Friday, Oct 23

Asia Digest

1. Typhoon Champi shuts Taiwan's schools and offices, grounds hundreds of flights disaster Taiwan closed schools and offices across most of the island and canceled hundreds of flights on Friday as Typhoon Champi passed its east coast, with one death reported.
2. South Korea proposes military talks with North Korea on disputed border line diplomacy Seoul's Defense Ministry formally offered talks to jointly verify the land border, restore military hotlines and prevent accidental clashes, a month after a mine blast in the DMZ.
3. Appeals court acquits Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon in political funds case courts The Seoul High Court overturned Oh's conviction and a 10 million won fine that could have cost him his post; the special counsel said it will appeal to the Supreme Court.
4. Singapore issues first haze-law notices to 10 local palm oil and forestry firms regulation Singapore's National Environment Agency asked 10 Singapore-registered companies with links to Indonesian land concessions for information under its transboundary haze law.