2003.10.24

Japan pledges Iraq aid. [BBC News ] The donors' conference in Madrid proves more successful than expected, but the $56 billion target is still a distant hope despite's Japan's pledge.   2003.10.24

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NTV Ratings Scandal NTV admits one of its producers paid viewers to manipulate program ratings. The president of the network, Toshio Hagiwara, told reporters today  a 41-year-old variety program producer manipulated ratings by paying money  to 12 households. In at least one incident a household received 100,000 yen. Hagiwara apologized at Friday's news conference. It remains to be seen if this will escalate into a full-fledged scandal which could force Hagiwara's resignation. Nippon Television Network (NTV)  is part of the powerful Yomiuri media conglomerate which owns the country's largest circulation daily newspaper and the Giants baseball  team -- Japan's most popular sports franchise.       2003.10.24

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U.S., Japan, S.Korea to Meet on N.Korea Security (Reuters). Senior diplomats from the United States, Japan and South Korea will probably meet early next month to discuss possible security assurances for North Korea, a Japanese government source said today.     2003.10.24

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Japan-Quake   Off coast of Chiba -- felt in Tokyo   2003/10/24 21:02:30.62 LAT 35.206N LON 140.320E DEPTH 60.0km MAGNITUDE 4.3 2003.10.24

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JH Boss Sacked (Mainichi) No surprise here -- the Transportation Minister has fired the head of Japan Highways. But this ain't over yet.       2003.10.24

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Haneda International Flights Putting the "international" back in the Tokyo International Airport (aka Haneda) -- direct flights to Seoul's Kimpo Airport are approved beginning Nov. 30. NGG note: The more international flights from Haneda the better for the Japanese economy. Building Narita was one of the worst transportation mistakes Japan ever made. Too far away from Tokyo and too expensive (landing fees are the highest in the world.)   2003.10.24

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Toshiba Earnings (Reuters) Toshiba is back in the black thanks to demand for chips in digital cameras.   2003.10.24

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CDMA 1X WIN is a Mobile ADSL: KDDI President [Nikkei BP ] But no flat rate for wireless computer users.   2003.10.24

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Japan-Markets After 555-point plunge Thursday, the benchmark Nikkei index closes today's trading virtually unchanged. Dollar is holding steady around 109.65 yen.   2003.10.24

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DPRK Spying in U.S. (AP) A suspected North Korean spy in Los Angeles has been convicted on lesser charges.     2003.10.24

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Filipino Pissed (Manila Times)   This one is a bit south of our normal turf (in more ways than one) but it just too darn funny not to post.   2003.10.24

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Mitsubishi Motors Raided Police have raided Mitsubishi Motors headquarters today in connection with an investigation into a faulty wheel assembly believed responsible for at least 50 accidents.   2003.10.24

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Bush sees a shift in outlook on Pyongyang [IHT: Asia & Pacific] President Bush declares he has successfully generated "a different dynamic" in dealing with North Korea.   2003.10.24

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Bush-Pearl Harbor (AP) President Bush wraps up his six-day six-nation Asia trip with a visit to the Pearl Harbor Memorial.   2003.10.24

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