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Japan considers treating Bitcoin like real money
Japan's financial services regulator is considering recognizing Bitcoin and other virtual currencies as equal to their real-world counterparts. The news comes via Nikkei's Asian Review, which claims that authorities want to improve customer protection to avoid another Mt.Gox-style calamity. When the Japan-based Bitcoin exchange went offline, a number of people lost a substantial sums of money that it was holding. They were unable to seek compensation, however, since Bitcoins weren't considered real property, and a subsequent court case affirmed that stance.
NASA, Roscosmos pick seasoned astronauts for year-long ISS trip
We now know which two astronauts will have to pack their bags very, very well in the next three years: NASA's Scott Kelly and Roscosmos' Mikhail Kornienko have been picked for the year-long stay aboard the International Space Station in 2015. Both voyagers are old hands at space travel, having each spent a total of six months in orbit and at least some time on the ISS crew. There's no great shock in the choices when the mission will track the long-term effects of near-zero gravity on the human body -- after all, most of us would want a crew comfortable in its spacesuit boots for such an ambitious (though not record-setting) trip. Kelly and Kornienko will start a two-year training program shortly into 2013 that should have them in shape by the expedition's launch... and hopefully remind them to bring a good toothbrush.
Japanese watchdog agency wants to fine Olympus $2.5 million
Wondering how this whole Olympus accounting scandal is gonna wrap up? Well, it might simply come to a close with a 200 million yen (about $2.5 million) fine. That's the seemingly tiny amount the Japanese SESC (Securities Exchange and Surveillance Commission) is recommending the company be fined. Ultimately the FSA (Financial Services Agency) will decide how large of a monetary punishment is appropriate for the $1.7 billion scandal. And, don't forget, there's still the drama of Olympus suing its own president and other executives to look forward to.
