In Japan, US soldiers commit crimes with complete impunity
In Japan, Abe Still Wants to Repeal the Peace Constitution
"The Catastrophe at Fukushima Has Launched a Series of Democratic Movements"
In Fukushima, Life Remains a Daily Combat
The Catastrophe at Fukushima: TEPCO Begins its Confession
Five innocents condemned to death
Albert Camus on Hiroshima. War journal of 8 August 1945
The Choice Between "Hell and Reason"
At Fukushima, a Serious Radioactive Leak
Fukushima, Fears are Confirmed
"To Work at Fukushima, You Have to Be Ready to Die"
Death Still Hangs Over Fukushima
Moscow is prepared to end the relationship with the European Union if the bloc introduces sanctions that put the Russian economy at risk, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated.
A Devastating Indictment of the European Union (EU)
Rejected by the people, Jovenel Moïse loses legitimacy
The Communist Party of the Russian Federation and Socialist China
Celebrating the ascendency of Kamala Harris to the vice presidency
Economists Call for Concrete Solidarity
Britain’s communists sign open letter on international response to Covid-19
How to weaponise human rights against Hong Kong
The Uyghur Issue: How Can the U.S. Dare Lecturing China About the Rights of the Muslims?
Rwanda : An occasional French memory
Refugees : EU to the dock
Americans will not win from the confrontation with China" Interview of Jean-Claude Delaunay by L’Humanité
ORIGINAL FRENCH ARTICLE: Moody’s baisse la note de crédit du Japon
Moody’s lowers Japan’s credit rating
Translated Saturday 27 August 2011, by and reviewed by Henry Crapo
With their rating brought down to Aa3, three notches below AAA, Japan has been placed under increased pressure. In spite of the difficulties the country faces, the markets want to submit it to greater austerity.
The ratings agency justifies its decision as follows: “Over the past five years, frequent changes in administrations have prevented the government from implementing long-term economic and fiscal strategies as effective and durable policies”.
In response, the Japanese government has announced a series of measures to counter the strength of the yen, one of which is a 100 billion dollar (69 billion euro) credit facility, over one year, to encourage Japanese businesses to make foreign investments, and an increased surveillance of the foreign exchange market. Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda hopes to thus curb the rise of the yen, seen as a safe investment in the context of investors’ distrust of any risky assets.
