Kamala Harris sends signal to Joe Biden on 2020: Every era has an end

Abstract: ATLANTA - California Sen. Kamala Harris sent a signal to the old guard of Democratic politics that every era has its end. At an Atlanta church service Sunday, the presidential candidate compared leadership to a relay race in which each generation must ask themselves “what do we do during that period of time when we carry that baton.” Then she added with a smile that for “the older leaders, it also becomes a question of let’s also know when to pass the baton.” At 54 years old, Harris is one of the younger contenders for the White House in 2020. While former Vice President Joe Biden has not said whether he will run, both the 76-year-old and 77-year-old Bernie Sanders have previously run for the White House and fallen short. Biden and Sanders are seen as strong contenders for the Democratic nomination, though other candidates and some voters have emphasized the need for a more youthful approach to try and beat President Donald Trump in the general election. Several other candidates in the race, including two governors, are also in their late sixties. Other highlights of Sunday campaigning: KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND Democratic presidential candidate Kirsten Gillibrand assailed President Donald Trump as a coward who is “tearing apart the moral fabric of the vulnerable,” as she officially started her campaign for president. The senator spoke in New York Sunday, feet away from one of Trump’s signature properties, the Trump International Hotel and Tower. She said that instead of building walls as Trump wants to do along the U.S.-Mexico border, Americans build bridges, community and hope. Gillibrand also called for full release of special counsel Robert Mueller’s report in the Russia investigation. Attorney General William Barr released a summary Sunday afternoon, but Democrats want to see the full details. Gillibrand is trying to position herself in the crowded field of Democrats seeking the party’s nomination. While some hopefuls have shied away from mentioning Trump, Gillibrand has not hesitated to do so. ELIZABETH WARREN Sen. Elizabeth Warren said Sunday the National Rifle Association is holding “Congress hostage” when it comes to stemming gun violence. The Massachusetts senator and Democratic presidential candidate tells a campaign rally that if seven children were dying from a mysterious virus, “we’d pull out all the stops till we figured out what was wrong.” But in terms of gun violence, she said the NRA “keeps calling the shots in Washington.” Warren finished a two-day campaign trip to New Hampshire with an event at a middle school in Conway Sunday afternoon. Warren focused much of her speech on her approach to economics, but paid special attention to unions Sunday. She said more power needs to be put back in the hands of workers. BETO O’ROURKE Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke told voters in Las Vegas Sunday that President Donald Trump bears blame for the separation of families at the U.S.-Mexico border but responsibility lies with everyone in the country to fix the situation. O’Rourke spoke Sunday to more than 200 people packed into and snaking around a taco shop on the city’s north end. He said immigrant families are leaving their home countries and journeying on foot because they have no other choice. The former Texas congressman said desperate families were broken up in the U.S. when they were at their most vulnerable and desperate moments, and what happened to them “is on every single one of us.”

kamala harris
joe biden
democrats
donald trump
elizabeth warren
2020 u.s. presidential election
beto o'rourke


Stricken Norwegian cruise liner reaches port after airlift drama

Abstract: OSLO - A cruise liner that ran into trouble in stormy seas off Norway reached port under its own steam Sunday after hundreds of passengers were winched to safety by helicopter in a spectacular rescue operation. Escorted by tugboats, the Viking Sky arrived in the port of Molde at around 4:15 p.m. (1515 GMT), television images showed. Nearly a third of its 1,373 passengers and crew had already been airlifted off the ship. The cruise liner lost power and started drifting on Saturday afternoon 2 km (1.2 miles) off a stretch of Norwegian coastline notorious for shipwrecks. The captain sent out a Mayday prompting authorities to launch the airlift in difficult conditions rather than run the risk of leaving people on board. Some 460 of the 1,373 people on the ship had been taken off by five helicopters before the airlift was halted. Police said 17 people had been taken to hospitals. One person more than 90 years old and two 70-year-olds suffered serious fractures. With three of four engines restarted Sunday, two tugs towed the vessel away from dangerous reefs before it set sail for Molde, 500 km (300 miles) northwest of Oslo, under its own power. Dramatic footage of the passengers’ ordeal showed furniture and plants sliding around the lurching vessel as parts of the ceiling came down. Dozens of passengers wearing life jackets were seen seated waiting to get off the ship. “I have never seen anything so frightening,” said Janet Jacob, who was rescued. “I started to pray. I prayed for the safety of everyone on board,” she told the NRK television channel. “The helicopter trip was terrifying. The winds were like a tornado,” she added. “We were sitting down for breakfast when things started to shake … It was just chaos,” said another passenger, American John Curry, as quoted in Norwegian by local media. Passenger Rodney Horgan said he had been reminded of the Titanic. “The best word, I guess, is surreal,” he said. “Sea water six-seven feet (about 2 meters) high just came rushing in, hit the tables, chairs, broken glass and 20-30 people just … went right in front of me. “I was standing, my wife was sitting in front of me and all of a sudden, she was gone. And I thought this was the end,” Horgan said. But it all ended well for Ryan Flynn. “Here’s my 83-year-old dad being airlifted from the #vikingsky,” he said. “We are all off the ship safely!” The ship was sailing south from Tromso to Stavanger when engine trouble struck midafternoon on Saturday in an area off More og Romsdal that has claimed many vessels. “It is dangerous to encounter engine problems in these waters, which hide numerous reefs,” said Tor Andre Franck, the head of police operations. A reception center was set up in a gym on shore for the evacuees, many of whom were elderly and from the United States and Britain. The area where the ship got into problems, known as Hustadvika, is notoriously difficult to navigate. The shallow, 10 nautical mile section of coastline is dotted with small islands and reefs. “Hustadvika is one of the most notorious maritime areas that we have,” Odd Roar Lange, a journalist specializing in tourism, told NRK. In their time, the Vikings hesitated to venture into the Hustadvika, preferring instead to transport their boats by land from one fjord to another. Operated by the Norwegian firm Viking Ocean Cruises, the Viking Sky was launched in 2017 with a capacity of 930 passengers plus crew. In addition to US and British nationals, there were also passengers from 14 other countries on board, Fjeld said.


A second student who survived 2018 Florida school massacre reportedly commits suicide

Abstract: WASHINGTON - A second student from the Florida high school where 17 were shot dead in 2018 has committed suicide within a week, U.S. media reported Sunday. The Miami Herald said police in Coral Springs told the paper that a current student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in nearby Parkland had died of “apparent suicide” late Saturday. The student was not identified by the police but the Miami Herald said it was a male sophomore. Coral Springs police could not be immediately contacted to confirm the report. Last weekend Sydney Aiello, 19, who survived the Parkland massacre and graduated last year, killed herself reportedly out of grief and “survivor’s guilt.” Two of Aiello’s best friends, Meadow Pollack and Joaquin Oliver, were among the dead when former student Nikolas Cruz raked the school on Feb. 14, 2018, with a semi-automatic weapon, killing 14 students and three staff members. Aiello’s parents told local news channel CBS4 that she had been treated for PTSD and suffered from survivor’s guilt, when a victim fixates on why he or she managed to live, not someone else. After the shooting, Stoneman Douglas students became crusaders against gun violence under the banner “March for Our Lives,” lobbying for tougher gun control laws and organizing protests and rallies.

florida
suicide
ptsd
guns
u.s .
mass shootings
mass murder
parkland school massacre


German family to donate millions of euros after hearing extent of Nazi past

Abstract: BERLIN - One of Germany’s richest families says it plans to give millions of euros to charity after learning about ancestors who enthusiastically supported the Nazis and used forced labor. The Bild newspaper reported Sunday that documents revealed Albert Reimann Sr. and Albert Reimann Jr. used Russian civilians and French prisoners of war as forced laborers. Family spokesman Peter Harf, who heads the Reimann’s JAB Holding Company, says recent internal research confirmed Bild’s findings. He says the family never spoke of the Nazi era but the evidence shows the father and son, who died in 1954 and 1984, “belonged in jail.” Harf says the heirs plan to publish the research and donate €10 million ($11.3 million) to charity. JAB has controlling stakes in restaurant chain Pret a Manger, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Peet’s Coffee and other businesses.

nazis
germany
jab holding company
wwii
history


Trickiest U.S. missile defense test is finally ready to launch

Abstract: WASHINGTON - The Pentagon is about to attempt what’s likely to be the most challenging test yet of the U.S. military’s ability to shoot down an incoming missile from an adversary such as North Korea or Iran, according to three people familiar with the plans. The Missile Defense Agency intends on Monday to fire two interceptors tipped with the latest Raytheon Co. warheads within seconds of each other in a test that hasn’t been publicly announced. The first interceptor would attempt to crash into a dummy target representing an incoming intercontinental ballistic missile. The second would use its sensors to detect another ICBM or other countermeasures. Monday’s action would be first missile defense test since a successful one in May 2017. The system also scored an interception in June 2014 after two that failed in 2010. Mark Wright, a spokesman for the Missile Defense Agency, said in an email said he had “nothing to announce at this time.” The $36 billion system of Boeing Co.-managed radar, command links and 44 ground-based interceptors in California and Alaska is designed to defeat a missile attack. The Pentagon is requesting $9.4 billion in fiscal 2020 for the agency’s programs, including $1.4 billion for the ground-based segment — an increase from the $9.36 billion previously planned. The interception attempt is the program’s first operational flight test and “if successful, will have demonstrated a fundamental, yet crucially important, aspect of how the war-fighter will operate” the system in a missile attack on the U.S. homeland, said Cristina Chaplain, space and missile defense systems director for the Government Accountability Office, in an email. “The test has been delayed by over a decade, as it may be the most challenging test in the program’s near-30-year history,” she said.


Military-backed party seen taking lead in Thai election, indicating junta leader may stay at helm

Abstract: BANGKOK - A military-backed party has taken the lead in Thailand’s first election since a 2014 coup, preliminary results showed Sunday, suggesting junta leader and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha could stay in power. With 92 percent of votes counted, the Palang Pracharat party was first with 7.5 million votes, according to the country’s Election Commission. Its vote total falls short of the numbers required for an outright majority in parliament. Pheu Thai, which was the governing party ousted by the coup, was next with 7 million votes. The country likely faces several weeks of haggling among political parties before a potentially unstable coalition government is formed. Thais voted for a 500-member parliament, which along with a 250-member junta-appointed Senate will decide the next prime minister. A new party, Future Forward, which was anti-junta and became popular with young voters, had scooped up nearly 5.2 million votes. But voters deserted the Democrat Party, the country’s oldest political party, and its leader, former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, resigned. Nearly 6 percent of votes were disqualified, according to the Election Commission, which said it would provide an update on counting Monday. Pheu Thai’s secretary general, Phumtham Wechayachai, said the party was waiting for official results but believes there were irregularities. The party wants to inspect disqualified and spoiled ballots, he said. “Even the reported numbers from the Election Commission and each media outlet are different. We have our own number too. The Election Commission report even paused for a while. It will be clearer once the official result is announced,” Phumtham said. The election was the latest chapter in a nearly two-decade struggle between conservative forces including the military and the political machine of Thaksin Shinawatra, a tycoon who upended tradition-bound Thailand’s politics with a populist political revolution. Thaksin was ousted as prime minister in a 2006 military coup and now lives in exile abroad to avoid a prison term, but parties allied with him have won every election since 2001. His sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, who led the Pheu Thai government that was ousted in 2014, also fled the country after what supporters said was a politically motivated prosecution. The blunt-speaking Prayuth, who as army chief led the 2014 coup, was hoping to extend his hold on power after engineering a new political system that aims to stifle the influence of big political parties not aligned with Palang Pracharat and the military. “What is now interesting is how Palang Pracharat can bring together a coalition,” said Kevin Hewison, a Thai politics expert who is a University of North Carolina emeritus professor. “It looks like it needs at least two other parties but will probably cobble together more than that in the hope of creating a more stable government,” he said. About 51 million Thais were eligible to vote. Leaders of political parties opposed to military rule urged a high turnout as the only way to derail Prayuth’s plans, but at 66 percent, turnout fell short of their hopes. A statement from Prayuth’s office said he thanked people for voting and officials for holding the election in an orderly fashion. Thailand’s powerful King Maha Vajiralongkorn had issued a statement on the eve of the election that said the role of leaders is to stop “bad people” from gaining power and causing chaos. It was also broadcast on Thai television stations minutes before voting started. Invoking a speech by his father, the previous Thai king, who died in 2016 after reigning for seven decades, Vajiralongkorn said not all citizens can be transformed into good people, so leaders must be given support in ruling to create a peaceful nation. He urged government officials, soldiers and civil servants to look after national security. It was the monarch’s second notable intervention in politics recently. Last month, he demanded his sister Princess Ubolratana Mahidol withdraw as a prime ministerial candidate for a small Thaksin-allied party within 24 hours of her announcement. When it seized power in 2014, the military said it was to end political unrest that had periodically turned violent and disrupted daily life and the economy. The claim has been a selling point for Prayuth, who according to critics has overseen a period of growing inequality and economic hardship in Thailand. After the coup, political party gatherings were banned and pro-democracy activists and other dissenters were regularly arrested, interrogated and imprisoned. Just days before Sunday’s election, Pheu Thai said the houses of party officials and its campaign canvassers in some provinces were searched by military personnel in an act of intimidation.


Both military-backed party and Thaksin allies claim victory in Thai election

Abstract: BANGKOK - A political party linked to exiled tycoon Thaksin Shinawatra claimed victory in Thailand’s election and said it would seek to form a government, challenging a military-backed group that led in initial vote counts and has also said it won. Pheu Thai won the most seats in the election and the military-appointed Senate should follow the wishes of voters, Sudarat Keyuraphan, the party’s candidate for prime minister, told reporters in Bangkok on Monday. While local news outlets showed the party winning the most seats, election authorities still haven’t released official tallies. “We’ll try to form a government coalition right away because that’s how people voted,” Sudarat said. “We stood by our position that we won’t support the continuation of the military regime.” The comments indicate a showdown is emerging to form a government between pro-democracy forces and Thailand’s royalist and military elites, who have repeatedly sought to prevent Thaksin and his allies from taking power over the past two decades. Previous confrontations have led to instability, gridlock, deadly street protests and coups. Thailand’s pro-army Palang Pracharat party, meanwhile, said on Monday it aims to form a government after winning the most votes in the country’s first election since a 2014 coup. Party spokesman Kobsak Pootrakool told reporters the party expects to gather 251 seats in the 500-seat House of Representatives to form a government. “Palang Pracharat will talk to like-minded parties who share the same ideology and standpoint to move the country forward, which will take a while,” Kobsak said. It was not clear how many seats Palang Pracharat would have in the House of Representatives, as the Election Commission said it would only release the winners of 350 seats on Monday. The party won 7.7 million votes with 94 percent counted, according to unofficial results posted on the Election Commission’s Facebook page. Pheu Thai came in second with 7.23 million votes. The Election Commission had said on Monday it would announce the winners of the 350 constituencies at 4 p.m., after several delays in giving seat totals. Investors appeared sanguine about the results of the election. The baht strengthened as much as 0.8 percent against the dollar, while the benchmark stock index’s drop was less than the slide in regional peers amid a global selloff. The results put junta chief Prayuth Chan-ocha in position to stay in power, as Thailand’s election rules effectively tilt the playing field in favor of the military. The 250-member Senate appointed by the junta also gets a vote for prime minister, and it’s likely to back Prayuth. Either way, any coalition is likely to be weak and unwieldy, making it difficult to pass legislation in the lower house. Both Pheu Thai and Prayuth would need to rely on a range of smaller regional parties to push through key policies. Questions are also being raised about the credibility of the vote and the next administration is likely to be unstable, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, the head of Future Forward, said in a television interview on Monday. The 40-year-old scion of a billionaire family, whose party did surprisingly well, has vowed to rewrite the military-drafted constitution. “There might be another election, there might be another military intervention,” Thanathorn said. “Everything is still on the table.” A win for the junta-backed party would amount to a breakthrough for Thailand’s royalist and military elites, who have repeatedly sought to prevent Thaksin and his allies from taking power over the past two decades. While a Prayuth-led government would continue the junta’s economic policies, including a 1.7 trillion baht ($54 billion) infrastructure program, it also faces questions of legitimacy. Turnout for the election was 66 percent, compared with 75 percent in 2011, according to the Election Commission. “This will leave the pro-military government with a large, strong opposition that’s led by Pheu Thai and Future Forward — both staunch critics of the junta,” said Punchada Sirivunnabood, an associate professor in politics at Mahidol University. “It’ll be difficult for them to pass legislation, and Prayuth might not be able to handle that pressure.” Questions of stability will hang over whichever ruling coalition emerges. Unsettled foreign investors have already pulled out more than $700 million net from Thai stocks and bonds this year amid growth concerns in the export and tourism-reliant economy, the second-largest in Southeast Asia. To win more votes, the military’s party emulated Thaksin’s populist formula. It proposed lowering taxes, boosting the minimum wage by more than 30 percent, and guaranteeing prices for rubber, rice and sugar cane. Prayuth had already offered farmers funds for harvesting and provided low-income earners about $10 per month to purchase household staples. Thaksin’s opponents — a loose faction of soldiers, bureaucrats and wealthy Bangkok families with royal connections — have sought to keep him away from Thailand, in part because they view him as a threat to the monarchy. The army ousted Thaksin in 2006, and eight years later Prayuth deposed a government run by his sister, Yingluck Shinawatra. The next prime minister needs 367 votes in the bicameral National Assembly, which consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Election Commission has until May 9 to submit official results, after which lawmakers will pick a prime minister. Sunday’s election followed one of the longest periods of military rule in Thailand, which has a history of elections followed by coups since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932. Bloody street clashes between Thaksin’s supporters and critics have killed dozens over the past decade, deterring tourists and stifling economic growth during the worst of the unrest. Thaksin hasn’t set foot in Thailand since 2008, when he fled a corruption conviction in the wake of a coup two years earlier. He has denied wrongdoing and says the accusations are political. More recently Thaksin has sought to show he’s close to the monarchy. A party linked to him nominated Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya as its prime ministerial candidate, only for King Maha Vajiralongkorn to reject the move. A court later disbanded the party, hurting his election strategy.

elections
thailand
pheu thai
palang pracharat


Wife of vanished Chinese Interpol chief urges Macron to raise case with Xi

Abstract: LYON, FRANCE - The wife of the former Chinese head of Interpol, who has had no news of him for nearly six months since his arrest in China, has asked French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss the matter with counterpart Xi Jinping during an official visit to France. In a letter to the Elysee Palace dated March 21, a copy of which has been seen by AFP, Grace Meng “asks to know where (her husband) is and how he is.” She has remained in the French city of Lyon, where Interpol is based, since her husband, Meng Hongwei, disappeared last September during a visit to China. He resigned from the international police agency by letter on Oct. 7 and it was later revealed he had been arrested. He is believed to be facing corruption charges. “I demand Mr. Meng be allowed to receive visits from his lawyers and that they be allowed to assist him,” his wife added in her letter to Macron. “For my family, as for others going through similar tests, I urge France, which is respected and listened to the world over for its values and attachment to human rights, to bear this message to the meeting with President Xi Jinping.” Xi arrived in Nice earlier Sunday ahead of his state visit to Paris on Monday. Meng Hongwei, a former vice minister for public security in China who rose through the ranks of the country’s feared security apparatus, was the first Chinese head of Interpol. He was last heard from on Sept. 25 as he left Lyon for China, when he sent his wife a social media message telling her to “wait for my call,” and then a knife emoji signifying danger. Grace Meng later reported he was missing, and after several days without news Interpol said it had received a short message from Meng saying he was resigning. South Korean Kim Jong-yang took over from Meng at Interpol in November for a two-year term. Meng’s wife says he is the victim of a “forced disappearance,” adding she and her family have received no information or legal advice as to his fate. In January she said she had been threatened and would apply for political asylum in France, telling French media her Chinese phone and internet accounts had been blocked. Chinese authorities can hold suspects in secret for six months without either informing their family or allowing access to a lawyer.

interpol
france
china
emmanuel macron
xi jinping
meng hongwei


Indian cities rush to ban 'PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds' game over fear of creating 'psychopaths'

Abstract: BANGALORE, INDIA - India doesn’t have much of a history with popular computer games, unlike the U.S. or Japan. But now one of the industry’s kill-or-be-killed titles has become a smash hit — and the backlash from the country’s traditionalists is ferocious. “PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds” is a “Hunger Games”-style competition where 100 players face off with machine guns and assault rifles until only one is left standing. After China’s Tencent Holdings Ltd. introduced a mobile version of the death match that’s free to play, it has become the most popular smartphone game in the world, with enthusiasts from the U.S. to Russia to Malaysia. Nowhere has resistance to the game been quite like India. Multiple cities have banned “PUBG,” as it’s known, and police in Western India arrested 10 university students for playing. The national child rights commission has recommended barring the game for its violent nature. One of India’s largest Hindi newspapers declared “PUBG” an “epidemic” that turned children into manorogi , or psychopaths. “There are dangerous consequences to this game,” the Navbharat Times warned in a March 20 editorial. “Many children have lost their mental balance.” Computer games have outraged parents and politicians for at least 20 years, since “Grand Theft Auto” first let players deal drugs, pimp out prostitutes and kill off strangers to steal their cars. Just last year, China went through its most serious crackdown on games, freezing approval of new titles and stepping up scrutiny of addiction and adverse health affects. What’s different about India is the speed with which the country has landed in the strange digital world of no laws or morals. It skipped two decades of debate and adjustment, blowing into the modern gaming era in a matter of months. Rural communities that never had PCs or game consoles got smartphones in recent years — and wireless service just became affordable for pretty much everyone after a price war last year. With half a billion internet users looking for entertainment, “PUBG” has set off a frenzy. A student competition in the southern city of Hyderabad received 250,000 registrations from more than 1,000 colleges. One team walked away with a 1.5 million rupee ($22,000) prize as the top “PUBG” players, just days before this month’s arrests. Aryaman Joshi, 13, has played “PUBG” for a few hours each day and says all his friends play too. ‘It’s a bit violent and there’s a lot of shooting so boys like me like it,’ he said. His mother, Gulshan Walia, says she wants to take a realistic approach to Aryaman’s game playing. That kind of demand is giving a hint at India’s potential as a gaming market. It’s tiny today, generating a minuscule $290 million in revenue. But it’s already the world’s second-largest smartphone market, after China, and the fastest-growing. “‘PUBG’ has made the online gaming market soar and demonstrated that India is a very attractive market,” said Lokesh Suji, the Gurgaon-based head of the Esports Federation of India. As long as the authorities don’t choke it off first. Local politicians, parents and teachers have expressed outrage over “PUBG,” arguing the game will spur violence and divert students from their academics. They’ve blamed the game for bullying, stealing and, in one Mumbai case, a teenager’s suicide. A local minister went so far as to characterize it as “the demon in every house.” At a public meeting last month, a concerned mother complained to Prime Minister Narendra Modi about her son’s addiction to mobile games. “Is that the ‘PUBG’ one?” Modi shot back. One 11-year-old even filed a public interest lawsuit in a Mumbai court seeking a ban on the game. South Korea’s Bluehole Inc., which made the original “PUBG” for PCs and then partnered with Tencent on the mobile version, has taken a cautious approach. The company said it was looking at the legal basis of the bans in various cities and will confer with authorities to find a solution. “We are working on the introduction of a healthy gameplay system in India to promote balanced, responsible gaming, including limiting play time for underaged players,” the company said. Because gaming is so new in India, there are no regulatory policies in place. In contrast, Tencent currently bans players in China under 13 from playing “PUBG” and imposes restrictions such as real-name registrations. In Germany, players under 16 are restricted. A clinic for breaking digital addictions, run by the country’s National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences in Bangalore, is recording several “PUBG” addiction cases every week. An 11-year-old “PUBG” player walked into the clinic recently with his parents who lamented that he wanted to quit school to become a professional “PUBG” gamer. Dr. Manoj Sharma, who heads the clinic, argues game-makers need to take more responsibility. “There should be a ban on underage players,” he said. “The addiction has reached never-before proportions.”

india
playerunknown 's battlegrounds
violence
video games


Pyongyang officials return to inter-Korean liaison office just days after unilateral pullout

Abstract: SEOUL - North Korea sent back its officials to an inter-Korean liaison office in the North’s border city of Kaesong on Monday, reversing a decision two days ago to withdraw the officials, South Korea’s Unification Ministry said. A group of four to five officials showed up at the office earlier in the morning saying they came to work “as usual,” the ministry said in a statement. Though the presence of the North’s head of the office was not confirmed, the two sides held a consultation and will “continue to operate the office as usual,” the ministry said. A convoy of dozens of South Korean officials arrived at the liaison office earlier Monday in a bid to maintain fragile gains in relations with Pyongyang, despite North Korea’s decision to pull out of the office last week. The liaison office in Kaesong was opened in September and had been one of the key developments made in the past year of detente between North Korea and South Korea. South Korea’s Unification Ministry earlier would not explain exactly what the 64 officials would be doing at the office without their North Korean counterparts, but a spokesman said Seoul is seeking to try to “normalize” operations at the office. In a major setback for South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s attempts to engage, North Korea announced on Friday it was quitting the office, just hours after the United States imposed the first new sanctions on the North since the second U.S.-North Korea summit broke down last month. Although South Korea did not directly link the North’s move to the breakdown of the summit, after which U.S. President Donald Trump said he would not be imposing more sanctions, experts said Pyongyang’s move seemed calculated to pressure South Korea into convincing the United States to ease sanctions. “It appears to be North Korea pressuring South Korea; it could also be signaling how South Korea’s role is not needed or even meaningless, or even that North Korea’s announcement of a ‘new path’ is imminent,” said Kim Dong-yub, a North Korea and military expert at Kyungnam University’s Institute of Far Eastern Studies in Seoul. Several North Korean state media outlets released statements on Monday criticizing Seoul for not pushing forward with inter-Korean economic projects while sanctions remain in place. Some 39 South Korean officials and support staff with 17 vehicles left South Korea on Monday morning to work at the liaison office in the North, joining 25 South Koreans who had remained at the office over the weekend despite North Korea’s vow to pull out, the Unification Ministry said. “Although the North side has pulled out of the liaison office, the embers remain, and in order to guard the embers we are going to work today as usual,” Kim Chang-su, deputy chief of the liaison office, said before the surprise return Monday by the North Korean officials. When asked what South Korean personnel will do at the office, Unification Ministry spokesman Baik Tae-hyun said “we are operating the Kaesong office, followed by putting in efforts to normalize the liaison office” without elaborating. There are some North Korean personnel currently in Kaesong, including from North’s Central Special Zone Development Guidance General Bureau and support staff, Baik said at a news briefing Monday.

north korea
kaesong
south korea
moon jae-in
kim jong un


New Zealand orders top-level inquiry into whether mosque massacre could've been prevented

Abstract: WELLINGTON - New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Monday ordered an independent judicial inquiry into the Christchurch mosque attacks, asking whether police and intelligence services could have prevented the March 15 massacre. Ardern said a royal commission — the most powerful judicial probe available under New Zealand law — was needed to find out how a single gunman was able to kill 50 people in an attack that shocked the world. “It is important that no stone is left unturned to get to how this act of terrorism occurred and how we could have stopped it,” she told reporters. New Zealand’s spy agencies have faced criticism in the wake of the attack for concentrating on the threat from Islamic extremism. Instead, the victims were all Muslims and the massacre was allegedly carried out by a white supremacist fixated on the belief that Muslims were “invading” Western countries. “One question we need to answer is whether or not we could or should have known more,” Ardern said. “New Zealand is not a surveillance state … but questions need to be answered.” Ardern ruled out New Zealand re-introducing the death penalty for accused gunman Brenton Tarrant, 28, who was arrested minutes after the attack on the mosques and has been charged with murder. She said details of the royal commission were being finalized but it would be comprehensive and would report in a timely manner.

new zealand
jacinda ardern
christchurch
brenton tarrant
mass shootings


Pentagon sends ships through Taiwan Strait for third time in three months

Abstract: The Pentagon has sent ships through the Taiwan Strait — the third time in as many months — as Washington ramps up naval activities in the waterway, stoking fears in Beijing of a growing alignment with Taipei. The move, likely to be interpreted by China as implicit support for self-ruled Taiwan, saw the U.S. send the Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture-based USS Curtis Wilbur destroyer and the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Bertholf through the strait on Sunday and Monday, a U.S. 7th Fleet spokesman said. The two vessels “conducted a routine Taiwan Strait transit Mar. 24-25 … in accordance with international law,” spokesman Lt. Joe Keiley said. “The ships’ transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the U.S. commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The U.S. will continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere international law allows.” The dispatch, which comes amid military and trade tensions between Beijing and Washington, is the third such sailing since Jan. 24, when the guided-missile destroyer USS McCampbell, which is also based in Yokosuka, and the USNS Walter S. Diehl conducted what the U.S. Navy also called “a routine” Taiwan Strait transit. On Feb. 26-27, the U.S. Navy also sailed the USS Stethem destroyer and the cargo and ammunition ship USNS Cesar Chavez through the waterway. But this week’s mission was unusual, experts said, in that it was believed to be the first one involving a coast guard vessel. Lyle Morris, a senior policy analyst focusing on China at the Rand Corp., called the dispatch of the Bertholf “a bold move,” one going beyond mere port calls and traveling through nonsensitive areas. “For one, it signals a new level of interoperability between the USN and USCG,” he said, using the acronyms for the U.S. Navy and coast guard. “It signals a willingness to send a cutter for sensitive national security missions. It doesn’t get much more sensitive than the Taiwan Strait.” Morris said the Bertholf, which left California on Jan. 20 for a monthslong mission in support the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, is doing new and unique things with its first deployment to the region. “It’s also making a statement to the Chinese to send a cutter to the strait,” he said. “It’s another way of showing China that the U.S. is putting its money where its mouth is to advance the ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’ concept.” The 180-km-wide Taiwan Strait separates communist China from self-governed and democratic Taiwan, which Beijing views as a renegade province that must be brought back into the fold — by force if necessary. Although the waterway is regarded as international waters, China has long been sensitive about the presence of U.S. military forces there. That presence has grown since last year, with the most recent operation being the sixth known transit in about seven months. The U.S. Navy also sailed two ships through the strait in October and November — operations that were shadowed by multiple Chinese warships — and conducted a similar operation in July. Prior to that, the operations were believed to occur only about once a year. The U.S. has no formal ties with Taiwan but is bound by law to help it defend itself and is the island’s main source of arms. The Pentagon says Washington has sold Taipei more than $15 billion in weaponry since 2010. Recently, Taiwan has sought bolstered military assistance from the U.S., requesting improvements to its fleet of F-16 fighter jets. Beijing has warning Washington against further arms sales, the official Xinhua News Agency reported last week, a response to Taiwan’s request for additional fighters. Beijing has called Taiwan “the most important and sensitive issue in China-U.S. relations” and has bolstered its military presence near the island nation in recent months, sailing its sole operating aircraft carrier through the Taiwan Strait in January and March last year and holding large-scale “encirclement” exercises and bomber training throughout 2018. In a report released in January, the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency noted that China continues to undertake ambitious steps to modernize and better equip its military — steps that are driven primarily by “Beijing’s longstanding interest to eventually compel Taiwan’s reunification with the mainland and deter any attempt by Taiwan to declare independence.” “Beijing’s anticipation that foreign forces would intervene in a Taiwan scenario led the (People’s Liberation Army) to develop a range of systems to deter and deny foreign regional force projection,” the report added.


South Korea court approves seizure of Mitsubishi Heavy trademarks and patents over wartime forced labor

Abstract: SEOUL - A South Korean court on Monday approved a request to seize Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd.’s assets in South Korea after the company refused to compensate Koreans who had won a case against it over wartime forced labor, a team of lawyers for the plaintiffs said. The decision by the district court in Daejeon followed a South Korean Supreme Court ruling last year that ordered the major Japanese manufacturer to compensate those forced to work for the firm during World War II. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is the second Japanese company to be hit with such a move, after a South Korean court approved in January the seizure of assets held by Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corp. to compensate Koreans for conscripted labor during World War II. Sought for asset seizure in the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries case were the rights to two trademarks and six patents owned by the company in South Korea, which the lawyers appraised to be worth about 800 million won (¥77.77 million). The assets would go toward compensating four of the five plaintiffs in the case, which included former members of the so-called Korean Women’s Volunteer Labor Corps. Rulings in South Korean courts against Japanese firms over wartime labor and subsequent legal moves such as the asset seizures have soured already tense ties between Japan and South Korea. The latest legal development is likely to draw criticism from the Japanese government, which maintains that the issue of claims stemming from Japan’s 1910-1945 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula has already been settled as part of a 1965 treaty that established diplomatic ties with South Korea. In its Nov. 29 ruling, the top court had ordered Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to pay damages to several groups of Koreans after finding that the right of victims of forced labor to seek compensation was not annulled by an accord that was signed alongside the 1965 treaty. One of the groups consisted of five plaintiffs, including former members of the so-called Korean Women’s Volunteer Labor Corps. According to the court rulings, the women were made to work at a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries factory in Nagoya toward the end of World War II. After the company continued to reject compensation talks for several months — during which time one of the plaintiffs died, in January — the plaintiffs’ lawyers filed a request on March 7 to seize the rights to two trademarks and six patents owned by the company in South Korea. The Daejeon District Court will send its decision to the Korean Intellectual Property Office, one of the lawyers said, adding that there are only a few small steps left for the property office to take before the seizure takes effect. A civic group supporting the plaintiffs in the case said in a statement that procedural steps would be taken to sell the assets unless Mitsubishi Heavy Industries shows a “sincere” attitude toward adhering to the court’s ruling. In mid-March, senior Foreign Ministry officials from both countries held talks in Seoul with the aim of bridging their differences over the issue, but the meeting ended without any progress.

south korea
wartime labor
wwii
mitsubishi heavy industries ltd .


Survey finds that half of Japan's home care workers experienced harassment in 2018

Abstract: Around 50 percent of home care workers reported in a recent government survey that they had experienced some form of harassment from those being cared for, it was learned Sunday. In the first extensive survey conducted by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry on people working in the nursing care industry, 81 percent of those reporting harassment said they had been psychologically abused at least once in 2018. The survey, part of which was obtained by Kyodo, was based on responses from 10,112 people working for 2,155 nursing service providers, of whom 2,532 were involved in home care. Those who were psychologically harassed typically reported hostile behavior and verbal abuse. Around 42 percent of those reporting harassment had been physically abused, with reported cases including objects being thrown at care providers, while 37 percent said they had been sexually harassed, according to the survey. Of those providing home care, 17 percent said they had been abused by relatives of those being cared for. Harassment of home care providers has become a serious problem, particularly as many of them are women who visit private homes alone. In August last year the Nippon Careservice Craft Union, a national labor union formed by nursing care workers, submitted a petition to the labor ministry asking for better legal protection against sexual and other forms of harassment at work. It also urged the government to provide subsidies so that two home care workers can attend each client. Asked why harassment occurred, 43 percent said clients and their family members did not understand the range of services they were entitled to, while 39 percent said home care work was undervalued. A separate nationwide survey conducted in February and March last year by the National Association for Visiting Nurse Service showed that many visiting nurses who responded said they were yelled at, told that they were incompetent, or were threatened. Of those who cited sexual harassment, some of them said they were touched or shown adult videos. Some administrators have canceled their contracts with those being cared for after finding out that their employees had been harassed, while others said they were not sure what to do, according to the survey. “Small operators may be unable to deal with such problems, so we need to figure out safety measures for visiting nurses extensively and systematically,” said Akiko Miki, a Kansai Medical University professor involved with the survey.

survey
harassment
nursing care
abuse
elderly


Tsunami-hit Ishinomaki to return 1964 Tokyo Olympics cauldron lent as symbol of 3/11 recovery

Abstract: ISHINOMAKI, MIYAGI PREF. - The city of Ishinomaki in Miyagi Prefecture held a ceremony Sunday to return the 1964 Tokyo Olympics cauldron, after its four years on display to recognize the area’s recovery from the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami. The Japan Sport Council offered the cauldron to the city in December 2014 after it was removed from the former National Stadium in Tokyo. The loan period expires this month. The former National Stadium was demolished to make way for construction of the new National Stadium that will be used for the 2020 Tokyo Games. During Sunday’s ceremony the cauldron was lit for the last time in Ishinomaki, and many local residents took photos. Miyagi is one of the three northeastern prefectures hit hardest in the 2011 disasters, the two others being Iwate and Fukushima. “We made a lot of memories. We’re just thankful (for the cauldron),” said Kazuo Ito, 72, chairman of the city’s sports association. The association has organized marathon events to mark the progress of reconstruction from the disaster, with the cauldron being used as the starting and ending points of the marathon. Anna Takahashi, a 9-year-old elementary school student, said, “It’s sad that the cauldron will disappear from Ishinomaki, but I want to go and see the Olympics next year.” The cauldron will be displayed in Iwate and Fukushima, as well as Kawaguchi, Saitama Prefecture, where it was created, before being transported to the new National Stadium.

tsunami
ishinomaki
1964 tokyo olympics
miyagi
disasters
3.11
2020 tokyo olympics


Land reclamation in Okinawa enters next stage at Henoko relocation site for U.S. Futenma base

Abstract: NAHA, OKINAWA PREF. - The government began to perform the next stage of land reclamation work in Okinawa Prefecture on Monday, as part of a project to build a replacement facility for a contentious U.S. air base in the prefecture despite local opposition. The work to pour soil and sand into a new 33-hectare section off the coast of Nago’s Henoko district began in the afternoon, moving the construction plan for U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma into a new stage even though a prefectural referendum last month showed more than 70 percent of residents oppose it. The area in which land reclamation work is being carried out is next to a 6.3-hectare section that started being filled in during December. The landfill work is required in order to relocate the base from Ginowan to Nago. Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki asked Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to halt the land reclamation work and engage in a one-month dialogue period when they met in Tokyo last Tuesday, citing the result of the referendum. On Monday, protesters gathered in front of the gates of U.S. Marines’ Camp Schwab, which is adjacent to the construction site, to hold a sit-in demonstration. Others paddled canoes or sailed small boats on waters around the site. “It’s quite unreasonable for the central government to blame the people of Okinawa for the delay in the closure of the Futenma base after slow progress in the construction at Henoko,” said Taeko Kaneshiro, 65, from Uruma. “We have called for scaling down of U.S. military bases (in Okinawa), but instead they are being reinforced.” The central government plans to reclaim a total of 160 hectares to build a runway in a V-shaped configuration at Henoko. But the seabed was found to be unstable in multiple areas on the eastern side of the site, so requires additional reinforcement work that the Defense Ministry estimates will take three years and eight months to complete. Tamaki, who was elected governor last September on a platform of blocking the relocation plan, has said that such reinforcement work is impossible and that he will not approve the procedural applications from the central government needed for it to proceed. Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya said Monday at a Diet committee that the ministry “will make efforts” to submit documents on its changes to construction design work on the seabed “as soon as possible.” Many Okinawa residents have long hoped that the Futenma base will be moved out of the prefecture as they are frustrated with noise, crime and accidents linked to the U.S. military presence. But the Japanese government has said the relocation plan is the “only solution” for eliminating the dangers posed by the base without undermining the deterrence provided by the Japan-U.S. security alliance.

okinawa
henoko
futenma
nago
u.s. military
u.s. bases


Tokyo Paralympic Games get a cherry blossom torch with new color and braille text

Abstract: The organizing committee of the 2020 Tokyo Games has unveiled the Paralympic version of the official torch, which uses the braille alphabet and differs from the Olympic torch in color. Both the Paralympic and Olympic torches for next year’s games make use of Japan’s iconic “sakura” cherry blossoms in their design. This is to suggest a sense of hope that aligns with the theme of the Olympics and Paralympics as spotlighting the Tohoku region’s reconstruction from the March 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami that devastated three prefectures. The upper part of the torches consists of a central column with five petal-shaped attachments to form a symbolic blossom. Thirty percent of the aluminum used in them comes from material recycled from temporary housing used in disaster-hit Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures. Each measure 71 cm in length and weigh 1.2 kg. While both are fashioned in a color between gold and pink, the Olympic torch’s color has been dubbed “sakura gold” and the Paralympics torch’s “sakura pink.” In keeping with the Paralympic spirit, each torch has braille text of four words that exemplify the meaning of the games as well as symbols indicating the torch’s front to those with visual impairments. The theme of the Paralympic relay is “share your light.” In principle, each team will be made up of three people with no prior knowledge of each other. They will carry the torch together to appreciate the idea of “unity in diversity.” The Paralympic flame ceremony will begin Aug. 13 with the first flame-lighting festivals in several cities. A heritage flame celebration will also take place in Britain’s Stoke Mandeville, the spiritual birthplace of the Paralympic movement. Every prefecture in Japan will be visited by one of the flames to boost support for and interest in the games. On Aug. 21, 2020, the different flames will come together in Tokyo, where they will be combined for a final relay around the capital leading up to the opening ceremony on Aug. 25.

olympics
tohoku
3.11
2020 tokyo olympics
2020 tokyo paralympics


Japan starts work on vaccinating wild boars as swine fever outbreaks continue

Abstract: GIFU/KOMAKI, AICHI PREF. - The Aichi Prefectural Government started work Sunday to vaccinate wild boars against swine fever, in the first attempt at vaccinating wild animals in the country. Aichi officials placed feed containing a vaccine in the ground at some locations in Aichi Prefecture, including at a forest in Komaki. Swine fever outbreaks have occurred at pig farms mainly in central Japan since last year. Wild boars are believed to have spread the disease. Aichi Prefecture will conduct the work at a total of 60 locations in the cities of Komaki, Kasugai and Inuyama. Five more rounds of vaccination work will be conducted by February 2020, prefectural officials said. On Monday, the Gifu Prefectural Government also began placing vaccine-containing feed in the ground. The prefectural government plans to set the feed at 900 locations in mountainous areas in 18 municipalities by Friday. The prefectural government will monitor whether the feed is eaten by wild boars using security cameras. It will also capture some of the hogs to check whether they test positive for an antibody. The second round of vaccination work will be conducted in late April, and two more rounds are set for the summer and winter, Gifu officials said. On Saturday the agriculture ministry said a new case of swine fever was confirmed at a pig farm in Yamagata, Gifu Prefecture. The prefecture will slaughter some 2,000 pigs raised at the farm. The latest swine fever case is the 12th in Japan since September last year, when the nation’s first instance of the disease in 26 years was confirmed in the prefecture. Gifu Gov. Hajime Furuta called the timing of the outbreak “extremely regrettable.”


Nagoya teenager handed prison sentence for making explosives, drugs and 3D-printed gun

Abstract: NAGOYA - A court in Nagoya imposed a sentence of three to five years on a former university student on Monday for making an explosive often used in the powerful bombs detonated in terror attacks, as well as stimulant drugs and a 3D-printed gun. The 19-year-old male, whose name has been withheld because he is a minor, produced triacetone triperoxide, known as TATP, at his home in Nagoya in December 2016 and burned the substance in a park in March 2018, according to the indictment. He also made a 3D-printed gun around September 2017 and stimulant drugs in August 2018 in conspiracy with an 18-year-old male from Ibaraki Prefecture. The Nagoya District Court handed down what is known as an indeterminate sentence, determining only the minimum and maximum detention period. Such sentences are given only to minors in Japan under the Juvenile Law, and take an accused person’s age and behavior in prison into account. “He took the possibility of an accidental explosion lightly,” prosecutors, who demanded a jail term of three to six years, had said earlier. “There is the risk of copycat offenders using information easily obtained on the internet.” His defense team demanded he be placed under protective custody in a juvenile correction facility. “The explosive substance was ignited, but there were no victims,” his lawyer said, adding that the gun was made for ornamental purposes and that the stimulants were not of sufficient quality to make them sellable. Police located and arrested the teenager in August 2018 after he was spotted on security camera footage following the explosion in the park. He was initially sent by prosecutors to the Nagoya Family Court as a minor, but his case was sent back to prosecutors in November 2018 after it was concluded he should face criminal charges in light of the seriousness of the case.

nagoya
explosives
drugs
guns
courts
teens
3d laser printing


Cybozu chief Yoshihisa Aono loses lawsuit at Tokyo court over right to use premarital name

Abstract: A Tokyo court on Monday upheld a national law that forces couples to use the same surname upon marriage, rejecting claims over its unconstitutionality. The lawsuit against the central government was brought by Yoshihisa Aono, the 47-year-old president of software development firm Cybozu Inc., and three others seeking a change to the Family Register Law that would give them the right to use their premarital surnames. The other three plaintiffs, who declined to be named, are a woman in her 20s and a common-law couple. The four filed the suit with the Tokyo District Court in January 2018, seeking ¥2.2 million in compensation for “psychological suffering.” In a strong statement, presiding Judge Tetsuro Nakayoshi said that “the law in question does not violate the Constitution” and ordered the plaintiffs to cover the cost of the trial. The Family Register Law forbids Japanese couples from using different surnames after marriage, although the practice is permitted in marriages between Japanese and foreign nationals. Divorcees, meanwhile, can choose whether to retain the same surname regardless of nationality. Many companies and public offices in Japan allow employees to use their pre-marriage names at work but only registered surnames can be used on official documents like passports. Aono legally took his wife’s surname — Nishihata — upon marriage, but he uses his pre-marriage name for business purposes. The plaintiffs argued that the law is unconstitutional, in that it fails to ensure the essential equality of the sexes and individual dignity, and demanded the right to use their pre-marriage name through a change to the Family Register Law. The court concluded, however, the laws in question do not contravene the Constitution as Article 750 of the Civil Code stipulates that a husband and wife shall adopt the same surname upon marriage. Aono’s lawsuit was not the first to have been rejected in the courtroom. In 2015, five women sought the right to retain their maiden names after marriage but the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Civil Code provision that requires married couples to use the same surname for official matters. During a news conference following the ruling, Tomoshi Sakka, a lawyer representing the plaintiffs, expressed his dissatisfaction with Monday’s ruling. “It appears the court adopted the government’s stance, which is disappointing,” he said. “I was hoping for some progress but this ruling states the same arguments as those presented in 2015 without any evidence to support their claims.” He questioned the court’s logic that the Civil Code only allows one name and that a family’s name cannot differ. He also emphasized the contradiction compared with Japanese marrying foreign nationals given that separate names are acceptable in international marriages under the same law. Sakka believes that amending the Family Register Law is the easiest solution to respond to changes in society where more women now actively participate, he said. But the court argued such regulations need to go in line with the Civil Code. Aono said he was disappointed that despite the Supreme Court’s suggestion in the 2015 ruling that the disputed issue should be raised in Diet’s debates, the district court’s ruling showed there had been no progress since 2015. “If you think logically, this law is unconstitutional — and I thought the court would rule based on logical arguments, which has apparently been ignored,” he said. Aono stressed that the existing law may cause difficulties for many married couples, such as when contacted by a day care center during an emergency, for example, if the parent uses separate names for work and for the child’s day care nursery. Aono said he had only sought the right to choose one’s last name. He said that although he was dismayed by the ruling, he was planning to follow up by challenging the court’s arguments and take the fight to a higher court as soon as possible. “This trial has gained attention from the public and the media, and I believe it has significantly mobilized public opinion,” Aono said, adding that he was hoping the public would follow suit in seeking change through votes in planned local elections. In its ruling on Monday the court also rejected the compensation claims, saying the government bore no responsibility for the plaintiffs’ psychological suffering given that there had been no violation of their rights guaranteed in the Constitution.

cybozu
yoshihisa aono
tokyo
courts
names
marriage
civil code


Government considering terms from Japanese classics, rather than Chinese, for nation's next era name

Abstract: Options under consideration for the next Imperial era name, which will be unveiled April 1, are believed to include terms adapted from Japanese classics despite past era names typically being drawn from Chinese classics, government sources have said. In Japan the era name is used throughout an emperor’s reign, appearing in calendars and on official documents. Past era names with identifiable sources were all drawn from Chinese classics, as the era system originates in China. The current Heisei Era, which began on Jan. 8, 1989, will end when Emperor Akihito abdicates on April 30. The next era name will become effective May 1, when Crown Prince Naruhito ascends the throne. The Japanese government on March 14 commissioned scholars to make their proposals for the next era name, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Sunday during a visit to Naha, Okinawa Prefecture. The government’s procedures call for each of a small number of scholars to be asked to propose about two to five names, attaching explanations about why they made the proposals. The scholars are believed to be experts on Japanese and Chinese literature and Japanese and Asian history. The submitted proposals are kept in a safe in the room of Assistant Chief Cabinet Secretary Kazuyuki Furuya. Suga said Monday, however, that the government will not disclose the names of the scholars even after the announcement of the new era name, saying that both the government and the scholars themselves think making the names public is inappropriate. Suga will narrow down the possible new names to around three, and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will make the final selection. The government plans to announce the name of the new era on April 1. Even if the new era name is inspired by a piece of classical Japanese literature, it may still have its roots in Chinese literature. “There are many Japanese classics written in Chinese style that can be traced back to Chinese classics,” said one expert. “The more formal a word is, the more likely it is to originate in Chinese classics.” The term Heisei, meaning “achieving peace,” comes from phrases in Chinese classics. It was chosen from three candidates, the other two being Shubun and Seika.


The week ahead for March 25 to March 31

Abstract: Monday Over 50 regional banks to start introducing the J-Coin cashless payment system developed by Mizuho Financial Group. Transactions will be processed through a smartphone app using Quick Response two-dimensional barcode. Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko to visit Kyoto and Nara prefectures through March 28. Tokyo District Court to hand down ruling in damages suit over constitutionality of legal ban on married couples from having different surnames. Tuesday Japanese men’s soccer team to take on Bolivia in friendly match at Kobe’s Noevir Stadium. Wednesday Nissan Motor’s corporate governance committee to release final report. It is expected to propose reducing the power of the chairman’s post following the dismissal of former CEO Carlos Ghosn, who was arrested for alleged financial misconduct at the carmaker. Pioneer to be delisted from Tokyo Stock Exchange’s first section. The struggling auto electronics maker has agreed to be fully owned by a Hong Kong-based investment fund in return for a capital injection. Thursday The Kumamoto District Court to hand down ruling in retrial of man over a 1985 murder. The court is expected to acquit the man, who has already served a prison term, as prosecutors have dropped the charges against him. Friday Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry to release unemployment rate for February. Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare to release ratio of job offers to job-seekers for February. Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry to release preliminary industrial production index for February. Focus is on how strongly the index could rebound following a 3.4 percent decline in January amid slowing exports mainly due to China’s economic downturn. Opening games of NPB’s Central and Pacific leagues to be held. Saturday No major events. Sunday Furniture store operator Otsuka Kagu to hold annual shareholders meeting.


Hyperwired South Korea gets head start on rest of world with launch of first national 5G networks

Abstract: SEOUL - South Korea launches the world’s first fully fledged 5G mobile networks Friday, a transformational leap that already has superpowers sparring for control of an innovation that could potentially change the day-to-day lives of billions of people. The superfast communications heralded by fifth-generation wireless technology will ultimately underpin everything from toasters to telephones; from electric cars to power grids. But while South Korea has won the race to be first to provide the user experience, that is only one part of a wider battle that has pit the United States against China and ensnared giants including Huawei. Hyperwired South Korea has long had a reputation for technical prowess, and Seoul has made the 5G rollout a priority as it seeks to stimulate stuttering economic growth. The system will bring smartphones near-instantaneous connectivity — 20 times faster than the existing 4G — allowing users to download entire movies in less than a second. In the same way that 3G enabled widespread mobile web access and 4G enabled new applications ranging from social media to Uber, 5G will herald a new level of connectivity, empowered by speed. It is crucial for the future development of devices ranging from self-driving vehicles that send data traffic to one another in real time, industrial robots, drones and other elements of the “internet of things.” That makes it a vital part of the infrastructure of tomorrow, and the 5G standard is expected to bring about $565 billion (¥63 trillion) in global economic benefits by 2034, according to the London-based Global System for Mobile Communications, an industry alliance. But the implications have pitted Washington against Beijing in an increasingly bitter standoff. The U.S. has pressed its allies and major economies to avoid 5G solutions from Chinese-owned telecom giant Huawei, citing security risks that technological backdoors could give Beijing access to 5G-connected utilities and other components. But Chinese firms dominate 5G technology. Huawei, the global leader, has registered 1,529 5G patents, according to data analysis firm IPlytics. Combined with manufacturers ZTE and Oppo, plus the China Academy of Telecommunications Technology, Chinese entities own a total of 3,400 patents, it says — more than a third of the total. South Korea comes next, with its companies holding 2,051 patents. In contrast, U.S. firms have 1,368 altogether, IPlytics said — 29 fewer than Finland’s Nokia alone. All three of South Korea’s mobile networks — KT, SK Telecom and LG UPlus — will go live with their 5G services. “5G’s hyper speed can connect 1 million devices within a one square kilometre zone simultaneously,” KT said in a report. On the same day, Samsung Electronics will release the Galaxy S10 5G, the world’s first available smartphone using the tech, with rival LG following with the V50s two weeks later. More than 3 million South Koreans will switch to 5G by the end of this year, predicted KT vice president Lee Pil-jae. Until now, no mobile networks have offered nationwide 5G access. In the US, hotspots in a few selected cities have offered 5G speeds but over Wi-Fi only, while Qatari firm Ooredoo says it offers 5G services in and around Doha, but does not have devices available to use them. U.S. network carrier Verizon will launch fifth-generation services for mobile users in Chicago and Minneapolis next week, with more than 30 cities due to follow this year. Japan is also expected to roll out a limited deployment in 2019 before full services start in time for next year’s Tokyo Games. But cost is likely to be a barrier for user uptake initially, analysts say: The cheapest version of the new Galaxy handset will be 1.39 million won (¥136,600). “While there are many cheap 4G smartphones under $300 (¥33,450), Samsung’s 5G phones are well over $1,000, which could be a major minus point for cost-savvy consumers,” a KT representative said. None of South Korea’s three network operators would say how much they have invested in 5G, but Seoul’s economy minister Hong Nam-ki put it at at least $2.6 billion this year alone. “If 5G is fully implemented,” he said, “it will greatly improve people’s lives.”

south korea
5g
tech
china
smartphones
internet
u.s .


Microsoft to provide automatic updates to handle Japan era name change to Reiwa

Abstract: Microsoft Japan Co. said Tuesday that it will send out automatic updates for individual users of its Windows operating system and Office software to handle the era name change to Reiwa on May 1. Users who have turned on automatic updating do not need to take any other special steps because necessary programs will be automatically installed, the Japanese arm of U.S. giant Microsoft Corp. said. Users can also check how to manually update software on the Microsoft website. In order to respond to technical questions during the Golden Week holiday period, which lasts for 10 days from April 27, Microsoft Japan will open a consultation desk for three days from April 30. The company started work to add the new era name to its system after the name was announced Monday. Program updates will be offered in phases.


Asian Development Bank sees growth in continent's developing countries slowing to 5.7% in 2019

Abstract: MANILA - The Asian Development Bank said Wednesday that growth in developing Asia will slow to 5.7 percent this year, down from 5.9 percent in 2018, due to slowing global demand and persistent trade tensions. In its Asian Development Outlook 2019 report, the bank said growth in the region will further weaken to 5.6 percent in 2020, citing such factors as the continuing moderation of Chinese economic growth. “A drawn-out or deteriorating trade conflict between the People’s Republic of China and the United States could undermine investment and growth in developing Asia,” Yasuyuki Sawada, the bank’s chief economist, said in the report. “With various uncertainties stemming from U.S. fiscal policy and a possible disorderly Brexit, growth in the advanced economies could turn out slower than expected, undermining the outlook for (China) and other economies in the region,” he added. The report said China’s growth will continue to moderate, with 6.3 percent expansion this year and 6.1 percent in 2020, “as restrictions on housing markets and shadow banking continue and as the trade conflict with the U.S. weakens exports.” It forecasts the combined economies of the United States, Japan and the eurozone will see growth slow to 1.9 percent this year and 1.6 percent in 2020, citing “less accommodative fiscal and monetary policies” in the United States, “uncertainty surrounding Brexit in the United Kingdom and the European Union, and the trade conflict between” China and the United States. Meanwhile, the bank said inflation in developing Asia remains low, forecasting it at 2.5 percent for both 2019 and 2020.

asia development banks trade economy adb


Japan's travel agencies and hotels look to milk imminent era shift to Reiwa with tours and souvenirs

Abstract: Travel agencies and hotels are selling commemorative packages to take advantage of the forthcoming change of Imperial era, an opportunity that typically comes only once every several decades. Leading travel agency JTB Corp. is selling a three-day tour that starts on April 30, the final day of the current Heisei Era, when Emperor Akihito is set to abdicate, and features visits to the Grand Shrines of Ise, a Shinto shrine complex in the city of Ise in Mie Prefecture. Tour participants will offer prayers at Naiku, where deity and legendary Imperial ancestor Amaterasu Omikami is enshrined, and other areas of the Grand Shrines of Ise early in the mornings of April 30 and May 1, when Crown Prince Naruhito ascends to the Chrysanthemum Throne and the new Reiwa Era begins. Nippon Travel Agency Co., meanwhile, is offering a train tour between Osaka Station and Izumoshi Station in Izumo, Shimane Prefecture, where the Shinto shrine Izumo Oyashiro is located. The Salon Car Naniwa train operated by West Japan Railway Co., or JR West, will leave Osaka Station on the night of April 30. Aboard the train participants will celebrate the moment the Heisei Era ends and the Reiwa Era begins at the stroke of midnight. Commemorative tickets stamped with the dates of Heisei and Reiwa will be given out to them, according to the company. For both the JTB and NTA tours, 80 to 90 percent of the tickets have already been booked. Club Tourism International Inc.’s era change tours include one in which participants will view sunset on the last day of Heisei from Tokyo Skytree, the tallest tower in the world, and another allowing customers to watch the sunrise and Mount Fuji on the first day of Reiwa from a chartered plane. “We hope participants will enjoy the precious moments,” an official of the company said. The Capitol Hotel Tokyu in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward, where the Imperial Palace is also located, is selling an overnight package on the night of April 30 for up to two guests staying in a suite, with the most expensive room costing ¥110,000 per person. Despite the high price, the package is almost fully booked, according to hotel officials. A wedding package offered by Yokohama Bay Hotel Tokyu in Yokohama includes taking commemorative photographs with Yokohama Bay Bridge in the background and going for a cruise in a boat that sails under the bridge. It opened in 1989, the first year of the Heisei Era. With the hotel selling the package as the last such product for the Heisei Era, the number of reservations for wedding receptions for April jumped 40 percent from a year before. Kyushu Railway Co., or JR Kyushu, will bring out a set of platform tickets made from cardboard and sell a collection of tickets for all of its 567 stations bearing the numbers “1.5.1,” meaning May 1 in the first year of the Reiwa Era. Currently, cardboard-type tickets are not typically available. The collection, priced at ¥110,000 per set, includes an additional platform ticket for Heisei Station on the Hohi Main Line in the city of Kumamoto. On the ticket will be the numbers “31.4.30,” meaning April 30 in the 31st year of Heisei. The station, named after the current era, was opened in 1992, three years after the start of the era. As it has been bombarded with orders, JR Kyushu has already stopped accepting reservations for the 300 sets it plans to produce.

travel
hotels
reiwa
abdication
rail
imperial family


Shell to quit U.S. refining lobby over climate disagreement and will back Paris accord

Abstract: LONDON - Royal Dutch Shell on Tuesday became the first major oil and gas company to announce plans to leave a leading U.S. refining lobby due to disagreement on climate policies. In its first review of its association with 19 key industry groups, the company said it had found “material misalignment” over climate policy with the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) and would quit the body in 2020. The review is part of Shell’s drive to increase transparency and show investors it is in line with the 2015 Paris climate agreement’s goals to limit global warming by reducing carbon emissions to a net zero by the end of the century. It is also the latest sign of how investor pressure on oil companies is leading to changes in their behavior around climate. “AFPM has not stated support for the goal of the Paris Agreement. Shell supports the goal of the Paris Agreement,” the Anglo-Dutch company said in its decision. Shell said it also disagreed with AFPM’s opposition to a price on carbon and action on low-carbon technologies. AFPM Chief Executive Chet Thompson thanked Shell for its “longstanding collaboration. “Like any family, we aren’t always fully aligned on every policy, but we always strive to reach consensus positions on policies,” Thompson said in a statement. “We will also continue working on behalf of the refining and petrochemical industries to advance policies that ensure reliable and affordable access to fuels and petrochemicals, while being responsible stewards of the environment.” AFPM counts around 300 U.S. and international members, including Exxon Mobil, Chevron, BP and Total that operate 110 refineries and 229 petrochemical plants, according to its 2018 annual report. Shell’s review was welcomed by Adam Matthews, director of ethics and engagement for the Church of England Pensions Board, which invests in Shell and led discussions with the company over its climate policy. “This is an industry first,” Matthews said. “With this review Shell have set the benchmark for best practice on corporate climate lobbying not just within oil and gas but across all industries. The challenge now is for others to follow suit.” Shell and AFPM have also been at odds in recent months over regulation over the use of renewable fuels. While Shell and other large refiners have invested in the cleaner fuel technology, AFPM has fought hard against the Renewable Fuel Standard from which some independent refiners could lose out. Shell and rivals Exxon and BP have in recent years also left the American Legislative Exchange Council, a conservative political group, over its stance on climate change. Shell also found “some” misalignment with nine other trade associations, including the American Petroleum Institute, the oil and gas industry’s main lobby. Shell said that while it had some climate-related differences with API, it welcomed the lobby’s advocacy on a range of state and federal issues such as trade and transport, as well as the API’s efforts to reduce methane emissions. It will continue to engage with the API and other groups over climate policies and monitor their alignment, Shell said. Last year, Shell caved in to investor pressure over climate change, setting out plans to introduce industry-leading carbon emissions targets linked to executive pay. Its chief executive, Ben van Beurden, has since repeatedly urged oil and gas producers to take action over climate and pollution. “The need for urgent action in response to climate change has become ever more obvious since the signing of the Paris Agreement in 2015. As a result, society’s expectations in this area have changed, and Shell’s views have also evolved,” van Beurden said in the report. “We must be prepared to openly voice our concerns where we find misalignment with an industry association on climate-related policy. In cases of material misalignment, we should also be prepared to walk away.” Shell last month urged President Donald Trump’s administration to tighten restrictions on emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, instead of weakening them as planned.

royal dutch shell
oil
afpm
bp
u.s .
paris climate accord


Global trade growth to slow to 2.6% amid China-U.S. standoff, says WTO

Abstract: GENEVA - The World Trade Organization said Tuesday that growth in global merchandise trade volume is expected to slow to 2.6 percent this year, down from 3 percent last year, amid a tariff war between the United States and China. “With trade tensions running high, no one should be surprised by this outlook,” WTO Director General Robert Azevedo said in a news release. “Trade cannot play its full role in driving growth when we see such high levels of uncertainty.” The WTO warned that trade growth this year could even be below or above this range, depending largely on the outcome of negotiations between Washington and Beijing. “If we forget the fundamental importance of the rules-based trading system we would risk weakening it, which would be an historic mistake with repercussions for jobs, growth and stability around the world,” Azevedo said. The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs on a total of $250 billion in Chinese imports — or about half of the goods the United States imports from China each year — in response to what Washington calls Beijing’s “unfair” trade practices such as alleged intellectual property theft and forced technology transfers. China has retaliated with tariffs on $110 billion of U.S. imports. At their summit in Argentina last December, Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to a truce in which both promised to refrain from imposing further tariffs for 90 days while trying to complete trade negotiations. As working-level and ministerial-level talks continue, Washington extended the March 1 deadline, with speculation rife that Trump and Xi may hold a summit in the near future to end the trade war.


Announcement of Japan's impending Reiwa Era sets off scramble for internet domain names

Abstract: It is not only for products and companies that people have a desire to use the new Imperial era name, and its announcement has set off a scramble to acquire a domain name — the address used to access a website — featuring the word “ reiwa .” GMO Internet Inc. confirmed Wednesday that on the day of the announcement, there were more than 1,300 domain registrations with the era name expressed in kanji or roman characters on the Onamae.com service. Harumi Ishii, a spokesman for the internet service company, said through Tuesday the number grew to 2,000. Ishii said that such domain names are almost sold out, but added that it may still be possible to acquire one “if you add a character (before or after) ‘reiwa,'” as in “reiwa1” and “reiwatokyo.” Ishii said that after the unveiling, traffic to its website temporarily rose so high that it slowed down. Some of the “reiwa” domain names have been put up for auction at hefty prices. A search on Yahoo Japan’s auction site Wednesday showed the domain name reiwa.jp had the price of ¥66,000 after receiving 87 bids as of 7 p.m., for example. Another domain, r-e-i-wa.com , even carried a price of ¥6 million. Some companies had already been using “reiwa” in their domain name before the announcement. Among them is the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia, which said it had an unexpected surge in traffic to its website — reiwa.com — after the era name was unveiled, according to media reports. Seventy percent of the day’s traffic to reiwa.com was from Japan, the institute said.

reiwa
internet
imperial family
abdication


Jetstar 787 had 'serious' engine trouble before landing at Kansai International Airport

Abstract: A Boeing 787 plane of Australian budget carrier Jetstar Airways had trouble with both engines before landing at Kansai International Airport, the transport ministry said Tuesday. The ministry classified the situation as a “serious incident” that could have led to a major accident, adding that although there were no reports of injuries it has decided to send inspectors to the airport to look into the plane, which was from the northern Australian city of Cairns. When the aircraft was descending toward the airport at around 6:55 p.m. on Friday, the thrust of its left engine went down for a few seconds before recovering, and subsequently the right engine’s thrust also fell for tens of seconds, according to the ministry. It also said readings from the right engine’s instrument were unstable several minutes before it saw the fluctuations in speed. The 787 did not sent an emergency message requesting a preferential landing and touched down safely at about 7:20 p.m., according to the airport’s operator.

jetstar airways
airlines
australia
aviation


Canada OKs first farm for genetically modified salmon

Abstract: OTTAWA - Canada’s first commercial farm for genetically modified salmon received environmental approval on Tuesday — the final hurdle in a decades-long push to bring the fast-growing fish to market, amid strong opposition. The U.S.-based biotech firm AquaBounty said it would begin stocking its Rollo Bay facility in the eastern province of Prince Edward Island, capable of producing up to 250 metric tons (550,000 pounds) of fish a year, “as soon as possible.” The first commercial harvest, it said, is expected at the end of 2020, around the same time as another at the company’s facility in Albany, Indiana. The genetically modified salmon have a gene that enables them to grow more rapidly than conventional salmon, and can reach adult size in 16 to 18 months, compared with 30 months for natural Atlantic salmon. The company will be raising them in contained, land-based hatcheries. The U.S. and Canada found in 2015 and 2016, respectively, that the fish were safe to eat, clearing the way for them to become the first transgenic animal destined for North American dinner tables. Environmentalists and consumer groups, however, continue to raise concerns that the salmon could be dangerous to human health and may pose risks to wild fish if they were to escape into the environment. “This decision means more Canadians will be eating GM salmon without knowing,” said Lucy Sharratt of the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network, citing a lack of mandatory labeling of genetically modified foods in Canada. Argentina, Brazil and China have also granted environmental approvals for genetically modified fish farming trials, the company said.


Dollar rises above ¥111.50 in Tokyo

Abstract: The dollar topped ¥111.50 in Tokyo trading Wednesday, aided by growing hopes for a U.S.-China trade deal and a rise in U.S. long-term interest rates. At 5 p.m., the dollar stood at ¥111.51, up from ¥111.37 at the same time Tuesday. The euro was at $1.1236-1237, up from $1.1199, and at ¥125.30-31, up from 124.¥73. The dollar moved in a narrow ¥111.30 range early in the morning. But the greenback scaled to around ¥111.52 in midmorning trading on buying sparked by a Financial Times report that the United States and China were drawing closer to a final trade deal. Although the dollar eased below ¥111.40 past noon, the U.S. currency rose back above ¥111.50 in the late afternoon thanks to purchases on a rise in the 10-year Treasury yield in off-hours trading and solid performances of Chinese stocks, traders said. “The dollar-yen pair was largely firm amid a growing risk-on mood, but its climb above ¥111.50 prompted selling,” a currency broker said. “The dollar lacked momentum to hit ¥112.” Despite the optimistic U.K. media report ahead of the start of ministerial-level trade talks between the United States and China in Washington on Wednesday, players refrained from full-fledged dollar buying as they wanted to see the outcome of the talks, an official at a foreign exchange margin trade service firm said.


Tokyo stocks rebound on renewed hopes for China-U.S. trade deal

Abstract: Stocks bounced back on the Tokyo Stock Exchange on Wednesday, as investors accelerated buying amid growing hopes for an end to the U.S.-China trade row. The 225-issue Nikkei average rallied 207.90 points, or 0.97 percent, to end at 21,713.21. On Tuesday, the key market gauge edged down 3.72 points. The Topix index of all first-section issues finished up 10.08 points, or 0.63 percent, at 1,621.77, after falling 4.12 points the previous day. After getting off to a mixed start, the market went up sharply on a Financial Times report that Washington and Beijing were “closer” to a final trade deal, brokers said. The U.K. newspaper report hit the market before the start of ministerial negotiations between the Unites States and China in Washington on Wednesday. Robust buying in Fast Retailing Co., a heavily weighted component of the Nikkei average, helped the key price indicator gain over 100 points, analysts pointed out. The market remained comfortably higher in the afternoon on purchases prompted by rises in Shanghai stocks. Tomoaki Fujii, head of the investment research division at Akatsuki Securities Inc., said that an unexpectedly sharp improvement in China’s Caixin services purchasing managers’ index and U.S. stock index futures’ climb in off-hours trading also gave a boost to buying momentum. “Concerns over a global economic slowdown receded” thanks to the brisk readings of Wednesday’s Chinese nonmanufacturing PMI and Monday’s U.S. Institute for Supply Management manufacturing index, Fujii added. The Nikkei may test its recent high of 21,822 this week, if Wall Street advances further and the U.S.-China trade talks produce fruit, said Ryuta Otsuka, strategist at the investment information department of Toyo Securities Co. Rising issues outnumbered falling ones 1,480 to 588 in the TSE’s first section, while 71 issues were unchanged. Volume fell to 1.292 billion shares from Tuesday’s 1.343 billion shares. China-linked issues attracted purchases, with chipmaking gear manufacturer Tokyo Electron rising 2.85 percent, industrial robot producer Fanuc Corp. 2.72 percent and its peer Yaskawa Electric Corp. 2.67 percent. Fast Retailing jumped 5.44 percent, thanks to a same-store sales rise at its Uniqlo casual clothing store chain in March. Other major winners included technology investor Softbank Group Corp. and drugmaker Eisai Co. Meanwhile, Megmilk Snow Brand Co. plunged 5.48 percent after Mizuho Securities Co. revised down its investment rating and target stock price for the dairy products maker. Also sold were power supplier Tokyo Electric Power Holding Inc. and railway operator Central Japan Railway Co., or JR Tokai. In index futures trading on the Osaka Exchange, the key June contract on the Nikkei average climbed 250 points to end at 21,720.


Toyota to allow free access to 24,000 hybrid and electric vehicle tech patents to boost market

Abstract: NAGOYA - Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday it will allow royalty-free access to its nearly 24,000 patents for hybrid and other vehicles using electrification technology in a bid to expand competition in the market as the industry adopts stricter emissions regulations. Rather than shutting rivals out, Toyota hopes that making its motor and battery technology accessible to other companies will broaden the market, in particular for hybrids, a field the auto giant leads with its Prius vehicles. But it remains uncertain whether the use of Toyota patents will be as widespread as the carmaker hopes, observers said. Toyota said in January 2015 it will offer patents related to its fuel-cell vehicles but it has only led to a dozen contracts. For the policy change, Toyota said it will offer around 23,740 patents related to electrification technology, with the grant period running from Wednesday to the end of 2030. Toyota also hopes that opening up its technology for motors and batteries, which are key components of electric and fuel-cell vehicles, will increase their supply and help it to cut costs in developing such vehicles. “The level of electrification technology required by global environmental regulations is becoming stricter year by year,” Toyota Vice President Shigeki Terashi said at a news conference in the city of Nagoya, near Toyota headquarters, underscoring efforts to strengthen cooperation with other companies. The carmaker also said it will provide fee-based technical support to manufacturers developing and selling electric vehicles using Toyota’s motors, batteries and other technologies. Chinese manufacturers are seen as likely to be interested in the gasoline-electric hybrid technology as the world’s largest auto market by volume also moves to implement stricter fuel economy regulations. Since the release of the Prius in 1997, Toyota has kept its related technology under wraps. But it has now judged that it can retain a competitive edge even if it offers its technology to other automakers, company sources said.

toyota
patents
automakers
cars
intellectual property
ev


Re-arrest may loom for Carlos Ghosn as ousted Nissan chief tweets he will 'tell the truth'

Abstract: A tweet posted at 12:51 p.m. on Wednesday under the name of former Nissan Motor Co. Chairman Carlos Ghosn was initially met with great skepticism. The profile photo was his headshot, featuring gray hair and a cherry blossom tree in the background. Journalists were abuzz speculating about the veracity of the account. “I’m getting ready to tell the truth about what’s happening,” read the tweet, the account’s first. “Press conference on Thursday, April 11.” Then the account was verified. There was another tweet, this time in Japanese, about an hour later. That had gained more than 8,500 retweets and over 12,000 likes as of 7:10 p.m. Wednesday. The ex-chairman’s snap announcement amid his indictment on charges of financial misconduct while head of Nissan has drawn speculation over who penned the tweet and the motive behind it. It was not immediately clear whether Ghosn himself or a representative was responsible for the message. It is also not clear where the news conference would take place. Ghosn’s legal team had previously said he is willing to hold a news conference — most recently on Tuesday afternoon. Junichiro Hironaka, one of the attorneys representing Ghosn, told reporters the news conference would take place “in the near future” but declined to give a specific date. Ghosn’s choice of medium for announcing his news conference bewildered legal experts and observers: Why wasn’t the news delivered through his lawyers? The move raises questions over Ghosn’s relationship with his legal team, Tokyo-based corporate lawyer Shin Ushijima said. But Ushijima added that it is unlikely that Ghosn acted unilaterally without consulting them. The surprise tweet came as media reports said the Tokyo District Public Prosecutor’s Office is seeking to bring a fresh charge against the 65-year-old. Multiple Japanese media outlets have reported that prosecutors are probing Nissan’s ¥3.5 billion ($31 million) payments to a distributor in Oman. The prosecutors allege some of the money, which came from a budget controlled by Ghosn, was misappropriated for Ghosn’s personal use. “We cannot rule out the possibility that the prosecutors may add additional charges from now,” Hironaka said at Tuesday’s news conference. If the report is accurate and the prosecutors bring charges, Ghosn could be arrested again and sent back to the Tokyo Detention House. Yasuyuki Takai, an attorney and a former prosecutor at the Tokyo District Public Prosecutor’s Office, said while he understands Ghosn’s intention to speak out, the tweets won’t have much effect. He added that prosecutors would not likely change their plans to bring fresh charges due to the holding of a news conference. In one way, though, Ghosn’s announcement and the possibility of his arrest could be related, Ushijima said. “If (Ghosn) were arrested before the 11th, he cannot hold a news conference,” Ushijima said. “So if that is the case, Ghosn could make the criticism that the prosecutors stripped him of an opportunity to tell the truth. … If he were arrested, he could say he was arrested to be silenced.” Both Takai and Ushijima were doubtful of the merits of holding a news conference, pointing out that Ghosn’s remarks could be used against him by prosecutors when he goes to trial. If he wants to do it anyway, the premise would need to be that he cannot comment on the allegations, Takai said. He could only go as far as claiming his arrest was a plot and treason by Nissan executives, which may not be well received by the public, Takai said. “If I were his lawyer, I would advise him to forget about it,” Takai said. “There are no merits to doing it. It has no redeeming features.” Ghosn, who saved Nissan from the brink of bankruptcy when he took over and transformed it into a global auto conglomerate, was initially arrested last November. He was accused of deliberately underreporting his remuneration for years and then subsequently slapped with additional charges, including aggravated breach of trust for the alleged transfer of private investment losses to Nissan in 2008. He was released on bail from the Tokyo Detention House on March 6 after having spent 108 days in confinement. His conditional release was secured after three attempts and followed the first effort by a new legal team including Hironaka, who earned his nickname “Razor” for his acumen and reputation for winning nonguilty verdicts in some of the country’s most high-profile cases. Ghosn has denied any wrongdoing.

carlos ghosn
nissan
corruption
social media
scandals
twitter
carmakers