aweqs' BLOG

Mr Hatoyama has also called for better ties with East Asian neighbours.

In the past historical rows - most notably over lawmakers' visits to the World War II-linked Yasukuni shrine - harmed relations. Territorial disputes, competition over resources and Japanese concern over Chinese food safety have also hampered co-operation.

Mr Hatoyama says he will not visit the Yasukuni shrine and his foreign minister, Katsuya Okada, has gone further, saying Japan must come to grips with its "wretched, foolish war".

The DPJ promises instead to build "relations of mutual trust" - potentially improving regional cohesion over North Korea - and expand co-operation in trade, energy and environment sectors.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has welcomed what he called the DPJ's "positive attitude", and the South Korean government has sounded a similarly upbeat post-election note.

Dr Sarah Hyde, author of The Transformation of the Japanese Left, says she expects to see......

The Angolan authorities have sent some 25,000 people back to the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to a UN-backed radio station.

A local official in south-eastern DR Congo told the AFP news agency that "thousands" of people had crossed the border in recent days.

Some of those expelled say all their goods were stolen.

Angola's ambassador to DR Congo said these were the latest expulsions of illegal migrants from mining areas.

Thousands of illegal diamond miners were deported from Angola in 2004, amid accusations of brutality.

Radio Okapi reports that local officials in the Congolese provinces of Katanga, East and West Kasai, are unable to cope with the influx.

Some 15,000 have arrived in Katanga and about 10,000 in the two Kasai provinces, the radio station said.

"I went and saw for myself. There is a massive and constant exodus, and humanitarian aid has not yet arrived there," acting West Kasai Governor Hubert Mbingho told Reuters news agency.......