Tokyo - Japan, China and South Korea agreed at the Group of 20 summit to enhance bilateral currency swap between Tokyo and Beijing to help Seoul stay afloat in the global financial crisis, Japanese media said Saturday.

A joint statement said the three nations agreed to "explore an increase in the size of bilateral currency swap arrangements" among them.

The deal was mainly aimed at helping South Korea fend off the financial crisis since the won has faced selling pressure as foreign investors withdrew capital.

A high-level delegation of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army is scheduled to Visit Nepal on November 19. The eight-member Chinese delegation will be led by Major-General I. Huzeng.

The Chinese delegation is likely to meet Deputy Prime Minister Bamdev Gautam, Defence Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, and Chief of Nepal Army General Rookmangud Katawal during its 5 day visit programme.  

This move is seen a critical point in Nepal politics as the Maoist Govt. of the Himalayan state is trying to integrate 19,600 Maoist soldiers in Nepal Army.

Shanghai  - Roger Federer said he remains convinced he was flirting with a tennis miracle in a fighting defeat against Andy Murray at the Masters Cup, which ended his season.

Failing to reach the semi-finals for the first time in seven appearances at the year-end tournament meant the Swiss player had to swallow a bitter defeat as he saved seven match points before losing to Murray for the third time in four 2008 meetings.

Hong Kong - Hong Kong has fallen into recession after recording a second consecutive quarter of contracting economic growth between July and September, according to government figures Friday.

The rate of gross domestic product growth in the city of 6.9 million fell from 4.2 per cent between April and June to 1.7 per cent in the third quarter compared to the same quarters last year.

The figure represented a 0.5 per cent contraction in growth from the previous quarter, the second consecutive quarterly contraction, meaning Hong Kong is now in a technical recession.

Shanghai - Gilles Simon put himself into position for a possible spot in the semi-finals of the Masters Cup with a Friday victory, but will have to await the fate of Roger Federer.

The French debutant pounded alternate Radek Stepanek 6-1, 6-4 in 65 minutes, breaking three times and never in danger against the Czech who filled in at the last minute at mid-week for injured Andy Roddick.

But the drama level was rising as four-time year-end champion Federer played a do-or-die final Red group match later against Andy Murray, Britain's world number four who has already qualified into the weekend final four.