InfoAnda - Japan government at risk of setback as voters go to poll

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Much-needed tax refunds delayed from Ga. to Calif. | 4 July 2009
Jennifer Hudson films new video | 30 January 2009
First Hubble spacewalk under way | 15 May 2009

Facebook tops Google as most visited site in U.S. | | 31 December 2010

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Japan government at risk of setback as voters go to poll

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail More Yahoo! Services Account Options New User? Sign Up Sign In Help Yahoo! Search web search Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Australia China India Indonesia Japan Malaysia Philippines Thailand Vietnam Japan government at risk of setback as voters go to poll Reuters - 1 hour 22 minutes ago Send IM Story Print By Linda Sieg and Chikafumi Hodo TOKYO - Japanese were voting on Sunday in an upper house election that could deliver a major blow to Prime Minister Naoto Kan's government, stalling efforts to curb a huge public debt and putting the premier's job at risk. Sagging support for the Democratic Party of Japan , which surged to power for the first time last year, rebounded after Kan -- Japan's fifth leader in three years -- replaced his indecisive predecessor last month. But ratings slipped again after Kan floated the long taboo topic of raising the sales tax to curb public debt and struggled to persuade voters he had a clear plan to fix Japan's woes. "The Democrats disappointed me. The situation has clearly worsened in many ways. The mood of the country has become dark after the party took power," said Sachiko Takeda, a 64-year-old housewife, who voted for the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party in Tokyo. Others admitted a sales tax rise was inevitable and said they were willing to give the Democrats a second chance despite months of indecisive leadership under Kan's predecessor, Yukio Hatoyama. "I'm going to live on a pension, and more money going out of my wallet is not something I desire," said Asako Nishikawa, 60, who works for an insurance company and voted for the DPJ. "But I've got grandchildren to think about." In an effort to soothe sales tax fears, Kan has stressed he would not hike the levy even "one yen" without seeking a mandate in the next lower house poll, which must be held by late 2013. But he also argued that tough decisions were vital to avoid a Greek-style debt crisis, since Japan's public debt is already close to twice the size of the nearly $5 trillion economy. MISSING THE TARGET? "Japan itself must make sure it avoids collapse," Kan told a crowd of voters under a blazing sun in western Tokyo as he wrapped up his campaign on Saturday. "If state finances collapse, the social security system of ordinary people would suffer most." The DPJ, which ousted its long-dominant rival last year with pledges to cut waste, prise control of policymaking from bureaucrats and focus spending on households to boost growth, will almost certainly run the government whatever the outcome of Sunday's vote because it controls the powerful lower house. But the party needs a majority in the upper chamber to avoid policy deadlock and begin taking steps to reduce a public debt that is the worst among advanced countries. Media surveys last week showed the DPJ would likely win around 50 or even fewer of the 121 seats up for grabs in the 242-member chamber -- well short of Kan's target of keeping all 54 seats the Democrats have up for re-election. That would deprive the DPJ and its tiny coalition partner, the pro-spending People's New Party, of a majority in the upper house. The Democrats would be forced to seek new allies, complicating the government's ability to forge ahead with the fiscal reform that Kan has put at the heart of his campaign. It would also leave Kan vulnerable to a challenge from party powerbroker Ichiro Ozawa -- a critic of his sales tax proposal -- ahead of a September party leadership vote. Few, though, would expect Kan to go without a fight. A flurry of new, small parties has broadened voters' options, with an increasing number of voters seen favouring pro-reform Your Party, which is set up last year by a former LDP lawmaker. "I voted for Your Party because I want both the Democratic Party and Liberal Democratic Party to make more efforts.," said Mitsuo Ito, a 64-year-old employee at a food company, resident of east Tokyo. The DPJ's current coalition partner opposes raising the 5 percent sales tax any time soon, as do some potential allies. Other opposition parties agree a hike is inevitable but would probably be reluctant to help out the rival DPJ. The leaders of two potential partners, Your Party and New Komeito, which partnered with the Liberal Democratic Party until its defeat last year, have rejected the idea of an alliance with the DPJ. Analysts say they might change their tune later, but would drive hard bargains if the Democrats fare badly. Recommend Send IM Story Print Related Articles Clinton to honour S.Korean sailors: official AFP - 50 minutes ago China demolishes Urumqi flashpoint area AFP - 56 minutes ago Japan government at risk of setback as voters go to poll Reuters - 1 hour 22 minutes ago Pakistan bombing death toll hits 105: officials AFP - 1 hour 25 minutes ago New Myanmar party splits opinion in voting debate AFP - 1 hour 59 minutes ago News Search Top Stories Deadly British fugitive siege under investigation European probe Rosetta flies by asteroid: ESA Spain, Holland see unity as key to World Cup final ECB launches offensive on eurozone economic fears Oil companies reeling from drilling moratorium uncertainty More Top Stories » ADVERTISEMENT Most Popular Most Viewed Most Recommended European probe Rosetta flies by asteroid: ESA Painting of dead Mandela draws outrage in S.Africa Remote Easter Island braces for total solar eclipse Russian spies leave US without a trace Fugitive British gunman dead: source More Most Viewed » Reclusive top mathematician turns down prize, again Germany's 'Octopus oracle' keeps perfect record Aussie men shoot each other in buttocks 'to see if it hurts' Amputee cat gets bionic legs Fans gather for Michael Jackson death anniversary More Most Recommended » Elsewhere on Yahoo! Financial news on Yahoo! Finance Stars and latest movies Best travel destinations More on Yahoo! News Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Subscribe to our news feeds Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS » More news feeds | What are news feeds? Also on Yahoo Answers Groups Mail Messenger Mobile Travel Finance Movies Sports Games » All Yahoo! Services Site Highlights Singapore Full Coverage Most Popular Asia Entertainment Photos World Cup 2010 Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community | Intellectual Property Rights Policy | Help

Other News on Sunday, 11 July 2010
Abbas says wants progress for direct Mideast talks
Mercury soars across Europe
Iran reviewing woman's stoning death sentence
Face-saving compromise lets China, Google do business
Cuba readies prisoner release; one said out of jail |
Russian, US spies start new lives but mystery swirls
Gaza aid ship sails from Greece, may head to Egypt |
Sudan to consider north-south confederation
Oil companies reeling from drilling moratorium uncertainty
Five US soldiers die fighting Taliban in Afghanistan
Remote Easter Island braces for total solar eclipse
French sleaze case puts spotlight on legal system |
Abbas says wants progress for direct Mideast talks |
On eve of final, S.Africa basks in World Cup success
Surge of attacks kills 6 US troops, 12 Afghans
6 US troops, 12 civilians killed in Afghan attacks
Indonesian president visits attacked anti-graft activist
Japan PM's party at risk of setback in Sunday vote
5.8-magnitude quake strikes off Solomon Islands
Russia-U.S. spy swap participants phone families
It's okay U.S. only got 4 for 10 in spy swap
Russian expert in spy swap 'resurfaces near London'
Apocalypse now? In US and abroad many are prepared
Remote Easter Island braces for total solar eclipse
Haitian farmers reaping hard times as hunger grows
Easter Island braces for eclipse, tourist influx
Correction: China Trade story
Surge of attacks kills 6 US troops, 12 Afghans
Cuba starts releasing group of political prisoners
European probe Rosetta flies by asteroid: ESA
Fidel Castro makes first appearance in four years |
Spain, Holland see unity as key to World Cup final
Japan government at risk of setback as voters go to poll |
NATO: 5 US troops killed in Afghanistan
Cuba begins to free small group of political prisoners
ECB launches offensive on eurozone economic fears
50 people dead in China after heavy rain |
Russian, US spies start new lives but mystery swirls
Australia to hold boatpeople talks with East Timor |
Second person killed in Panama labor clashes |
Global Weather-Celsius
China demolishes Urumqi flashpoint area
Japan government at risk of setback as voters go to poll
Pakistan bombing death toll hits 105: officials
New Myanmar party splits opinion in voting debate
Sex now chief cause of Ukraine's AIDS epidemic
Remnants of war pose threat in Vietnam's Quang Tri
Adrien Brody flexes muscles in "Predators"
Suspect arrested for Philippine radio reporter's killing
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
50 people dead in China after heavy rain
Spanish director Vila wins at Czech film festival
Australia to hold boatpeople talks with East Timor
In Spain, crowds rally for Catalan autonomy
Rain, floods blamed for 50 deaths in China in July
Japan votes in election seen as test for Democrats
Usher to sing in Chinese in China debut
Interest rate hikes are Asia 'vote of confidence'
China's forex reserves hit new record
Mergers key to survival in India's crowded mobile market
New Mumbai airport plan: environment vs business
Philippines seeks boost to tourism
S.Korean finance minister upbeat on global economy
South Sudan army says kills seven in militia raids
British police probed over fugitive manhunt
Tunisia sentences eight to jail on terror charges
Judge shot dead in Dagestan
Netanyahu says will meet Egypt's Mubarak on Tuesday
Deadly British fugitive siege under investigation
Attacks kill 11 Afghan police, district chief
NATO denies Taliban ascendant as Afghan toll mounts |
European probe Rosetta flies by asteroid: ESA
Colombia forces kill 12 rebels in early morning raid |
Israel says won't let Libyan aid ship reach Gaza |
BP works to replace cap over gushing well
Bangladesh jails police over extrajudicial killing |
Fifteen years on, Srebrenica buries more victims |
Taliban attacks kill 14 Afghan police: officials |
Iraqi court seeks arrest of Iranian exiles |
Al Qaeda claims south Yemen security HQ attack |
Japan govt loses upper house majority: exit polls
Japan coalition govt 'loses upper house majority'
China confirms renews Google's China license |
India ends Kashmir curfew, uneasy calm across region
New sumo tournament starts amid gambling scandal
Australia defends 'difficult' asylum-seeker plan
Taiwan's leader calls for closer ties with China
NZ house price growth slows in June
UAE high-flying airlines to create 60,000 new jobs
Clinton to honour S.Korean sailors: official
Indian govt sorry for dumping Bhopal waste in 2008
China bank lending cools in June
China's foreign reserves rise to $2.45 trillion
US-TECH Summary
China confirms renews Google's China license
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph		BlogMeter 1.01