Taiwan: HK denied visas to politicians

TAIPEI • Taiwan lashed out at Hong Kong yesterday, saying the city had recently denied visas to several Beijing-sceptic Taiwanese politicians as the island's relations with China worsen.

Two DPP lawmakers say they were denied visas to attend forums. A third was refused entry when his connecting flight was cancelled in the southern Chinese city in August. Taiwan's China affairs minister Chang Hsiao-yueh described the denials as "very unreasonable".

Taiwanese media quoted a Hong Kong forum organiser as saying China's Taiwan Affairs Office had instructed that "all DPP officials" be denied entry to Hong Kong.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Arrest warrant sought for Lotte chief

SEOUL • South Korean prosecutors have requested an arrest warrant for Lotte Group chairman Shin Dong Bin, the retail-to-chemicals group said yesterday, in a broad criminal probe into the country's fifth-largest conglomerate.

A prosecution source with direct knowledge of the matter said prosecutors have sought a Seoul court's approval for the arrest warrant as part of an investigation into suspected embezzlement and breach of trust.The request for an arrest warrant comes after prosecutors questioned Mr Shin, 61, last week.

REUTERS

Snake brings bullet train to a halt

TOKYO • A Japanese bullet train was forced to make an emergency stop yesterday after a snake was found slithering between the seats.

A passenger spotted the 30cm serpent, prompting the train travelling between Tokyo and Hiroshima to stop and allow police to capture the stowaway. The brown snake was not believed to be poisonous, and no injuries were reported.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE