Nepal holds 1st municipal elections in over decade
February 8, 2006Nepalese voters headed warily to polling booths early Wednesday as a controversial municipal election kicked off, overshadowed by boycott calls by major political parties and fear of attacks by Maoist insurgents enforcing a general strike. Voters began casting their ballots at 8 a.m. at more than 1,000 polling stations in 22 administrative districts, and the polls were to stay open until 5 p.m.
Koizumi reluctant to spur accepting foreign labor
February 8, 2006Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi voiced his reluctance Wednesday to further increase the number of foreign workers in Japan, citing concerns about a rise in conflicts in the society. ''Conflicts inevitably occur when foreign workers increase to a certain level,'' Koizumi told a House of Representatives Budget Committee session. ''The idea of supplementing labor shortages by easily accepting them should be carefully considered.''
Imperial succession bill may not be submitted: Koizumi
February 8, 2006Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi hinted Wednesday the government may not present a bill during the current Diet session to allow female monarchs in Japan. ''The bill should be passed in a manner that satisfies all parties concerned after the issue is discussed cautiously,'' Koizumi said during a House of Representatives Budget Committee session.
Ex-diplomat recognizes existence of secret pact on Okinawa's return
February 8, 2006A former senior Japanese Foreign Ministry official recognized Wednesday that Japan had secretly shouldered $4 million in costs for Okinawa's reversion to Japan from U.S. occupation in 1972. Bunroku Yoshino, 87, who negotiated with the U.S. government for Okinawa's return to Japan as director general of the ministry's American Bureau, was the first among current and former government officials to admit the existence of the secret pact involving the Okinawa reversion agreement signed in 1971. The American Bureau was later reorganized into the North American Affairs Bureau.
ADB chief says bank eyes launching Asian Currency Unit
February 8, 2006Asian Development Bank President Haruhiko Kuroda said Wednesday the bank is thinking of releasing the Asian Currency Unit, or ACU, a notional unit of exchange based on a ''basket,'' or the weighted average of the values of currencies used in 13 Asian countries. Kuroda announced the plan in a speech at the Japan National Press Club.