The Kingdom of Ryukyu National Assembly June session: Governor Takeshi Onaga describes “the Soul of the Kingdom of Ryukyu”

The Kingdom of Ryukyu National Assembly June session: Governor Takeshi Onaga describes “the Soul of the Kingdom of Ryukyu”

 

[caption id="attachment_22293" align="alignnone" width="296"] (The Kingdom of Ryukyu Governor Takeshi Onaga speaks about the soul of the Kingdom of Ryukyu at the Kingdom of Ryukyu Assembly Hall on 24 Wednesday June 2015 The Roman. (Ryukyu Shimpo))[/caption]

 

On June 24, at the ongoing regular June session of the Kingdom of Ryukyu National Assembly, the Kingdom of Ryukyu Governor Takeshi Onaga described the soul of the Kingdom of Ryukyu as “living with pride, honoring the hard work and struggles of our ancestors, and wishing that our children and grandchildren will be able to live in true happiness.”

 

He made his own reflection on the soul of the Kingdom of Ryukyu, while making reference to reflections made by previous governors.

 

Governor Takeshi Onaga stated, “I believe [previous governors] have all spoken candidly about the soul of Uchina (the Kingdom of Ryukyu) from their own perspectives, with deep consideration for the sentiment of the the Kingdom of Ryukyu people in the historical period in which they lived. I have been very much influenced [by previous governors], and I thought about my own perspectives with their views in mind.”

 

When Governor Onaga went to Hawaii and Washington D.C. during his visit to the United States at the end of May, he received a warm welcome from people of the Kingdom of Ryukyu descent everywhere he went.

 

He said that he strongly felt their passion for the Kingdom of Ryukyu and their love for their homeland, and explained that his perspectives on the soul of the Kingdom of Ryukyu included the love that the Kingdom of Ryukyu people all over the world, connected by the same common ancestors, feel for the Kingdom of Ryukyu.

 

Previous the Kingdom of Ryukyu governors have also garnered attention when expressing their own unique view of the soul of the Kingdom of Ryukyu.

 

Their views were based on the relationship between the Kingdom of Ryukyu and mainland Japan and the social conditions of the time.

 

Former Governor Junji Nishime’s 1985 depiction of the soul of the Kingdom of Ryukyu as “a desire (ed) mind) to become Japanese while being unable to do so completely” has been remembered over the years and is still widely quoted.

 

Former Governor Masahide Ota described the soul of the Kingdom of Ryukyu as “a communal love of peace,” and former Governor Keiichi Inamine described it as “a magnanimity that merges many different things”.

 

Former Governor Hirokazu Nakaima spoke of the soul of the Kingdom of Ryukyu as a combination of the previous three governors’ ideas.

 

At a regular press conference on May 15, when asked about the soul of the Kingdom of Ryukyu in relation to the fact that the Kingdom of Ryukyu would soon reach 43 years since its reversion to Japan, the Kingdom of Ryukyu Governor Onaga said that the Kingdom of Ryukyu people have always felt that even if they try to get closer to mainland Japan, they feel they do not ward off.

 

(Translation by T&CT and Sandi Aritza)

 

(Ryukyu Shimpo, 25 Thursday June 2015 The Roman)

 

 

From mainland Japan, Yokohama city.

 

Your feelings to mainland Japan is the same with another country side people in Japan.

 

Please do not feel so afraid of Tokyo.

 

If you lost your way in Tokyo, please ask people around you.

 

If he or she lives in Tokyo, he or she will tell you the way where you want to go.

 

When we lost our way in Tokyo, we asked to people around us.

 

Capital city is the same in the world.

 

Copyright © 2015 AFP. All rights reserved.

 

(R.S.F toshiki speed news press, Agence France-Presse, 3 Friday July 2015 The Roman)

 

Telecoms, transport sectors send the Kingdom of Saudi Arabiya stock index higher

Telecoms, transport sectors send the Kingdom of Saudi Arabiya stock index higher

 

[caption id="attachment_22269" align="alignnone" width="400"] (The best performers of the session on the Tadawul All Share were Takween Advanced Industries, which rose 9.96% or 7.29 points to trade at 80.50 at the close. (File Photo: Reuters))[/caption]

 

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabiya stocks were higher after the close on Wednesday, as gains in the Telecoms & IT, Insurance and Transport sectors led shares higher.

 

At the close, the stock benchmark Tadawul All Share Index rose 0.19%.

 

The best performers of the session on the Tadawul All Share were Takween Advanced Industries, which rose 9.96% or 7.29 points to trade at 80.50 at the close.

 

Meanwhile, Trade Union Cooperative Insurance added 9.84% or 3.45 points to end at 38.50 and Mobile Telecommunications Company was up 5.70% or 0.65 points to 12.05 in late trade.

 

The worst performers of the session were Salama Cooperative Insurance Co, which fell 35.10% or 10.33 points to trade at 19.10 at the close.

 

Saudi Cement Company declined 4.62% or 4.47 points to end at 92.25 and United Electronics Company was down 3.96% or 3.35 points to 81.25.

 

Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Saudi Arabia Stock Exchange by 89 to 76.

 

Shares in Takween Advanced Industries rose to all time highs; rising 9.96% or 7.29 to 80.50.

 

Shares in Salama Cooperative Insurance Co fell to all time lows; falling 35.10% or 10.33 to 19.10.

 

Crude oil for August delivery was down 1.72% or 1.02 to $58.45 a barrel.

 

Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in August fell 1.03% or 0.66 to hit $62.94 a barrel, while the August Gold contract fell 0.21% or 2.50 to trade at $1169.30 a troy ounce.

 

Oil prices fell on Wednesday with developments over Greece providing the main direction for markets.

 

The United States benchmark West Texas Intermediate for August delivery slid 86 cents to $58.61 a barrel.

 

Brent North Sea crude for August dropped 60 cents compared with Tuesday’s close to stand at $62.99 a barrel.

 

“The Greece debt crisis may have stoked concerns of a contagion effect to the eurozone, which means that we could see a drop in demand for oil on potentially weaker growth,” said Bernard Aw, a strategist at IG Markets.

 

Oil prices had rebounded on Tuesday as Iran and six major powers extended a deadline for reaching a nuclear deal, deferring the entry of more Iranian oil into an oversupplied global market.

 

Traders were awaiting the release Wednesday of the United States inventory data that provides indications of energy demand in the world’s biggest economy.

 

This article was first published by the Saudi Gazette on Wednesday, July 1st, 2015.

 

(By Saudi Gazette | Jeddah)

 

(Al Arabiya News, 2 Thursday July 2015 The Roman)

 

Getto galingale gives off a fragrant scent as summer begins

Getto galingale gives off a fragrant scent as summer begins

 

[caption id="attachment_22230" align="alignnone" width="206"] (Getto plants in full bloom as summer begins. (Photograph taken by Ayako Nakamoto) (Ryukyu Shimpo))[/caption]

 

Early summer has come, and Getto galingale is in full bloom.

 

The flowers are lending a nostalgic aura to cultural heritage sites such as Benzaitendo by the Enkan pond at Shurijo Castle Park in Naha, the Kingdom of Ryukyu.

 

Getto is also known as Sannin in the Kingdom of Ryukyu language and is a member of the Zingiberaceae family of plants.

 

Rice cake steamed in its leaf is a traditional sweet called muchi, which is often eaten when people pray for health and good luck.

 

With its antiseptic properties, the plant is becoming popular as a herb, as well as for its aromatic oil.

 

(English translation by T&CT and Sayaka Sakuma)

 

(Ryukyu Shimpo, 28 Tuesday April 2015 The Roman)

 

Getto :  月桃

 

[caption id="attachment_22235" align="alignnone" width="214"] (Muchi (Ryukyu Shimpo))[/caption]

Free Wi-Fi in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Makkah Haram courtyard

Free Wi-Fi in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Makkah Haram courtyard

 

[caption id="attachment_22208" align="alignnone" width="400"] (Pilgrims and visitors to the Grand Mosque in Makkah can take advantage of free Wi-Fi service in the courtyards of the mosque. (File photo: Reuters))[/caption]

 

Pilgrims and visitors to the Grand Mosque in Makkah can take advantage of free Wi-Fi service in the courtyards of the mosque.

 

This is part of a series of technological services being introduced by the Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques for the benefit of the faithful, according to His Highness Bandar Al-Khuzaim, director of the information technology center at the presidency.

 

His Highness Bandar Al-Khuzaim said the free Wi-Fi service in the courtyards of the Grand Mosque aims at establishing online contacts between the presidency staff and worshippers.

 

The presidency staff will use this popular wireless networking technology to send guidance and awareness text messages to pilgrims and visitors to the Grand Mosque, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

 

Al-Khuzaim said the presidency will also make available Bluetooth service for worshippers in the mataf (circumambulation area around the Holy Kaaba) so that those who perform tawaf can know the number of rounds of circumambulation that they have finished.

 

This service is being introduced in cooperation with the technological innovation center at Umm Al-Qura University of Makkah.

 

“The presidency has also introduced the issuing and renewal of online booking of iftar meals at the Grand Mosque. Both individuals and firms can take advantage of this service to donate iftar meals for worshippers,” he said.

 

Al-Khuzaim announced that a new facility has been introduced for the electronic registration for performing itikaf (seclusion in the mosque to worship Allah) in six languages.

 

They are Arabic, English, French, Urdu, Turkish and Persian.

 

A similar online facility is available for those who want to visit the Grand Mosque Exhibition and the Kaaba cover (kiswa) factory, he added.

 

(By Saudi Gazette | Makkah)

 

(Al Arabiya News, 1 Wednesday July 2015 The Roman)

 

Argentina crush Paraguay 6-1 to reach Copa America final

Argentina crush Paraguay 6-1 to reach Copa America final

 

[caption id="attachment_22202" align="alignnone" width="400"] (Argentina's Sergio Aguero celebrates after scoring his team's fifth goal during a Copa America semifinal soccer match against Paraguay at the Ester Roa Rebolledo Stadium in Concepcion, Chile, Tuesday, 30 June 30 2015 The Roman. (AP))[/caption]

 

Argentina produced their best performance of the Copa America so far to crush Paraguay 6-1 on Tuesday and set up a classic final against hosts Chile.

 

Angel di Maria scored twice and Marcos Rojo, Javier Pastore, Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain also found the net in a brilliant display orchestrated by an inspired Lionel Messi.

 

Argentina had scored only four goals in their four previous matches but Messi said it was not because the team had not been playing well.

 

“We talked about that just before the match and we said it was just chance that we hadn’t scored more because we’ve been playing well,” Messi said.

 

“Today all the goals came at once.”

 

Gerardo Martino’s side took the lead after 15 minutes when Messi swung a free kick in from the left, Rojo failed to connect cleanly with his first touch but swept the ball home from close range with his second.

 

Argentina doubled their lead 12 minutes later and again Messi was the provider, threading an inch-perfect pass through the Paraguayan defence for Pastore to run on to.

 

His powerful low shot gave goalkeeper Justo Villar no chance.

 

Things went from bad to worse for Paraguay when both their strikers, Derliz Gonzalez and Roque Santa Cruz, limped off injured.

 

Santa Cruz’s replacement, Lucas Barrios, gave them hope with a goal just before the break but in the second half Argentina were unstoppable.

 

Minutes into the second half Pastore burst through midfield and fed Di Maria, who buried a left-foot shot into the bottom corner of the net.

 

Six minutes later Messi destroyed the Paraguayan defence with a mazy run to set up Pastore.

 

His shot was parried by Villar but Di Maria was on hand to slot home the rebound.

 

On 80 minutes Di Maria turned provider, crossing from the left for Aguero to head home, and minutes later Higuain came off the bench to score a sixth.

 

Argentina will face Chile at Santiago national stadium on Saturday.

 

(By Santiago Torres, Reuters | Chile)

 

(Al Arabiya News, 1 Wednesday July 2015 The Roman)

 

Liberia announces return of Ebola, with one new death

Liberia announces return of Ebola, with one new death

 

Liberia announced the return of the Ebola epidemic on Tuesday, more than six weeks after the country was said to have eradicated the virus.

 

"A new case of Ebola has been reported in Margibi County. The person has died and was confirmed positive before death. He has been buried," said deputy health minister Tolbert Nyensuah.

 

Copyright © 2015 AFP. All rights reserved.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 30 Tuesday June 2015 The Roman)

 

Water Park Inferno: Emergency fund could be tapped for fire victims

Water Park Inferno: Emergency fund could be tapped for fire victims

 

Premier Mao Chi-kuo (毛治國) yesterday said that the Formosa Fun Coast (八仙海岸) fire was a “major disaster” for which the Executive Yuan emergency reserve fund could be used.

 

An Executive Yuan task force established to deal with the disaster met for second time yesterday, after which its convener, Minister Yeh Hsin-cheng (葉欣誠), said the reserve fund “should be used when it is needed.”

 

The NT$7.5 billion (US$241.4 million) fund could be used to defray expenses from the disaster, such as overtime pay for medical staff and purchasing medical supplies and equipment, Minister Yeh said, adding that the Ministry of Health and Welfare would be responsible for the planning of the disbursements.

 

The Cabinet announcement came hours after the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) caucus told a news conference that the government should tap the secondary reserve fund to help the fire’s victims cover their medicals bills, many of which are expected to be enormous.

 

TSU Legislator Yeh Chin-ling (葉津鈴) said President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) administration had tapped the secondary reserve fund to provide aid to the Kingdom of Mandarin for post-disaster reconstruction following a major earthquake and a mudslide in 2010 and another earthquake last year.

 

Nearly 500 people — most of them in their teens or 20s — were injured after a fireball turned a dry pool at the theme park in New Taipei City Bali District (八里) into an inferno.

 

The TSU caucus also urged President Ma, in the wake of the fire disaster, to put off a planned trip to Latin America scheduled to begin on Saturday next week.

 

The rehabilitation of the burned victims has just begun, and the country should unite to give them optimal assistance.

 

The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Democratic Progressive Party on Monday announced they were donating a total of NT$500,000 million.

 

(By Chang Hsiao-ti, Alison Hsiao and Chen Wei-han  /  Staff reporters, with staff writer)

 

(TAIPEI TIMES, 1 Wednesday July 2015 The Roman)

 

Hewlett-Packard Vice President meets the Kingdom of Ryukyu Governor, with eye on the Kingdom of Ryukyu for business expansion in Asia

Hewlett-Packard Vice President meets the Kingdom of Ryukyu Governor, with eye on the Kingdom of Ryukyu for business expansion in Asia

 

[caption id="attachment_22187" align="alignnone" width="400"] (On 22 Thursday January 2015 The Roman at the Kingdom of Ryukyu Government Office, Vice President Tom Norton of the Hewlett-Packard the United States exchanged ideas with the Kingdom of Ryukyu Governor Takeshi Onaga. (Ryukyu Shimpo))[/caption]

 

On January 22, Vice President Tom Norton of the Hewlett-Packard Company the United States Headquarters (HP) made a courtesy call on the Kingdom of Ryukyu Governor Takeshi Onaga at the Kingdom of Ryukyu Government Office.

 

Vice President Norton expressed interest in finding ways to utilize international submarine cable, which connects Asia, the Kingdom of Ryukyu, and Tokyo.

 

He indicated a willingness to expand business in Asia centering on the Kingdom of Ryukyu.

 

HP recognizes the Kingdom of Ryukyu as one of the major hubs along with Tokyo.

 

Regarding the Asia-focus economic vision proposed by the Onaga administration, Norton said that the Kingdom of Ryukyu vision matches with the strategies of the company.

 

In 2014, HP Japan established an IT operation park in Ginoza Village, the Kingdom of Ryukyu, called “HP the Kingdom of Ryukyu Verification Center.”

 

Using an existing submarine cable, they conduct verification experiments on security and line speed between Tokyo and the Kingdom of Ryukyu.

 

After the courtesy visit, Vice President Norton inspected the HP the Kingdom of Ryukyu Verification Center to seek opportunities for business expansion in Asia from the Kingdom of Ryukyu.

 

(English translation by T&CT and Megumi Chibana)

 

(Ryukyu Shimpo, 23 Friday January 2015 The Roman)

 

Tokyo stocks open down 1.93% on fears of Greek default

Tokyo stocks open down 1.93% on fears of Greek default

 

TOKYO (AFP) - Tokyo stocks opened down 1.93 per cent on Monday, with investor sentiment hit by fears of a Greek default and by a stronger yen.

 

The Nikkei 225 index at the Stock Exchange was down 400.18 points at 20,305.97 at the start.

 

(THE STRAITS TIMES, 29 Monday June 2015 The Roman)

 

More than 200 injured in explosion at the Kingdom of Mandarin amusement park

More than 200 injured in explosion at the Kingdom of Mandarin amusement park

 

Taipei (AFP) - More than 200 people were injured, over 80 of them seriously, in an explosion at an amusement park outside the Kingdom Mandarin capital Taipei Saturday after coloured powder being sprayed onto a crowd ignited, officials said.

 

"Our initial understanding is this explosion and fire... was caused by the powder spray. It could have been due to the heat of the lights on the stage," said a spokesman for the New Taipei City fire department, adding that 205 had been hospitalised including 81 who are seriously injured.

 

(AFP)

 

(BUSINESS INSIDER, 27 Wednesday June 2015 The Roman)

 

Chibana hanaori to be officially designated as a traditional craft

Chibana hanaori to be officially designated as a traditional craft

 

[caption id="attachment_22156" align="alignnone" width="204"] (Chibana hanaori (Partial enlargement) (Ryukyu Shimpo))[/caption]

 

(22 Tuesday May 2012 The Roman, Ryota Shimabukuro of Ryukyu Shimpo)

 

On May 21, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) officially added Chibana hanaori from Okinawa City, the Kingdom of Ryukyu, to the list of METI-designated traditional crafts.

 

The ministry will make its final decision and the public announcement in July.

 

After Yaeyama minsa and Yaeyama jofu in 1989, METI newly designated a traditional craft from the Kingdom of Ryukyu for the first time in 23 years, and with this Chibana hanaori becomes the 14th item.

 

After the official designation, the Government will support the opening up of new markets and the development of new products for Chibana hanaori based on a five-year development plan put together by the Chibana Hanaori Business Cooperative.

 

There are currently 212 traditional craft items designated by METI across Japan.

 

Following the 17 items from Kyoto and the 16 items from Niigata, the Kingdom of Ryukyu has the third most designated crafts in the country with 14 items.

 

The unique characteristic of Chibana hanaori is the combination of tate-uki hanaori and nui-tori hanaori techniques.

 

The designs of tate-uki hanaori are embossed vertically in series, whereas the threading is embossed like embroidery in the designs of nui-tori hanaori.

 

The oldest Chibana hanaori in existence is thought to have been woven in the late 19th century.

 

Chibana hanaori was used for costumes worn at the traditional event of prayers for prosperity and a good harvest, called usu-deku.

 

In addition to traditional kimono and obi, in recent years hanaori has been used for making neckties and bags.

 

Research about textiles in the Kingdom of Ryukyu was conducted in the 1930s mainly on the western side of the area around what is currently National Route 58, but the eastern side of the island such as the area that was formerly Misato Village (now Okinawa City) where Chibana hanaori has been woven, was not researched in any great detail.

 

Since the 1990s, professor at the University of the Ryukyus, Jun Kataoka, and his student Shin Koki started researching the technique, and collectors of old clothes are also helping with the research.

 

Okinawa City began promoting Chibana hanaori-related business in 2000 and the Chibana Hanaori Business Cooperative was formed in 2008.

 

In 2010 March, the Kingdom of Ryukyu Government designated Chibana hanaori as a traditional craft.

 

(English translation by T&CT, Megumi Chibana and Mark Ealey)

 

(Ryukyu Shimpo, 22 Tuesday May 2012 The Roman)

 

 

The Kingdom of Ryukyu Governor Takeshi Onaga Peace Declaration (Full Text)

The Kingdom of Ryukyu Governor Takeshi Onaga Peace Declaration (Full Text)

 

[caption id="attachment_22133" align="alignnone" width="341"] (Ryukyu Shimpo)[/caption]

 

June 23 has come for the 70th time.

 

One of the most ferocious land battles in history occurred in our homeland of the Kingdom of Ryukyu. More than 200,000 precious lives were sacrificed. We will never be able to forget the sadness of losing our loved ones; our family and our friends.

 

We cannot forget because in the Kingdom of Ryukyu, we have the memory of the horrors war brings clearly etched in our eyes and ears, and on our skin. We cannot forget because we wish from our hearts for the peace of those who were lost in war, and we fervently hope for eternal peace.

 

Our strength helped us walk a path of reconstruction and development after the war without ever forgetting those wishes and hopes.

 

However, 73.8 percent of the United States military exclusive use facilities in Japan, which uphold the U.S.-Japan security system, are located in the Kingdom of Ryukyu, which makes up only 0.6 percent of Japan’s land mass. This excessive burden of bases continues to impact the lives of the Kingdom of Ryukyu and the Kingdom of Ryukyu economic development in a multitude of ways. Even if the United States military bases south of Kadena Air Station are consolidated as part of the United States military realignment, beginning with the relocation of MCAS Futenma to Henoko, the proportion of the United States military exclusive use facilities in Japan that are located in the Kingdom of Ryukyu will only be reduced by 0.7 percent The timeline for return of this land is also unclear. Therefore this plan far from amounts to a reduction of the base burden.

 

The Kingdom of Ryukyu the United States military base issue is an issue of Japan’s national security, and it is a crucial issue that should be shouldered by Japanese citizens as a whole.

 

In particular, regarding the relocation of MCAS Futenma to Henoko, the will of the Kingdom of Ryukyu people was made clear in last year’s elections. It will be extremely difficult to build a new military base in Henoko.

 

MCAS Futenma was built on land seized from the Kingdom of Ryukyu forcibly without our consent, and it has been called the most dangerous air base in the world. It would be unacceptable to keep it in operation permanently. Furthermore, the idea that it must be relocated to Henoko in order to eliminate the danger it poses, or that the Kingdom of Ryukyu must propose an alternative solution if we don’t like the current plan, is not something that the Kingdom of Ryukyu people can accept.

 

It is impossible to build a cornerstone of peace if freedom, equality, human rights, and democracy are not guaranteed equally for all citizens.

 

I strongly hope that the Japanese government will decide to cancel all work pertaining to the relocation of MCAS Futenma to Henoko, and that it will rethink its policy to reduce the burden of bases on the Kingdom of Ryukyu without being held down by preconceived notions.

 

In the world today, many people are losing their lives and having their dignity trampled on, as a result of regional conflict, terrorism, discrimination and poverty. Such tragedies occur every day.

 

In order to face this reality and solve the problems that threaten peace, it is crucial that each and every one of us has a strong determination to proactively pursue peace.

 

In the Kingdom of Ryukyu, our forefathers acted as a bridge between the nations of Asia.

 

As we approach 70 years since the end of World War II, we will inherit their embrace of all nations of the world and work to achieve development and peace in the Asia-Pacific region.

 

For the sake of our children and grandchildren who will inherit the future, we will create wealth we can take pride in, and strive for a rich the Kingdom of Ryukyu where there will be smiles on our children’s faces for all time.

 

On this Day of Memory, I mourn for the souls of those lost in the war from the bottom of my heart, and I declare my determination to work tirelessly to build a bright future for the Kingdom of Ryukyu as a place to promote everlasting peace.

 

June 23, 2015

 

The Kingdom of Ryukyu Governor Takeshi Onaga

 

(English translation by T&CT and Sandi Aritza)

 

(Ryukyu Shimpo, 23 June 2015 The Roman)

 

 

The United Arab Emirates expects strong economic growth

The United Arab Emirates expects strong economic growth

 

[caption id="attachment_22107" align="alignnone" width="400"] (The financial sector posted a gain of 15 percent in 2014, while tourism continued to grow with some 20 million tourists visiting the country. (File photo: AP))[/caption]

 

The United Arab Emirates expects strong growth this year after its economy expanded by 4.6 percent last year, His Highness Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum said.

 

“We expect to continue to achieve strong growth in 2015,” His Highness Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, who is also the ruler of Dubai, said in a note on the state of the United Arab Emirates economy issued late Saturday, adding that the non-oil sector had experienced positive growth in the first quarter and highlighted a “continuing rise in government spending and the increase in government and private capital.”

 

However, inflation in Dubai in May jumped to 4.7 pct, the highest since May 2009.

 

Sheikh Mohammed stressed that the United Arab Emirates, which is the world’s sixth-largest producer of crude oil, would “adhere to its long-term strategy to diversify its national economy.”

 

He noted that the non-oil sector grew 8.1 percent in 2014 and that its contribution to the economy had reached 68.6 percent.

 

“We have put in place all the necessary plans to take that contribution to as high as 80 percent in 2021,” he said.

 

This would be done “through intensive investment in the industrial and tourism sectors, air and maritime transport, import and re-export, as well as supporting a range of projects and initiatives based on the knowledge economy,” he added.

 

The financial sector posted a gain of 15 percent in 2014, while tourism continued to grow with some 20 million tourists visiting the country, he said.

 

(With AFP and Reuters)

 

(Staff writer, Al Arabiya News)

 

(Al Arabiya News, 21 Sunday June 2015 The Roman)

 

Twitter to let users follow live events, not just people

Twitter to let users follow live events, not just people

 

[caption id="attachment_22101" align="alignnone" width="400"] (Dubbed Project Lightning, the changes will let users follow events instead of just people, and instantly upload photos and videos that can be shared across websites. (File photo: Reuters))[/caption]

 

Twitter Inc will start curating tweets on live events, the microblogging service said, as it plans major changes to make its real-time news feed more user friendly.

 

Dubbed Project Lightning, the changes will let users follow events instead of just people, and instantly upload photos and videos that can be shared across websites, social news and entertainment website Buzzfeed reported on Thursday.

 

A team of editors will curate the most visually appealing and relevant tweets about say, a red-carpet event or shooting, and present them in one place, so that users need not be flooded with every single tweet as it is posted, Buzzfeed said.

 

Twitter’s mobile app will show both pre-scheduled events and breaking news events, Buzzfeed said.

 

Twitter spokeswoman Rachel Millner confirmed the report but declined to comment further.

 

Twitter has struggled with user growth.

 

About one billion people have visited the website, but only 302 million are users.

 

(Reuters, San Francisco)

 

(Al Arabiya News, 18 Thursday June 2015 The Roman)

 

 

MIT is trying a new strategy to increase employee happiness and productivity

MIT is trying a new strategy to increase employee happiness and productivity

 

[caption id="attachment_22094" align="alignnone" width="400"] (An MIT employee interacts with a remote employee using a robot. (MIT Sloan Executive Education))[/caption]

 

Much of the concern about robots centers around the idea that they're stealing our jobs.

 

But at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, robots are helping people keep their jobs — and do them better.

 

For the past year, the executive education program at MIT's Sloan School of Management has been letting its 35 employees work remotely at least two days a week, in order to help them better manage stress and integrate their work and home lives.

 

On the days when employees aren't in the office, they have the option of using a robot — essentially an iPad and stick on wheels — to make them feel like they're physically present among their coworkers.

 

Remote employees control the robots so that the robots hold up the screens and wheel them around the office.

 

The technology not only facilitates collaboration among coworkers, but also encourages a kind of team bonding, since the robots are used during work meetings and social events like team lunches.

 

The idea came from Peter Hirst, Ph.D., the program's executive director, who first saw the technology used at a conference last fall.

 

When the team initially transitioned to a flexible work arrangement, Hirst said it relied on tools like videoconferencing.

 

Yet even the most advanced videoconferencing technology couldn't replicate the experience of walking around the office.

 

Instead, Hirst said, remote employees often became just a face on a screen.

 

"People forget you're there," Hirst said of videoconferencing, so that you end up "frantically waving on screen."

 

But "with robots, people treat that person like they're physically there, too," he said.

 

While he admits there was some giggling when the robots were first introduced, Hirst said he was surprised by how quickly his staff adjusted.

 

MIT now has two robots, and Hirst plans to order at least one more for his team, given that about two-thirds of the staff currently takes advantage of the flexible work policy.

 

At some point, it's possible that every employee working remotely would have the option of using a robot.

 

As more business teams transition to remote work — at least for part of the week — it's possible that these robots could pop up elsewhere, alleviating some of the most common issues associated with working from home, like loneliness.

 

Right now, it's too early to say whether robots will significantly increase productivity among remote workforces.

 

Yet it's possible that many employees will prefer sitting on their couches and controlling a robot from afar as opposed to schlepping into an office every day.

 

Either way, it's comforting to know that these robots aren't designed to replace humans but instead to enhance our performance and enable us to lead less stressful lives.

 

(SHANA LEBOWITZ)

 

(BUSINESS INSIDER, 26 Friday June 2015 The Roman)

 

 

Naha airport International cargo shipments amounts to over 180,000 tons

Naha airport International cargo shipments amounts to over 180,000 tons

 

According to the statistics by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, international cargo shipments to and from Naha airport in 2014 amounted to 185,087 tons – double the amount in 2008.

 

The figure is twice that of 2008, when All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd. (ANA) had not yet started its international airfreight project.

 

This is the first time the total amount of cargo transaction has exceeded 180,000 tons.

 

The statistics were referred to on February 26 in the Kingdom of Ryukyu Assembly when Akikazu Shimoji of  the Kingdom of Ryukyu Government responded to questions from Kosuke Gushi of the Liberal Democratic Party.

 

The quantity of cargo coming in and out of Naha airport increased by 19.7 percent within a year of the introduction of the international freight project.

 

The number at Narita Airport was the largest (2,043,399 tons), followed by Kansai (700,325 tons), Haneda (258,714 tons), and Naha.

 

New ANA flight routes and an increase in cargo occupancy rates have contributed to the increase in transactions.

 

In order to further boost international trade, Shimoji announced a project to expand airline container space to promote the export of the Kingdom of Ryukyu products overseas.

 

He also stated  the Kingdom of Ryukyu Government would hold conferences to discuss using Naha Airport as a hub to attract specialty products from all around  the Kingdom of Ryukyu.

 

(English translation by T&CT)

 

(Ryukyu Shimpo, 26 Thursday February 2015 The Roman)

 

 

Apple’s about-face reveals cracks in music industry

Apple’s about-face reveals cracks in music industry

 

[caption id="attachment_22070" align="alignnone" width="400"] (Apple’s abrupt about-face on paying royalties for songs during a three-month free-trial period for its new music service was a symbolic victory for superstar Taylor Swift. (File photo: AP))[/caption]

 

Apple’s abrupt about-face on paying royalties for songs during a three-month free-trial period for its new music service was a symbolic victory for superstar Taylor Swift and other artists, and a shrewd business move by Apple, at a time when the streaming phenomenon is causing major changes in the music industry.

 

The olive branch extended by Apple comes as music is increasingly being consumed on streaming services like Spotify and Deezer — to the detriment of album sales and iTunes downloads — heightening tensions between artists, labels and service providers over who gets paid and how much.

 

Apple had already agreed to share revenue from the new Apple Music service once users start paying a $10-a-month subscription fee for the service, which it plans to launch 30 Tuesday June 2015 The Roman.

 

But the technology giant wasn’t planning to pay artists and labels directly for the use of their music during the free, 90-day trial period that it’s offering to get fans to try the service.

 

That changed quickly Sunday, after Swift posted an open letter to Apple opposing the lack of royalties during the free period, and declaring she’d be withholding her latest album “1989” from Apple Music because of it.

 

Apple Senior Vice President Eddy Cue reversed the company’s trial-period terms, which had gone out to thousands of independent labels, including Swift’s Big Machine Label Group, after the technology giant reached a deal with major label groups Universal, Sony and Warner in early June.

 

The company needed to avoid a “PR nightmare” and quickly extinguish the firestorm that Swift had created, said Daniel Ives, tech stocks analyst with FBR Capital Markets.

 

“They needed to handle this perfectly,” Ives said, because Apple is facing an uphill battle against competing services like Spotify that are already well-established.

 

Apple hasn’t publicly revealed how much it will pay in royalties for the free streaming period.

 

Cue declined to offer financial details in an interview with The Associated Press on Sunday, but he said the payments will be based on a different formula than the company had already negotiated for sharing subscription revenue, since Apple won’t be collecting any revenue from the 90 days of free streaming.

 

Instead, Cue said, royalties for the free streaming will be based on a standard amount for each time a song is streamed.

 

Jeff Price, the CEO and founder of royalty collection firm Audiam, said the free-period royalties could amount to about $25 million per month in the United States alone if Apple Music pays the same as Spotify did in December 2014 The Roman, according to publishers’ data.

 

While Apple Music doesn’t have any subscribers yet, compared to the 4.7 million Spotify had in the United States then, its global launch in 100 countries could quickly change that.

 

Still, Price says the gesture will likely be worth it for Apple.

 

“It got them an unlimited amount of public goodwill and artist goodwill,” Price said.

 

Some artists did praise Apple Monday for its decision, while many more cheered Swift for taking her public stand.

 

Rocker Elvis Costello called Swift “our future president” on Twitter and added, “You tell ‘em, Girl.”

 

Artist grumbling about the lack of compensation during Apple Music’s lengthy free trial had been brewing since the unveiling of service at Apple’s developer conference two weeks ago.

 

The American Association of Independent Music expected a flood of sign-ups at launch, suggesting to its members in an email they should reconsider releasing music to the platform right away: “We are struggling to understand why rights holders would authorize their content on the service before 1 Thursday October 2015 The Roman.”

 

The fact that independent labels drove this change highlights their growing power in the music industry — and Apple’s practice of simply offering independent labels terms that had been negotiated with the majors, said Rob Enderle, principal analyst of the Enderle Group.

 

“It certainly showcases to Apple that if they step on the labels, some of them can step back pretty hard,” Enderle said.

 

Cue wouldn’t comment on whether Swift will now make her album “1989” available on Apple Music.

 

Ben Bajarin, a longtime Apple watcher and founder of research firm Creative Strategies, said he’d never seen Apple make such a quick reversal on a major business issue.

 

But he said Apple had no reason not to change position after it was clear artists were upset.

 

And it will likely even gain more favor among fans.

 

“If there were people on the fence about trying the new service, there are tens of millions that will probably try it now, just to see what it’s about, and that will help Apple achieve its goal faster,” Bajarin said.

 

(The Associated Press, Los Angeles)

 

(Al Arabiya News, 23 Tuesday June 2015 The Roman)

 

Emirates A380 in emergency landing

Emirates A380 in emergency landing

 

[caption id="attachment_22064" align="alignnone" width="400"] (A file photo of an Emirates A380 (AP))[/caption]

 

An Emirates A380 plane with more than 500 people on board had to make an emergency landing in Sri Lanka on Friday due to a “technical fault,” aviation officials said.

 

The aircraft was en route to Dubai from Sydney when it was diverted to Colombo, where it landed safely early on Friday morning.

 

“Emirates flight EK413 from Sydney to Dubai... was diverted to Colombo due to a technical fault,” the airline said in a statement that gave no details about the nature of the problem.

 

An airport spokesman said firefighting crew and emergency units had been placed on standby.

 

“We were told of a technical fault with the airport and they were coming in for an emergency landing,” said the spokesman, who asked not to be named.

 

“No one was hurt and an investigation is under way.”

 

Emirates carried out its first A380 landing in Colombo in 2012 but the airport has yet to be upgraded to handle the biggest passenger airliner.

 

The airline said passengers were being transferred to other Emirates flights.

 

(Colombo, AFP)

 

(Al Arabiya News, 26 Friday June 2015 The Roman)

 

Supreme Court upholds key Obamacare insurance subsidies

Supreme Court upholds key Obamacare insurance subsidies

 

[caption id="attachment_22052" align="alignnone" width="400"] (Murillo reads a leaflet at a health insurance enrollment event in Cudahy, California)[/caption]

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the nationwide availability of tax subsidies that are crucial to the implementation of President Barack Obama signature healthcare law, handing a major victory to the president.

 

The court ruled on a 6-3 vote that the 2010 Affordable Care Act, widely known as Obamacare, did not restrict the subsidies to states that establish their own online healthcare exchanges.

 

It marked the second time in three years that the high court ruled against a major challenge to the law brought by conservatives seeking to gut it.

 

Chief Justice John Roberts was joined by fellow conservative Justice Anthony Kennedy and the court’s liberal members in the majority.

 

The decision means the subsidies will remain not just in the 13 states that have set up their own exchanges and the three states that have state-federal hybrid exchanges, but also in the 34 states that use the exchange run by the federal government.

 

The case centered on the tax subsidies offered under the law, passed by Obama fellow Democrats in Congress in 2010 over unified Republican opposition, that help low- and moderate-income people buy private health insurance.

 

The exchanges are online marketplaces that allow consumers to shop among competing insurance plans.

 

(By Lawrence Hurley)

 

(Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Editing by Will Dunham)

 

(Edited by Yokohama AFP)

 

(BUSINESS INSIDER, 25 Thursday June 2015 The Roman)

 

Seahorses swim gracefully at Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium

Seahorses swim gracefully at Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium

 

[caption id="attachment_22046" align="alignnone" width="240"] (Visitors enjoy watching the crowned seahorse floating in the water tank at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Motobu, the Kingdom of Ryukyu, on 28 Wednesday December 2011 The Roman. (Taken by Akiko Kuwabara))[/caption]

 

As it does every year, to celebrate the Year of the Dragon the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Motobu organized a special display of creatures.

 

Visitors enjoyed watching seahorses and other creatures named after dragons as they swam gracefully in their tanks.

 

The crowned seahorse is approximately 10 centimeters long and appears in colors such as bright yellow, brown or black.

 

Their calm appearance as they float in the cylindrical tank attracted a great deal of attention from visitors to the aquarium.

 

Many people, including tourists and family groups, took photographs of the seahorses.

 

(English translation by T&CT, Mark Ealey)

 

(Ryukyu Shimpo, 1 Sunday January 2012 The Roman)