China fires securities agency's deputy chief

SHANGHAI • The deputy chief of China's top securities regulator has been sacked, the government said yesterday, a month after he was put under investigation. Yao Gang, vice-chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission who first came under suspicion of "severe disciplinary violations" last month, was "dismissed" from his post, China's state council, or the cabinet, said. Disciplinary violation normally refers to graft.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

HK copyright Bill debate delayed

HONG KONG • Pro-democracy legislators succeeded yesterday in delaying a highly anticipated parliamentary debate over a new copyright Bill in Hong Kong, which has been criticised as curbing freedom of speech.

The government says the Bill - already shelved in 2012 after opposition - will help fight online piracy, but opponents fear it would set the stage for harsher online censorship.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Temple raid to arrest activist postponed

SEOUL • Police yesterday temporarily delayed their operation to arrest a labour activist holed up in Seoul's top Buddhist temple after being accused of inciting violence at an anti-government protest on Nov 14.

Police had given Han Sang Gyun, head of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, an ultimatum to surrender. Hundreds of officers had been on standby but tensions were temporarily eased after a senior monk appealed for more time to resolve the issue.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK