News Archives

'Arms drive' in South East Asia
South East Asian nations are ramping up their military capacity in a move that could destabilise the region, a new report says. Indian Cabinet Approves Foreign University Proposal
India's cabinet approved a proposal to allow foreign universities to set up branches here, potentially opening a huge market to international educational institutions. China Uses Rules on Global Trade to Its Advantage
Beijing uses inconsistencies in international trade rules to spur its own economy at the expense of others. Thai Protesters Shut Down Parts of Bangkok
Antigovernment protesters shut down parts of the Thai capital on Monday but appeared a long way from achieving their goal of forcing the government to step down. Hanbok: a renaissance or extinction?
"You know how they say the sky is its darkest right before dawn breaks," Kim expressed hope for the future of hanbok. "I think that this might be (hanbok's) darkest hour." Taiwan Charity Has Global Reach
The reach of this 44-year-old charity now extends across much of the developing world, from Ethiopia to El Salvador to Myanmar, and it offers a view of how Asian philanthropy may evolve in an era of rising affluence. China Warns Google
A Chinese minister made the government's strongest statement yet on Google Inc.'s future in the country, warning that the U.S. Internet company "will have to bear the consequences" if its follows through on its pledge to stop censoring its Chinese search site. Clearer Limits Sought in Malaysia for Shariah Courts' Role
Lawyers and religious minorities in Malaysia, encouraged by a civil court’s overruling a Shariah court’s decision in a child custody case, have called for a clearer divide between Malaysian secular and religious courts. Japan Kept Secret Deposit With Fed
The Japanese government said Friday that it secretly gave the U.S. government what amounted to a $103 million interest-free loan four decades ago as part of an agreement to end the U.S. occupation of the island of Okinawa. Activists Test China's Openness Vows
Government openness is being put to the test by a cadre of activists using a recent law to pry loose information about spending and statistics. Indian love: We just clicked
Marriages in India are traditionally arranged by parents searching for a partner from the same caste, community and profession as their child. Nowadays, more Indians are making matches themselves - leading to a rise in so-called love marriages. But increasingly, the internet is also playing a part in the way couples meet. 'Bali bomber' Dulmatin confirmed dead in Indonesia raid
DNA tests on the body of a man killed in Jakarta prove beyond doubt he is Dulmatin, the last main suspect of the Bali bombings, Indonesian police say. Dulmatin was suspected of planning the 2002 attacks which killed 202 people. Japan opens 98th national airport in Ibaraki
Japan's 98th airport has begun operations - offering just one flight a day - and is being seen in Japan as a prime example of wasteful public expenditure. Burma laws condemned as a 'mockery' of democracy
Election laws announced by Burma's military rulers have provoked a storm of condemnation. A US official said they made a mockery of the democratic process, while a UN spokesman said they fell short of expectations for an inclusive election. Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is banned from participating, as are other senior pro-democracy figures. Report: N. Korea To Replace Top Diplomat In Geneva
North Korea plans to replace its top diplomat in Switzerland who is believed to be a key manager of leader Kim Jong Il's alleged secret funds stashed overseas, a news report said Wednesday. China space program selects first women astronauts
A Chinese proverb says women hold up half the sky. In the future, they'll be doing it from space. Law bars Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi from elections
Myanmar's military regime took yet another step to expunge Aung San Suu Kyi from the political scene Wednesday by effectively barring her from the first elections in 20 years and pressuring her opposition party to expel her from its ranks. Cambodia To Preserve Khmer Rouge Sites For Tourism
Cambodia will preserve 14 sites at the last bastion of the murderous Khmer Rouge, including the home of their leader Pol Pot, as tourist attractions, an official said Wednesday. Dalai Lama: China aims to annihilate Buddhism
The Dalai Lama blasted Chinese authorities Wednesday, accusing them of trying to "annihilate Buddhism" in Tibet as he commemorated a failed uprising against China's rule over the region. Three Indonesia militants 'die in raids near Jakarta'
Indonesian security forces say they have killed three suspected militants in two raids near the capital Jakarta.