2005.03.15

Japan-Environment [Mainichi] Judges decide environment lawsuit isn't for the birds. 2005.03.15

====================

Asia-Piracy (VOA) Japan appeals for help from SE Asian nations to help free three taken by pirates from a Japanese tugboat. 2005.03.15

====================

Saipan-Japanese Tourists (Saipan Tribune) Saipan sees a double-digit slump in tourists from Japan. 2005.03.15

====================

Japan-Fischer [Mainichi] Japan's immigration boss says former chess champion turned paranoid anti-Semite (who cheered the 9/11 terrorist attacks) can only be deported to the country Bobby Fischer least desires to go to -- his native land of the United States. 2005.03.15

====================

Japan curbs 'sex worker' visas. [BBC News ] Tokyo restricts "entertainment visas" often used by Filipino immigrants who end up in Japan's sex industry. 2005.03.15

====================

DPRK Wants More Nukes Now (Reuters). North Korea's foreign ministry says Pyongyang's possession of nuclear weapons will help prevent the United States from attacking it, adding it is ready to develop more. 2005.03.15

====================

DPRK-ROK Culture (NY Times) To nab miscreant North Koreans clandestinely viewing smuggled videotaped TV programs from capitalist South Korea, the communist state will cut off electricity to neighborhoods then have polcie raid houses to see which VCR's have illicit VHS tapes stuck in them. 2005.03.15

====================

Japan-NHK Scandals (Kyodo) Non-payment of NHK fees continues to rise. 2005.03.15

====================

Japan-Gaijin Authors (NY Times) New York Times' book critic Michiko Kakutani skewers superficial Wrong About Japan. (NGG note: This is probably one of the worst non-fiction books ever written about Japan in the post WWII era.) 2005.03.15

====================

ROK fury over island dispute. [BBC News ] Two South Koreans cut off their fingers in protest against Japan's claim to a disputed cluster of islands. 2005.03.15

====================

Asia-Pirates (Kyodo) UPDATED Japanese captured in pirate attack on tug in Malaysian waters. 2005.03.15

====================

© Copyright 2006 The Taisho Cable & Wireless Company.