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JAPAN
Mar 24, 2004

Japan criticizes Israel over 'reckless' Yassin assassination

Japan joined other nations Tuesday in criticizing Israel for its murder of Ahmed Yassin, the founder of Palestinian militant group Hamas, and called on both Israel and the Palestinian Authority to resume peace talks.
JAPAN
Mar 23, 2004

Troops in Iraq set to get down to business

The Ground Self-Defense Force troops deployed to the city of Samawah in southern Iraq will commence their humanitarian aid mission later this month.
JAPAN
Mar 23, 2004

Pension role model a shirker herself

While reproaching the nation's youth last year in a government-sponsored TV commercial for not paying into the financially pinched mandatory National Pension System, popular actress Makiko Esumi was keeping her own dark secret.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 21, 2004

New coalitions of the willing seek change

While I was in London in January, The Guardian newspaper ran a front-page story about an independent evaluation of some of Britain's leading international charities that tried to help southern Africa avoid a food crisis in 2002-2003. The evaluation concluded that the charities had overstated the seriousness...
EDITORIALS
Mar 19, 2004

A victory for terrorists in Spain

Terrorists won an important victory last week in Spain. A series of bombs exploded in trains and rail stations in Madrid, killing some 200 people and injuring nearly 1,500 others. Al-Qaeda has taken credit for the savage attacks, saying Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar's support for the war against terror...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 18, 2004

Court halts weekly over story on Tanaka daughter

The latest issue of Shukan Bunshun was removed from newsstands Wednesday after the Tokyo District Court ordered a temporary injunction barring the sale of the Japanese-language weekly magazine.
JAPAN
Mar 17, 2004

Longer prison term for rape urged

Rapes are on the increase, a government panel said Tuesday, proposing that prison terms for the crime be lengthened.
EDITORIALS
Mar 17, 2004

Stability under a strongman

As expected, Russian President Vladimir Putin was re-elected by a landslide in Sunday's presidential election. His leadership now seems almost unchallenged. Opposition parties are weak. Parliament is obedient. Key government posts are held by Putin loyalists. Mr. Putin's tightened grip on power may bolster...
BUSINESS
Mar 17, 2004

LDP against insurance sales by banks

The Liberal Democratic Party said Tuesday it will urge the government to change its plan to allow banks to sell all types of insurance.
JAPAN
Mar 16, 2004

Japan welcomes Putin's re-election

Japan on Monday welcomed the re-election of Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying his consolidated power base will help bilateral efforts to conclude a peace treaty by resolving the long-standing territorial dispute.
EDITORIALS
Mar 16, 2004

A sad day for Korean democracy

Even by the rough and tumble standards of South Korean politics, the events of last week were tumultuous. On Friday, the South Korean Parliament impeached President Roh Moo Hyun. President Roh is likely to prevail in this squabble with the opposition, but the unprecedented move has introduced new uncertainties...
BUSINESS
Mar 16, 2004

March economic assessment upbeat on exports, spending

The government gave the economy an upbeat assessment in a monthly report issued Monday.
JAPAN
Mar 13, 2004

Hapless hikers earn Iraq police shakedown, Tokyo's wrath

Two young Japanese travelers wandering in southern Iraq earned the wrath of top government officials Friday, after they were temporarily detained and interrogated by local police.
JAPAN
Mar 13, 2004

Madrid carnage sets off alarm bells

Japan's defense chief on Friday called for tougher antiterrorism measures following the deadly bombings in Madrid, while the top government spokesman vowed to close any loopholes in Tokyo's security apparatus.
JAPAN
Mar 12, 2004

Shirakawa oft visited illegal casino but says he didn't bet

Katsuhiko Shirakawa, a former home affairs minister and ex-chairman of the National Public Safety Commission, has admitted visiting an illegal casino in Tokyo under a false name -- but has denied placing any bets.
JAPAN
Mar 12, 2004

Mitsubishi Fuso admits defect may send truck wheels flying

Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corp. acknowledged Thursday that some of its large vehicles have design flaws that could cause the wheels to come off, as in an accident that killed a woman in 2002.
EDITORIALS
Mar 12, 2004

Potholes in highway privatization

At first glance, the highway privatization package approved by the Cabinet on Tuesday looks attractive indeed. The existing four operators, including the flagship Japan Highway Public Corp., will be placed in private hands, and the combined 40 trillion yen debt that has accumulated over the years --...
JAPAN
Mar 12, 2004

Defense Agency upgrade delay sought

A senior lawmaker of New Komeito said Thursday a bill to upgrade the Defense Agency to a ministry should not go to the Diet during the current ordinary session.
JAPAN
Mar 12, 2004

Koizumi backpedals, supports certain cases of 'amakudari'

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Thursday backpedaled on his recent pledge to bar retired bureaucrats from heading semigovernmental special companies.
EDITORIALS
Mar 11, 2004

A historic day for Iraq

After a weeklong delay, Iraq's Governing Council has agreed to a new constitution for their country. The signing of the document marks a historic moment for Iraq. It establishes a framework for democratic self-government and safeguards individual rights. The transition from dictatorship to democracy...
BUSINESS
Mar 11, 2004

Real growth of economy cut to 1.6% on quarter

The economy grew a real 1.6 percent in the October-December period from the previous quarter, revised downward from the initially reported 1.7 percent expansion, due mainly to a fall in inventories, the government said Wednesday.
JAPAN
Mar 11, 2004

Lawmaker says Tokyo should prod Pyongyang

Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda urged Foreign Ministry officials Wednesday to press North Korea to come up with a date for a further round of bilateral talks.
JAPAN
Mar 11, 2004

Yen loans to China set to be reduced by 20%

China will slip from the top of Japan's yen-loan recipient list for fiscal 2003, as Tokyo plans to reduce aid to the country by 20 percent from the previous year to about 96.7 billion yen, according to a Foreign Ministry report unveiled Wednesday.
BUSINESS
Mar 11, 2004

Consumer confidence up in Tokyo for second month

Consumer confidence in the Tokyo metropolitan area improved in February for the second straight month, reflecting brighter sentiment on employment, income growth and living standards, the government said Wednesday.
JAPAN
Mar 10, 2004

Japan to sign global smoking treaty

The government said Tuesday it will sign the first global treaty aimed at reducing the health hazards from smoking.
JAPAN
Mar 10, 2004

Manual on handling dead birds issued

Don't panic -- just look it up in the booklet.

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?