Saturday, August 2, 2003 Random News Round-Up Here's a bunch of random news items that recently caught my eye. No real theme except the Japan connection.   5:40:00 PM    Comment on this post! [] Japan presses ahead with increased tariffs despite protests Japan has vowed to press ahead with a tariff hike on beef imports, despite angry protests from Australian beef producers. The Cattle Council has held a barbeque outside the Japanese embassy in Australia's capital, Canberra, to highlight its opposition to the increase in tariffs - from about 38 per cent to 50 per cent. ABC Online, August 1, 2003 [Moreover - Japan news] 5:11:27 PM    Comment on this post! [] Japan pressed on Fujimori Peru has formally asked Japan to extradite its former President, Alberto Fujimori, to face charges dating back to the early 1990s. The Peruvian ambassador to Tokyo handed the 700-page extradition request into the Japanese foreign ministry. The charges - which Mr Fujimori, now a Japanese citizen, completely denies - include murder, kidnapping and inflicting grievous wounds, the Peruvian foreign ministry said. BBC News, July 31 2003 [Moreover - Japan news] Naturally, the man himself has a website to explain everything to us: The Official Alberto Fujimori website (in English) 4:56:44 PM    Comment on this post! [] Lessons of Okinawa. The U.S. military might be well advised to take the lessons it has learned occupying Okinawa and apply them to postwar Iraq. By Alexander Cooley and Kimberly Zisk Marten. [New York Times: Opinion] 4:47:49 PM    Comment on this post! [] With Sun on Roof, More Yen in the Pocket. Japan now generates half of the world's solar power and has overtaken the U.S. as the leading producer of solar panels. By Ken Belson. [New York Times: International] 4:45:38 PM    Comment on this post! []