Mr Downer made the request at a meeting with his Japanese counterpart. Alexander Downer told Japan's new foreign minister, Makiko Tanaka, that her country should play a bigger role in the region, particularly in regard to peacekeeping operations. Pacifists in Japan and Governments in China and Korea oppose any such change. Nevertheless, Japan's Prime Minister has expressed some interest in revising the constitution. Mr Downer is scheduled to return home on Friday after visiting South Korea and Hong Kong.
Asthma medications face tests.
The film La Spagnola is going against the odds to succeed in the Australian film market. When Coles Myer and Daimaru this week announced plans to axe the jobs of 2,000 workers, they were consigning the unfortunates to the same ranks as the 10,000 plus who will have lost their jobs with Ansett even after its return to the skies. A royal row has broken out in Britain over a film crew which has been discovered stalking Prince William during his first week at university.