BEIJING - CHINA'S Ministry of Agriculture on Friday defended its bird flu vaccination programme, stating there had been no outbreaks since last June despite a number of human cases, some fatal, this year.
TOKYO - JAPAN'S opposition Friday stepped up pressure on struggling Prime Minister Taro Aso, calling for him to apologise to former Allied prisoners who had been forced to dig coal for his family's company.
HONG KONG - CHINA on Friday announced new rules for Hong Kong and Macau journalists that were criticised as a rolling back of media freedoms in a year laden with sensitive anniversaries for Beijing's Communist leadership.
In new regulations issued by Beijing, reporters from Hong Kong and Macau can travel to China for interviews only with prior consent, and would have to inform authorities before each trip.
TAIPEI (Taiwan) - A LEADING bicycle manufacturer and a convenience store chain said on Friday they are among the hundreds of Taiwanese firms pledging not to cut staff amid waves of layoffs caused by the global financial crisis.
