Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara quits to form new party

Tokyo's governor Shintaro Ishihara is resigning to form a new national political party, ahead of expected general elections in Japan.

"As of today, I will resign as the Tokyo governor," he told reporters.

The 80-year-old, serving his fourth term as governor, is known for making provocative comments.

Earlier this year, he sparked off a row when he said he would use public money to buy a group of islands at the centre of a dispute between China and Japan.

The novelist-turned-politician, who began his current term as governor only last April, said he wants to return to national politics.

He said he would be founding a party with other right-wing politicians to challenge the two dominant parties in polls that must be called by the end of next year.

He blamed Japan's current economic and political problems on the government and compared the administration to the rule of the shogun, referring to the hereditary commanders-in-chief in feudal Japan.

"We must change the inflexible rule of the central government bureaucrats," Mr Ishihara said.

China to Approve Only a Few New Reactors by 2015

China will approve a small number of new nuclear reactors before 2015 to be built only in coastal regions, the government said on Wednesday, as it unveiled a raft of measures to spur private investments in energy.
In its latest five-year plan for the energy sector, China said it would also promote price reforms for electricity, coal, oil and natural gas and pledged to boost its hydro, solar and wind power generation in an effort to cut emissions.

The approval of new nuclear safety and development plans comes after a near 20-month ban by Beijing on approvals of new plants following the Fukushima disaster in Japan.

The latest plan could pave the way for Beijing to resume approvals, which would be a boon to Chinese nuclear power equipment makers including Shanghai Electric Group Co. and Dongfang Electric Corp., whose long-term contracts have been frozen during the ban.

In a decision that could be good news for foreign reactor builders including France's Areva and U.S.-based Westinghouse, which is owned by Japan's Toshiba, China stipulated that new reactors would need to adhere to "third-generation" technology that meets the highest international safety standards.
China's current fleet of nuclear reactors is mostly second-generation and is based on a variety of designs from Canada, France and Russia.

Japanese Minister Resigns After Revealing Crime Links

Formor Japanese Minister, Keishu Tanaka

Japan's Justice Minister Keishu Tanaka, who has admitted past links to organised crime, resigned Tuesday citing "health problems" just three weeks after accepting the post as part of a reshuffle to shore up Premier Yoshihiko Noda's administration.

Keishu Tanaka was brought into the cabinet at the start of the month as part of a reshuffle aimed at shoring up Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's shaky administration.
But a little over a week later he was forced to admit a yakuza connection after a tabloid magazine revealed he had once acted as matchmaker for a senior mobster.

Tanaka, whose ministry oversees the work of the courts, apologised but repeatedly insisted he would not be stepping down.

South Korea blocks leaflets campaign

Activists in South Korea have been stopped from sending balloons carrying propaganda leaflets over the border with the country's northern neighbour.
Groups of defectors from North Korea had planned to launch 200,000 leaflets denouncing Pyongyang, but were blocked by South Korean troops and riot police on Monday.
North Korean officials had threatened a "merciless military strike" in response to the launch, warning residents of the launch site's neighbourhood to evacuate the area.
"The surrounding area will become targets of direct firing," said a Pyongyang statement.
Scuffles broke out between activists and police at roadblocks surrounding Imjingak Park on the border, near the town of Paju, some 60 kilometres north of Seoul.
"This event has been authorised by the government. This is ridiculous," complained event organiser Park Sang-Hak, who blamed President Lee Myung-Bak for caving in to pressure from the north.
"Lee Myung-bak woke up this morning and got scared of some immature kid [North Korean leader Kim Jong-un] and decided to stop us.
"We are not here to provoke a conflict but to convey the truth to North Koreans. President Lee will be remembered as a cowardly leader who succumbed to North Korean threats," Park said.

China reshuffles top military ranks ahead of leadership change

Reuters) - China reshuffled its top military ranks on Tuesday, weeks before a once-in-a-decade generational leadership change which sources said would see the outgoing air force commander promoted to vice-chairman of the military's top decision-making body.
General Ma Xiaotian, 63, was named air force commander, replacing General Xu Qiliang, 50, state broadcaster CCTV said.
Ma has been one of the secretive military's most visible faces, speaking at forums overseas and leading talks with U.S. defense officials aimed at building trust between the world's two largest economies.
The report did not say what would happen to Xu.

China's economy slows but data hints at rebound

China's economy has slowed for a seventh quarter as problems in Europe and the US hurt demand for its goods.

The annual rate of growth was 7.4% in the third quarter, down from 7.6% in the previous three months.
However, there were signs that the world's second-biggest economy was now stabilising and rebounding.
That would be good news for China, which is facing a leadership change, and the rest of the world, which has benefited from its recent boom.
"Clearly, concerns over continued slowdown can now be put to rest," said Dariusz Kowalczyk, senior economist as Credit Agricole-CIB.
"The last month of the quarter brought acceleration of industrial output, retail sales and fixed asset investment in year-on-year terms, highlighting the fact that improvement of momentum of the economy was particularly strong in September."
In Hong Kong, the main Hang Seng stock index rose 0.7% on the news, while in Shanghai, shares climbed by 1.2%.
'Rebound' China's growth over the past few years has been led by the success of its export and manufacturing sector, as well as by a credit-fuelled investment boom directed by the government.

East China Sea tension: China conducts naval exercises

China is conducting naval exercises in the East China Sea, state media report, amid heightened tensions with Japan over islands both claim.

The exercises are aimed at "sharpening response to emergencies in missions to safeguard territorial sovereignty", state-run Xinhua news agency said.
They involve 11 ships and eight aircraft, including vessels from marine surveillance and fisheries agencies.
The agencies' ships had been "harassed" while in disputed waters, it said.
China said the exercises would take place on Friday, but gave no details of the location in the East China Sea.
State-run CCTV showed members of the Chinese military, as well as footage of a frigate, fighter jets and helicopters.
China, Japan and Taiwan all claim the islands, called Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China. Japan controls the islands, which lie south of Okinawa and north of Taiwan.
Japan's recent acquisition of three of the islands from their private Japanese owner sparked both diplomatic and public protests in China.

Bangladesh mutiny: 723 border guards jailed

The mutiny erupted over pay and conditions

Hong Kong moves to weaken local currency

Hong Kong's financial markets have been boosted by both Chinese and Western investors

Hong Kong makes largest ivory seizure worth $3.4m

Ivory tusks are used in traditional medicine in Asia

US Troops Held Over Okinawa Alleged Rape

Two US troops have been arrested over the alleged rape of a Japanese woman on the island of Okinawa.

There have been many protests over the US military footprint,
like this one over the Osprey deployment.

The two men, identified as 23-year-old sailors, were detained by police on the southern island on Tuesday.
Japan's top spokesman called the incident "completely unacceptable" and the US ambassador said it was being taken very seriously.
The US bases some 26,000 troops on Okinawa, where there is opposition to the ongoing military presence.
The gang-rape in 1995 of a 12-year-old girl by three US service personnel sparked outrage on the island and led to moves to reduce the US military footprint there.
But the moves - which include closing a key air base and replacing it with a new base in the north of the island - are stalled amid entrenched opposition in Okinawa to the construction of the new base.

Cambodia Mourns As King Norodom Sihanouk's Body Returns

King Norodom Sihanouk's body will remain at the royal
palace for three months before it is cremated.

The body of former King Norodom Sihanouk has been returned to Cambodia for a week of official mourning.

His coffin was flown from the Chinese capital, Beijing, where he died on Monday of a heart attack at age 89.
Tens of thousands of people lined the streets near the airport in the capital, Phnom Penh, as the plane carrying Sihanouk's body touched down.
Grieving Cambodians wore white shirts with black ribbons, and flags flew at half-mast after the news of his death.
"There are more than 100,000 people lining the streets. More are coming," Khieu Kanharith, a government spokesman, told reporters at the airport.
In the capital, students sang songs before offering flowers at the royal palace.
"In the king's whole life, whatever he did was for the country, not for himself. So we are here to mourn him and we consider that he is a hero and I never had this sadness in 20 years," Lay Rithiya, a law student, told Reuters news agency.
Officials from the US, China, North Korea, Japan and other countries also sent messages of condolence.

Formor Combodian King Passes Away

Norodom Sihanouk, a longtime influential figure,
dies at age 89 after suffering variety of health problems.

 Norodom Sihanouk, the former Cambodian king who remained an influential figure in his country's politics through a half-century of war and upheaval, died on Monday at the age of 89.

Cambodian government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said Sihanouk died of natural causes in Beijing, where he had traveled for medical treatment earlier this year.
Prince Sisowath Thomico, a royal family member who was also Sihanouk's assistant, said the former king suffered a heart attack at a Beijing hospital.
"His death was a great loss to Cambodia,'' Thomico said, adding that Sihanouk had dedicated his life "for the sake of his entire nation, country and for the Cambodian people".
Sihanouk was a key figure in Cambodian politics for six decades before abdicating power in 2004, citing poor health. He was succeeded by a son, Norodom Sihamoni.
Sihanhouk had been in China since January, and had suffered a variety of illnesses, including colon cancer, diabetes and hypertension.
Kanharith said arrangements were being made to repatriate his body for an official funeral in Cambodia.
In January, Sihanouk requested that he be cremated in the Cambodian and Buddhist tradition, asking that his ashes be put in an urn, preferably made of gold, and placed in a stupa at the country's Royal Palace.
Sihanouk saw Cambodia transform from colony to kingdom, US-backed regime to Khmer Rouge killing fields, foreign-occupied land to guerrilla war zone, and finally to a fragile democracy.
Sihanouk was a feudal-style monarch who called himself a democrat. He was beloved by his people, but was seldom able to deliver the stability they craved through decades of violence.

(posted by Emma H. )

Chinese exports grew faster than expected in September

US Treasury chief Timothy Geithner said China must do more to stimulate domestic growth

U.S. firms less optimistic, but will still invest in China: survey

Reuters) - Many U.S. companies are less optimistic about doing business in China even though sales there are still rising, and most of those firms are planning to increase investment, according to an annual survey of business executives released on Wednesday.

"The China market continues to deliver sales growth and profitability for U.S. companies, but rising costs, increasing competition, and persistent market access and regulatory barriers are tempering the optimism of U.S. companies doing business with China," the U.S.-China Business Council said.

Forty-five percent of the 111 companies surveyed said they were less optimistic than three years ago about the business environment in China, compared to 26 percent that were more optimistic and 29 percent that were unchanged in their view.

China's Afghan Moment: As the United States draws down in Afghanistan, China is finally moving in.

Until recently, Beijing's policy in Afghanistan could be characterized as masterful inactivity: It sat on the sidelines of a war that it wanted neither side to win. But the late September visit by security chief Zhou Yongkang, the first by a senior Chinese leader in almost five decades, is the most visible sign that the U.S. 2014 withdrawal date is bringing that spectator status to an end. As the United Statesdials down its goal of defeating the Taliban, China could become Afghanistan's most important mediator and investor.

Toyota recalls millions of vehicles worldwide

Toyota, the Japanese carmaker, has announced a massive recall to fix malfunctioning power window switches on models including the Yaris, Corolla sand Camry, saying it will pull back 7.4 million vehicles worldwide.

The company said the power window switches can be repaired in about 40 minutes.

The move on Wednesday comes as the country's biggest car manufacturer tries to rebuild trust after a series of recalls between 2009 and 2011 in which it pulled back about 10 million vehicles.

Amnesty: China forced evictions in 'significant rise'

Forced evictions in China have risen significantly in recent years as local officials sell off land to property developers, Amnesty International says.

Many cases involve violence and harassment, in what the group called "a gross violation of human rights".

Pressure on local officials to meet economic goals and vested interests were behind the coercion, it said.

These evictions are a rumbling cause of social discontent and have led to protests across the country.

Cybercrime law is suspended by Philippines court

The new law covers a range of online activities

China hints at reforming labour camp system

Those with alleged minor offences can be sent to China's labour camps

US and S Korea announce new missile deal

South Korea has reached a landmark agreement with the United States to extend the reach of Seoul's ballistic missiles by more than twice the current limit to counter the threat from North Korea, the government said.
Sunday’s move to significantly boost the South's missile capabilities is likely to rattle North Korea which has remained at odds since the 1950-53 Korean War left the peninsula divided.
It may also stoke concern in China, Japan and Russia, parts of which would be within range of the new missiles.
Under the agreement, South Korea can develop missiles up to a range of 800 km from the current ceiling of 300 km, Chun Young-woo, top secretary to President Lee Myung-bak for foreign and security affairs, told reporters.

Under the new deal South Korea can develop missiles up to a range of 800 km from the current ceiling of 300 km

He said the United States and South Korea also agreed to maintain the maximum payload for a South Korean-developed ballistic missile at the current level of 500 kilograms.
However, if Seoul chose to develop a missile with shorter ranges, it could increase the payload accordingly.
Seoul has for years sought to extend its missile range to deter the North, which it said had developed missiles that could reach every corner of the country.
"The most important goal for our government to revise the missile guidelines is deterring North Korea's military provocations," Chun said.
Currently, all of South Korea as well as US military installations in Japan and Guam, are within the range of North Korean missile attacks, according to South Korean government data.
In April, North Korea was condemned by the UN Security Council after a failed long-range rocket launch.
US allies including South Korea deemed it a disguised test for the North to upgrade its ballistic missile technology despite Pyongyang's claim that it was aimed to put a satellite into orbit for peaceful purpose.
Washington had sought to discourage South Korea from developing longer-range ballistic missiles in keeping with a voluntary international arms-control pact known as the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).
(posted by Anthony D)

China officials to skip IMF meetings in Japan

China's central bank governor and finance minister have withdrawn from upcoming International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank meetings being held in Japan.

Japan said on Wednesday that the cancellations, which come as the two Asian giants remain at odds over a cluster of tiny islands in the East China Sea, were "very regrettable".
A Japanese Finance Ministry official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the the sensitive nature of the matter, told the AP news agency that Zhou Xiaochuan, the governor of the People's Bank of China, who was scheduled to give the event's closing speech on Sunday, would not be going to Tokyo.
The official said that Finance Minister Xie Xuren had also cancelled his trip to take part in the IMF-World Bank annual meetings.
The IMF confirmed that Zhou had pulled out, citing scheduling problems, but could not confirm whether Xie had also cancelled his trip.
The IMF said Zhou's deputy, Yi Gang, will represent him at the meeting and will deliver Sunday's lecture.
"If the financial representatives were to decide not to attend the important meeting to be held in Tokyo, I find it very regrettable," said Osamu Fujimura, Japan's chief cabinet secretary,
"However, the bilateral economic relationship is valuable, so it is Japan's intention to communicate effectively with China."
Al Jazeera's Divya Gopalan, reporting from Hong Kong, said that the meetings are important for Japan, which is hosting the event for the first time.
"China is taking a stance and it is somewhat of a snub for Japan," she said.

US Security Warning Over China Telecom Firms

House Intelligence Committee says US companies should avoid doing business with China's two leading technology firms. (click for original article with video).


A US House Intelligence Committee has warned that US companies should avoid doing business with China's two leading technology firms because they pose a national security threat to the country.

The panel, in a report to be issued on Monday, says US regulators should block mergers and acquisitions by Huawei Technologies Ltd and ZTE Corp, who are among the world's leading suppliers of telecommunications equipment.

Reflecting US concern over cyber-attacks traced to China, the report also recommends that US government computer systems not include any components from the two companies because that could pose an espionage risk.

"China has the means, opportunity, and motive to use telecommunications companies for malicious purposes," the report says.

South Korea Call Toxic Leak Area 'Disaster Zone'

Reports say more than 3,000 people in villages near plant have received treatment for nausea, chest pain and rashes.

The South Korean government has designated an area hit by a toxic chemical leak as a "special disaster" zone, after more than 3,000 people were treated for ailments ranging from nausea to chest pain.

The September 27 incident at a chemical plant near the southeastern city of Gumi resulted in the leakage of eight tonnes of hydrofluoric acid that caused widespread damage to crops and livestock.

Five people were killed in an initial explosion that led to the leak as workers were unloading the acid from a tanker.

Philippines Announces Peace Deal with Muslim Insurgents

President Benigno Aquino of the Philippines said Sunday that a deal had been agreed with the insurgent Moro Islamic Liberation Front on establishing an autonomous region for the nation's Muslim minority, the result of 15 years of negotiations. (click for link to original article for a video)

Philippine President Benigno Aquino III said Sunday that his government has reached a preliminary peace agreement with the nation’s largest Muslim rebel group in a major breakthrough toward ending a decades-long insurgency in the country’s south.

Aquino described the deal in a nationally televised announcement as a “framework agreement” -- a road map for establishing a new autonomous region to be administered by minority Muslims in the predominantly Roman Catholic nation’s south. It follows marathon negotiations between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Malaysia, which is brokering the talks.

The agreement is expected to be signed in a few days in the capital, Manila, officials said. It spells out the general principles on major issues, including the extent of power, revenues and territory of the Muslim region. If all goes well, a final peace deal could be reached by 2016, when Aquino’s six-year term ends, according to the officials.

North Korean Soldier ‘Kills Officers, Defects to South’

A North Korean soldier Saturday shot dead two fellow officers and defected across the heavily guarded border to South Korea, officials said. The motive behind the defection remains unclear.

A North Korean soldier killed two of his officers Saturday and defected to South Korea across the countries’ heavily armed border in a rare crossing that prompted South Korean troops to immediately beef up their border patrol, officials said.

The soldier shot his platoon and company commanders before crossing the western side of the Demilitarized Zone at around noon, a Defense Ministry official said, citing the soldier’s statement after he was taken into custody by South Korean border guards.

The official declined to be named because questioning by authorities was ongoing. He said the soldier used a loudspeaker to let South Korean border guards know his intention to defect after the killings. The official said the motive behind the defection was unclear.

Hong Kong Mourns Victims of Ferry Collision

Hong Kong observes three minutes of silence to mourn the 38 victims of a ferry tragedy. (click here for link to original article for a video )

Hong Kong has observed three minutes of silence to mourn the 38 victims of a ferry collision which sent shockwaves through the Asian financial centre.

Chief executive Leung Chun-ying led senior officials in a memorial service at the harbour-side government headquarters on Thursday, while schools and other public institutions fell silent.

Hong Kong's worst maritime accident in 40 years saw a high-speed ferry, the Sea Smooth, collide with a pleasure craft, the Lamma IV, carrying about 120 passengers on a trip to watch national day fireworks on Monday night.

Boat Crash in Hong Kong

Hong Kong boat crash off Lamma Island kills 25

The collision caused one boat to list so its bow protruded from the water