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Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji recently cracked a joke about the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. Zhu told the joke to a captive audience of Asian executives during the April Bao business conference held on Hainan Island. Zhu's remarks came during a question-and-answer session with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. According to Zhu, "Japan bought many huge buildings in New York, but luckily they didn't buy the World Trade Center. If they had bought them, now the Japanese would be sadder than the Americans." Zhu's joke was quickly followed by a long round of laughter and applause...

Highly pathogenic avian influenza in Korea (Rep. of ~) Suspected outbreak (Disease never reported before in the Republic of Korea). Emergency report Information received on 12 Dec 2003 from Dr Chang-Seob Kim, Chief Veterinary Officer, Animal Health Division, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), Gwacheon: Date of the report: 12 Dec 2003. Date of initial detection of animal health incident: 11 Dec 2003. Outbreaks: Location Eumsung district, Chungcheong-buk province, in the central part of the country) No. of outbreaks: 1 farm [This is not good news, as recent outbreaks of Avian Influenza have been in the southeastern most part of...