ISLAMABAD, Dec. 28 Kyodo -
(EDS: UPDATING CASUALTIES, CORRECTING DATE OF INCIDENT IN LEAD, SUNDAY, NOT
SATURDAY AS REPORTED EARLIER; POLLING TO BE RESCHEDULED, 3RD GRAF)

TOKYO, Dec. 28 Kyodo -
(EDS: UPDATING, CHANGING DATELINE)
Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone on Sunday urged the Israelis and

JERUSALEM, Dec. 28 Kyodo -
(EDS: UPDATING CASUALTIES, 1ST GRAF; ABBAS BLAMES HAMAS, 4TH, 5TH GRAFS)
Israel launched airstrikes on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip for the second

TOKYO, Dec. 28 Kyodo -
District, high and supreme courts across Japan issued 27 death sentences in
2008, down from 46 the previous year, according to a Kyodo News tally as of

ISLAMABAD, Dec. 28 Kyodo - At least 22 people were killed Saturday when a suicide bomber attacked a
polling station during a by-election for a National Assembly seat in

JERUSALEM, Dec. 28 Kyodo - Israel launched airstrikes on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip for the second
successive day on Sunday, leaving 271 people dead over two days and about 900

TOKYO, Dec. 28 Kyodo - Another year has gone in which the Defense Ministry and the Self-Defense Forces
have been dragging their feet amid a series of scandals and misdeeds involving

BEIJING, Dec. 28 Kyodo -
North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has visited two military units, the country's

YAMAGUCHI, Japan, Dec. 28 Kyodo -
The top Japanese government spokesman expressed regret Sunday at the latest

TOKYO, Dec.