Leading politicians, including Prime Minister Hashimoto, realize the central government has not been treating Okinawa well for a long time,

Koizumi played a very clever game by kicking out the anti- reformers. His political success is so crucial to getting things done that foreign investors have good reason to see him as a symbol for change.

Formally speaking, nothing has changed at the end of the day. But beneath the superficial format, rather clear-cut changes are under way.

It is really astonishing for many people. It is completely out of Japanese culture. You don't assassinate your friends.

It's a simple question, and that question has penetrated the minds of voters.

How much time do these Iraqi politicians need to form a government? It's been more than four months since the election. The politicians made us hear all sorts of promises, which are now gone with the wind.