Mai-memory

Diaz apologises for Maoist slogan

2007-06-26T15:25:00.000+09:00

Actress Cameron Diaz has apologised foe carrying a bag in Peru which featured a political slogan likely to be considered offensive by local people.

She visited the histrical Machu Picchu site to record a TV programme celebrating Peruvian culture ,with a green bag which had a red star and the words"serve the people" printed in chinese.
It evoked memories of a Peruvian war against Maoist rebels in the 1980s and '90s, when up to 69,000 people died..

She apologized " I'm sorry for any people's pain and suffering ,　and it was certainly never my intention to reopen what I now know is a painful wound in this country's history."

[Reference]
BBConline (Entertainment) Monday,25June2007 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6236142.stm

New World Bank chief is confirmed

2007-06-26T15:03:00.000+09:00

The world Bank's executive board has confirmed that Robert Zoellic will become the organisation's new boss.

Mr Zoellick,who was nominated by US President George W bush, will replace Paul Wolfowitz, who leaves on 30 June.
Mr Zoellick said he was eager to meet the people who drive the agenda of overcoming poverty in all regions, with particular attention to Africa, and also said he looked forward to advancing social and economic development, investing in growth, and encouraging hope, opportunity, and dignity.

He will start work on Sunday,1 July.

[Reference]
BBConline(americas) Monday,25 June 2007http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6238432.stm

Colombian drugs money case fails

2007-06-07T11:41:00.000+09:00

The trial of 147 Colombian soldiers accused of stealing $20m in guerrilla drug money has collapsed.

While 99 of the troops were being tried in their absence, the remainder were freed after irregularities in the legal process were discovered.

They would re-present case that all were allegedly on patrol in 2003 in the rebel-dominated southern jungles,where they stumbled across the proceeds of rebel drug deals and kidnap ransoms.

[Reference]
BBConline(americas) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6725331.stm

Guantanamo Saudi "kills himself"

2007-05-31T11:43:00.000+09:00

A Saudi Arabian prisoner has died in an apparent suicide at the US detention facillity at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, the US millitary has said.

A statement by the US Southern Command said the detainee was found unresponsive and not breathing by guards.

The president of the US Center for Constitutional Rights, Michael Ratner told the death was likely an act of desperation.
He had five and a half years of desperation there with no legal way out.

[Reference]

・BBC online(america) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6706635.stm

EU sets new digital media rules

2007-05-25T19:59:00.000+09:00

European ministers have agreed on new rules for television and on-demand video on the internet, allowing more advertising and "product placement".

The new version of the 1989 "TV Without Frontiers" directive will make the EU's audiovisual market more competitive, so, the new package features broadcasters that governed by the rules of their home country, even if their programmes are transmitted in other states with different rules.
And the practice will remain banned from children's and news programmes.

EU Media Commissioner said that the new rules promises less regulation, better financing for European content and higher visibility to Europe's key values, cultural diversity and the protection of minors.

[Reference]
BBConline(Europe) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6690655.stm

Koreas agree cross-border train

2007-05-15T15:32:00.000+09:00

Millitary officers from North and South korea have given the go-afead for the first train crossing over the heavily fortified border in more than 50 years.
It will be the first such crossing since rail links between the two were severed during the 1950-53 Korean War.
Generals from the two Koreas agreed to provide military security for the trial during talks held in the truce village of Panmunjom - the first such high-level talks for a year.
If and when the rail link finally opens, there are obvious advantages for both sides.For South Korea, goods could be more easily transported out of the country, and for the North, it would boost the tourist trade.
A test-run will carry out on 17 May.

[Reference]BBConline (news)http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6644151.stm

Interrnet cafe survey to gauge working poor

2007-05-02T15:13:00.000+09:00

The labor ministry will conduct its first survey ever on the living conditions of day laborers with no fixed residence who stay at internet cafes overnight.
The "Net cafe refugees" are increasing with the rise in the number of "woking poor",who have jobs but cannot escape poverty, because net cafe is cheaper for stay at than capsule hotels.
We need to grasp the high-profile social problem and assist something they need most.

[Question]
・What can we assist for these net cafe refugees?
[Reference]
The Japan Times online(News) http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20070414f1.html
Saturday, April 14, 2007

Japan to ease controls on US beef

2007-04-26T11:23:00.000+09:00

Japan has agreed a deal that Japanese inspectors will visit US meatpacking plants to check standards at the sites and if they are satisfactry , Japan will accept imports without checking every meat shipment from the factries.

Before the 2003ban, Japan had been the main export market for US beef, however, Japan has restricted to accept US cattles because of the dangerous of BSE.
The issue has been a sore point between the two nations. The US added that the deal was an "important first step " in its efforts to expand its beef trade with the country.

[Question]
・ Why US says "Japan will discontinue its requirement of checking every meat" , and Japan will accept the agreement as doing so?
・If Japan imports with easy restriction,will the Japanese nation eat the US beef ?
[Reference]
BBC online (business) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6587783.stm
Tuesday,24 April 2007