Informant38

LOFTY PLANS: Construction of a 600-meter-high tower -- which would make it the tallest in the world -- is being planned for Ueno Onishi Park in Tokyo's Taito Ward, it was learned Oct. 5. The tower, tentatively named the New Tokyo Tower, would transmit next-generation terrestrial digital broadcasting

Almost there. . . Japan edged closer toward a financial crisis on Oct. 10 as stock prices tumbled to a new 19-year low for the third time in a week, adding urgency to the government's plans to cushion the pain of a promised cleanup of the ailing banking sector. The Nikkei closed at 8,439.62, its lowest close since April 1983.

FRANCE: Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe -- one of France's few openly gay politicians -- was recovering in hospital Oct. 6 after being stabbed in the stomach in an apparent homophobic attack. During questioning, suspect Azedine Berkane said "he did not like politicians and in particular he did not like homosexuals.

3 items from Japan Times Weekly round-up.