text:
An 18-karat-gold bathtub worth roughly 120 million yen was stolen early Wednesday morning from a bathing area for men at a hotel in Kamogawa, Chiba Prefecture, police said. Employees of the Kominato Hotel Mikazuki confirmed that the 80-kilogram tub was in place at 2 a.m. in the bathing area on the 10th floor of the hotel, but at 9 a.m. they found that the tub had been removed and the chain on the door to the room had been broken.
The tub, which is 1 meter 10 centimeters long, 60 cm wide and 55 cm deep, had been placed in a glazed room and the door to the room was locked with the chain and padlock when not in use. Police said there were no marks on the floor showing that the heavy tub had been dragged. The hotel installed the tub, manufactured by a jewelry company in Tokyo, in 2005.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Y120 million gold bathtub stolen from hotel in Chiba
An 18-karat-gold bathtub worth roughly 120 million yen was stolen early Wednesday morning from a bathing area for men at a hotel in Kamogawa, Chiba Prefecture, police said. Employees of the Kominato Hotel Mikazuki confirmed that the 80-kilogram tub was in place at 2 a.m. in the bathing area on the 10th floor of the hotel, but at 9 a.m. they found that the tub had been removed and the chain on the door to the room had been broken.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Agriculture minister Matsuoka commits suicide; leaves 6 notes
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Toshikatsu Matsuoka committed suicide Monday at his residence in Tokyo amid various political funds scandals, dealing a blow to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who had supported him in the face of increasing opposition pressure for his resignation ahead of the House of Councillors election in July. Six suicide notes, addressed to individuals, such as the premier, upper house member Shuntaro Kageyama, the vice agriculture minister and Matsuoka's secretary, were found on a desk in his room.
In addition, two pieces of paper were also left, with one of them, addressed to Japanese people and his supporters, saying, "I'm sorry for causing trouble," according to police.
Matsuoka also wrote on the pieces of paper, "I have to blame myself for the problems," and "Only my wife knows the inside details."
Abe told reporters, "He was a competent minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, so the effects on the administration will be significant."
The premier also said he is keenly aware of his "responsibility" for Matsuoka's action as the one who appointed the 62-year-old LDP lawmaker to the Cabinet post.
Asked what he thinks lay behind the suicide, the premier said shortly after confirmation of Matsuoka's death, "I do not have any comments to make at this stage. It is not appropriate to make presumptions lightly."
According to the lower house's secretariat, it was "probably the first case in postwar Japan" in which an incumbent Cabinet member has committed suicide since Army Minister Korechika Anami committed "hara-kiri" on Aug 15, 1945, the day World War II ended.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki told a press conference that Environment Minister Masatoshi Wakabayashi has replaced Matsuoka as acting agriculture minister on a temporary basis.
A by-election to fill the vacant seat will be held in the No. 3 constituency in Matsuoka's home prefecture of Kumamoto on the same day as the upper house election, now speculated to be July 22, in line with the Public Offices Election Law.
Matsuoka was found by his secretary and a security police officer hanging by a rope resembling a dog leash in his pajamas in the living room of his residence in a parliamentary housing building in Tokyo's Akasaka District at 12:18 p.m., the Metropolitan Police Department said.
Matsuoka's heart was not functioning when the secretary, who talked to the minister in the room around 10 a.m., and the officer found him, the police said. They visited the room because Matsuoka had not shown up to attend a meeting of the House of Councillors Audit Committee.
Matsuoka was taken to Keio University Hospital at around 1 p.m., where he was pronounced dead at 2 p.m., Shiozaki, the top government spokesman, said. The cause of his death was suffocation.
Police said no autopsy was performed on Matsuoka's body and handed it over to his relatives later in the day.
Abe, Shiozaki and other cabinet members were among people who attended a wake held at a funeral hall in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward on Monday evening. Abe left there some 15 minutes later without saying anything to reporters.
Matsuoka took the cabinet post for the first time last September, when Abe assumed office. He had been under fire for various political funds scandals, with opposition lawmakers demanding he resign as minister.
Matsuoka had been questioned for not providing a clear-cut account of the expenditures to run his office.
In March, the funds management body of Matsuoka was found to have booked more than 20 million yen as utility costs for five years until 2005, despite the fact the body used a cost-free official parliamentary office.
When questioned by opposition lawmakers during parliamentary committee deliberations, Matsuoka said the funds were booked appropriately under law and attributed the huge utility charge to "special water" he was buying, which he said cost 5,000 yen for a 500-milliliter bottle, a remark that sparked public controversy.
In the most recent case, his fund management and other related bodies were found to have gained a total of 13 million yen in donations over three years through 2005 from 14 contractors based in the southwestern Japan prefecture that have been awarded public works orders from the Japan Green Resources Agency.
The agency is a farm ministry-affiliated forestry management entity suspected of having been involved in rigging bids. Matsuoka formerly worked in the ministry as a bureaucrat and served as senior vice minister in it after becoming lawmaker.
Matsuoka was first elected to the lower house in 1990. He was reelected for a sixth term in 2005.
Hospital copes with 2 celebrity deaths, media swarm
Keio University Hospital, one of Tokyo's premier university hospitals, was packed with reporters, television crews and concerned ordinary people on Monday, with helicopters hovering in the sky, due to the deaths of two well-known people.
Izumi Sakai, the singer of Japanese pop group ZARD, died at the hospital on Sunday after falling from stairs there, her office said Monday morning. She had been hospitalized for treatment of cancer. Shortly after, scandal-hit farm minister Toshikatsu Matsuoka was found to have hanged himself at his residence on Monday and was taken to the hospital shortly after 1 p.m. where he was pronounced dead about an hour later.
Scores of reporters, photographers and TV crew members jammed every hospital gate and entrance they could find, trying to catch a glimpse of the two unfolding sagas. And some TV networks managed to capture the scene where Matsuoka was taken into the hospital on a stretcher — a scene repeatedly shown on their breaking-news programs.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Komeito chief warns Abe over constitutional revision
The New Komeito party would refrain from supporting Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's campaign for the upcoming House of Councillors election if the premier goes too far in calling for amending the Constitution, the party's head warned Sunday.
The New Komeito party, the coalition partner of the Liberal Democratic Party, will tolerate Abe's seeking constitutional revision in general terms, but "will have to hesitate in giving support if fundamentally different ideas from ours are called for," Akihiro Ota said in a TV Asahi talk show. "What is important is the substance," Ota said. "It would make no sense if we do not discuss what should be revised in the Constitution."
at 11:41 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: shinzo abe
System glitch forces ANA to cancel 126 flights
All Nippon Airways Co cancelled 126 domestic flights on Sunday and delayed other flights due to a computer system glitch before restarting its operations at around 6 p.m., affecting about 57,000 passengers. The trouble also disrupted the operations of such regional airlines as Skynet Asia Airways Co, IBEX Airlines Co and Hokkaido International Airlines Co, known as Air Do, whose systems are linked with that of ANA.
As the system functions resumed at 3:30 p.m., ANA restarted its flight operations. However, some flights are expected to be delayed on Monday, ANA said. ANA said the glitch disrupted its computer system which controls the reservation process as well as boarding and luggage flows from early morning, forcing its staff to issue boarding tickets manually.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Shiga couple gets 7 years for fatally abusing 2-year-old daughter with steel bar, hot water
The Otsu District Court on Friday sentenced a couple in Takashima, Shiga Prefecture, to seven years in prison for fatally abusing their 2-year-old daughter by pouring hot water on her last year. Handing down the ruling on Kenta Nagasaka, 25, and his wife Chizuru, 26, Presiding Judge Hidenori Nagai said, "It was a selfish and shortsighted crime. The defendants do not seem to feel any compassion to their daughter while mental and physical pains she suffered are unimaginable."
According to the ruling, the couple, frustrated by their daughter Yuna taking too much time to eat meals, repeatedly hit her with a steel bar or poured hot water on her since late May. Yuna died July 5 due to septicemia resulting from burns.
at 12:36 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: shame
Abe unconcerned about N Korea's missile launches
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters Friday night that he does not regard the reported launches of short-range missiles by North Korea as "a serious issue for Japan's security."
The premier declined to give further details on what kinds of intelligence Japan has, but he said North Korea's actions were "regrettable" and again urged North Korea to carry out promised steps toward denuclearization before the international community runs out of patience. A senior Japanese Defense Ministry official said on condition of anonymity that the situation does not pose an immediate threat to Japan, noting that a similar incident involving the launch of multiple short-range missiles also occurred around the same time last year.
at 12:33 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: north korea, shinzo abe
Friday, May 25, 2007
Emperor, empress arrive in Estonia
Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko arrived Thursday in the Baltic state of Estonia on the second leg of their 10-day European tour, marking the emperor's first visit to any of the 15 former Soviet republics.
After meeting with Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and his wife, Evelin, in Kadriorg, the imperial couple attended a formal luncheon hosted by the president and his wife at the nearby Kadriorg Art Museum. The emperor and empress then went to the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds to attend a concert of youth choirs.
at 11:30 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: empress
Australia whale-watchers protest Japan's plans for humpbacks
An Australian petition of almost 40,000 signatures protesting Japan's plans to hunt humpback whales will be handed to the International Whaling Commission at its annual meeting in Alaska next week. The petition was compiled by Whale and Dolphin Watch Australia, a national association representing commercial whale-watching boat operators.
Southern humpbacks migrate north annually to Australian waters from the Antarctic Ocean, where Japan recently decided it would extend its whaling program to include taking 50 of the species. The decision has caused outrage among Australian whale-watching operators, who say it will destroy a tourism industry worth A$300 million (about $247 million) per year.
Tour operator Peter Lynch, who owns Blue Dolphin Marine Tours in the whale-watching town of Hervey Bay on the northeastern coast, said that humpbacks are considered the most outgoing whale species because of their willingness to swim close to boats.
"It is the humpbacks that make the whale-watching industry. They are very boat-friendly," Lynch said. "What we are most worried about in the whale-watching industry is that the Japanese whaling will cause a behavioral change in the humpbacks and they will no longer be willing to come near boats anymore."
Lynch and other whale-watch operators are calling on the Australian government to take a tougher stance than its previous diplomatic protests by imposing trade sanctions against Japan.
The resurgent opposition Australian Labor Party, which is leading in the polls, has declared it will take legal action against Japan for hunting in the protected waters of the Antarctic if it wins office in the upcoming national election, slated for November.
Over the weekend, the party also outlined a plan to use Australian navy ships to intercept Japanese whaling vessels in the Antarctic Ocean.
Australian Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull has attacked the plan, saying the action would amount to piracy. The government has also rejected the option of taking legal action against Japan.
at 11:29 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: whaling
Blair asked to intervene in Hawker case
British Prime Minister Tony Blair is being urged to press his Japanese counterpart to ensure that everything is being done to find the killer of English teacher Lindsay Hawker, amid little signs of progress in the nine-week investigation.
Bill Olner, a member of Britain's lower chamber, the House of Commons, recently asked Blair to talk to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe," to put his (Abe's) authority behind the effort to ensure that the killer is caught, and to ensure that the Japanese state police are involved."
He also urged Blair to arrange for a British police officer to sit in on the Japanese investigation as an observer and report back to Hawker's parents.
Olner, who is the local parliamentarian for the Hawker family, said the Japanese police "had been doing their best to apprehend the killer," but "have not been successful."
Blair said he understood "the Japanese authorities are treating it as a major case" with "something like 100 police officers or more working on it."
He said he would "reflect carefully" on Olner's request and come back to him with a reply at a later date.
Hawker's body was found in a sand-filled bathtub on the balcony of an apartment in Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture, on March 26. Tatsuya Ichihashi, 28, who lived in the property, is wanted in connection with her death.
Despite the sizeable police investigation and release of security camera footage of the suspect, little progress has so far been made. There have also been some concerns about the handling of the case.
Some experts have criticized the fact that Ichihashi was able to get past several police officers who arrived at the suspect's flat on March 26.
Lindsay's father, William Hawker, has recently said he thought the British Embassy or Japanese police could have come up with a more recent photo of Ichihashi as the one currently on posters is several years old.
Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett called on the Japanese media to give the case more coverage.
The suspect befriended the 22-year-old English teacher, who worked for Nova Corp, several days before her death, and asked Hawker to give him English lessons.
Security camera footage shows Ichihashi and Hawker in a coffee shop on the day before her body was discovered.
Police believe Hawker was probably suffocated after being partially strangled and severely beaten. Her body had been found tied with synthetic-resin cord.
at 11:28 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: Lindsay Ann Hawker
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Former POWs want to meet emperor in Britain to spell out their grievances
Emperor Akihito, who arrives in Britain on Sunday for an official visit, will not face any of the protests he had to endure on his last trip, but former prisoners of war would still like to meet him and spell out their grievances.
Emperor Akihito's state visit to Britain in 1998 turned into something of a public relations disaster, when former Japanese POWs turned their backs on him and burned a Japanese flag as he rode with Queen Elizabeth in a royal carriage through central London.
Later, as Emperor Akihito laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Westminster Abbey, around 500 protesters once again turned their backs on the Japanese emperor. They also started humming "Colonel Bogey," a song whistled by British POWs while working to build a bridge over the River Kwai in Burma (now Myanmar).
The ex-POWs were, and still are, pressing Japan for a meaningful apology and compensation for their suffering during World War II. Thousands of POWs died in captivity as a result of the grueling conditions they had to endure. They were also angry at Britain's decision to award the Order of the Garter to Emperor Akihito.
Instead of a positive visit emphasizing the otherwise harmonious state of relations between the two countries, the adverse publicity in 1998 served to reopen old wounds.
However, nine years on, a more moderate approach seems to be being taken. With most of the veterans either deceased or in their 90s, no such demonstrations are planned during the emperor's three-day stay.
Arthur Titherington, chairman of the Japanese Labour Camp Survivors' Association, said any apology would have to come from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, but the emperor could influence him. He is seeking a short meeting with Emperor Akihito during his visit to Oxford University.
He said, "I would like, more than anything, to meet Emperor Akihito and speak about our problems getting a proper and meaningful apology from the Japanese government.
"I would ask him whether he had the authority to make the government see that in order to create a better relationship, a meaningful apology and compensation is the answer.
"Don't get me wrong, I have no ax to grind with him. He has done nothing wrong and was far too young during the war to bear any responsibility. I really do feel that nothing but good could come by meeting him."
Titherington claims the declaration from Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama in 1995 — in which he expressed "deep remorse" and a "heartfelt apology" for suffering caused by Japan during World War II — did not go far enough. He claims the Japanese language used amounted to a "regret."
Instead, Titherington would like to see the word 'shazai' used, the Japanese term for a formal apology. Titherington went on to explain that it means, "I have committed a sin for which I humbly apologize."
Back in 1998 on his state visit, the emperor spoke of his "deep sorrow and pain" over the suffering inflicted by Japan during the Second World War, but the veterans felt this fell well short of what they demanded.
But nine years on, Titherington does not regret the demonstration he helped to organize for the state visit, despite accusations the veterans were manipulated by the British media looking for a good story.
He said, "That demonstration was as much to try and shame our government as much as the Japanese government."
And Titherington believes the protest may have helped "nudge" the British government two years later into giving $20,000 each to former servicemen who were imprisoned by the Japanese. The cash was paid in recognition of their treatment and the derisory financial settlement each former POW received at the end of the war from Japan following the signing of the San Francisco Peace Treaty in 1951.
He felt, however, that this money should have come from Japan instead of the British government. Britain has always shied away from pressing any claim with Japan, claiming the matter was settled with the signing of the treaty.
The issue of an apology and compensation has always divided the former POW community, with some thinking that it is best to move on after all these years and look to the future.
Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko will visit Britain between May 27 and 29. During their stay, they will attend a dinner hosted by Queen Elizabeth and visit Oxford University.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Newborn baby girl found in Tokyo garbage disposal container
A newborn baby girl was found in a garbage disposal container in Kita-Otsuka, Toshima Ward, on Tuesday morning. Police said they received an anonymous call at 7:30 a.m., saying that a baby's cries could be heard coming from the garbage container outside a condominium.
When police arrived at the condo, they found the infant, still with its umbilical cord attached, inside a large paper bag. She was taken to hospital where doctors said she was unharmed. The child was born five days ago, doctors said.
Australian navy dives on sunken WWII Japanese midget sub
Australian navy divers collected a jar of sand Monday from next to a sunken Japanese World War II midget submarine now on the ocean floor off Sydney's coast. The sand will be presented to the families of two Japanese submariners — Sub-Lt Katsuhisa Ban and Petty Officer Mamoru Ashibe — who are believed to have died inside the vessel.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Environment and Water Resources said the sand was collected at the request of Ashibe's relatives and would be given to the families when they visit Australia later this year. The midget sub, which was one of three that took part in Japan's historic raid on Sydney Harbor, was discovered by recreational divers in November last year, following hundreds of false "discoveries," and ending almost 65 years of speculation. On the night of May 31, 1942 the M24 entered Sydney Harbor and fired torpedoes that missed the U.S. cruiser USS Chicago but exploded beneath the barracks ship HMAS Kuttabul, killing 19 Australian and two British sailors.
at 1:29 AM 1 comments Links to this post
Labels: shame
Monday, May 21, 2007
Fukushima teen went to karaoke after killing mother
An arrested 17-year-old boy has told police he went to a karaoke shop after killing his mother last week at an apartment in Fukushima Prefecture, investigative sources said Sunday. Police are examining security-camera images provided by the karaoke shop to uncover his behavior before he turned himself in with the mother's severed head after the suspected murder in the city of Aizuwakamatsu, the sources said.
According to investigations so far, the teen is suspected of killing his mother with a knife around 1:30 a.m. last Tuesday and cutting her head and right arm with a saw. He is then believed to have changed his clothing, gone to the karaoke shop on a bicycle, moved to an Internet cafe and stayed there mainly listening music DVDs for about two hours from around 5 a.m. that day before going to the police station by taxi. He is believed to have carried the severed head in a school shoulder bag the whole time.
at 10:19 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: crime
Friday, May 18, 2007
Lower house panel approves 3 education bills
An education panel of the House of Representatives approved Thursday a set of three education reform bills aimed at instilling patriotism during compulsory education, reinforcing state control over local education boards and requiring teachers to renew their licenses every decade. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who places top priority on education reform, hopes the bills will be enacted during the current regular session through June 23, coalition sources said.
One of the bills is to revise the School Education Law, with a provision citing instilling patriotism as a goal of compulsory education, while another is to amend the regional education administration law by reinforcing the power of the education minister in managing schools. The third bill is designed to strip teachers of tenure for life and require them instead to renew their licenses every 10 years.
at 9:38 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: education
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Couple arrested for dumping body of baby boy
Police arrested a young couple early Thursday on suspicion of abandoning the body of a boy who was recently identified as a 1-year-old from Toyonaka in the prefecture. The arrest of Mika Tamiya, 21, and her husband Motoki, comes just a day after police identified the boy as Yu Minematsu, whose body was found in a roadside gutter in the town of Nose in the prefecture last month, they said.
The two have both admitted to the charge. Mika was identified to be the boy's mother through a DNA analysis, they said. The two told the police they "put the boy in a space to hold helmets on a motorcycle because two people cannot go out on a bike while holding a child." They said the boy was dead when they returned, according to police. The body was naked, with its head in a blue plastic bag, police said. It had no external injuries and an autopsy also failed to pinpoint the cause of the boy's death.
Man shoots policeman, fires at 2 others; holes up in residence with wounded officer in Aichi
A man fired a gun at a police officer and two other people shortly past 4 p.m. Thursday in Nagakute, Aichi Prefecture, and is now holed up in a private residence with the wounded officer lying outside, police said. The two others — a man in his 30s and a woman in her 20s — have been taken to a hospital and are not in a life-threatening condition, according to police.
The police officer, who is in his 50s, is believed to be conscious, they said. Prior to the shooting, police received an emergency call at around 3:50 p.m. in which the caller said, "My father has gone crazy with a gun." Police have surrounded the residence and are trying to persuade the man to surrender.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Wakayama grades anthem-singing by teachers, students at local schools
The Wakayama prefectural board of education has been appraising how well teachers and students sing the "Kimigayo" national anthem at school ceremonies since April 1999, board officials said Wednesday. "The appraisal is in line with the nation's school curriculum guidelines, which seek respect for the anthem," a board official said.
According to the board, its officials sit in on entrance and graduation ceremonies at elementary and junior high schools and grade the singing on a scale of "good," "relatively good" and "poor."The education board has also checked if the singing is part of the ceremony, if the anthem is sung to a piano accompaniment or to recorded music, and where the "Hinomaru" national flag is displayed.
Of some 400 schools in the western Japan prefecture, singing at seven schools was judged to be "poor" at entrance ceremonies in April 2004, but the number has remained zero since graduation ceremonies in March 2005.
Hiroichi Yamaguchi, superintendent of the prefectural education board, said, "We will collect opinions on the assessment process from local schools and district education boards, and decide whether or not the practice should be continued."
Kimigayo and Hinomaru are legally defined as Japan's national anthem and flag, respectively. However, forcing teachers and students to sing the anthem and show respect for the flag at school ceremonies has been criticized as infringing upon freedom of thought and conscience as guaranteed under the Constitution.
at 9:41 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Sunday, May 13, 2007
1 in 3 amusement parks did not know of safety standards
One third of major amusement parks in Japan were not aware of government-set standards for safety checks on their facilities, a Kyodo News survey showed Saturday. The results, released as park operators are under scrutiny nationwide following a fatal roller-coaster accident in Osaka Prefecture earlier this month, show many of them lack the proper knowledge about inspection norms under the Japanese Industrial Standards.
A total of 51 major amusement parks with roller coasters in 29 prefectures responded to the survey conducted after the May 6 accident at the Expoland park in Suita, Osaka, that killed a woman and injured about 20 other people. The operator of the park has admitted that it did not conduct a necessary checkup for 15 months. The survey showed 17 of the 51 amusement parks did not know even of the existence of the JIS norms. Many of them said they had not been notified or that they had depended on maintenance companies for checkups.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Female bar owner stabbed to death in Saitama
A 65-year-old female owner of a bar in the town of Sugito, Saitama Prefecture, was found dead with a kitchen knife stuck in her left chest on Friday, police said. Kazuko Makiuchi was found lying in the bar by her eldest son, Kazuo, a 35-year-old company employee, who informed police around 6:10 p.m.
The son visited the bar Friday evening as his mother had not returned home Thursday night. The bar's main door was unlocked, and bloodstains were found on the floor, police said, adding there were marks on the floor from chairs and tables being dragged.
Friday, May 11, 2007
Diet enacts law to reduce air pollution in big cities
The Diet enacted a revised law Friday aimed at reducing motor vehicle emissions by tightening regulations on the construction of department stores, offices and other facilities in Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka. The revised law on vehicle-emitted nitrogen oxides and particle matters is designed to regulate those facilities, which may generate heavy vehicle traffic.
The revised law empowers prefectural governors to formulate and implement antipollution measures such as building flyover roadways at intersections or other designated areas polluted heavily with nitrogen oxides and particles from vehicle emissions that cause asthma. It requires reporting to governors projections of gas emissions and plans for reducing emissions before building facilities such as hotels and theaters that may draw vehicles.
In addition, trucking and transport companies in areas surrounding the designated ones are required to work out measures to cut vehicle emissions such as reducing the number of their entries into such areas.
Teenager sexually assaulted by teacher files damages suit over stress disorder
A female teenager in Hokkaido has filed a suit seeking 105 million yen in damages following repeated sexual assaults by a junior high school teacher that left her with post-traumatic stress disorder, her lawyer said Thursday.
The suit also claims that the school and the Hokkaido prefectural education board neglected to take any measures, and is seeking the damages from the teacher, school principal and local government.
According to the suit filed with the Sapporo District Court, she was repeatedly assaulted by the teacher at her home and school for two years from April 2004. She was diagnosed as suffering from PTSD later.
The teacher, who was in his 30s and was eventually arrested for violating the Child Welfare Law and fired, is now serving a prison term.
Though her father and relatives asked the school to take preventive measures, the teacher did not stop assaulting her, prompting her father report to the police in February last year.
Her lawyer Tsuyoshi Takamori said, "The school's and the prefectural education board's failure to take appropriate measures increased her suffering."
An official of the prefectural government said, "We will respond appropriately after reviewing the complaint."
Thursday, May 10, 2007
12 Chinese nabbed over faking relations as war-displaced Japanese
Japanese police have arrested 12 Chinese people believed to be kin of a woman who entered Japan using the name of a displaced Japanese in China during World War II, suspecting they have committed fraud and an immigration law violation, the police said Thursday.
The woman had been officially recognized as Hideko Mizusaki in October 1995 and subsequently came to Japan along with several other people including the woman's eldest son Lin Xunwen, 59, and his wife Yang Xiangzhu, 58, who are among the 12 who have been arrested. Lin and his wife are suspected of inviting their relatives to Japan, hoping to get them recognized as Japanese based on the alleged blood relations with Mizusaki.
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
NHK announcer arrested for indecent assault
An announcer of Japanese public broadcaster NHK was arrested Tuesday night for allegedly pressing himself against a woman and fondling her breasts on a Tokyo street, NHK said Wednesday. Toru Takahashi, 41, was arrested on a charge of indecent assault around 10 p.m. by police who rushed to the street in Shibuya, said NHK.
Takahashi says he hardly remembers what he was doing because he was drunk, NHK said. Takahashi joined NHK in 1991 and is in charge of reporting on location for the broadcaster's morning news program "Good Morning Japan." "It is quite regrettable and we deeply apologize that a member of our staff has been arrested," NHK's public relations department said in a statement.
War bereaved families study separate enshrinement at Yasukuni
The Japan War-Bereaved Association held its first meeting Tuesday in Tokyo to study the proposed separation of Class-A war criminals enshrined at Yasukuni Shrine, group members said.
Association president Makoto Koga, a senior lawmaker of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, said in a speech, "We cannot merely continue to leave the situation as it is when there are various public opinions." Koga, a former LDP secretary general, has expressed support for the idea of separating the 14 Class-A war criminals from other souls enshrined at the shrine, mostly comprising the Japanese war dead.
at 8:32 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: yasukuni
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Train groper eludes arrest by jumping onto tracks in Osaka
A man who groped a girl on a morning rush-hour train jumped onto the tracks and disrupted operations in Osaka, West Japan Railway officials said. At around 8:15 a.m., a man apparently in his 30s and wearing a business suit allegedly touched a 15-year-old girl on the Osaka Kanjo Line and other passengers caught him red-handed, officials said.
When the man was pulled off the train at Osakajo Koen Station and was about to be handed over to station staff, he jumped onto the tracks and fled toward the next station, Morinomiya, the officials said. To ensure safety, JR West suspended more than 25 train runs, affecting 28,000 passengers, they said.
Shiozaki says Abe sent offering to Yasukuni in 'private capacity'
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki said Tuesday Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent an offering to Tokyo's war-related Yasukuni Shrine in late April in his "private capacity" and the Japanese government therefore had no comment.
Shiozaki told a press conference that politicians in any country hold positions as private citizens. "This is a matter that concerns the thoughts and faith of the prime minister as a private individual, so we would like to refrain from commenting from the government's standpoint," he said. On media reports that Abe used the title "prime minister" in sending the offering, Shiozaki repeated the government's official view that using one's title does not negate one's private capacity.
at 6:53 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: shinzo abe, yasukuni
School teacher caught filming up girls' skirts with remote-controlled camera
An elementary school teacher was arrested Tuesday for secretly filming up the skirts of high school students, utilizing a remote controlled camera on the stairs of a subway station in Nagoya.
The teacher, identified as Eiichi Tsunekawa, 35, allegedly set up a hidden camera by the stairs near an exit of Mizuhokuyakusho station and secretly filmed up the skirts of two girls on April 7. Tsunekawa hid the camera by wrapping it in newspaper and placed it on the stairs and transmitted the footage to a remote place. Police are questioning him on how often and where else he has done this in the past.
Monday, May 07, 2007
Man arrested for choking wife to death after she finds porn on his cell phone
Police on Monday arrested a 34-year-old man on charges of choking his 28-year-old wife to death in Machida. The man, identified as Hitoshi Kawakami, allegedly attacked his wife Kazuko at their apartment in Morino, Machida, around 9 p.m. on Sunday night.
According to police, Kawakami called a friend after he had choked his wife. The friend notified police at a nearby "koban" (police box). Kazuko was taken to hospital but died around 1:45 a.m. Monday. Kawakami told police that he killed his wife because she found porn images on his cell phone while he was taking a bath. He said she often argued violently with him. The couple married in February.
Japan donates $100 mil to combat climate change
Japan on Sunday announced a plan to contribute $100 million to the Asian Development Bank to set up two new funds to fight global warming and facilitate the investment climate in the Asia-Pacific region.
Finance Minister Koji Omi, who chairs the two-day annual meeting of the ADB that opened earlier in the day, unveiled the plan in his keynote speech delivered at the outset of its general session.
"Japan will establish two funds in cooperation with the ADB...I expect this initiative will help ensure sustainable economic development in the region," Omi said.
The proposed funds are the Asian Clean Energy Fund and the Investment Climate Facilitation Fund. They will be installed as part of efforts aimed at solving challenges under Japan's initiative called "Enhanced Sustainable Development for Asia."
Omi also announced that Tokyo will extend yen loans worth up to $2 billion over the next five years through the Japan Bank for International Cooperation in the area of investment promotion and climate change under joint programs with the ADB.
Japan is keen to boost its presence in the international community as a leading nation to promote environment conservation and energy saving, ahead of its hosting of a Group of Eight summit in 2008.
The venue of the 40th ADB meeting — the nation's ancient capital — is regarded as ideal for Japan to make a commitment for environmental protection because the 1997 Kyoto Protocol aimed at curbing greenhouse gas emissions was agreed here 10 years ago.
Omi reiterated his call for a new pact aimed at curbing greenhouse gas emissions after 2013, stressing the need for the United States, China and India to join it.
"More efficient use of energy and the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions in Asia are necessary for achieving sustainable growth not only in the region but also in the world," he said.
The 1997 Kyoto Protocol, agreed here a decade ago, requires developed countries, including Japan, to cut their greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by an average of 5.2% by 2012.
Omi also urged the ADB to play a greater role in helping Asian economies to overcome problems such as poor infrastructure, poverty and climate change.
"The economy in the Asia-Pacific region has continued rapid growth in recent years. However, there are still about 600 million people living in poverty in the region and poverty reduction remains as an important agenda," he said.
Following Omi's speech, ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda made his opening remarks in which he stressed the need to realize "prosperity with inclusiveness," noting increased inequality across the region.
"To achieve prosperity that benefits all, we must use our natural resources wisely so that the poor do not bear the brunt of the environmental impacts of growth," he said.
Kuroda added he is confident that accelerating regional cooperation and integration will change the regional economy for the better.
More than 3,000 people from both the public and private sectors joined in the annual event, where environmental issues and ways to further eradicate poverty in the region are among the key points of the agenda.
On Monday, Crown Prince Naruhito is scheduled to attend a luncheon hosted by Omi before the gathering concludes in the evening.
The ADB, established in 1966 and based in Manila, has 67 member economies. Japan and the United States are the largest donors.
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Iraqi PM sees no need for ASDF after year's end
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki told Kyodo News on Friday that the demand for logistical support extended by Japanese air troops will not last long, saying there will be no need for them "by the end of this year." Maliki said Iraq instead needs civilian Japanese experience, capabilities and technical know-how for reconstruction.
This was the first time the Iraqi prime minister cited a specific time when Air Self-Defense Force troops might be withdrawn from Iraq. With their current mission scheduled to expire July 31, the Japanese government and Japan's governing coalition have introduced legislation to extend the mandate by another two years.
Saturday, May 05, 2007
Japan calls on Iran, Syria to play constructive role on Iraq
Japan on Friday called on Iran and Syria to play a role in helping to stabilize the situation in Iraq and vowed to continue Tokyo's own financial assistance and other forms of cooperation for the reconstruction of Iraq. In a speech addressing a key ministerial meeting in Egypt on the security and stability of Iraq, Foreign Minister Taro Aso reaffirmed Japan's strong backing for Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
In his speech, Aso described the stabilization of Iraq as "one of the most urgent issues confronting the international community," and stressed that it is "important for countries such as Iran and Syria to play a constructive role for the stabilization of the region and make efforts to this end."
Noting that the successful reconstruction of Iraq is directly linked to Japan's national interests, Aso briefed his counterparts from Iraq's neighboring countries, the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, and Group of Eight nations on Japan's assistance to Iraq.
Japan, which depends on the Middle East region for over 90% of its oil supply, is the world's second largest donor for Iraq after the United States.
No. of children drops for 26th straight year to 17.38 mil
The number of children below 15 in the nation came to 17.38 million as of April 1 for the 26th straight year of decline, accounting for a record-low 13.6% of the population, according to an internal affairs ministry population estimate released Friday.
The number was 140,000 lower than last year, and the children's share of the population declined for the 33rd straight year, according to the survey, which was released ahead of Children's Day on May 5, a national holiday. The number of boys and girls below 15 decreased by 70,000 each from last year to 8.91 million and 8.47 million, respectively, according to the estimate.
Friday, May 04, 2007
Nagoya man suspected of more than 90 rapes
Police said Friday they have arrested a 27-year-old man for allegedly raping a woman in her apartment last September, and added that the man is a suspect in more than 90 other sexual assaults in the city since 2004. Police have identified the suspect as Seiichi Uesugi, 27, a company employee from Nagoya. He has been charged with raping a 23-year-old woman at knifepoint in her apartment. Police allege he hid outside her apartment and put a knife to her throat when she returned home after work.
Aichi prefectural police say the same MO has been used in more than 90 attacks in the city. Uesugi has admitted to last September's attack, but was quoted by police as saying that he couldn't remember how many women he had assaulted.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Charles Eugene Butcher II has been charged with aggravated kidnapping and failure to register as a sex offender. He was convicted of a sexual offense in Ohio back in 1995.
According to court records, the girl was kidnapped on Brodie Lane while she walked to school. In an affidavit, she tells police her attacker, a white man with a goatee, grabbed her from behind and forced her into his red pickup truck. She says he put a knife to her throat and threatened her.
The court records also state that the attacker brought her to the Mission Tanglewood apartment complex on Aftonshire Way, near the intersection of Brodie and Slaughter where he lives. There, he forced her into a closet and bound her hands with torn dish rags. He held her there for several hours before returning her to Brodie Lane. That's where an officer found her after the girl's mother reported her missing.
"It's just terrifying," said Laura Hane.
"It's an awful thing to happen especially here in the area," said William Strobl.
Strobl lives in the same apartment complex as Butcher.
"It's scary to know that. Any parent must be really frightened and concerned," he said.
The girl was able to give police very descriptive details about her attacker as well as the environment in which he held her captive. That led detectives to Butcher. He was arrested Friday for multiple traffic violations. He was later charged in Thursday's abduction.
If you have any information about this case call the Austin Police Department's child abuse unit at 974-6880.
.........Sarah Tofte


text:
Product Details
Product Description and Process
CF8 stainless steel mini ball valve needle valve flow control valve
Production process: green sand casting process, lost wax investment casting process
Machining process: CNC machine, machining center, lathe, mill machine, drill machine, etc.
Product Material and Uses
Normally produce with ASTM A216/A216M Grade WCA, WCB, WCC, ZG240-450B, ZG280-520, ASTM A743/A743M Grade CF8, CF8M, CF3, CF3M, ZG0Cr18Ni10, ZG0Cr18Ni9, ZG0Cr18Ni9Ti, ZG0Cr18Ni12Mo2Ti, ZG1Cr18Ni12Mo2Ti, etc.
The valve casting products are widely used for Machinery & Pump Parts, Marine Parts, valve parts, pipe parts, etc.
Steel Castings for Valve OEMs
As with pump castings, valve castings require highly complicated designs and alloys. Our expertise in short run, pressure-containing castings in multiple metal grades allows us to meet and exceed our OEM valve customers' expectations.
We primarily manufacture inline valve castings for the OEM valve industry. We also cast strainer bodies, as well as butterfly and ventilator valves. Valve castings serve an array of industries including chemical, oil and gas, and nuclear.
Valve Casting Alloys
We meet and exceed our customers' specifications for exceptional casting finishes, quality and dimensional accuracy. Frequent materials purchased from us include steel, Ni-Resist cast irons and corrosion-resistant alloys.
Pressure Testing and NDT
Because we serve our client's requirements above all, every valve casting made is pressure tested and often put through non-destructive testing (NDT) to check the integrity of our products. We guarantee no leaking from any product we manufacture.
Additionally, we ensure the highest level of quality. A combination of sand mixtures and a special wash are used on our valve castings for unparalleled finishes. The result is premium quality valve castings for our customers.
Related Products


text:
Insurance is important because it makes sure that you and your family are taken care of, should a illness, tragedy or accident arise. You can get insurance coverage for so many different things. It is possible to insure your house, your vehicle, your pets and your own life. Insurance will help you pay for repairs or medical bills if an accident happens. This article provides tips for different kinds of insurance and shares how they can serve you.
When it's time to renew your insurance policy or change providers, have the agent give you a new quote. Insurance companies have different methods of choosing premiums costs. Therefore, prices can fluctuate greatly among carriers. Do your research on a number of insurance companies; obtain at least three insurance quotes before you select a company.
You can save serious dollars off of insurance premiums by bundling your policies. A lot of insurance companies give discounts, the most common one being a discount for having more than one policy with the company. When shopping around for quotes, ask how much you could save by bundling your policies.
You should find an insurance company that can handle all of your insurance needs. It is more than likely when you combine health, home, life, and car insurance all into one plan with a company, you should get a great discount because of this. For example, changing your automobile insurance from the agency that insures your residence may cause you to incur a higher rate on your home.
To make sure any insurance claims you make go smoothly, take the time to document every step of the process. Take notes over every interaction you have with your insurer so that you can track claim status. Use written letters to follow up conversations, confirming what you were told.
Read over insurance policy paperwork several times a year. This is a great way to discover inaccuracies or possible discounts. These mistakes are adding to your insurance bill unnecessarily. Thus it is worthwhile taking time to check your insurance policy carefully.
In some instances, a part a good financial strategy is selecting the correct insurance plan. Selecting insurance with a zero dollar deductible means your monthly premium will be much higher, but you will be thoroughly protected should you be involved in an accident. You might decide to take the risk of assuming a substantial deductible in exchange for lower payments, but you will always be in danger of falling victim to accidental circumstances which require you to pay a massive deductible before any further coverage will apply.
Look over your coverage on a yearly basis and ensure that it is still the best suitable option for your current situation. If you feel your situation has changed enough to make more coverage necessary, or added features needed, you should alter your plan. If your medical needs or family size have changed, you can change your insurance if needed.
As stated at the beginning of the article, there are many different types of insurance available. Hopefully you have discovered ways you can insure yourself and/or your property that you hadn't thought of before. Having insurance gives you piece of mind that in the unfortunate event of a tragedy, illness, or accident, you and your family will be covered, and a bit more prepared.


text:
I have a love/hate relationship with New Year's resolutions. On one hand, I think the new year is the perfect opportunity to reflect on the past year and to make positive changes to your life in the new year ahead. On the other hand, the reality more often than not is that you give them up after 3 weeks and you let the shame consume you (usually in a large bar of chocolate). I also think that when we think of New Year's resolution, ideas of weight loss and slimming down are at the forefront of our minds (advertisements and the media are most definitely to blame) and I think these ideas are problematic and don't necessarily encourage a healthy lifestyle. Anyway ramblings aside, I thought I would note down three (hopefully) achievable New Year's resolutions which can be met in Sheffield.
There we go - three achievable New Year's resolutions which are not focused on losing weight and reducing cake intake!


text:
Well, it appears as if "He who never sleeps" has quite a few surprises in store for fans tonight. Who are we talking about? His name is Tom Whalen and he is an artist by trade who creates highly desirable works of art that leaves fans craving, coveting and conspiring to get their hands on anything he produces. What he produces is pure awesomeness and tonight, 10/3/14, Tom is collaborating with Gallery 1988 on a new solo show called "Bust'd."
Here is what Gallery 1988 had to say about the event. For this show Tom has created new, limited edition screenprints, prints on metal and originals, all within the theme of pop culture busts. There are 35 new images in the show, each affordable, signed and numbered. From 7-10 PM tonight, at G1988 (West), Tom will be in attendance as we officially open the show, making the work available for the first time ever. The work will be posted online for purchase tomorrow afternoon at gallery1988.com for those unable to attend tonight.
See what we mean? 35 all new images. We have NO idea how he cranks out this much stupendous work but we have a vague idea it either involves a steady diet of Mountain Dew and Snickers or drinking the blood of young virgins. Whatever it is, we don't care because the work speaks for itself.
Do yourself a favor, GO to this show! Tom is hands down one of the nicest people you will meet and his art will make your walls look much better. If you can't make it there tonight, stop by the gallery anyway as it will be up on the walls until November 1. Be sure to follow Tom on TWITTER to learn about new releases and upcoming gallery shows. Head over to his OFFICIAL WEBSITE to see what other goodies he has laying around and check out his stunning portfolio while you are there.


text:
Cuba! I didn't realise it until experiencing it first-hand but it's definitely the country I've been longing for. It's definitely been the happiest and most memorable time of my life. The constant music, dancing, singing, art, architecture and passion of the variety of incredibly friendly and kind hearted people has set my soul on fire. The trip was put together by Monica (from Estilo Cubano), who made sure every detail was sorted before we even got on the plane. Most people attending the trip were Estilo Cubano students from Johannesburg & Pretoria and seeing as I was from Durban hadn't met anyone before. I met the group at the Johannesburg and Turkey Airport and we all just instantly got along like we'd known each other for ages.
By the end of the trip we were family. The dance classes we attended in Old Havana were incredible: so full of learning curbs, laughter, fun and spontaneous beatboxing by the teachers to create a song. The teachers and assistants became such amazing friends by the end of the trip even partying with us till early hours of the morning before we left. The ability to find out how our bodies worked improved 10 fold with those classes. Walking around and discovering hidden gems of places in the little crevices was such a beautiful experience: finding churro trucks and the best drinks and dancing spots in town where you can't help but stay until you got kicked out at closing time! The tours not only helped us bond but helped us learn and experience so much more about the culture and where it stems from.
The walking tour guided us to places we later visited in our own time (palm readers, la bodeguita del medio, floridita, cigar stores, etc), Viñales taught us where those famous Cuban cigars originate, Tropicoco and Varadero gave us some time to relax and rejuvenate, the night shows showcased such talent, Fusterland had the most magnificent art, Matanzas showed us the roots of the Afro Cuban culture and the car tour let us experience the sights first hand in those incredible vintage open top cars! Definitely so many experiences to note and remember. Our tour guides were so much fun and so knowledgeable.
I think between the lot of us, the amount of pictures we took could break the Internet! The night life inclusive of places like Hotel Florida, finding night clubs walking around, 1830 and of course Baila en Cuba Salsa Festival, with the biggest salsa bands trending today, was the biggest highlight of the entire trip. Whilst connection to the Internet was minimal, Cuba stole my heart in every way and form possible so much that I didn't want to leave. There was definitely no shortage of partners to dance with and you can't go a day without a mojito, cubata, limonada, bucanero or cristal in hand. All in all I've had the most unforgettable and incredible experience with friends I've made for life and I can't wait to go back soon!
November 2017
Wow, what can I say. Truly a vacation of a lifetime. Reminiscing of what had been, it still feels like a dream. The city of Havana with its old Spanish colonial buildings and mid-century architecture, the classic cars, live Cuban music on the streets and Cuban food and much much more all moving to the same rhythmic tempo. But what stood out for me was the people. Their spirit, tradition and culture. Though their lives are incredibly hard, they still were out on the streets welcoming everyone with a smile. I never felt unsafe. Coming home from dancing parties at 3 am, walking on the Malecon seawall at 4 am while fishermen are out fishing. Being on the streets late at night was normal. The same beat that moves the Cuban people pulsates throughout, always inviting and enticing, you can't help but being mesmerised and captivated.
On the trip, I've met an incredible bunch of fun-loving, adventurous people, who simply lived for the next opportunity to salsa, sipping on cubata and mojito cocktails or a bucanero beer. The organisers Estilo Cubano and Monica did a fantastic job, our itinerary was packed full.. daily 3 hour dance classes with amazing teachers; to walking tours of Havana passing by Cuba's most popular bar La Bodeguita del Medio, a bar frequented by Hemingway to one of Old Havana's most beautiful spots the Plaza de la Catedral; riding the iconic streets of the city in colourful vintage cars to the Plaza de la Revolucion; 5 day concerts at Baila en Cuba the highlight being the performance by Gente de Zona with their hit song Bailando; tours to the cigar producing valleys in Viñales where we saw cigars being rolled by hand and the traditional Afro Cuban village in Matanzas; relaxing at the exotic beaches of Tropicoco and sailing on the pristine calm seas of Varadero; to watching live shows of Legends of Cuba and cabaret shows. A lot to take in in 9 days with hardly any sleep, but with still so many places and a whole island left unexplored, it's a good opportunity to go back again.
A unique place where wifi is not available everywhere and internet won't connect, but you can build a lifetime of memories that only Cuba can make possible.
November 2017
"I've always wanted to visit Cuba, and finally had the opportunity to go there in January. Monica (Estilo Cubano) arranged the most awesome trip for us! She put together an itinerary based on our interests, and we visited Havana, Trinidad and Santa Clara, where we stayed in casas particulares (home stays) which enabled us to meet with local people and get to know the Cuban culture better. She shared a lot of information, so we knew what to expect and also shared recommendations of interesting places to go, salsa lessons, and nightclubs. Cuba is beautiful and vibrant, but it's not an easy travel destination. Monica made it so much easier and highly enjoyable. I would recommend anyone wanting to go there to arrange their trip with Estilo Cubano."
January 2017
"Although I lived in the Caribbean for 15 years the atmosphere in Havana is different, it's relaxed, back in time, no rush and festive all day and night. I, of course, do realize I was there as a tourist and wonder if it feels the same for the Cuban people but as a tourist I had a great and fun time. The architecture is amazing and sometimes seriously dilapidated but that gives the town its special character, I really enjoyed walking around with Monica and my fellow travellers and sit down in one of the many cosy restaurants often with live music, all through the day for one of their famous drinks. The people of Cuba are friendly, gentle and charming and for me the home stay was a lovely experience to get in touch with their way of living, habits and hospitality. The dance school was great with a typical Cuban vibe and bunch of amazing, happy, crazy and dedicated teachers. I never felt the 3 hours of classes was too long. The trip and the experiences there still have an impact on my life today. Cannot wait to go again!"
October 2016
"I went to Havana, Cuba for the first time through Estilo Cubano Cuban Salsa dancing experience. The trip was well organised by Monica of Estilo Cubano who, although not a Cuban has a profound love for the country and has been there numerous times. This gave us a unique window to Cuban life. Even though we were tourists, part of an organised tour we didn't have that 100% canned tourist experience. Firstly we were accommodated in what is referred to as a home stay – it's like a hybrid between a B&B and Airbnb. Living in someone's home you can have a better feel of a culture than when you are living in a hotel. A hotel is a hotel! The actual dancing at the Salsa school was amazing. I remember flying there I thought "How am I going to dance for 3 hours every day? This is crazy. It's going to be long and laborious." My fear was unfounded, the 3 hours flew by because we had amazing teachers. They were fun, warm and they truly knew what they were doing. It didn't hurt either that absolutely every single teacher at the dance school looked like they had won the genetic lottery. Good-looking people everywhere! Thanks to Monica we got to go to a few Salsa concerts as well. Cuba is FAR, but the experience was well worth it because it was so unique!"
October 2016
I'd always been fascinated by Latino culture, the Spanish language, the music, and the lively spirit they all seem to possess, and determined not to let my African -born heritage get in the way. I signed up for salsa classes. Salsa cannot be understood by explanation, illustration or demonstration; it's only through feeling the music and harmonizing your movements with your partner that the true essence of this dance is perceived. With this mind, I decided I needed to experience the real deal: learn to salsa like a Cuban in Cuba. From the moment I placed my first steps in Old Havana I felt like I'd entered an authentic 1950s movie set. Elderly gentlemen sitting outside charming, decaying colonial homes playing chess, whilst their wives share the latest gossip through open windows. Children merrily dodging in between vendors casually trying to convince the neighbourhood to buy their wares. Music blasting from vintage cars, each trying to outdo another. My senses were on overdrive. The accommodation was in the heart of Old Havana and an easy walk to the dance studio where I would spend four hours practicing salsa with a professional instructor, and at night take advantage of the vibrant, non-stop nightlife to test my newly learned moves with friends and new acquaintances. In the afternoons I strolled the streets, admiring the rich colonial architecture of the historic plazas, churches, and buildings. People watching from quaint cafes while sipping on coffee or Cuba Libres, became a favourite activity and I never got bored of the colourful, noisy, and diverse culture that is etched into every facet of the city.
March 2016
This was an amazing experience, my only regret is not staying longer. I fell in love with Cuba! I will definitely be back. There is so much to see and do …
October 2015
What a great and life changing experience this has been. Dancing, laughing, singing and lots of walking. Music is everywhere.. Cuba is magical! Do yourself a favour and be at the next trip in 2016… Life will never be the same!
October 2015


text:
Trixie Tredwell Racer is the wife of Speed Racer Sr. and is the mother of X and Speed Jr. She is the sister-in-law of Spritle and Rex Racer. She became a main antagonist in the series after a car accident 16 years prior to the main series which resulted in her father, Tuffie Tredwell's death and her becoming permanently scarred both physically and emotionally. Even though Speed Sr. had tried to save him, she blamed Speed Sr. for her father's death. She inherited her father's multi-national corporation and began to use it's resources to help get even with Speed Sr., forming the Shadow Committee. To protect X ad Speed from her twisted influence, Speed Sr. was forced to take the boys away and go into hiding. However, after her sons went back in time to prevent the accident that made her the leader of the Shadow Committee, she returns to being the loving wife of Speed Sr. and the caring mother of X and Speed. She now lives happily with her family in the new timeline.
Personality Edit
Trixie had an evil personality. She was very ruthless in her attempts to get world domination, which shines through when she had the Alpha Academy destroyed to hide any information about the Shadow Committee. She disposes people who had worked for her as soon as they are no longer any use to her, like with Zile Zazic when he failed to secure the mach 6 and with Handles Mustache, despite him being a loyal member to her cause.


text:
The corner where the two sides of your kitchen come together is often a bit of wasted space. Cabinet manufacturers have designed products that help you use this space more effectively.
Solutions are available for upper corners, lower corners and even for the corner countertop.
Rotating Shelves
A traditional way to deal with a corner cabinet is to install a set of rotating shelves. These shelves, sometimes called a lazy susan, allow you to turn them around till the item you need is within reach.
Look for units that have a lip on the edge of the shelf so small items won't fly off from the centrifugal force of rotating the shelves. This type of cabinet has two typical configurations.
Some have the door set on a diagonal. This style is more common for upper corner cabinets, but is sometimes seen on lower ones as well.
When you open the door, you see the round shelves inside. Another type has a door that has two panels at right angles to each other.
These panels can be hinged, or might be affixed to the edges of the lazy susan itself. With this style, the rotating shelves do not form the shape of a full circle, but rather look like a pizza with a slice missing, the slice where the corner is located.
Some lazy susans are fixed so both levels rotate together, while others have two separate levels that rotate independently of each other. All of these styles are great ways to use space when you have a cabinet set into a corner, if you have access to the cabinet from both sides of the corner.
Blind Corner Pull-Out Shelves
Perhaps you have a corner where there is an appliance on one side of the corner. This means you have access on one end: a narrow cabinet door that opens to a cabinet that is much larger than the width of the door.
This is called a blind corner cabinet because you can hardly see what's in the back of it. Many cabinet makers make units that slide in and out so you can store items in the back and still reach them.
Most of these come in two parts. Pull out the first part and pivot it away to make room for the second part to come forward.
Some units like this have the forward part attached to the inside of the door, and others work independently of the cabinet door. Most have an upper and lower shelf on each of the two sections.
Appliance Garage
Another easily wasted space in the corner of a kitchen is the space actually on the countertop itself. Depending on the depth of the counter and the position of the corner, you may find you can't even reach all the way to the back of the corner.
A good way to use this space is to install an appliance garage. This is an additional cabinet, usually set back a bit from the front of the countertop, that provides a storage spot for small appliances such as a mixer, a toaster or a coffee maker.
Check with your cabinet maker to determine whether your appliance garage is meant to allow you to actually run the appliances or just store them. A toaster or coffee maker may create too much heat in a closed-in space.
This type of cabinet can keep your small appliances out of sight when you are not using them, making your counter look neat and organized.


text:
HOME UtilitiesAnti-Virus Utilities Emsisoft Anti-Malware Broken Link Report
Report a broken link, file or any other errors on our site. If you are unable to download the software using the direct download link, you may be able to locate it by visiting the Product Homepage link if it is available. Try turning off any download accelerators and offline browsing tools.Notice: * - required fields
Software downloads related to Emsisoft Anti-Malware
Sv Social Bookmarking Submission
Social Bookmarking Submission Services - Submit to Social Sites. Social Bookmarking is becoming an alternate to search engine, they are updated by the real user who would like to refer some of the best sites over the web along with its title and... more info download
mps website promotion
Website promotion - Website optimization- Promote your website - High search engine rankings.There is no difference between a submission made by a real person and a submission made by MPS auto website submitter, except the time... more info download


text:
(Sept. 10, 2018) The National Weather Service has issued a coastal-flood advisory for eastern Massachusetts, including Nantucket, from 11 p.m. Monday through 2 a.m. Tuesday.
According to the NWS, wave action will likely cause some wash-over onto coastal roads around the time of the overnight high tide. Minor flooding of low-lying coastal areas is also possible. Some coastal roads may be flooded for a short time nearest the high tide.
For up-to-the-minute information on Nantucket's breaking news, boat and plane cancellations, weather alerts, sports and entertainment news, deals and promotions at island businesses and more, Sign up for Inquirer and Mirror text alerts. Click Here


text:
Better internet broadband?
I know the best broadband BT broadband trust me it's one of the fastestit is the best broadband all the others are rubish and now with BT broadband you can buy a better and faster wire less cominat...
Read More »
What are peoples experiance with ee internet broadband just the normal home broadband?
Sky broadband I am with BTinternet at the minute but SKY internet is free. Are sky broadband any good?
been with sky over a year no probs rec max for £10 a month download speed 10 to 12 mb day and night plus free wireless router shame its a netgear but works
Which Internet broadband is best?
virgin broadband.
Need internet broadband just for 3months?
You could try pay as you go broadband from Three the mobile newtork. I think it's something like £10 per month for a 1GB allowance and you have 2 and 3GB bundles etc. You buy a USB Broadband dongl...
Read More »


text:
Cat 6 In line Snap in Modular Coupler HY-6113C6
Cat 5e keystone jack is Horizontal style 90 degree design, and 110 IDC block.with dual color-coded wiring label both T458A/B wiring.it is very esy termination of a jack while installation in a wall plate, surface mount boxes, and blank patch panel for a wide variety of application. Easy to use,...
Product Details
Cat 6 Inline Snap in Modular Coupler , modular coupler, snap in module, keystone jack. copper module
Our keystone snap-in modules provide a full range of solutions for voice, home network, home office, audio/video and more. With the wide selection of snap-in modules, you can custom-configure your keystone wall plates and patch panels for greater control and more flexibility. Easy to use, just snap it into patch panels, compatible wall plates and surface boxes.
The C6 RJ45 Network coupler offers a practical, cost-effective solution for joining two of your Category 6 patch cables together, enabling you to extend the length of both cables in order to form one longer cable. With the form factor design of an RJ45 Keystone Jack, this network coupler can also be installed in a keystone wall plate or patch panel.
RJ45 feed-thru keystone jack simply snaps into blank wall plates and patch panels with no need for tools or punch down.
•Complete patching solution if combined with keystone jack patch panel
•Available in Category 6
•Saves valuable time by avoiding terminations and speeding up patching
•Meets the requirement proposed by TIA /EIA 568 B .2
•Connectors: RJ45 female to RJ45 female
•Compatible with standard blank patch panels and wall plates
• Strong connection points
• Snap into any compatible patch panel or wall plate
• Easily couple multiple RJ45 cables
• Join two Cat6 RJ45 patch cables together
• Mount into a Keystone Wall Plate or Patch Panel Features
• The Cat6 coupler features a high-impact, flame retardant (UL 94V0) plastic housing
- <
- Previous: Cat 6 Mini RJ45 Modular Connector HY-6104C6
- Next: Cat 5e RJ45 Keystone Jack Unshielded 110 Styles HY-6106C5E
- >


text:
David Carl Hilmers (born January 28, 1950) is a former NASA astronaut. Hilmers started as a three-sport student-athlete before graduating summa cum laude, moved on to become a Marines officer and then an astronaut. He served as a mission specialist on STS-51J (October 3-7, 1985), STS-26 (September 29 to October 3, 1988), STS-36 (February 28 to March 4, 1990), and STS-42 (January 22-30, 1992). Hilmers retired from NASA in October 1992 and has since devoted his attention a different kind of mission — mainly global health volunteer efforts, including pediatric HIV/AIDS projects in Africa, Eastern Europe and Latin America.
VP: How was it like to grow up in a time when the Apollo missions motivated an entire generation of American kids to look towards a career in sciences?
DH: It was really exciting. In a sense it was very interesting for people like me who were growing up in small towns and looked up to such things far away as kinda unachievable. I remember thinking to myself that it was something quite amazing but also something I would never be part of. It was inspiring; sort of so far beyond what we experienced everyday. But it was hard to believe that we could ever be a part of it.
VP: Your second mission "Discovery" was the first mission to be launched after the unfortunate challenger incident. It was the most important launch NASA undertook after the Apollo 11. How was it like to be a part of that team?
DH: It was a very difficult time. I remember we tried not to think about the possible dangers and what could happen. If we did that we would have gone crazy, would not have been able to focus on our work. So we tried to concentrate during training on the things that were in our control. We knew that we couldn't control everything as the accident had shown. From my standpoint I felt honored that I was the part of the crew that would put America back into space. But yeah with so much publicity you try to train as hard as you could to make the mission a success.
VP: You have work in medical missions around the world. You have treated people in poorest regions of the world. What is it that drives you to continue doing what you do?
DH: I think that what keeps life exciting. Having a challenge and doing something to help people. What I do is interesting and it helps people. I recently worked in the e-bola health missions and felt that the way we worked there was ironically very similar to working in outer space; you get into a suit, cover yourself up, a single mistake can prove fatal so you are cautious. Similarly I find myself using my engineering skills in many medical situations. A lesson I have learnt is that all the experiences that you have in your life serve you at multiple times in entirely different areas.
VP: How were your undergraduate years at Cornell College? Any incident that you remember and would like to share with us.
DH: One of the things that set the stage for the rest of my life was that I used to get into things that were completely new to me. One such activity that I started was wrestling. Our school had an excellent program and I remember that in my first year when I started they would just kill me all the time; I'd always lose. But I was very determined that I wouldn't quit. And after a couple of years of not being very good, I was quite decent. So in a sense throughout my life I looked back to it and always took my time to learn to get better at things, not being afraid, not giving up. My choice to leave NASA and join medical school at that age was very similar to this. It was something completely new but I took my time to learn new things even though I was uncomfortable for a while.
VP: The Vietnam war was going on when you graduated, and you became a part of the Marine Corps. How did you feel about this? As you look back today, how did serving in the military shape you as a person?
DH: When I look back to my time in the military, I wish that some things USA has done in wars, particularly Vietnam should have been done differently, but we learn from our mistakes.I think that the military taught me discipline pretty much the same way as I talked about getting out of my comfort zone in college. Also I think it gave me a young man's structure, something that I didn't have before. It also gave me an aviators checklist approach to a problem, something that I carried to my NASA days and now to medicine. My habit of organization has helped me a lot. Some might say it makes you too organized and stops you from thinking outside the box, but I don't think that it ever limited me.
VP: What would you like to say to the students of IIT Kanpur?
DH: I would say that you should never let anyone tell you that you can't fulfill your dreams because you don't have good grades, or your personality is not suited to it or you don't have a right background for that. If there is something you want, and if you work hard, then you will get closer to it. Another thing that I would like to leave with folks is that, if you devote your life to a certain career with the intent of helping someone, then it is a lot more satisfying compared to doing something for prestige or making a lot of money.This is one principle I've lived by and all I can say is I feel wonderful.
Interviewed by Aditya Kumar and Nishit Asnani


text:
Further update on Investment in Ve Interactive Limited
03 October 2017
Dissemination of a Regulatory Announcement that contains inside information according to REGULATION (EU) No 596/2014 (MAR)
Several months have now elapsed since the Ve Interactive Limited ("Ve"), a company in which Concha originally held a 0.43% interest entered in to administration. As many of you will be aware from the numerous press reports and extensive media coverage, having entered in to administration on 25 April 2017, certain assets of Ve were subsequently acquired by a consortium comprising the new management team, debt holders and former investors with activities immediately re-initiated under the trading name of Ve Global UK Limited.
Throughout this time we have maintained dialogue with the management team and monitored the substance and integrity of the various allegations which have been levied against the former executive management of Ve. As a small minority shareholder, having acquired our interest on the secondary market we have been peripheral to both the administration process and the restructured entity which emerged from this insolvency process.
We have fully investigated the prospects of pursuing actions against the former directors of Ve to recover our initial investment and challenging the process by which certain assets of Ve were acquired from the administration process. This exercise has led to a number of discussions with certain contingent litigation funders who may have provided the legal funding required to pursue such actions in return for participation in any recovery proceeds secured.
In addition to our own initiatives, we are also aware that certain creditors who relied substantially on representations from two of the former directors of Ve, David Brown and Martin King are also considering the merits of pursuing both Brown and King through a process of personal bankruptcy. If successful, your Board considers the chances of being able to successfully recover its original investment from the personal assets of Messrs Brown and King to be significantly diminished, and as such, your Board no longer considers this course of action to be either commercially viable or the best use of shareholders' funds.
Your Board is also giving consideration to joining with a group of similarly disaffected former shareholders who have sought to challenge both the role and appointment of the Administrator in the insolvency process of Ve. If successful, this may provide Concha with an ability to re-establish an interest in the technology offering which now operates as Ve Global UK Limited which we continue to believe will fulfill the potential identified at the time of our initial investment.
In supporting this initiative, Concha will be obliged to contribute to the costs of mounting this legal challenge and therefore before doing so will seek its own legal opinion as to the likelihood of being able to restore value for its shareholders in this matter.
Further updates will be made as our options become clearer.
Cancellation of share options
In addition, the Board further announces that it has cancelled today a total of 115,000,000 share options ("Options") granted under the Concha PLC 2016 Unapproved Share Option Incentive Scheme to the directors of the Company. The cancelled Options were originally granted with an exercise price of 1.18p and were voluntarily surrendered by the holders thereof for no consideration.
Following cancellation, the Company has no further share options outstanding.
For further information, please contact:
|Concha PLC
Chris Akers, Chairman
|SPARK Advisory Partners Limited (Nominated Adviser)
Sean Wyndham-Quin/Mark Brady
|+44 (0) 203 368 3550