2005.02.19

Japan-Capital Punishment (Kyodo) Survey reveals 80% of Japanese support death penalty. 2005.02.19

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Andamans rattled by 9,500 aftershocks since tsunami (AFP). The tsunami-lashed Andaman and Nicobar Islands have suffered 9,500 aftershocks since an undersea earthquake December 26 sent giant waves crashing into the emerald green archipelago. 2005.02.19

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Bush Declares American Samoa Disaster Area (AP). President Bush declares American Samoa a major disaster area following Hurricane Olaf, which wiped out nearly all homes in at least one village in the Manua Islands. 2005.02.19

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PRC Joins Diplomatic Jet Set to Woo DPRK (Reuters). A senior Chinese Communist Party official flew to North Korea today, joining a flurry of jet-setting diplomats seeking to salvage talks aimed at ending the nuclear crisis surrounding the isolated state. 2005.02.19

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USA, Japan to declare ROC a common security problem (AFP). Japan is to join the United States in declaring Taiwan is a common security issue amid China's increasing military power. 2005.02.19

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Mitsubishi Tokyo, UFJ Unveil Merger Terms (AP). Two Japanese banking giants disclose terms of their planned 3.99 trillion yen ($38 billion) merger which would create the world's largest bank, but also say the combination will mean 6,000 job cuts, or about  eight percent of their current global work force. 2005.02.19

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DPRK Sets Conditions for Nuclear Talks  (Reuters). North Korea will return to talks on ending its nuclear programs "in any form" if the United States pledges "coexistence and non-interference," says the North's envoy to the United Nations. 2005.02.19

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