2006.01.08

DPRK demands billions over POWs, outrages ROK (AFP). Stalinist North Korea is demanding billions of dollars in compensation for alleged atrocities against its prisoners of war and spies formerly held in South Korea, a demand which is sparking outrage among politicians in Seoul. 2006.01.08

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Oz climate talks unaffected by USA, Japan cancellation (Reuters). Australia contends canceled visits to Down Under by U.S. Secretary of State Condolezza Rice and Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso will not affect six-nation climate talks set for this week. 2006.01.08

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Japan-Whaling (AP) Japanese whaler alleged to have rammed pursuing environmentalists. 2006.01.08

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Japan-Snow (Reuters) Updated Death toll from record Japanese snowfall piling up -- now at 68. 2006.01.08

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Japan-Nationalism (Bloomberg). Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe says he may visit Yasukuni shrine as a "politician" even if he becomes prime minister. 2006.01.08

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Tandem jumpers die in Hawaii ocean landing (AP). Japanese woman and her German skydiving instructor die in a tandem parachute jump off Oahu. 2006.01.08

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Japan-USN Homicide (Stars & Stripes) Sailor from U.S. aircraft carrier allegedly stole Yen 15,000 from Japanese lady before killling her on the streets of Yokosuka. 2006.01.08

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Japan-Plutonium (Japan Times). Japanese power companies have announced that as much as 6.5 tons of plutonium will be burned annually at nuclear plants after the so-called pluthermal power-generation project gets under way. 2006.01.08

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Japan-Kidnapped Baby (Kyodo) Updated Kidnapped infant rescued in Sendai. A Japanese man and his Filipino wife are in police custody and expected to be charged later tonight. 2006.01.08

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