BEIJING - THE MEMOIR of a former Chinese leader who fell from power for sympathizing with 1989 Tiananmen Square pro-democracy demonstrators has given intimate details of an event the ruling Communist Party wants erased from history.

MUMBAI - MORE than half of India's lawmakers running for re-election to parliament reported a 300 per cent increase in their assets since the last ballot five years ago, a survey conducted by a corruption watchdog said.

Candidates in the world's largest democracy must declare their financial assets under Election Commission rules meant to promote transparency and probity in public life.

TAIPEI - TAIWAN'S ruling party said on Thursday its chief would fly to Beijing to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao later this month, in yet another sign of warming ties between the two former bitter rivals.