Japan

Japanese delegates informed the chairman of a special working group at the ongoing U.N. climate change conference that it would not accept the draft political agreement formally presented by the chairman.

"This draft agreement cannot be called fair, as it lacks balance between developed and developing countries," Japanese representatives stated.

EU Reporter recently drew attention to the possibility of a new political and economic pact rising in the east, as Japan, China, and South Korea seek to bury their differences and come together to challenge the west. Japan, we pointed out, seems to be an the verge of realligning itself.

Political leaders from China, Japan and South Korea indicated last week that they are ready to explore the idea of a community of nations based on the principle of free trade, opening the way toward deeper regional integration. The three nations have already issued a statement confirming their intent to develop a tri-lateral free trade agreement.

On Wednesday of this week, Monaco formally proposed a ban on international trade in Atlantic and Mediterranean Bluefin tuna, which is facing a rapid population decline. The proposal was submitted to the secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, (also known as the Washington Convention).