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Is There Hope for a North Korean Thaw?
Don't give up on Kim Jong-un, the cherubic naif who is North Korea's new supreme leader
China has announced an ambitious five-year plan that includes the launch of space laboratories, a manned spaceship to the moon and the creation of its own global satellite navigation system that will almost certainly be used for military purposes
Asia Stands Poised to Join Global Revolution
Natural Disasters Becoming Costlier Than Ever
Natural disasters in Asia in 2011 could well prove to be the costliest ever, experts say.
Balancing the East, Upgrading the West
The United States' central challenge over the next several decades is to revitalize itself, while promoting a larger West and buttressing a complex balance in the East that can accommodate China's rising global status
North Korea More Dependent on China Than Ever
More than ever, North Korea will likely turn to China as its primary provider of food, money and material resources
North Korea on the Verge of a New Era?
The Obama administration has a chance to use the death of Kim Jong Il to open a new chapter in its relationship with North Korea
Nepal: Himalayan Glaciers Melting Fastest than Ever
Himalayan glaciers are melting faster than ever, according to recent observations by a prestigious climate watchdog body
Nepal: The Latest on Ice Melt at The Third Pole
High up in the Himalayas in Nepal is a glacial lake that has been growing in length by 60 metres a year, threatening to burst its banks as rising temperatures in the region cause the glacier that feeds it to melt more quickly
Nepal Rated Second Most Corrupt Country in South Asia
Global anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International (TI) has listed Nepal as the second most corrupt nation in South Asia after Afghanistan
China Says Exports to West Face Challenges
China's commerce ministry says its exports face 'severe challenges' because of economic problems in its key Western markets
If you want to copy China because its authoritarian capitalism is better than our democratic capitalism, it seems pretty obvious that what you envy is the authoritarianism
Renewed Focus on Pacific Region Intended to Distract from Unrest at Home?
What is at stake between China and the United States? We are on the opposite sides of the world with next to nothing to fight about. Industrial domination of the world? What does that actually mean, and what is it worth? Bragging rights about who is top nation? That's what Washington seems to care about
China is emerging as the leading economic force in Burma, and the Burmese are starting to get uncomfortable
Is the notoriously powerful military junta of Burma really loosening its grip?
'Dramatic Developments' But Challenges Ahead for Myanmar
One year after Myanmar held its first election in 20 years, domestic and international opinion is still cautious about the prospects for meaningful change in this nation of more than 55 million people
Chinese Have Opportunity to Show Resolve
The capture of Chinese construction workers by rebels in Sudan has presented China with an opportunity to flex its muscles and show it not so shy to use military force to protect its citizens abroad
Latin - Asian Technological Gap Keeps Growing
Latin America should take a close look at the latest U.S. technological innovation figures: They show that, despite signs of progress in several countries, the gap between Asian and Latin American countries keeps widening
North Korea’s stability is in question as the country tries to smoothly transition from the leadership of the late Kim Jong Il to that of his youngest son and chosen successor, Kim Jong Un
The Kims: Like Grandfather, Like Son?
Kim Jong-un may be modeling himself afer North Korea's founder, Kim Il-sung
'Great Successor' Needs Unalloyed Support of Military
At present, it's unclear whether or not Kim Jong-un is the military's leader of choice
South Korean parliamentarian Kim Geun-Tae was a soft-spoken man dedicated to reunification of the Koreas
The only safe prediction about Burma's future is that any prediction will probably be incorrect
Is detente with Burma just around the corner?
Should United States Engage North Korea?
The United States has failed in its policies to punish, isolate, and otherwise push North Korea toward collapse. Perhaps it should try engagement instead
China's Looming Economic Crisis
The Chinese economy continues to grow at a fast pace. But signs of distress lurk just below the surface
Nepali Christians Demand Security After Bomb Attack
As they continue to seek a designated graveyard, minority Christians in Nepal now fear for their security after a recent bomb attack
Nepal Begins to Seal Fate of 19,000 Former Fighters
Nepal has started a key move to seal the fate of 19,000 former Maoist fighters who fought a decade-long war to remove the monarchy and the century-old Hindu identity from the tiny Himalayan country
India: 'Enclave' Residents Campaign for Citizenship
Thousands of ethnic Bengalis living near the Bangladesh-India border have for decades found themselves citizens of one nation but bound within the sovereign territory of another. In recent months they have escalated their campaign for a land swap that will align their citizenship with cartography
Bangladesh Begins Trial of Islamist for War Crimes
Some 40 years after the end of Bangladesh's war of independence, trials began of those suspected of committing war crimes during the conflict. Most of those charged are Islamist suspected of acting as henchmen of Pakistani army
China Obsessed With Occupy Wall Street
Right now, China is obsessed with the Occupy Wall Street movement, deathly afraid that it will spread there
Burma Requires Alliance Between Armed and Nonviolent Resistance
To throw off the repression of its military regime, the people of Burma need a two-pronged approach
Indonesia: Rights Groups Urge Release of Papuan Activists
Human rights groups have urged Indonesian authorities to drop treason charges against five activists in the easternmost province of Papua
Sino-Indian Relations: Mixed Bag of Highs and Lows
2011 witnessed India's firm responses to bilateral issues and China's appreciation of the Indian position, thus providing a positive momentum to India-China relations
All eyes are on North Korea after Kim Jong Il's death. But the real changes are taking place in the South
Changing Geopolitics and Tasks Before Indian Foreign Policy
While India's ability to handle the challenges may be constrained by a slowing economy, it would need to manage them through requisite diplomatic skill and finesse
Australia is rapidly re-posturing in the face of a militarized East Asia
Radioactive Water Leaks at Japanese Nuclear Plant
Workers at Japan's Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear facility plant have discovered a leak of 45 metric tons of contaminated, radioactive water. It is not yet clear if the contaminated water reached the Pacific Ocean
Remember his name. Park Won Soon is perhaps the first politician to win with an Occupy Wall Street platform
Playing With Fire on the Korean Peninsula
Why is the Obama Administration creating obstacles and throwing cold water on talks with North Korea, and why is it binding itself to right-wing South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, whose politics just took a shellacking
In seemingly yet another attempt to emphasise the benign nature of China's rise, the Information Office of the State Council released a white paper entitled 'China's Peaceful Development'
Imagine that there's a country exactly like the United States. Exactly the same size. It's got the same cities. It's got the same number of rich people and poor people. It's just like us. And now add 1 billion peasants. That's China
Nepal: Tibetan Monk Hurt in Self-Immolation Try
An unidentified Tibetan monk set himself on fire at the Boudhanath stupa, a religious site on the outskirts of Kathmandu that is heavily populated by Tibetan immigrants
Bangladesh and Russia Ink Nuclear Power Deal
Energy-starved Bangladesh signed a landmark deal with Russia to finalize arrangements for installing two nuclear power plants in the north of the country
Bangladesh: Disaster-Resilient Settlement Points Way Forward
Bangladesh has built its first disaster-resilient settlement, designed to minimize damage during natural disasters. Known locally as a disaster-resilient habitat, the residences in the southern city of Shymnagar near the Bay of Bengal comprise 50 houses that can accommodate up to 300 people
Thailand: Undocumented Workers Exploited Post Thai Floods
While the Burmese government has re-opened a key border checkpoint between Thailand and Myanmar to accommodate thousands of migrants fleeing Thailand's flooded factories, undocumented -- and now unemployed -- migrants face extortion and abuse as they try to return home
Is Indonesia Bound for the BRICs?
Today, Indonesia is hailed as a model democracy and is a darling of the international financial community. The Jakarta Stock Exchange has been among the world's top performers in recent years, and some analysts have even called for adding Indonesia to the ranks of the BRIC countries. Yet despite all the fanfare, the Indonesian score contains some decidedly discordant notes
China's Health Crisis: The Sick Man of Asia
Although China has made remarkable economic progress over the past few decades, its citizens' health has not improved as much. A look at China's disease burden also reveals a worrisome picture
China: More Than Just a Currency Game
China's interference in markets to limit its currency appreciation is under increasing fire from US politicians who claim that the policy is costing American jobs. But several recent studies indicate that changing China's currency policies alone would not necessarily benefit the US economy or its workers
Does Kim Need to Keep His Nukes to Avoid Gaddafi's Fate?
North Korea believes that by giving up its nuclear arms, Libya fatally compromised its national security
Burma's Junta: Can a Tiger Change Its Stripes?
The generals of Burma's ruling junta have set aside their uniforms, but they still resemble a military dictatorship
Rights Groups Moves High Court on Beheading of 8 Bangladeshi
A human rights organization asked the Bangladesh high court to probe the government's role in the beheading of eight Bangladeshi immigrants in Saudi Arabia
Bangladesh World's 5th Most Vulnerable Country for Climate Change
Bangladesh has been named one of the top countries in the world most vulnerable to a climate change-induced food crisis and hunger
Bangladesh's Grameenphone and Teletalk Partner on Cell Phone Early Disaster Warning System
Bangladesh's high-growth mobile phone sector is buying into disaster risk reduction, and the cyclone-affected costal region stands to gain most, say government officials, aid workers and private sector sources
How Space Technology Aids Flood Response
As residents across flood-ravaged Southeast Asia look up to the skies and brace for more rain, satellites 35,800 kilometers away are looking down on them
Despite the predictions of many obituary writers, North Korea is still around. It was supposed to collapse with the Eastern European communist regimes, but it didn't. It was supposed to crumble during the great famine of the mid-1990s, but it didn't. Hard-line policies of the Bush administration were supposed to do the trick, but they didn't
The 'Orchid Revolution' in Singapore
The PAP needs to make itself more responsive to the common Singaporean's demands in order to remain the single-most powerful representative of the people of Singapore.
China-Indian Trade: Smoothening the Rough Edges
The composition of the Indian delegation to the ongoing Strategic Economic Dialogue is suggestive that issues such as telecom, water, infrastructural development and railways are being discussed on a priority basis
Philippines Struggles After Two Typhoons
Rescuers are struggling to reach communities in northern provinces of the main Philippine island of Luzon, which were hit by two powerful typhoons
The earthquake and tsunami that struck northeastern Japan on March 11, 2011, caused almost unimaginable damage and misery. But some see a silver lining to these dark tragedies. After 20 years of economic stagnation, the crisis could bring the Japanese together, catalyze much-needed reforms, and reverse decades of malaise
The Korean Peninsula remains volatile. The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by North Korea highlights the endemic security dilemmas that plague this part of Asia.
The Ozawa Ichiro 'phenomenon' has returned to haunt Japanese politics. Although Prime Minister Noda Yoshihiko carefully chose his Cabinet team by picking two members of the group led by former DPJ chief Ozawa with the apparent intention of fostering reconciliation between rival groups, harmony is yet to be restored
India-China Economic Dialogue: A View from Beijing
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh agreed to establish a regular bilateral strategic economic dialogue mechanism during Wen's visit to India last December, and the first one-day meeting of the China-India Strategic Economic Dialogue was held in Beijing on 26 September
South China Sea Disputes: Why conflict is Not Inevitable
The South China Sea issue and China's position on it have become subjects of much deliberation, especially since the ASEAN Regional Forum Meeting at Hanoi last July. It is generally believed that the South China Sea will emerge as the hot-spot of conflict in the coming years. Here's why
Animal Spirits: Shaping Patterns of Economic Growth
'Birds of a feather flock together,' the old saying goes. So, too, do investors. Increasingly, talk is of a 'double-dip recession', 'Euro zone collapse' and the United States and Europe 'turning into Japan' -- that is, experiencing years of economic stagnation
Fukushima Evacuees Slam Compensation Requirements
Residents of areas near the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant who have been forced to flee their homes are criticizing the 200-page document sent by the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) for them to be eligible for compensation
Nuclear Data Feared Stolen in Hacks of Japanese Sites
Hackers have attacked the websites of Japanese government offices and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, where nuclear data was feared stolen
Japan's PM Must Quell China's Fears About His Nationalism
The appearance of the new Japanese leader already attracted the attention of neighboring countries. China has viewed the appointment of Japan's new premier with more anxiety than enthusiasm, given Yoshihiko Noda's conservative views
Second Lovers' Shooting Hits Largest Philippine Mall Operator
Two Filipinos are in critical condition following an apparent lovers' shooting incident. It was the second such incident to hit the largest mall operator in the Philippines within one week
Aquino Off to U.S. for Open Government Partnership Launch
Philippine President Benigno Aquino III left for the U.S. to join the launching of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) in New York City. The OGP is a global effort to make governments efficient and responsive to citizens by fighting corruption and promoting transparency
Aquino Orders Imprisonment of Former Philippine Military Comptroller
Former Armed Forces of the Philippines comptroller Gen. Carlos Garcia made Philippines history twice recently. He is the first two-star general to be sent to the national penitentiary. However, he is serving merely two years although he stole $7 million (PHP 303 million) from military coffers
Timeline of Australian Asylum-Seeker Debate
Australia's resumed push to swap asylum-seekers arriving by boat with refugees from Malaysia is the government's most recent policy response to an issue that has preoccupied officials and the public for years
Australia's Military Capabilities Up in the Air
Concerns about the changing balance of power in the Asia-Pacific are fuelling a debate in Australia about the potential acquisition of 100 F-35s.
China: Significance and Implications of Tiangong 1
China's development of a space station is not only for the purpose of scientific experimentation but also to showcase its technological and economic strength
Rise of the Renminbi as International Currency
Over the last few years, use of China's currency for international trade has been growing steadily. Some argue this is the start of a journey that will see the renminbi displace the dollar and become the international reserve currency within a decade. This column asks whether such prophecies are realistic by looking at how other international currencies established themselves
Why 2012 Will Shake Up Asia and the World
The United States, which has focused for years on North Korea's small but developing nuclear arsenal, has barely been paying attention to the larger developments in Asia
South Korea's Naval Base on Ulleung Island
South Korea hopes that the new base will help strengthen its territorial rights on Dokdo as the base would enable its ships to reach the islands quickly
Islamist Rampage Blamed in Bangladesh Riots
Islamists ran amok in the Bangladesh capital demanding release of Jamaat-e-Islami leaders detained to stand trial for war crimes
United States to Help Bangladesh Combat Bird Flu
Bangladesh has accepted an offer from the United States to combat the bird flu virus by developing 'seed virus,' a key ingredient to make a vaccine in an emergency
Indian Earthquake Prompts 'Wake-Up Call'
A 6.9-magnitude earthquake on 18 September in northeastern India which also caused deaths in parts of Nepal and China, serves as a stark warning to the earthquake-prone region, experts say
China Forced to Temper Mercenary Approach to International Trade
China has been taking the code of Western corporations -- 'ye who enter the marketplace, abandon all ethics' -- to the next level
Latin America's Blind Love With China May Be Over
After a decade of record Latin American exports to China, which helped the region grow significantly despite the recent global recession, there are signs that the honeymoon may be coming to an end
China's Wealthiest Unfazed by Global Turmoil
The financial breakdown gripping most global economies today might have little effect or perhaps none at all to China's wealthiest
Recent months have witnessed renewed tensions over disputed territories in the South China Sea. In response to China's encroaching military maneuvers and the country's designation of the whole area as part of its indisputable sovereignty, several South East Asian countries have found themselves dangerously vulnerable
The people accept the autocratic Communist Party of China (CPC) regime with its corruption and minimal public participation, and the CPC regime delivers a continuous and rapid improvement in the economic standard of living. But that social contract is now at risk, as China is on an unsustainable path that will result in economic stagnation or decline in the coming decades
North Korea Accuses South Korea of Plotting to Destroy Its Socialist System
North Korea has accused the South Korean government of plotting to destroy its socialist system
South Korea Suicide Rate Doubles in 10 Years
Suicide rates in South Korea more than doubled in a decade, according to figures from the government
China, the United States, and Global Order
British scholars Rosemary Foot and Andrew Walter put U.S. - Chinese relations into a global context. Rejecting the realist assumption that norms do not matter, Foot and Walter try to identify the factors that shape Chinese and U.S. behavioral consistency (or lack thereof) with global norms
The Hype and the Reality of China's Economic Rise
China's New Aircraft Carrier Bolsters Its Regional Reach
China and the United States' Debt
Stiglitz Upbeat About China and Latin America
China Sees Inflation Rate Hit 6.5%
China Announces Sea Trial Of Its First Aircraft Carrier
North Korea's Rare Pledge to Abandon Nuclear Activities
Kim Jong-Il Pushes China for New Nuclear Talks
Seoul Blasts Pyongyang For Fabricating Shelling Incident
North Korea Planned Assassination of South Korean Defense Minister
Indonesia's Global Significance
China Eclipsing United States in Global Reach
Debt Fight Reinforces China's Negative Views of America
Japan's Decline as a Robotics Superpower
Will Fukushima Survivors Be Doubly Victimized?
Bombs Before Bread in North Korea
South Korea's School Tablets -- a Test for All
'Unprecedented' Drug Trafficking Heightens Risk To Youth
Myanmar Open To Microcredit Expansion
Thousands Protest in Bangladesh Against Islamic Constitution
Bangladesh Ethnic Communities Protest Islamization Of Constitution
No Clear Route Out Of Servitude For Indentured Girls
United States Backs Philippines In Row With China Over Disputed Islands
Politics Behind Thai - Cambodian Conflict
Engineering Programs React to Japan Nuclear Crisis
China No. 1 in Five Years? Not so Soon
China and the End of the Deng Dynasty
Is Pacific Fish Safe to Eat After the Disaster in Japan?
China: Weak Impetus for Change
United States - Pacific Relations: Pacific-Minded
China's Economy the Key to Quelling Social Unrest
Japan Quake / Tsunami Most Costly of All Time
Japanese Earthquake Brings Back Sad Memories
5 Reasons Investors Should Not Bail on Japan
Japan's Nuclear Crisis Reignites Safety Debate
Japan's Crisis for Nuclear Power
Japan, the Persian Gulf and Energy
Cambodia: A Temple and a Tempest
The Advantages of an Assertive China
Will China's Rise Lead to War?
Far East and Middle East: A Study in Contrasts?
Shaky Restart to Inter-Korean Talks
North Korea: The World's Problem Child
The Game Changer: Coping With China's Foreign Policy Revolution
Nuclear Club Has Yet Another Applicant
Do not Expect China to Budge on the Yuan
South Korea: Prosperity and Anxiety
Interdependency Theory: China, India and the West
3 Ways to Invest in China's Powerhouse Economy
Handling Tensions on the Korean Peninsula
China Is the Key to Handling Nuclear North Korea
Chinese Growth Expected to Boost Asian Markets Long-Term
'Pariah of the Pacific' Has Ham-handed Grip on Fiji
Korean Tensions: Waiting for China
The Geography of Chinese Power
The Rise of Asia's Universities
Tokyo's Trials: Can the DPJ Change Japan
Asia Treading Near Overconfidence
Asia Economy: Tamed Asian Tigers, Distressed Chinese Dragon
Addressing China's Fear Of North Korean Collapse
Indian Ocean: Center Stage for 21st Century Struggles Between India & China
Tiananmen's Enduring Challenge
Today, North Korea; Tomorrow, Iran - Nuclear Weapons
Time to Test North Korea - Nuclear Weapons