[Biography of the Day] from [Britannica]
Friday, May 15, 2009
Madeleine Albright
Madeleine Albright, born this day in Prague in 1937, earned a reputation as a savvy defender of American interests while a UN ambassador (1993–97) and was the first woman to serve as U.S. secretary of state (1997–2001).
[On This Day] from [Britannica]
Friday, May 15, 2009
1991: Edith Cresson appointed French premier
On this day in 1991, Edith Cresson of the Socialist Party became the first female premier of France, but she lost the office less than a year later because of rising unemployment and declining support from within her party.
[TODAY'S TOP STORIES] from [The Japan Times]
[NATIONAL NEWS]
Friday, May 15, 2009
Ozawa to still play key role, rivals vow
Departing boss to maintain DPJ influence
By ALEX MARTIN
Staff writer
Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama and deputy chief Katsuya Okada, the two candidates running in Saturday's DPJ presidential race, said Thursday resigning President Ichiro Ozawa will still serve in a key post.
Their remarks indicate that the scandal-hit Ozawa will remain a kingpin in the party and continue to exercise influence from behind the scenes even after he is replaced — the way Ozawa has wielded power throughout his political career.
While Okada is favored in national opinion polls and is gaining support from the anti-Ozawa faction, Hatoyama reportedly has the backing of Ozawa and his followers, placing Okada at a likely disadvantage.
Regarding Ozawa's role under the party's new leadership, Hatoyama said that although he has not yet decided what post Ozawa might fill in the new lineup, he would take on a "prominent role."
Hatoyama did stress, however, that Ozawa would not be steering him and the party from behind the scenes, contrary to much speculation.
"I have no intention for (the DPJ) to be called (Ozawa's) puppet," he said.
Hatoyama added that if he becomes president, he would also want Okada, whom he described as an intelligent and talented politician, to assume an active role in the party.
"A regime change is inevitable," Hatoyama said. "Ozawa's resignation is an ordeal" the party must get through, he said.
As for Okada, he said both Ozawa and Hatoyama would have prominent roles in the party so the DPJ can oust the ruling coalition, adding he will consider what posts they would serve if he is elected.
"We all need to play ball" to win, he said.
The presidential election will be a one-on-one contest between Hatoyama and Okada, both former party heads. The winner could become prime minister in the event the DPJ wins the next Lower House poll.
Although the two candidates unveiled their positions in a news conference Thursday, there were no major differences.
Both called for the abolition of corporate donations, limiting the number of second-generation politicians and reducing the number of seats in the Lower House.
However, Hatoyama did differentiate himself from Okada, a proponent of raising the consumption tax, by stressing he believes such talk is unnecessary in amid these dire economic times.
"When people are encountering such hardships, I don't think the topic needs to even be discussed," Hatoyama said, adding it will still have to be dealt with in the long term to cover the costs of the national pension system.
[NATIONAL NEWS]
Friday, May 15, 2009
Ex-Xinhua journalist gave Japan 'secrets'
(Kyodo News) A Chinese court sentenced Yu Jiafu, a former reporter at the state-run Xinhua news agency, to 18 years in prison in early May for distributing state secrets to Japanese and South Korean diplomats in 2006, an Australian newspaper has reported.
Yu was found guilty of handing out state secrets to diplomats, including Japanese Ambassador to China Yuji Miyamoto and former senior South Korean diplomat Li Jiaxian, The Australian said in its online edition recently.
Miyamoto said Thursday through the Japanese Embassy in Beijing that he cannot comment on specific diplomatic activities, but sees no problem because the envoy respects Chinese laws.
Yu, 62, has admitted that he gave information to the diplomats but his lawyers told the Beijing court that the information he distributed was already widely available, the newspaper said.
Yu's daughter, who immigrated to Australia and became a citizen in 2007, said the family was considering appealing, the paper said.
Yu was put under house arrest from July 31, 2007, by the State Security Bureau of Langfang, Hebei Province, and arrested on Dec. 21 the same year, it said.
He was found guilty of obtaining illegal profit by providing South Korean diplomat Li, who was deployed in China, with information on China's foreign policy between November 2006 and July 2007.
The Chinese court alleged that Li, who has since retired and returned to his homeland, was a South Korean intelligence agent and Yu knew this but continued to supply him with information at a string of meetings in hotels.
Before his 2007 arrest, Yu had retired from a senior position at the news agency, where he was a longtime expert on Japanese and Korean affairs, rising to run Xinhua's foreign affairs group, said The Australian.
Yu requested that the Japanese and South Korean diplomats stand and give evidence in his support in the Beijing court but they declined, the paper said.
Miyamoto became the ambassador to China in April 2006.
Another report said Miyamoto may have paid Yu about 3 million.
[NATIONAL NEWS]
Friday, May 15, 2009
Japan, Canada ink deal on air force refueling
By JUN HONGO
Staff writer
Japan and Canada signed an agreement Thursday that will let the Canadian Air Force planes refuel in Japan when participating in disaster relief and humanitarian missions in Asia.
The pact, signed by Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone and counterpart Lawrence Cannon, allows Canada to use an airport in Hokkaido within 48 hours after applying for permission.
"Canada is an extremely important partner in this field. I am hoping this becomes the first step in further collaboration," Nakasone told reporters.
Cannon, on a three-day visit to Japan, said the procedure will widen bilateral cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.
"We will continue to look at ways together to cooperate notably in areas of peace and security," he said.
The two sides also exchanged opinions on measures against H1N1 influenza A, saying that coordination is essential in dealing with the quickly spreading swine flu virus. Three Japanese students and a teacher became Japan's first swine flu cases earlier this month after returning from a school trip to Canada.
Cannon told reporters that their countries will continue to exchange information "timely and in a systematic manner," but repeated that other countries should not impose travel restrictions since the World Health Organization has been clear that the situation does not justify it.
During a separate speech at the Japan National Press Club, Cannon also pushed for an economic partnership agreement with Tokyo, saying free trade with Canada will not only strengthen the flow of goods and technology but also enhance energy, natural resources and food supplies in Japan.
Cannon also met with Prime Minister Taro Aso earlier in the day and discussed antiterrorism efforts in Afghanistan and North Korea's nuclear threat.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Madeleine Albright
Madeleine Albright, born this day in Prague in 1937, earned a reputation as a savvy defender of American interests while a UN ambassador (1993–97) and was the first woman to serve as U.S. secretary of state (1997–2001).
[On This Day] from [Britannica]
Friday, May 15, 2009
1991: Edith Cresson appointed French premier
On this day in 1991, Edith Cresson of the Socialist Party became the first female premier of France, but she lost the office less than a year later because of rising unemployment and declining support from within her party.
[TODAY'S TOP STORIES] from [The Japan Times]
[NATIONAL NEWS]
Friday, May 15, 2009
Ozawa to still play key role, rivals vow
Departing boss to maintain DPJ influence
By ALEX MARTIN
Staff writer
Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama and deputy chief Katsuya Okada, the two candidates running in Saturday's DPJ presidential race, said Thursday resigning President Ichiro Ozawa will still serve in a key post.
Their remarks indicate that the scandal-hit Ozawa will remain a kingpin in the party and continue to exercise influence from behind the scenes even after he is replaced — the way Ozawa has wielded power throughout his political career.
While Okada is favored in national opinion polls and is gaining support from the anti-Ozawa faction, Hatoyama reportedly has the backing of Ozawa and his followers, placing Okada at a likely disadvantage.
Regarding Ozawa's role under the party's new leadership, Hatoyama said that although he has not yet decided what post Ozawa might fill in the new lineup, he would take on a "prominent role."
Hatoyama did stress, however, that Ozawa would not be steering him and the party from behind the scenes, contrary to much speculation.
"I have no intention for (the DPJ) to be called (Ozawa's) puppet," he said.
Hatoyama added that if he becomes president, he would also want Okada, whom he described as an intelligent and talented politician, to assume an active role in the party.
"A regime change is inevitable," Hatoyama said. "Ozawa's resignation is an ordeal" the party must get through, he said.
As for Okada, he said both Ozawa and Hatoyama would have prominent roles in the party so the DPJ can oust the ruling coalition, adding he will consider what posts they would serve if he is elected.
"We all need to play ball" to win, he said.
The presidential election will be a one-on-one contest between Hatoyama and Okada, both former party heads. The winner could become prime minister in the event the DPJ wins the next Lower House poll.
Although the two candidates unveiled their positions in a news conference Thursday, there were no major differences.
Both called for the abolition of corporate donations, limiting the number of second-generation politicians and reducing the number of seats in the Lower House.
However, Hatoyama did differentiate himself from Okada, a proponent of raising the consumption tax, by stressing he believes such talk is unnecessary in amid these dire economic times.
"When people are encountering such hardships, I don't think the topic needs to even be discussed," Hatoyama said, adding it will still have to be dealt with in the long term to cover the costs of the national pension system.
[NATIONAL NEWS]
Friday, May 15, 2009
Ex-Xinhua journalist gave Japan 'secrets'
(Kyodo News) A Chinese court sentenced Yu Jiafu, a former reporter at the state-run Xinhua news agency, to 18 years in prison in early May for distributing state secrets to Japanese and South Korean diplomats in 2006, an Australian newspaper has reported.
Yu was found guilty of handing out state secrets to diplomats, including Japanese Ambassador to China Yuji Miyamoto and former senior South Korean diplomat Li Jiaxian, The Australian said in its online edition recently.
Miyamoto said Thursday through the Japanese Embassy in Beijing that he cannot comment on specific diplomatic activities, but sees no problem because the envoy respects Chinese laws.
Yu, 62, has admitted that he gave information to the diplomats but his lawyers told the Beijing court that the information he distributed was already widely available, the newspaper said.
Yu's daughter, who immigrated to Australia and became a citizen in 2007, said the family was considering appealing, the paper said.
Yu was put under house arrest from July 31, 2007, by the State Security Bureau of Langfang, Hebei Province, and arrested on Dec. 21 the same year, it said.
He was found guilty of obtaining illegal profit by providing South Korean diplomat Li, who was deployed in China, with information on China's foreign policy between November 2006 and July 2007.
The Chinese court alleged that Li, who has since retired and returned to his homeland, was a South Korean intelligence agent and Yu knew this but continued to supply him with information at a string of meetings in hotels.
Before his 2007 arrest, Yu had retired from a senior position at the news agency, where he was a longtime expert on Japanese and Korean affairs, rising to run Xinhua's foreign affairs group, said The Australian.
Yu requested that the Japanese and South Korean diplomats stand and give evidence in his support in the Beijing court but they declined, the paper said.
Miyamoto became the ambassador to China in April 2006.
Another report said Miyamoto may have paid Yu about 3 million.
[NATIONAL NEWS]
Friday, May 15, 2009
Japan, Canada ink deal on air force refueling
By JUN HONGO
Staff writer
Japan and Canada signed an agreement Thursday that will let the Canadian Air Force planes refuel in Japan when participating in disaster relief and humanitarian missions in Asia.
The pact, signed by Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone and counterpart Lawrence Cannon, allows Canada to use an airport in Hokkaido within 48 hours after applying for permission.
"Canada is an extremely important partner in this field. I am hoping this becomes the first step in further collaboration," Nakasone told reporters.
Cannon, on a three-day visit to Japan, said the procedure will widen bilateral cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.
"We will continue to look at ways together to cooperate notably in areas of peace and security," he said.
The two sides also exchanged opinions on measures against H1N1 influenza A, saying that coordination is essential in dealing with the quickly spreading swine flu virus. Three Japanese students and a teacher became Japan's first swine flu cases earlier this month after returning from a school trip to Canada.
Cannon told reporters that their countries will continue to exchange information "timely and in a systematic manner," but repeated that other countries should not impose travel restrictions since the World Health Organization has been clear that the situation does not justify it.
During a separate speech at the Japan National Press Club, Cannon also pushed for an economic partnership agreement with Tokyo, saying free trade with Canada will not only strengthen the flow of goods and technology but also enhance energy, natural resources and food supplies in Japan.
Cannon also met with Prime Minister Taro Aso earlier in the day and discussed antiterrorism efforts in Afghanistan and North Korea's nuclear threat.
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