Same-sex marriage law backed in Portugal's parliament

The article says that if the bill is ratified by President, it will come into effect on April, and Portugal will become the sixth country in Europe to allow same-sex marriages. Although many conservatives in the Catholic country is criticizing and opposing it, I think it is the important progress of the right for homosexual people in this country. Same-sex marriage should be allowed by low because homosexual is innate "individuality", I think, so these people should have the right to live their life happily. If a homosexual couple who loves each other is not able to marry due to a law, their happy future will be spoiled. Needless to say, this is a human right abuse. Of course the religious ethic or dogma is a significant thing for our life, but the human right is also significant for us. So, I think we do not make light of homosexual people's right.

News from BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8448640.stm

World's tallest building opens in Dubai

This may be much taller than the Tower of Babel in the Scripture. Burji Khalifa, the world's tallest building, opened in Dubai with a beautiful and dramatic firework ceremony in January 4, 2010. Please look at the picture and see the video on the BBC website, it is really magnificent and incredible, isn't it ? The building is 828 meters high and has 160 floors. In comparison with other high-rise buildings in the world, Burji Khalifa is about 300 meters taller than world's second tallest building Taipei 101, taller than double the height of Empire State Building which is one of the most famous building in the world and more than 5oo meters taller than Land Mark Tower in Yokohama, the tallest in Japan. Moreover, its height is almost same as Hiei Zan (848 meters) that is the mountain where Enryakuji temple, the mecca for Japanese Buddhism, is located. By the way, the article says that the building has world's highest mosque. But I don't no whether praying for Allah near the sky is just a blasphemy or a sign of piousness. And of course I cannot assert whether this building is just a challenge of human to the sky or not.


News from BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8439618.stm

Last pleas for death row Briton Akmal Shaikh

Akmal Shaikh, a British man, who was pronounced death penalty for smuggling heroin in China , is now facing execution, although the Prime minister of the UK has appealed many times to prevent him from being executed. So, his two cousins have arrived there and they are trying to deliver his plea to President Hu Jintao. However, according to the correspondent of BBC, the situation is now "very desperate". And other article from Searchina, I read in Japanese, says that about 86% people in China agree with his execution and many people associates this matter with the Opium War in 1840. Comparing with other advanced countries, I think the death penalty for smuggling drug is too severe, but unfortunately the British will have to accept the sentence, I think, because it is the row in China and British people or government cannot intervene in the affair of another country. Of course, Chinese court must make an effort to demonstrate the fact, and at least they have to start investigating again or start retrial, if there is a strong questionable point or a possibility of his being innocent. BBC article shows that 1,718 people were executed in 2007, but I think the decision of a death penalty must be made carefully.

News from BBS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8431478.stm

http://news.searchina.ne.jp/disp.cgi?y=2009&d=1225&f=national_1225_019.shtml

Michael Schumacher close to Mercedes deal, say Ferrari

The article says that Michael Schumacher , 7 time world champion of Formula One, may return to the competition, although the possibility of this information is not entirely believable. As one of the F1 fans, I will welcome his comeback because I have always been looking forward to seeing his race since this summer when he took back his decision to return because of a neck injury. He is 41 years old, but these days, there are many middle-aged athletes in the world who are continuing to succeed. Baseball is a good example. Randy Johnson, who is the present greatest pitcher in MLB, is now 46 years old. And Jamie Moyer, a pitcher who won 12 games in 2009, is 47 years old. Thanks to the resent advances of medical care and training, the career of athletes have become much longer and longer. So we can enjoy seeing them in a game or a race for a longer time, and sometimes it moves us. As for Schumacher, I will have to admire him, if he really decide to comeback because I think returning to the competition at the risk is admirable challenge as an athlete.


The News from c.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8420601.stm

Major fire at Russia arms depot

Although President Barack Obama is now in Japan, there is no interesting news for me today, so I chose thissChinese people display on new year by the lunar calender, and it also seems like a scene of movie such as Godzilla. Unfortunately, it is reported that at least two people were killed, but I think the fatality may have increased if people near there could not evacuate to a shelter. Anyway, this news will not be able to be known to me, unless I check the BBC news site. I think Seeing BBC website makes us easy to know many kinds of news all over the world, although today there is no good article and nothing to write.

News from BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8359359.stm

Toyota withdraws from Formula 1

Although the latter half of the season was not so strong, Jenson Button in Brown GP won a world championship of Formula 1 in 2009. It was his first time to be a champion, so I think it is a good subject. However, now there were some bad subjects about this world. Last year, Honda pulled out from the sports, and this year, BMW decided to withdrawn. In addition, recently Bridgestone which is Japanese big tyre firm also decided to withdrawn in 2010 and even the world largest car manufacturer Toyota said good-bye to F1. Toyota have took part in the race for 8 years, but in the end, they could not be on the top of the podium. It is certain that world severe economic situation had a big effect on these decisions, so I think that we have to accept these pity decisions. Battling in the F1 costs much money and the team which lose the battle have to pull out.... I think its competition is much severer than normal business situations.

from BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8341602.stm

Elections test US voters' mood

In the US, many people notice the next poles to choose governors in
New Jersey and Virginia because it can be a first test for the Democrats after president Obama was in position. Obama's popularity was too high and he was too much expected when he was elected, so I think now is the hardest time for him and his party. They must not drive people to despair, and on the other hand, Republicans have to regain. (Same thing can be said in recent political situation in Japan.) Some people say these are just local races and there's 18,000 lifetimes between now and next November when mid-term ballots will be held. Of course it is true, and local results may not be the same as the result of whole country because America is large and opinions are different. However I think now is the most important time for Obama presidency, so they have to take a grip on themselves and try to turn the table on Republicans in local races.

article from BBC News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8338663.stm