BUSINESS BRIEFS
Senate to review US Airways bid
Advertiser Staff and News Services
US Airways' hostile bid for Delta Air Lines moves into the political realm this week when a U.S. Senate panel explores the potential effect of industry consolidation on fares, air service and jobs.
US Airways CEO Doug Parker and Delta CEO Gerald Grinstein will testify at Wednesday's hearing before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, chaired by Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, D-Hawai'i.
Federal regulators, consumer advocates and economists are also on the witness list.
The deal would create the nation's largest domestic carrier. Delta, already the United States' third-biggest carrier, wants to remain independent.
EMBATTLED FUJIYA PICKS NEW LEADER
TOKYO — A major Japanese confectioner at the center of a widening scandal announced a new company president today after revelations of quality-control problems, officials said.
Yasufumi Sakurai, Fujiya Co.'s director, was tapped as new president in a decision made during a board meeting today, a company spokesman said on condition of anonymity.
Sakurai was to replace Rintaro Fujii, who announced last week he would resign after acknowledging that a company probe had found expired ingredients, including milk, eggs, blueberry jam and apple filling, were used in products.
Japanese media coverage has been dominated by the unfolding scandal at Fujiya, a prestigious chain founded in 1910 and famous for its "Peko-chan" smiling girl mascot.
RETAILERS PLAN BIG VISTA DEBUTS
DALLAS — Some retailers are planning to use tactics normally reserved for must-have electronics such as new video-game consoles when the Windows Vista computer operating system goes on sale to the public next week.
CompUSA Inc. will throw open the doors of its 230 stores shortly before midnight for the Jan. 30 launch and start selling the first Vista-equipped desktop and notebook computers the minute it can do so under its arrangement with Vista's maker, Microsoft Corp.
Best Buy Co. plans to do the same thing at about 15 of its stores. Both chains are promising deals on PCs and notebooks to create opening-night fever.
