
Salaried workers' household spending down 0.3% in 2005
January 30, 2006The average monthly spending by Japanese wage-earning households fell a real 0.3 percent in 2005 from the previous year to 328,649 yen, the government said Tuesday. Their average monthly income came to 522,629 yen, down 1.0 percent in real terms, with disposable income shrinking 0.8 percent to 439,672 yen, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said in a preliminary report.
Aso qualifies remark calling for emperor to visit Yasukuni
January 30, 2006Foreign Minister Taro Aso said Tuesday his call at the weekend for the emperor to visit the war-related Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo was not a call for the emperor to go to the shrine ''in the current situation.'' Aso said Saturday that it is desirable for the emperor to visit the Shinto shrine, ''from the viewpoint of the spirits of the war dead,'' who had shouted ''Banzai'' for the emperor before sacrificing themselves in the war. ==Kyodo
Mayoral candidate shot in Nepal, rebels suspected
January 30, 2006In the first attack after candidates filed their nominations to contest seats in Nepal's Feb. 8 municipal elections, gunmen shot and injured a candidate for the post of mayor of Lalitpur City on Monday afternoon, police said. Two men riding on a motorcycle shot at Dal Bahadur Rai in the back around 2 p.m. while he was sitting on the veranda of his residence in the city, adjoining Kathmandu, according to police.
Farm minister apologizes over U.S. beef import resumption
January 30, 2006Farm minister Shoichi Nakagawa apologized Monday at the Diet for the government's failure to keep its promise to send officials to check U.S. beef processors prior to resuming U.S. beef imports last month, prompting the opposition camp to demand that he quit. Following a more than five-hour-long suspension of the Diet session over his remarks, Nakagawa, however, rejected the resignation call.
Farm minister apologizes over U.S. beef import resumption
January 30, 2006Farm minister Shoichi Nakagawa apologized Monday for the government's failure to keep its promise to send officials to check U.S. beef processors prior to resuming U.S. beef imports last month. The government had promised in a formal document submitted to parliament in November to send such a mission, but Nakagawa admitted that it actually did not and told the Diet he will consider how to take responsibility for the fault.
Osaka forcibly removes tents of homeless in 2 local parks
January 30, 2006The Osaka city government forcibly removed 28 tents used by homeless people in two local parks on Monday despite strong resistance by the homeless people and their supporters. The municipal government sent more than 300 city workers and about 350 security guards to Utsubo Park in Nishi Ward and Osakajo Park in Chuo Ward for the removal. The Osaka police also mobilized about 350 officers.
80-year-old Osaka gov't building could collapse in major quake
January 30, 2006The 80-year-old Osaka prefectural head office building could collapse in a major earthquake since it has not been adequately reinforced against earthquakes, prefectural officials said Monday. The prefectural government plans to decide by the fall whether to rebuild the six-story concrete building or reinforce it, they said.