A bad week for … , January 27, 2013

Japan's deputy prime minister has a reputation for speaking his mind. But he would have perhaps been wise to keep his mouth shut at a meeting on social security. Aso, who is also the finance minister, urged the country's ill, elderly people to "hurry up and die" to save on government health spending. He swiftly retracted his remarks.

Ki faces a likely jail sentence after being found guilty of assaulting three police officers by whistling at them in a "loud and piercing" way during the July 1 protest march. Magistrate Ho Wai-yang said a fine would not be sufficient punishment for the 50-year-old construction worker, who would be sentenced on March 12.