JAPAN

JAPAN
Yomiuri Shimbun, Tokyo, Jan. 21: In January, Mittal Steel Co., the world's largest steelmaker, announced an acquisition offer of 2.6 trillion yen for rival Arcelor S.A. of Luxembourg, the second-largest steelmaker in the world. The news shook steel companies around the globe.
This is the first hostile takeover attempt between major steelmakers, with previous consolidation within the industry done in a friendly manner.
The result of the acquisition talks is difficult to predict, but it is clear that Japanese companies are more likely targets than ever before for takeover attempts by foreign steelmakers. They must fully prepare to deal calmly with surprise takeover bids by foreign companies at any time.
Mittal's next target
Japan's major steelmakers produce more high-value-added products than any other steelmakers in the world. Some observers predict that Mittal Steel's next target will be a Japanese company.
While excessive consolidation of companies producing steel, a basic industrial material, is not desirable, there is no global framework to control it.
Domestic steel firms should consider introducing defensive measures against unfriendly takeover attempts, such as adopting so-called poison pill strategies to reduce a raider's ratio of shareholding with share warrants.
SWEDEN
Aftonbladet, Stockholm, Feb. 21: The Palestinians have carried out a democratic election that has been hailed by international observers.
Hamas won, but most analysts interpret the result as a protest against the corrupt Fatah leadership rather than an expression of increased militant Islamism.
Tolerable life
The long occupation favored Hamas, whose social program helped many Palestinians to a tolerable, ordinary life.
The fact that Israel is doing what it can to make the political process more difficult is unacceptable.
The world around them must react and ask Israel to open its borders and give the Palestinians their money.
Everything else leads to more violence and definitely not a just peace.
NORWAY
Dagsavisen, Oslo, Feb. 22: After countless delays, negotiations on Kosovo's future have finally started. Not a moment too soon. Nearly seven years have passed since the war that forced Serbia to leave the province it ruled over for centuries. Ethnic cleansing and brutal attacks on the Kosovo Albanian people had their price: Serbia has squandered any rights to the area.
Full independence
The unanswered question is what can come instead? The parties are meeting for talks based on deadlocked standpoints. The Kosovo Albanians demand full independence. The Serbs claim the area is internationally recognized as Serbian.
Finding a compromise will demand all of U.N. mediator Martti Ahtisaari's wisdom. He has succeeded before in doing the impossible, but in Kosovo he faces his toughest task yet.
ITALY
Corriere della Sera, Milan, Feb. 21: We had to wait until Pope Benedict XVI's speech to hear the firm, clear words that the timid European political leaders do not know how to utter. The Pope deplored any lack of respect for religious symbols, but he also said that violence in the name of faith is totally unacceptable. Compare the Pope's words with the inertia of European capitals faced by the savage violence that has broken out in the Islamic world using the excuse of the satirical cartoons ... Europe can only stutter "We need dialogue."
Price of freedom
No powerful European leader ... has been heard to say to the Muslim world what should have been said, that is that those cartoons were of bad taste, but that bad taste is a price we pay for freedom, and that they should not dare to pit themselves against our freedom.
No European leader has been heard to say, for instance, to the Muslim governments that we demand that they dissociate themselves from those fanatics ready to pay in gold for the assassination of the Danish cartoonists.
To stand firm, when others are thrusting a war of civilizations upon you that you never wanted to fight, is difficult. But to yield means definite ruin.