According to Chinese media, the United States has investigated Chinese products for “Section 337” violations, at least 56 times since 2006. That’s more times than all the previous 20 years prior to 2006.
Section 337 investigates claims of unfair trade and competition, as well as possible U.S. copyright violations.
May 24, Sony announced that their online services continue to get hacked. The latest involve countries like Greece and Thailand.
Japanese IT officials think hackers are just practicing, and that Sony’s security sucks: ‘‘Hackers are launching attacks apparently to hone their skills. Sony must review the security systems of its entire group to redress their vulnerability.’’-Information Technology Promotion Agency
Sony announced that they have lost, so far, $171 million because of the hacks. This adds to Sony’s year after year losses.
According to the Japanese government, 50.4% of deadly car accidents involve old people.
The data was compiled from 2010 accidents in Japan. More than half involved people 65 years of age, or older. Before anyone jumps to conclusions, the data needs to be broken down. Remember the key word here is “involved”, not “caused”.
The majority of deadly car accidents involving old people, were of old people being hit while walking, not driving (50.1% of the 50.4% total involving old people). The number of deadly car accidents involving old people driving is 23.9% (of the 50.4%).
So basically its more dangerous for an old person to walk anywhere in Japan, than to drive.
Toyota announced that they will increase production, in Japan, to 90% of pre-March 11 disaster levels.
They say they have made progress in finding parts for their Japanese operations. They hope to have Japanese production at 100% before November.
“The co-operation that I see every day in intelligence matters is without parallel in the world. So is our nuclear co-operation. Our armed forces are working together with intimate closeness”-William Hague, British Foreign Secretary
According to British media, President Obama will make a joint announcement, with Prime Minister David Cameron, concerning a new U.S./U.K. national security policy.
The new “National Security Strategy Board” will meet several times per year, to discuss issues such as terrorism, and the so called Arab Spring revolution.
More details will be given on the May 24 announcement.
May 22, the day after the Queen of England left Ireland, a Northern Ireland bank was hit by a small bomb. Three masked men burst into the bank, warning customers they had one hour to leave before the bomb went off. Police say people could have been killed if they were still in the bank when the bomb exploded.
May 23, President Barack Obama arrived in Ireland, where he was greeted by at least one hundred protesters.
“Barack Obama came to power promising change, but in reality he has continued the policies of the Bush era.”-John Molynuex, protester
He is scheduled to visit United Kingdom next, where he will have dinner with the Queen of England (a sure sign that the U.S. is under control of the British Empire). Thousands of protesters plan to demonstrate outside Buckingham palace while he dines with the Queen.
French environment minister, Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, declared a “crisis situation” because of the ongoing drought. She explained that current water levels are the same as if it was July, instead of May.
She has ordered a third of all French administrative departments to cut back on water use. Two-thirds of the country’s groundwater reserves are reported to be below normal.
Korean media reporting the three U.S. Army veterans have testified that they were ordered to dump 250 55-gallon barrels of Agent Orange on a U.S. base in South Korea.
“They just told us it was going to be used for disposal.”-Steve House, veteran
South Korea’s environment ministry will take soil samples at Camp Carroll in Chilgok County, North Gyeongsang. The local government wants the United States to pay: “If the news report is true, the U.S. military must take responsibility, pay compensation and conduct regular Korea-U.S. joint inspections.”
While British Petroleum fights to pin blame on others for the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil disaster, they somehow have convinced one of its Japanese business partners to pay for part of it.
MOEX, a unit of Japanese trading firm Mitsui and Company, will pay just over $1 billion to cover damages and clean up. MOEX is a 10% shareholder of BP.
British Petroleum is struggling to come up with an estimated $40 billion to pay for damages and clean up.
Scotland has oil, lots of it. And the Scottish people say they’re tired of the English controlling it. After all they were told they would benefit, but they haven’t. Scottish rebels point to Norway as an example: “Scotland and Norway discovered oil at the same time. Some years ago, Scotland was turned into an industrial desert and Norway has transformed its society and its economy, they have billions in the bank, whereas we have seen ours wasted on missiles and weapons of mass destruction and illegal wars.”-Kenny MacAskill, Scottish Justice Minister
The recent Scottish elections saw the Scottish National Party dominate. The SNP ran on a promise to make Scotland independent: “We have been elected with two mandates: one is to pursue our claim for an independent Scotland in the right for a referendum. Equally, we have been elected as a government to make Scotland a better place and we seek to do that by driving our economy forward and making our country a fairer, greener, safer, wealthier and healthier.”-Kenny MacAskill