2003.11.26

Sakhalin-Development (Kyodo) Environmentalists say endangered Western Pacific Gray whales would be threatened by second phase of huge oil & gas project in Sakhalin.   2003.11.26

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Japan-Trade Retaliation (Business Times/Singapore) Japan details its threatened retaliation against the United States for steel tariffs.   2003.11.26

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Japan-Diaz Topless (Reuters) Topless photos of actress Cameron Diaz will not be gracing billboards and buses in Japan after all.   2003.11.26

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Guam-USS Kitty Hawk (Pacific Daily News) The USS Kitty Hawk, home-ported at Yokosuka,  today arrived in Guam, just in time for Thanksgiving. Guamanians are giving thanks as the nearly 6,000 sailors of the aircraft carrier are expected to infuse $1 million/day into the island's depressed economy. The Navy says this is a regularly scheduled port visit.     2003.11.26

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ROK Lawmaker Starts Hunger Strike [VOA News] South Korea's main opposition leader has launched a hunger strike to protest a presidential decision not to allow an independent probe of alleged government corruption.   2003.11.26

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Japan-Markets The Nikkei index claws its way back above 10,000 yen and closes the Wednesday session up 184 points. TOPIX finishes up about 1.5%. Dollar holds steady just above 109 1/2 yen.     2003.11.26

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DPRK-Nukes (Kyodo) Declared nuclear power would be tasked with dismantling North Korea's nuclear programs, according to U.S. sources quoted by Kyodo.  For more context, see this story. (NGG note: Kyodo is not always the most reliable on sourced information, especially from outside Japan. Treat as suspect pending independent sourcing from other news agencies. )   2003.11.26

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Japan-Iraq SDF (Kyoto) A Japanese military study team, now in Iraq, will extend its stay in the country.   2003.11.26

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Japan-ILO Probe (Mainichi) The International Labor Organization will conduct an investigation of sex slavery in Japan.   2003.11.26

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Japan-Digital TV (Japan Times) The era of free TV in Japan will soon be over. Japanese broadcasters say digital TV will require IC cards. (Authorities plan to shut off analog transmissions in 2011. )       2003.11.26

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Japan-Headlines (Kyodo) Here are the headlines in leading Japanese dailies in their Wednesday morning editions.     2003.11.26

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