Today's top news: Japan, U.S. to work closely on N. Korea

*** Japan Times E-mail News Service ***
__________ Wednesday, December 21, 2011 ________________

TODAY'S TOP STORIES
=========================

[NATIONAL NEWS]
Japan, U.S. to work closely on N. Korea
Foreign Minister Koichiro Genba and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton agree to keep in close contact, as well as with South Korea, on how to deal with North Korea after dictator Kim Jong Il's death.
[MORE] ->
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20111221a1.html

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[NATIONAL NEWS]
U.S. F-35 picked as mainstay fighter
The government officially selects the U.S.-made F-35 Lightning II as the Air-Self Defense Force's next-generation fighter plane to replace the aging fleet of F-4s.
[MORE] ->
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20111221a4.html

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[NATIONAL NEWS]
Immigration changes to come as new law takes effect in July
The revised immigration law will take effect July 9, the Cabinet decides, paving the way for increased government scrutiny of foreign nationals through centralized immigration control.
[MORE] ->
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20111221a5.html

[More news]
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news.html

OTHER NEWS
=========================

[NATIONAL NEWS]
High-stakes North succession awaited
MASAMI ITO, JUN HONGO and ERIC JOHNSTON
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20111221a2.html

[NATIONAL NEWS]
Two phases planned to bring sales tax to 10%
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20111221a3.html

[NATIONAL NEWS]
Students from Tohoku visit Moscow school
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20111221a6.html

[NATIONAL NEWS]
Winny creator's acquittal upheld
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20111221a7.html

[NATIONAL NEWS]
Alaska expecting arrival of debris from tsunami
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20111221a8.html

[NATIONAL NEWS]
New nuke agency to have 500 staff, \50 billion budget: Hosono
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20111221a9.html

[NATIONAL NEWS]
Plan to dispatch SDF troops to S. Sudan gets nod
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20111221b1.html

[NATIONAL NEWS]
Chinese skipper arrested off Nagasaki
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20111221b2.html

[NATIONAL NEWS]
Research reactor ceiling catches fire
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20111221b3.html

[NATIONAL NEWS]
U.S. efforts to cut off Iran's oil exports put Japan in tight spot
JUN HONGO
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20111221f1.html

[NATIONAL NEWS]
JVC helps farmers in Laos raise rice yields
MINORU MATSUTANI
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20111221f2.html

[NATIONAL NEWS]
Children's dance lessons see surge in popularity
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20111221f3.html

[NATIONAL NEWS]
Prison halts group strip searches
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20111221f4.html

[NATIONAL NEWS]
Kim death ups nuclear ante for U.S.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20111221n1.html

BUSINESS
=========================

[BUSINESS NEWS]
Olympus eyes boosting capital by \100 billion
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nb20111221a1.html

[BUSINESS NEWS]
\2.5 trillion fourth extra budget OK'd
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nb20111221a2.html

[BUSINESS NEWS]
Economy sees first signs of nasty drop
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nb20111221a3.html

[BUSINESS NEWS]
Japan, China in discussions for massive purchase of government bonds
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nb20111221a4.html

[BUSINESS NEWS]
FTA talks restart with Australia after suspension
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nb20111221a5.html

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OPINION
=========================

[JT EDITORIAL]
North Korea at a crossroads
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/ed20111221a1.html

[JT EDITORIAL]
Sex-slave issue rekindled
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/ed20111221a2.html

[OPINION]
Vaclav Havel's life in truth
JIRI PEHE
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/eo20111221a1.html

[OPINION]
A new code of conduct for the South China Sea
MARK J. VALENCIA
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/eo20111221a2.html

[OPINION]
Debt undermines the classic answer to recession
ROBERT J. SAMUELSON
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/eo20111221rs.html

[OPINION]
Populism hinders globalization
SHINJI FUKUKAWA
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/eo20111221sf.html

[More Op-Ed stories]
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion.html

FEATURES
=========================

[COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY NEWS]
Going loco for the PS Vita
BRIAN ASHCRAFT
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nc20111221a1.html

[COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY NEWS]
2011: The year when Japan went global over social networking
AKKY AKIMOTO
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nc20111221aa.html

[For features]
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life.html
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/entertainment.html

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SPORTS
=========================

[BASEBALL]
Rangers win Darvish rights
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sb20111221a1.html

[SOCCER]
Villa given 'slim' hope of returning
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sc20111221a2.html

[AMERICAN FOOTBALL]
49ers overcome Big Ben, power cuts to topple Steelers
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sf20111221a1.html

[ICE HOCKEY]
Stars survive Ducks rally as Ryder sets Dallas back on course
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sh20111221a1.html

[ICE HOCKEY]
Habs coach causes language stir
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sh20111221a2.html

[BASKETBALL]
Davis answers New York call
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sk20111221a1.html

[SPORTS]
Nadeshiko Japan takes top sports award
KAZ NAGATSUKA
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sp20111221a1.html

[SPORTS]
Support helps Jackson take first coaching steps
PETER VECSEY
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sp20111221pv.html

[SPORTS]
Hirscher dominates for slalom win
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sp20111221w1.html

[TENNIS]
Venus postpones tennis comeback
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/st20111221a1.html

[More Sports Stories]
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports.html
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/sumo.html

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