Asia Weekly

October 14 headlines from around Asia

Thailand

Thai riot police used Chinese-made tear gas that contained explosives strong enough to rip craters into the ground to disperse crowds last week, forensic experts say. The clash between anti-government protestors and police left three dead and 85 injured.

Cambodia

Prime Minister Hun Sen has warned of "armed clashes" if Thai troops trespass over the border between the two countries. The announcement was made after Hun Sen met with the Thai foreign minister amidst rising tensions linked to a territorial dispute over the Preah Vihear temple. Earlier this month, two Thai soldiers were injured when a land mine exploded on the border.

North Korea

North Korea has allowed inspectors from the UN atomic watchdog IAEA access to its Yongbyon nuclear facility. The move follows last week's agreement between Washington and Pyongyang that saw North Korea removed from America's blacklist of states that sponsor terror.

Region

Asian financial markets have sharply risen, following Wall Street's rally of 11% yesterday. Japan's Nikkei increased 13% in early trading this morning.

October 13

Thailand

Supporters of Thailand's ruling party have gathered on the outskirts of Bangkok to show their support. The United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship is the rival of anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy, whose members have been making calls for the current government to step down. They have been protesting on government grounds since August 26.

China

The Chinese Communist Party has approved a major economic reform plan that would allow farmers to rent and mortgage land and help to reduce the increasing urban-rural income divide.

North Korea

Pyongyang has declared it will resume disabling its Yongbyon nuclear processing facilities after the US removed the Stalinist country from its states that sponsor terror blacklist. Analysts predict Pyongyang will ask for more concessions before fully dismantling all nuclear activities.

Aceh

Hasan di Tiro, founder of the separatist rebel group in the Indonesian province of Aceh, has arrived home after 30 years in exile. His Free Aceh Movement (Gam) signed a peace deal with the Indonesian government in 2005, ending 29 years of fighting and violence that claimed more that 15,000 lives.