Asahi :: Monday, July 27, 2009

• Aso draws criticism for gaffe on elderly (7/27)
  THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
  Prime Minister Taro Aso earned the wrath of the main opposition party over the weekend for saying people aged 65 and older have no way of showing talent other than being put to work.
  "People aged 65 and older are well and capable of working," Aso said in a speech Saturday in Yokohama. "Please bear in mind that these people are not talented in anything but work." continued ...


• Hatoyama eyes early Cabinet to show change (7/27)
  THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
  With an eye on showing the world that political change has come to Japan, opposition leader Yukio Hatoyama plans to form his administration within about two weeks if his party wins the Aug. 30 Lower House election, sources said. continued ...


• EDITORIAL: Reviving road projects (7/27)
  In March, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism suspended construction work for 18 national highway routes that had already started. The ministry said the benefits from these road projects would not be enough to justify the huge outlays in taxpayer money they required. continued ...


• EDITORIAL: Minshuto on policy (7/27) ★
  The main opposition Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) has put together its policy pamphlet for 2009, which lays out its basic position on about 300 issues covering diplomatic as well as domestic affairs. continued ...