New Delhi - Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday embarked on a trip to Japan and China, where he was scheduled to attend the seventh Asia-Europe summit.

During his official engagements in Japan, which begin Wednesday, Singh is to hold talks with the country's new prime minister, Taro Aso, to assess the global economic crisis and ways to deal with it.

The two leaders were also to discuss cooperation on political and security issues and hold talks to finalize a broad-based economic partnership.

Tokyo - Japan's House of Representatives on Tuesday approved a bill to extend the military's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean for another year after January 15.

The bill proposed by the government enables the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Forces to continue refueling international warships involved in the US-led war in Afghanistan.

The opposition parties say the special law violates Japan's pacifist constitution.

The opposition-controlled House of Councillors was expected to vote down the bill on October 29. But it will likely receive final parliamentary approval after the more powerful lower house approves it in a subsequent vote the following day.

The Indian government can ease norms of foreign direct investment in the country. It is seriously discussing the matter to liberalize the rules for FDI. The Indian financial system is facing liquidity crunch following global financial crisis. It would soon take more steps to safe Indian interests from global slowdown.

The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) and the finance ministry are working on the idea to ease cap on FDI in single-brand retail. Thus, 100% foreign investments are possible in coming days. It is noted that Indian norms permits only 50 per cent FDI in single-brand retail. The proposed steps may lead to increase foreign funds inflow in India and ease liquidity crisis.

Mirpur, Oct 21 : India and Pakistan are due to open cross border trade from today. Truck loads of commodities from both the countries will cross the Line of Control (LoC) dividing Kashmir. It is being described as yet another confidence building measure between the two neighbours.

The decision to allow limited trade, taken only last month, symbolises attempts to solve the Kashmir dispute by creating ‘soft borders’ allowing free movement of goods and people.

Islamabad, Oct 21: Financial Adviser to Pakistan Prime Minister, Shaukat Tareen has said that the government has devised an action plan that would help bring in 3 to 5 billion dollars in foreign re