News Stories

[ZephyrLeanne]

Originally Posted by Shadow Minato

Gov't protests to NTV for reporter's visit to Etorofu with Russian visa



I was going to post this in the A Laugh A Day section but I guess it is better to post it here..

"If it is necessary, do it. Otherwise, things will not get done."

Unfortunately, when things do get done; things do not sail smoothly, it usually comes with consequences. In this case, it appears that the Foreign Ministry is very unhappy of NTV's actions even though I think they made the right choice.

Of course, important figures of Japan such as the government, the military, and the media is best to avoid giving other nations the wrong impression when it comes to the claim of sovereignty. Thus, it appears that I am contradicting myself, even though this really isn't the case.

Well, remember, the Northern Territories is a disputed territory. It's like stepping on thin ice...

[Vexx]

Originally Posted by ShimatheKat

Well, remember, the Northern Territories is a disputed territory. It's like stepping on thin ice...

I'm rather impressed the Russian and Japanese are actually *talking* to each other diplomatically about the disputed islands after all these years... I figured the "agree to disagree" maxim would apply there for the rest of eternity

[Shadow Kira01]

Google to reshoot street views of Japanese cities

I find the feature to be difficult to use.

It consumes lots of bandwidth and ram. Unless one's computer has lots of ram to spare, it is a very bad idea to view the Google Maps in panoramic view even though it looks awesome!!!

Originally Posted by ShimatheKat

Well, remember, the Northern Territories is a disputed territory. It's like stepping on thin ice...

It is not disputed territory. It is Japanese sovereignty. Unfortunately, the Russians intend on using military might to forcefully occupied the land for indefinite amount of time and that cannot be helped, especially that the SDF have not been approved of collective self-defense and even with future collective self-defense, getting back the four islands is still too much of a task. Solving the issue diplomatically will only stall time as that it is not an actual solution.

[yezhanquan]

Well, the ball is in Russia's court. As long as they sit on their bottoms, there is preciously little Japan can do.

[Aquillion]

Originally Posted by Shadow Minato

It is not disputed territory. It is Japanese sovereignty. Unfortunately, the Russians intend on using military might to forcefully occupied the land for indefinite amount of time and that cannot be helped, especially that the SDF have not been approved of collective self-defense and even with future collective self-defense, getting back the four islands is still too much of a task. Solving the issue diplomatically will only stall time as that it is not an actual solution.

You can't just make the dispute go away just by wanting it.

Russia claims sovereignty over the islands in question, claiming it won them in WWII and that no treaties signed since would revert control to Japan; it bases this claim in the argument that they are part of the Kuril Islands, and that Japan therefore renounced all claim to them after the end of the war.

Japan disputes these claims, arguing that it does not see the islands under dispute as being part of the Kuril Islands, and that it therefore didn't give up control over them. This means it is a "disputed territory." Maybe it's a stupid dispute where one side is clearly right and the other is clearly wrong, but it's still a disputed territory.

[KimmyChan]

Space telescopes ready for launch -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8049307.stm

[yezhanquan]

Norway buckles the trend:

Thriving Norway Provides an Economics Lesson

Espen Rasmussen for The New York Times

OSLO — When capitalism seemed on the verge of collapse last fall, Kristin Halvorsen, Norway’s Socialist finance minister and a longtime free market skeptic, did more than crow.

As investors the world over sold in a panic, she bucked the tide, authorizing Norway’s $300 billion sovereign wealth fund to ramp up its stock buying program by $60 billion — or about 23 percent of Norway ’s economic output.

“The timing was not that bad,” Ms. Halvorsen said, smiling with satisfaction over the broad worldwide market rally that began in early March.

The global financial crisis has brought low the economies of just about every country on earth. But not Norway.

With a quirky contrariness as deeply etched in the national character as the fjords carved into its rugged landscape, Norway has thrived by going its own way. When others splurged, it saved. When others sought to limit the role of government, Norway strengthened its cradle-to-grave welfare state.

And in the midst of the worst global downturn since the Depression, Norway’s economy grew last year by just under 3 percent. The government enjoys a budget surplus of 11 percent and its ledger is entirely free of debt.

By comparison, the United States is expected to chalk up a fiscal deficit this year equal to 12.9 percent of its gross domestic product and push its total debt to $11 trillion, or 65 percent of the size of its economy.

Norway is a relatively small country with a largely homogeneous population of 4.6 million and the advantages of being a major oil exporter. It counted $68 billion in oil revenue last year as prices soared to record levels. Even though prices have sharply declined, the government is not particularly worried. That is because Norway avoided the usual trap that plagues many energy-rich countries.

Instead of spending its riches lavishly, it passed legislation ensuring that oil revenue went straight into its sovereign wealth fund, state money that is used to make investments around the world. Now its sovereign wealth fund is close to being the largest in the world, despite losing 23 percent last year because of investments that declined.

Norway’s relative frugality stands in stark contrast to Britain, which spent most of its North Sea oil revenue — and more — during the boom years. Government spending rose to 47 percent of G.D.P., from 42 percent in 2003. By comparison, public spending in Norway fell to 40 percent from 48 percent of G.D.P.

“The U.S. and the U.K. have no sense of guilt,” said Anders Aslund, an expert on Scandinavia at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington. “But in Norway, there is instead a sense of virtue. If you are given a lot, you have a responsibility.”

Eirik Wekre, an economist who writes thrillers in his spare time, describes Norwegians’ feelings about debt this way: “We cannot spend this money now; it would be stealing from future generations.”

Mr. Wekre, who paid for his house and car with cash, attributes this broad consensus to as the country’s iconoclasm. “The strongest man is he who stands alone in the world,” he said, quoting Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen.

Still, even Ibsen might concede that it is easier to stand alone when your nation has benefited from oil reserves that make it the third-largest exporter in the world. The money flowing from that black gold since the early 1970s has prompted even the flintiest of Norwegians to relax and enjoy their good fortune. The country’s G.D.P. per person is $52,000, behind only Luxembourg among industrial democracies.

As in much of the rest of the world home prices have soared here, tripling this decade. But there has been no real estate crash in Norway because there were few mortgage lending excesses. After a 15 percent correction, prices are again on the rise.

Unlike Dublin or Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where work has stopped on half-built skyscrapers and stilled cranes dot the skylines, Oslo retains a feeling of modesty reminiscent of a fishing village rather than a Western capital, with the recently opened $800 million Opera House one of the few signs of opulence.

Norwegian banks, said Arne J. Isachsen, an economist at the Norwegian School of Management, remain largely healthy and prudent in their lending. Banks represent just 2 percent of the economy and tight public oversight over their lending practices have kept Norwegian banks from taking on the risk that brought down their Icelandic counterparts. But they certainly have not closed their doors to borrowers. Mr. Isachsen, like many in Norway, has a second home and an open credit line from his bank, which he recently used to buy a new boat.

Some here worry that while a cabin in the woods and a boat may not approach the excesses seen in New York or London, oil wealth and the state largesse have corrupted Norway’s once-sturdy work ethic.

“This is an oil-for-leisure program,” said Knut Anton Mork, an economist at Handelsbanken in Oslo. A recent study, he pointed out, found that Norwegians work the fewest hours of the citizens of any industrial democracy.

“We have become complacent,” Mr. Mork added. “More and more vacation houses are being built. We have more holidays than most countries and extremely generous benefits and sick leave policies. Some day the dream will end.”

But that day is far off. For now, the air is clear, work is plentiful and the government’s helping hand is omnipresent — even for those on the margins.

Just around the corner from Norway’s central bank, for instance, Paul Bruum takes a needle full of amphetamines and jabs it into his muscular arm. His scabs and sores betray many years as a heroin addict. He says that the $1,500 he gets from the government each month is enough to keep him well-fed and supplied with drugs.

Mr. Bruum, 32, says he has never had a job, and he admits he is no position to find one. “I don’t blame anyone,” he said. “The Norwegian government has provided for me the best they can.”

To Ms. Halvorsen, the finance minister, even the underside of the Norwegian dream looks pretty good compared to the economic nightmares elsewhere.

“As a socialist, I have always said that the market can’t regulate itself,” she said. “But even I was surprised how strong the failure was.”

[KimmyChan]

Slumdog star's home is demolished -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8049735.stm

[Claies]

Originally Posted by KimmyChan

Slumdog star's home is demolished -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8049735.stm

gg Mumbai. Living in megaslum really sucks. >_>;

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by Claies

gg Mumbai. Living in megaslum really sucks. >_>;

Actually it is building a house in which you never owned at all, but nobody cared until when necessary.

[ZephyrLeanne]

Originally Posted by Shadow Minato

It is not disputed territory. It is Japanese sovereignty. Unfortunately, the Russians intend on using military might to forcefully occupied the land for indefinite amount of time and that cannot be helped, especially that the SDF have not been approved of collective self-defense and even with future collective self-defense, getting back the four islands is still too much of a task. Solving the issue diplomatically will only stall time as that it is not an actual solution.

... it's hawks like you that make Japan look bad to its neighbors. BTW, I'm in the minority that believes that Japan is to blame for the Pacific Stage of the WWII. I follow my church. This is their statement.

And whether it's Japanese or Russian, this should be brought to the ICJ. Since Japan (claims that it) has evidence to prove ownership before Russia, that should be done. ICJ's rulings are final (almost), like a Security Council Resolution.

[sa547]

Just for something light, how PM Aso is looking at the winner Emiri leaves me laughing:

http://www.japantoday.com/category/p...d-aso#comments

She calls him "stylish" :lol:

[KimmyChan]

Deal on 90m UK swine flu vaccines -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8051798.stm

[Claies]

Originally Posted by sa547

Just for something light, how PM Aso is looking at the winner Emiri leaves me laughing:

http://www.japantoday.com/category/p...d-aso#comments

She calls him "stylish" :lol:

Why do none of the Miss X's looks pretty to me, at all?

[yezhanquan]

Whoever took that pic of Miyasaka-san ought to have taken another shot. She's looking away from the camera, her dress looks odd and the hair badly needs attention.

[KimmyChan]

Thousands flee Pakistan fighting -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8051591.stm

[Vexx]

The Christian Science Monitor (not exactly known as a "bastion of liberalism") has some interesting things to say about rightwing "boogyman Sweden" in the way that country combines social infrastructure with capitalism.

http://features.csmonitor.com/global...ist-nightmare/

The comments are also interesting - one commenter points out a few of the failures they've had in the areas where they've reprivatized.

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by sa547

Just for something light, how PM Aso is looking at the winner Emiri leaves me laughing:

http://www.japantoday.com/category/p...d-aso#comments

She calls him "stylish" :lol:

What is with his eyes though........HENTAI!

[Vexx]

Originally Posted by SaintessHeart

What is with his eyes though........HENTAI!

He sees a very pretty girl posing for him.... he'd have to be dead not to react (though frankly I was more impressed with some of her competition in the Miss Japan contest)

In other news-rants.... the US dollar is quietly sliding down against the yen. It had almost returned to the 100 円 / $1 mark and today it has slipped back down to 95　円/$1. Bleh.... lament for the 120 円 / $1 days.

[Shadow Kira01]

Hatoyama, Okada face off in debate on eve of DPJ leadership election

I was so not expecting this possible scenario considering that Hatoyama had quickly resigned as soon as Ozawa stepped down. Strangely enough, Hatoyama-san has managed to pull off a lead even though people is seeing him as becoming a possible puppet of the well-known shadow minister Ozawa Ichiro. If Hatoyama does win the election today, it would seem that the LDP may have a tough time next general election because Hatoyama-san is a blue-blooded conservative of a party who plans on overthrowing another that has been in power for over five decades. I can't decide who makes a better prime minister between Taro Aso and Hatoyama Yukio. Personally, I think the return of Koizumi Junichiro will make things definitely more amazing!

Originally Posted by sa547

Just for something light, how PM Aso is looking at the winner Emiri leaves me laughing:

http://www.japantoday.com/category/p...d-aso#comments

She calls him "stylish" :lol:

The prime minister seems so.....cool.

Originally Posted by ShimatheKat

And whether it's Japanese or Russian, this should be brought to the ICJ. Since Japan (claims that it) has evidence to prove ownership before Russia, that should be done. ICJ's rulings are final (almost), like a Security Council Resolution.

I don't trust the ICJ. Considering that Russia is one of the veto wielders, taking it there would only be a disadvantage to Japan. Besides, Japan don't even have a permanent seat in the Security Council, it will end up as one of those infamous unfair rulings.

More over, why would there be a point of taking it to ICJ when it is Japanese territory to begin with. Taking it to ICJ implies that there is a debate on the issue of controversy when in fact, there is none. It also gives the wrong impression that Russia has valid claims when they don't have any.

I think the best solution for now is to try things out diplomatically which is in fact a way of ignoring the problems and stalling the time to look after other important issues at hand. It is also necessary to maintain the approach of not taking back any of the islands unless all four islands are to be handed over. Otherwise, taking back any partial number of the islands may result as a permanent loss of the remaining islands. On the contrary, I hope the residents living over there isn't under some sort of political scrutiny over it. Considering that they have lived under Russian control for so many years, let's hope it won't deteriorate into any harsher conditions..