Asia

Robot suit designed to aid the physically challenged and elderly gets global safety certificate

"A robot suit that can help the elderly or disabled get around was given its global safety certificate in Japan, paving the way for its worldwide rollout. The Hybrid Assistive Limb, or HAL, is a power-assisted pair of legs developed by Japanese robot maker Cyberdyne, which has also developed similar robot arms. A quality assurance body issued the certificate based on a draft version of an international safety standard for personal robots that is expected to be approved later this year, the ministry for the economy, trade and industry said. The metal-and-plastic exoskeleton has become the first nursing-care robot certified under the draft standard, a ministry official said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRobot suit designed to aid the physically challenged and elderly gets global safety certificate

Japanese man dies after being turned away from 25 hospitals

"A 75-year-old Japanese man died after 25 hospitals refused to admit him to their emergency rooms 36 times over two hours, citing lack of beds or doctors to treat him, an official said Tuesday. The man, who lived alone in a city north of Tokyo, called an ambulance after suffering breathing problems at his home in January. Paramedics rushed to his house but were told in turn by all 25 hospitals in the area that they could not accept the man because they did not have enough doctors or any free beds, a local city official said, adding some institutions were contacted more than once." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJapanese man dies after being turned away from 25 hospitals

U.S. flies nuclear-capable stealth bombers over South Korea

"The United States said two nuclear-capable B-2 stealth bombers flew 'deterrence' missions over South Korea on Thursday. The deployment of the stealth bombers was clearly meant to deliver a potent message to Pyongyang about the US commitment to defending South Korea against any aggression as military tensions on the Korean peninsula soar. It came shortly after the North severed its last-remaining military hotline with South Korea. US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told his South Korean counterpart that Seoul could rely on all the military protection the United States has to offer — nuclear, conventional and missile defence." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. flies nuclear-capable stealth bombers over South Korea

The dangerous drift towards world war in Asia

"A former adviser to the People's Liberation Army (PLA) says a rising cadre of officers has slipped the leash and picked up attitudes all too like the Japan's firebrand officers in the 1930s, when they defied orders from Tokyo. He said these young bloods are on a 'collision course' with the US-dominated global system. As `black swans' go, an outright war between the two great powers of Asia would surely be dramatic, and it could not easily be contained since America is bound by treaties to defend Japan if it is attacked. This includes an attack on the Senkaku islands. One shudders to think what would happen if China and the US itself came to blows in any form." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe dangerous drift towards world war in Asia

‘Mr. Yen’ cautions on Japan’s ‘unsafe’ debt trajectory

"'A debt ratio of 245pc of GDP is not really safe, and it is not happening because we are investing,' said Takehiko Nakao, Japan's 'Mr Yen' or vice finance minister in charge of the exchange rate. Mr Nakao said the scope for further fiscal stimulus is running out and the country must restore public finances to a sustainable path by the middle of the decade. The comments touch on an acutely sensitive topic. A number of global hedge funds and banks have begun "shorting" Japan's debt, the world's biggest at $23 trillion. They are mostly taking positions through the credit default swap (CDS) market, betting that Japan will be the next big crisis theme." Continue reading →

Continue Reading‘Mr. Yen’ cautions on Japan’s ‘unsafe’ debt trajectory

Defense contractor accused of espionage had worked in deterrence at US Pacific Command

"A civilian defense contractor accused of giving his Chinese girlfriend military secrets worked on developing military plans to deter potential U.S. enemies when the two began their romance, according to his online professional profile and court documents. Bishop was arrested Friday at Pacific Command headquarters at Camp H.M. Smith in Hawaii. The LinkedIn profile says he moved to a different department last May to work on cybersecurity. During that month, the FBI claims, Bishop emailed military secrets to the woman, including war plans and information on nuclear weapons." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDefense contractor accused of espionage had worked in deterrence at US Pacific Command

Ron Paul on the ‘Korean Threat’

"Tthe US and South Korea held a three day naval exercise last month that included, among many other warships, an American nuclear-powered submarine. This month, the US and South Korea are conducting another joint military exercise, this time with the US flying nuclear-capable B-52 bombers over the Korean peninsula. Much of the current escalation came after the US drew up yet another set of sanctions for the UN Security Council to impose on North Korea. The North Korean government retaliated against the new sanctions with bellicose threats to launch a nuclear first strike against the US. The US response to the threats has been entirely predictable." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRon Paul on the ‘Korean Threat’

Chinese fish vendor finds live bomb inside squid’s stomach

"For one fish vendor in the Guangdong province of China, the catch of the day came with an explosive surprise, as he found a live bomb inside a squid he was preparing for a customer. The Daily Mail reported that Huang found the eight-inch bomb while gutting the squid, then called police. Authorities detonated the bomb with a controlled explosion away from the market and speculated that it might have been dropped from a fighter jet, but did not say how old it was, or where it originated." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingChinese fish vendor finds live bomb inside squid’s stomach

Chinese fish vendor finds live bomb inside squid’s stomach

"For one fish vendor in the Guangdong province of China, the catch of the day came with an explosive surprise, as he found a live bomb inside a squid he was preparing for a customer. The Daily Mail reported that Huang found the eight-inch bomb while gutting the squid, then called police. Authorities detonated the bomb with a controlled explosion away from the market and speculated that it might have been dropped from a fighter jet, but did not say how old it was, or where it originated." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingChinese fish vendor finds live bomb inside squid’s stomach

Bank of Japan vows ‘all means available’ to smash deflation

"The new team is much closer to the Fed and the Bank of England, but critics say the bank risks becoming a mere branch of the finance mininstry -- where Mr Kuroda spent much of his careers. The great fear is that Japan will lurch from stable deflation to an unstable price spiral that suddenly causes investors to question the integrity of the country's 23 trillion public debt, the world's largest. The IMF says Japan's gross debt will reach 245pc of GDP this year. It has been possible so far because banks have gobbled up government bonds worth 100pc of GDP but this makes the banking system ever more vulnerable to a sudden rise in rates." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBank of Japan vows ‘all means available’ to smash deflation