All Asia Pacific
China's economic recovery picks up pace, but for how long?While the global recession took a toll, China's economy is now in a sweet spot that may hold through the first half of 2013, say some analysts. But worrisome longer-term trends are surfacing.
Is Japan losing its cool?Manga, anime, J-pop 鈥� once it was all about Japan. 聽But the country's efforts to channel its 'cool' as part of a global soft power strategy may need a revamp amid intense competition from Korea.
Test passed? Japan's earthquake causes quick response near FukushimaComing so soon after Sunday鈥檚 tunnel collapse raised聽questions about Japan's聽infrastructure, the absence of major damage from today's quake shows Japan鈥檚 level of preparedness for them.
Japanese chef dishes on North Korean leader and missile launch'It鈥檚 hard to understand why surrounding countries are so sensitive,' says Kenji Fujimoto, who left North Korea in 2001 but returned for a visit last summer at Kim Jong-un鈥檚 invitation.
Japan tunnel collapse ignites debate about infrastructure spendingJapan has ordered immediate inspections of dozens of road and highway tunnels after the ceiling of a tunnel near Tokyo collapsed on Sunday, killing nine people.听
Exclusive: How a Chinese prisoner release reveals business as usual at 'black jail'A Monitor investigation reveals that Tuesday's聽announced freedom for 70,000 prisoners was really just a regular release of several hundred petitioners.
Thai king's birthday marks time-out in Thailand's game of thronesThough the royal institution once enjoyed a near-universal respect, recent political polarization has raised questions about the role of the monarchy and about the country's future after his reign.听
North Korea preps for rocket launch despite international warningsMany are concerned that聽North Korea's rocket launch is cover for developing the technology to attach a nuclear warhead to a long-range missile capable of going as far as Hawaii, Alaska, or the US West Coast.
Fight over snack in China lights up blogosphereControversy over how police handled a fight between ethnic minority snack vendors and a Han Chinese costumer went viral in China, highlighting discontent with 'leniency' for minorities.听
China's leadership change is disturbing the corridors of powerOfficials at some top-level Chinese government meetings have been banned from simply reading their notes and have been encouraged to engage in real discussion.- China sentences Chen Guangcheng's nephew after snap trialChen Kegui, the nephew of blind legal activist Chen Guangcheng, will spend more than three years in prison for assaulting men who broke into his house in April. His lawyers were barred from the four-hour trial.
Spike in Tibetan self-immolations draws international attention to ChinaToday, yet another Tibetan died after he set himself on fire in protest. And neither the Chinese authorities nor exiled Tibetan leaders seem able, or willing, to halt the recent spike in such incidents.
Disposable diapers or bare bottoms? China frets over potty trainingAs they rapidly enter the middle class, Chinese parents are scorning traditional environmentally-friendly split pants for disposable diapers.听- Is China coming to a city near you?Hong Kong is being transformed by the influx of mainland tourists, some say聽Chinese tourism magnets such as Paris, Seoul, and Taipei should prepare to deal with something similar.
Why one of China's richest men is squaring off against Obama in courtWu Jialiang, CEO of Ralls Corp. is聽challenging Obama's refusal on national security grounds to let him build a wind farm in America,聽marking the first such high level case in the US from a Chinese firm.
China's passport propaganda baffles expertsChina is issuing passports with a map of the disputed South China Sea labeled as part of China.
Koreans worry about safety after toxic factory leakAfter a series of malfunctions, slow response time to accidents, and allegations of corruption, many South Koreans are anxious about industrial accidents, in part because of the lack of trust in public officials.
China's challenge with corruptionChina's leaders have been decrying corruption - and doing very little about it - for decades. But some corruption experts say there may be reason for a little more hope this time around.
What happened while Obama was in Asia?President Obama's whirlwind Asia trip saw some surface compromise on disputed territorial issues, and the set up of a new Asian trade bloc.
Obama's historic visit to Cambodia highlights economic growth and strugglesEconomically Cambodia is turning a corner, but聽President Obama took a firm line on Cambodia鈥檚 human rights abuses and corruption on his visit to Phnom Penh Monday.
