Around the World: Japan

New party formed

Three lawmakers are leaving Japan's main opposition party to form a new party with two independents, domestic media reported yesterday, amid talk of more such splintering that could change the face of Japanese politics.

Deadlock in parliament, where the opposition controls the upper house and can delay bills, has sparked talk that the major parties will fragment and new parties form, although this new party will not have the numbers to change the balance of power.