Tokyo  - The Japanese market extended gains Thursday as optimism spread that China's economic stimulus measures may help the world economy to recover.

As the National People's Congress, the nominal parliament of the ruling Communist Party, opened Thursday in Beijing, Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average jumped 196.9 points, or 2.7 per cent, to 7,487.86.

The congress is expected to focus on measures to boost China's economy to overcome the global downturn.

Vienna  - The atomic bombing of Japan and South Africa's past nuclear weapons programme were brought into play Wednesday as diplomats from these two countries entered the last heat to be elected leader of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The IAEA governing board is set to meet on March 26 and 27 to elect the successor to Director General Mohamed ElBaradei, who retires in November after 12 years at the helm of the UN nuclear watchdog.

Hong Kong  - Hong Kong pop stars Kelvin Kwan and Jill Vidal have been arrested for possessing cannabis on a visit to Tokyo, a news report said Wednesday.

Kwan, 25, and Vidal, 26, were arrested in the Dogenzaka shopping centre in Shibuya, Tokyo, on February 24 when shopkeepers reported a foreign man trying to steal goods, the South China Morning Post said.

A police search found cannabis in a packet of cigarettes Kwan was carrying, according to the newspaper. Vidal reportedly denied any criminal behaviour.

Tokyo  - The Tokyo market extended losses Wednesday after Wall Street declined overnight and concerns over domestic politics spread.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average edged down 59.55 points, or 0.82 per cent, to 7,170.17.

The broader Topix index of all first section issues was also down 6.92 points, or 0.95 per cent, to 719.88.

The market sentiment remained pessimistic after the US Dow Jones industrial average extended its losing streak to a fifth market day on persistent economic worries.

Tokyo - Japanese prosecutors on Tuesday raided an office of a political group that manages funds for Ichiro Ozawa, president of the opposition Democratic Party of Japan on suspicion of having received illegal donations from a construction company, media reports said.

The group, Rikuzankai, located in central Tokyo, allegedly received corporate donations from a former official of Nishimatsu Construction Co, according to a NHK television report.