Bank of Japan moves to bolster Abenomics
TOKYO – The government and ruling parties welcomed the Bank of Japan’s decision to adopt a negative interest rate policy, expecting it to bolster the Abenomics economic policy package of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, which is currently facing a strong yen and low stock prices.
The BOJ’s announcement of the policy on the day after economic revitalization minister Akira Amari resigned over allegations that he received illegal political donations has led some observers to expect that the BOJ’s new policy will reverse the dead-end feeling that has begun to beset the government.
Tomomi Inada, chief of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s Policy Research Council, said at a party meeting, “I hope the BOJ’s [additional] monetary easing measure will propel the Japanese economy amid the currently unpredictable world economy.”
David Bowie wanted ashes scattered in Bali
NEW YORK – Rock legend David Bowie wanted his ashes scattered in Bali “in accordance with the Buddhist rituals,” and he left most of his estate to his two children and his widow, the supermodel Iman, according to his will filed Friday in Manhattan.
The 20-page document, filed under his legal name David Robert Jones, said the estate was worth about $100 million, but didn’t break down the finances.
The “Fame” singer left his SoHo home he shared with Iman to her, and half of the rest of his worth. His son, Duncan Jones, from a previous marriage received 25 percent and his daughter, Alexandria, also received 25 percent as well as his Ulster County mountain home.
U.S. ship sailed near disputed island Friday
A U.S. missile destroyer passed close to a tiny disputed island in the South China Sea late on Friday in the Pentagon’s latest assertion of U.S. naval freedom despite growing territorial feuds there.
Navy Capt. Jeff Davis said the ship, the USS Curtis Wilbur, passed within 12 nautical miles of Triton Island, one of a series of coral islands and reefs known as the Paracel Islands, whose ownership is disputed by China, Taiwan and Vietnam.
China’s Ministry of Defense spokesman Yang Yujun said in a statement the U.S. action “severely violated the law.”
Associated Press & Washington Post
