Asahi :: Wednesday, April 29, 2009

• Long knives out for Ozawa   (4/29)
  BY NORIKO AKIYAMA AND HARUKO KAGENISHI, THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
  Calls are growing within opposition Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) for the resignation of scandal-tainted Ichiro Ozawa as party leader.
  Kozo Watanabe, a top-level party adviser, has called on Ozawa to go quietly.
  Watanabe was busy Monday, conferring with party members. continued ...


• EDITORIAL: Piracy off Somalia   (4/29)
  Various countries including Japan have sent warships to protect merchant vessels from pirate attacks in waters off Somalia, but these efforts have so far made little headway in curtailing rampant piracy.
  The international community has finally realized that the only solution to the problem lies in getting the Somali government to shape up, bring order to the troubled nation and crack down on piracy on its own. continued ...


• EDITORIAL: Bond-funded budget   (4/29)
  The government on Monday submitted to the Diet a supplementary budget for fiscal 2009 to finance a fiscal stimulus package worth more than 15 trillion yen. The extra spending plan will push the overall government budget for the fiscal year starting this month above 102 trillion yen. It will be the first time the figure has topped the 100-trillion-yen mark. continued ...


• Japan should resuscitate its feeble diplomacy    (4/29)
  Amid the global economic crisis, Prime Minister Taro Aso is engaging in top diplomacy at full throttle. continued ...