All Asia Pacific
National security? China ready to slam door on foreign NGOs.New law would allow Beijing to filter out foreign funding of groups that support free expression and civil society.聽
Nokia exit: Is China's 'golden age' of foreign investment over?Microsoft's Nokia division in China is shifting its production to Vietnam in what appears a larger trend. Its Lumia cell phone was not selling well in China.聽- Behind the mystery of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370A new report Sunday provides some details on the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 one year ago. But how and why it happened with 239 people aboard remains a mystery.
- 'Cheap applause': Real root of knife attack on US ambassador to S. Korea?Authorities are tracking ties between Pyongyang and Kim Ki-Jong, the man who slashed US ambassador Mark Lippert last week and has visited North Korea at least six times. But are the real causes of attack closer to home?聽
Microsoft co-founder believes he discovered sunken Japanese WWII battleshipPaul Allen and a team of researchers say they found the wreck of the Japanese battleship Musashi off the Philippines.- Canadian pastor detained on most recent aid trip to North KoreaThe Rev. Hyeon Soo Lim has visited the North more than 100 times. His plan this time was to help orphanages and a nursing facility.聽
Seoul: North Korea fires missiles into the sea as US-S. Korean military drills beginEarly Monday morning, two missiles launched from聽North聽Korea's聽west coast flew about 300 miles before landing in waters off the east coast.
Rape case at elite Indonesian expat school. A witch hunt?The case has turned a spotlight on the聽police investigation of two teachers who are now on trial in Jakarta 鈥 and raised questions about the reliability of Indonesia's justice system.- As Abe pushes for more robust military, Japanese push backThe prime minister has seized on the murder of two Japanese hostages to reenergize his bid to revise the pacifist Constitution. But polls indicate that even modest moves that fall short of that alarm many Japanese.
South Korea lifts law that banned adulterySupporters of South Korea's 62-year-old anti-adultery law said it promoted monogamy and kept families intact. But opponents argued that the government had no right to interfere in people's private lives and sexual affairs.
Why Iwo Jima mattered in World War II: From the Monitor ArchivesSeventy years ago, AP's Joe Rosenthal took the now iconic photo of US Marines raising the flag at Iwo Jima. 海角大神 reported why the tiny island played such a huge role in the war's Pacific theater.- Kim Jong-un gets new look. Does makeover add grandfatherly gravitas?With a gravity-defying haircut and shortened eyebrows revealed last week, North Korea's paramount leader may be modeling his appearance on granddad Kim Il-sung. South Koreans are amused at attention paid to Kim by foreigners.
- 'Fertility tourism' struck down by Thai lawmakers. Why now?The case of 'Baby Gammy' involving an Australian couple, and a 'baby factory' case where a Japanese businessman fathered 16 children, brought a public outcry.聽
Cool the fireworks for Chinese New Year? Beijing doesn't dare.More than 138 cities in China now ban fireworks for New Year's celebrations, citing air quality. But our correspondent plans to light off a whopping big string of 10,000 pops, like most of his neighbors.
FocusHong Kong's 'Occupy' leaders now face quiet but persistent harassmentEmail hacks, shadowing, petitions, placards and curses are being aimed at the organizers of Hong Kong's 'umbrella movement,' which ended months ago. The bullying tactics increasingly look like those faced by activists on the mainland.
China's high speed rail: All dressed up with no place to sell?China has built a sophisticated rail industry and laid half the world's high speed track at home, in record time. Now Beijing is keen to sell abroad. But so far it only has one deal.聽
Hong Kong conviction for maid abuse spotlights global rights battleA housewife was found guilty Tuesday of severely mistreating an Indonesian domestic worker, one of roughly 330,000 working in the territory. Millions of migrant maids are employed in households in Asia and the Middle East.
'Nut rage' in S Korea spotlights culture of punishing long hoursStudies show that South Koreans work 47 days more each year than the average American, and a six-day week is still common.聽
China's slowing economy raises fears of 'hard landing'Manufacturing, housing, and infrastructure are no longer growing at double-digit rates, leaving China more vulnerable to sluggish demand from overseas. A shift towards domestic-led growth is still a work in progress.聽
Will Japan start long range air patrols of the South China Sea?China is already sounding furious about the idea, first floated by the US Seventh Fleet commander. But Japanese leader Shinzo Abe's aim has long been to beef up security cooperation and extend its reach to vital shipping lanes.
