2006 JUNE 28 - JULY 4 NEWS

END EXTRAORDINARY SUBSERVIENCE TO THE U.S.: JCP SHII
Prime Minister Koizumi and U.S. President Bush held talks in Washington, and published a statement entitled "The Japan-U.S. Alliance of the New Century." This is an important move in that they literally aim to broaden and enhance the Japan-U.S. military alliance setup into a global alliance. [MORE]

PROGRESSIVE MAYOR RETURNS TO HIGASHIOSAKA CITY
Candidate Nagao Junzo defeated the incumbent backed by the LDP and Komei, regaining a democratic city administration. Nagao is a JCP member, and the JCP now has seven municipality heads. [MORE]

JCP PROTESTS NORTH KOREA'S MISSILE LAUNCH
The JCP expresses a strong protest against the North Korean missile launch that was carried out in disregard of international law as well as international agreements. [MORE]

JAPAN-U.S. SUMMIT
- Bush and Koizumi declare 'Japan-U.S. Alliance of the New Century'
- End extraordinary subservience to the U.S.: JCP Shii

NORTH KOREA
- JCP protests North Korea's missile launch

DIET
- A majority of signatures for petitions sent to Diet via JCP

BUDGET
- Ruling parties to accelerate budget cuts
- JCP Ichida urges government to stop increasing the burdens on elderly

MILITARY
- Residents call for withdrawal of 'final report' on U.S. base realignment
- Local assembly adopts resolution against deployment of U.S. Patriot missile to Okinawa
- U.S. aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk calls at civil port in Hokkaido

- Stop allowing U.S. to use Japan's capital as stronghold for wars of aggression -- Akahata editorial

COURT
- Court unjustifiably rules public employee guilty for distributing fliers
- JCP Ichida issues statement of protest against judgment of guilt over distributing fliers
- Court ruling runs counter to world trend for greater freedom: lawyers

POSTAL SERVICE
- Japan Post to stop mail collection/delivery at 1,000 post offices

LABOR
- Labor commission orders company to stop pressing workers to quit union
- Zenroren and Rengo: Stop government attempt to adversely revise labor law

- Government haste in relaxing labor regulations is to meet U.S. requests
-- Akahata editorial
- Spring struggle joint committee calls for improvement of people's living conditions
- NTT West workers protest against company's order of distant transfer

DRUG-INDUCED DISEASE
- Drug-induced hepatitis plaintiffs protest against government's appeal to higher court

PEACE
- War-bereaved families' association for peace celebrates 20th anniversary of founding

ELECTION
- Progressive mayor returns to Higashiosaka City
- New mayor promises to improve Higashiosaka residents' living standards

AKAHATA
- Akahata, the only national paper defending Article 9

JCP
- JCP Ogata and Kasai attend African Day reception