Venezuela rapidly expanding ties with China

Venezuela's socialist leader Hugo Chavez has forged close relations with Russia, and is wasting time building ties with that other natural ideological partner, China.

Chavez, visiting Beijing this week, said that he expects his country to export 1 million barrels of oil to China by 2012.

He will also ink deals to build three oil refineries in China to refine Venezuelan oil, and to launch the VENESAT-1 communications satellite using a Chinese Long March 3b rocket.

Venezuela will also purchase 24 K-8 fighter-trainer aircraft from Beijing.

AP Photo: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, center, walks out of the airplane after arriving at Beijing Airport...

Japan names right-winger to head govt

Conservative Taro Aso will lead Japan governing party in an attempt to stave off the opposition's challenge in upcoming elections.

However, many analysts believe that the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has dominated Japanese politics, is set for inevitable defeat.

The key opposition Democratic Party of Japan has effectively blocked legislation in the Upper House of the Japanese Diet.

Aso is known as a hawk who has angered many of Japan's Asian neighbors with his forthright statements.

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Japanese ruling party names Taro Aso as new leader
guardian.co.uk - 34 minutes ago

Despite his hawkish stance, Aso has said that Japan should not view China 'with hostility'. Photograph: Yoshikazu Tsuno/AFP/Getty Images Japan's ruling party today elected the colourful rightwinger Taro Aso as its leader in a last-ditch attempt to ...

Doubts grow over Japan PM's remedy for economy Reuters
Taro Aso is chosen to be governing party's leader in Japan International Herald Tribune
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Zardari to protect Pakistan sovereignty

Faced with increasing pressure from all sides, Pakistan's new President Asif Ali Zardari vowed to protect the nation's sovereignty from both terrorists and foreign forces.

Zardari, the husband of slain President Benazir Bhutto, said: "I ask of the government that it should be firm in its resolve to not allow the use of its soil for carrying out terrorist activities against any foreign country. We will not tolerate the violation of our sovereignty and territorial integrity by any power in the name of combating terrorism."

PakTribune.com

Zardari to uphold Pakistan sovereignty United Press International - 1 hour ago ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Sept. 20 (UPI) -- Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari says he won't allow either terrorists or foreign forces fighting them to violate the country's sovereignty. Pakistani president tells foreign troops to keep out CNN Pakistan's Zardari to give up powers AFP

Pakistani tribesmen shout slogans in front of the parliament building during the address of President Asif Ali Zardari in Islamabad in protest at a military operation in Holy month of Ramadan at the Bajur district. Zardari has told parliament to abolish his wide-ranging powers and warned that Islamabad "will not tolerate" sovereignty violations after a series of cross-border strikes.(AFP/Farooq Naeem)