Events for January 2013

1. Six suspects arrested in rape of another bus passenger in India

ASHOK SHARMA ,Six suspects arrested in rape of another bus passenger in India, The globe and mail, 13 January 2013, Web, 13 January 2013
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/six-arrested-in-rape-of-another-bus-passenger-in-india/article7294221/


Another gang rape of a bus passenger happened in India, four weeks after a brutal attack on a student on a moving bus. 29-year-old woman was raped by six guys in a desolate location, and shocking thing is that bus driver took her to the place. One of suspects is even 17 years old. How this could happen after the big protest of angry citizens. People in India claims for more serious actions to the government. I heard that rapes are not dealt as a serious problem and police also didn't care severely. It has been a big problem in Korea these days, and strong actions need to be taken for the sexual offenders. It is unacceptable in this planet !!





2. Japan Approves $116 Billion for Urgent Economic Stimulus

HIROKO TABUCHI.  Japan Approves $116 Billion for Urgent Economic Stimulus. The New York Times , 11 January 2013 . Web. 13 January 2013.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/12/business/global/japan-approves-116-billion-for-urgent-economic-stimulus.html?_r=0
 


Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan approved spending ¥10.3 trillion to stimulate Japan's economy. The Japanese government will spend $116 billion on public works and disaster mitigation projects, subsidies for companies that invest in new technology and financial aid to small businesses. It is one of the largest spending plans in Japanese history, and he hope it would stop deflation. I'm surprised that Japan's economy is having a hard time, and they had to do this extreme decision. I don't know the deep knowledges, but I can see that Japan needs to deal with asset bubble, number of jobs, and consumptions. I do not hate Japan when they do not say some things about Dok-do. They are great country and still they are strong. I hope they figure out the problem and get back to there phase. Yen should be lower though!





3. What's up with the $1 trillion coin?

Leigh Ann Caldwell. What's up with the $1 trillion coin?. CBSnews , 11 January 2013 . Web. 13 January 2013.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57563428/whats-up-with-the-$1-trillion-coin/

 

When I first saw this article, I thought it very curious, and it was not about economical issues. This $1 trillion coin idea is from  a Georgia lawyer called Beowulf in the comments section of an economics blog, and the economists said it is possible but stupid. The proposal is to evade the default, by minting coin from the Treasury Department, and declare it worth $1 trillion, deposit it in the Federal Reserve and then use the money to pay its bills when it hits the debt ceiling. It was hard for me to understand the whole article, but I do get the idea of $1 trillion coin, and it is not going to happen. I wish I had that coin or half-worth coin though.




4. China's one-child policy impact analysed

Rebecca Morelle. China's one-child policy impact analysed . BBC , 10 January 2013 . Web. 13 January 2013.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20976432



An Interesting research has been done by an Australian team that they compared people who were born just before the one-child policy to those who were born after. They found that people who were born after the one-child policy were significantly less trusting and  less likely to take risks and less competitive than those who were born before the policy. Other Experts from Oxford said it might not be solely down to the policy. I also do not totally agree with that. I think it is not because of the policy, but it's the environment. Single child in any country can be selfish and less risk taking and so on. Also This study has been conducted for 421 adults and there could be a lot of other people who are not like the researchers said. Though the conclusion is not trustworthy enough, it would be good data when China change their policy on one-child birth.




5. California could be next oil boom state

Steve Hargreaves. California could be next oil boom state. CNN , 14 January 2013 . Web. 14 January 2013.
http://money.cnn.com/2013/01/14/news/economy/california-oil-boom/


I think God must have blessed Amrica. Now they have North Dakota's Bakken, Texas's Eagle Frod, and California's Monterey Shale! According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the Monterey is thought to hold over 400 billion barrels of oil. Some parts are allowed to get the gas or oil, but the way to take the oil from the shale rock is still problem. Plus, there's air pollution, road congestion and other issues that go along with an oil boom. I don't think California regulators and people who live in Cali would not let that happen. I can't believe they have plenty of oil in ther own land. I often reminisce about driving my car in the states. The oil price too expensive in Korea, so I can think of getting a fast fancy sports car. I hope Korea could find oil in the east sea are in the future!