Politic-Economic-Society-Tech
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Japan's crime rate soars
The number of reported crimes in Japan has risen to a record high and the rate of arrests has fallen.
UNESCO enquires about Mahabodhi Temple
Showing interest in the government of India's proposal to include the world famous Mahabodhi Temple, the seat of Buddha's enlightenment, in the prestigious list of world heritage sites, the UNESCO has sought some clarifications from the Union government.
E-commerce in India to touch $41 b by 2005
E-commerce in India is projected to grow 10 times in value over the next five years, according to a joint study undertaken by the country's main software industry body and the Boston Consulting Group.
Analysis: Japan's PR nightmare
That was Japan's initial reaction to the international arrest warrant against former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori.
China Warns of 'Dangerous' AIDS Epidemic
Estrada to take witness stand in Oct
Former President Joseph Estrada will take the witness stand for the first time in October to defend himself against corruption charges, his lawyers said Thursday
Bush to visit South Korea in October
The planned visit here, the first since Bush took office in January, would allow him to hold a second summit with South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung on North Korea issues, they said.
Sihanouk, Ranariddh: a Cambodian political dynasty
They share a passion for politics and a striking physical resemblance, but Cambodia's King Norodom Sihanouk and his son Ranariddh have at times been poles apart, according to the prince's first biography
Election win strengthens reform hand of Koizumi
Koizumi needed a sound win in the Upper House election on Sunday to survive challenges to his leadership and to his proposals to rein in Japan's massive public debt and clean up a banking system weighed down with bad loans.
------------------------------------ 30/07/2001
Activists Press Powell to Press China
Activists appealed on Friday to Secretary of State Colin Powell, who visits Beijing this weekend, to press Chinese leaders to free jailed dissidents and improve human rights.
IMF Sees September Mission To Indonesia
The IMF yesterday expressed the possibility of a mission to Indonesia in September, following a draft letter of intent issued on Friday containing Jakarta's reform pledges in return for a $400 million aid tranche
Indonesian Financial Problems Remain
Noting that Indonesia's Parliament yesterday voted Hamzah Hah, leader of one of the country's most powerful political parties, as newly appointed President Megawati Sukarnoputri's vice-presiden
Russia can help Korean dialogue
US Secretary of State Colin Powell said Friday Russia could play a "useful" role in nudging North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il into a second peninsular summit and back to talks with Washington.
Japan's latest whale tale, yes, they eat too much
This is Japan's latest argument for resuming its whale hunt: Whales eat too much.
Deadly karma
Bandit leader, folk heroine, and latterly MP, Phoolan Devi’s assassination brought India to a halt. But for a woman with many enemies, her violent end seemed inevitable, reports Ian MacKinnon from New Delhi
N Korean leader begins Russia trip
North Korea's reclusive leader began his first official visit to any country apart from China on Thursday, rattling across the border for a marathon journey across Russia in an armoured train.
China frees two US scholars ahead of Powell's visit
China yesterday freed two US-based scholars convicted of espionage in an attempt to ease tensions in China-US relations ahead of a visit by US Secretary of State Colin Powell.
Thailand, Malaysia to meet on setting up trade account
Thailand and Malaysia have scheduled a trade meeting in Kuala Lumpur today but the ongoing search for the combination to unlock their automotive compensation dispute is not on the agenda.
India Community Copes After Quake
When Hamida Ismail lost her two boys to India's worst earthquake in 50 years, her parents kept the news from her for days.
I will return to fight for democracy, Wahid promises
------------------------------------ 26/07/2001
ASEAN remains an alliance in search of a meaningful role
Thirty-four years after South-East Asian leaders forged a hasty alliance against communism, the Association of South-East Asian Nations is gathering in Hanoi and Vietnam is in the chair.
China tightens grip on booming internet cafes
Police have detained at least 15 people for online dissent - the first 18 months ago, but most of them more recently. Two were sentenced recently to up to four years in prison.
IT prime mover of growth in India: CII
Despite the global slowdown, the information technology in India has continued to be the prime mover of growth, Confederation of Indian Industry has said.
China sentences two U.S. residents to 10 years
Two U.S. residents were convicted today of spying for Taiwan and sentenced to 10 years in prison, the state news agency reported, casting a pall over a visit this weekend by Secretary of State Colin Powell.
18 Dead in Sri Lanka Airport Attack
Officials in Sri Lanka are struggling to explain a devastating rebel attack on the country's main Air Force base and international airport early Tuesday.
Megawati Gets Down To Business In Indonesia
Powell voices regret over Okinawa incidents
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell on Monday expressed regret over a series of crimes allegedly committed by U.S. servicemen stationed in Okinawa Prefecture but was skeptical about revising the Japan-U.S. Status-of-Forces Agreement (SOFA).
------------------------------------ 23/07/2001
Japan's PM tells Chretien he's pinning hopes on elections to improve economy
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Friday that the success of his ambitious plans to pull Japan's economy toward recovery depends on how well his party does in parliamentary elections later this month.
Two dead as Lankan police fire on demonstrators, opposition leader
Sri Lanka's main opposition leader yesterday accused police of trying to assassinate him as they fired teargas and live rounds at demonstrators demanding the restoration of parliament, which President Chandrika Kumaratunga suspended last week.
Cola wars fizz in Philippines
Pepsi has stepped into a bidding duel with Coke for the country's No. 2 soft-drinks company, Cosmos Bottling Corp.
Nepal troops prepare for action against rebels
The Nepalese government says it is preparing to take action against Maoist rebels holding 70 policemen hostage in a remote Himalayan area.
Civil unrest mounts in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is skidding into further unrest as a drawn-out ethnic war takes a back seat to deepening political uncertainty.
Live Ammo Kills Sri Lanka Protester
Sri Lankan opposition parties condemned the government on Friday for ordering police and soldiers to halt a pro-democracy march after doctors said live ammunition killed at least one protester.
New Vietnam flights and China visa perks
More Mekong links are on agenda
Bangkok Airways, Thailand's largest private airline, has won privileges from Chinese and Vietnamese authorities that will boost its regional expansion.
Singapore tech firms bear the crunch
Electronics contract manufacturer Venture Manufacturing, networking systems integrator Datacraft Asia and printed circuit board maker Elec & Eltek have proved relatively robust.
Emergency looms over Indonesia despite compromise efforts
Despite the faint glimmer of a possible compromise, Indonesians were bracing for President Abdurrahman Wahid to make good his threat to declare a state of emergency to stave off an impeachment move.
China bulls ahead in bearish global market
Latest official figures indicate that China's economy continued its growth momentum in the first half of this year, amid the world's gloomy economic environment.
The I.T. crash knocked even well-run Samsung Electronics for a loop. Can it still profit from the woes of its competitors?
Hong Kong makes IPR pirates walk the plank
The piracy of intellectual property (IPR) in Hong Kong is now fully under control, the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Raymond Wong, told a conference on Tuesday.
Jaffna: Have war, can't travel
Armed soldiers and police patrol the streets of this war-torn city in northern Sri Lanka, checking the identities of children and older residents after threats by university students to disrupt schools.
Vietnam's rice basket to be refurbished
The economy of the Mekong Delta is set for a major restructuring over the next five years in a bid to speed up development and raise prosperity in the country's largest rice basket.
India flood crisis mounts
More than 100 000 people were evacuated from their homes in eastern India on Friday as torrents of water released from a dam poured into already-flooded coastal plains.
China, Russia Pledge Friendship
Decades after their previous treaty collapsed amid border clashes and disagreements over doctrine, Russia and China once again pledged to each other friendship and "eternal peace" Monday, challenging what they see as the threat of a new global order dominated by the United States.
Future Indo-Pak talks to be based on Shimla, Lahore pacts: Delhi
Musharraf to maintain dialogue with India
India said on Wednesday that future peace negotiations with Pakistan would have to be based on existing agreements after the failure of this week's summit to draft a joint declaration.
Taiwan bike makers bitten by Schwinn/GT bankruptcy
Taiwan contract bicycle maker Merida said on Friday it would slash its 2001 pretax profit forecasts by 43 percent due to bankruptcy filings by a major client, Schwinn/GT of the United States.
US, Malaysia to further improve relations
On America's end, a US State Department spokesman said Washington welcomed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad's intention in wanting to better bilateral ties with the United States.
No peace pact but India feels not all is lost
No peace pact via Agra but India clings to the belief, on the morning after the hyped Indo-Pakistan summit ended in controversial fashion late last night, that not all was lost.
U.S. May Start Closing Korea Bases
The U.S. military could start closing and consolidating bases in South Korea as early as next year, handing back to the country a substantial amount of land the United States has been using for decades, the Pentagon said Tuesday.
Japan Urges US to Reconsider Treaty
Japan urged the United States on Tuesday to rethink its opposition to a treaty limiting emissions of ``greenhouse gases,'' saying much of the world is waiting for tough new standards to take effect.
Filipino, Vietnamese kinship dates back centuries ago
ALTHOUGH the present diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Vietnam has turned 25 years old last June 12, up to late 1967, I noted a street in downtown Saigon named Filipinen in honor of Filipinos who fought for Vietnam in earlier wars.
Cambodian PM leaves his puppet image behind
For a few months in 1993 Cambodia was ruled by Yasushi Akashi. As head of the United Nations transitional administration, the Japanese diplomat controlled a team of 21,000 and a budget of $A4 billion, in an effort to lead the country out of decades of civil war towards peace and democracy via internationally sponsored elections.
------------------------------------ 14/07/2001
No Cheers Here
Proposals to empower Beijing to replace the city's top leader spark fears that the former British colony's autonomy is eroding
Intriguing options for Megawati
Indonesian Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri's talents for intrigue will be put to the supreme test in the weeks leading up to the impeachment trial of President Abdurrahman Wahid beginning on August 1.
Sri Lanka's very own GI Janes
Lasantha Sumathipala joined the Sri Lankan army two years ago without telling her parents, fearing they would oppose the move. Now, they have come to accept what she's doing - helping the state fight the 18-year-old Tamil Tiger insurgency.
Bangladesh Premier To Depart Office
When Sheikh Hasina departs from the prime minister's office this weekend, she will be the first leader of this violence-wracked South Asian nation to serve out a full five-year term of office
Seoul drops military exchanges with Japan
The Defense Ministry announced yesterday that it decided to cancel a planned visit to Japan by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) scheduled for the middle of this month.
Seoul seeks int'l pressure on Japan over textbooks
South Korea plans to propose an international conference on racism to discuss Japan's distortion of history in its textbooks, officials said yesterday.
Seoul set to delay entry for Japanese cultural goods
The government is close to deciding whether to suspend the entry of Japanese cultural products to the Korean market in retaliation to Tokyo's recent refusal to revise its textbooks, officials said yesterday.
US policy watchdog no friend of Beijing
What does Micheal Ledeen, a national security fanatic at the conservative American Enterprise Institute and a bit player in the Iran-Contra scandal of the 1980s, have in common with George Becker, the fiery union leader who became a hero to the US Left for mobilizing labor opposition to the World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting in Seattle in 1999?
Millions earmarked for Vietnamese development
The Vietnamese government has earmarked VND300 billion (US$20 million) for surveying and planning works in 650 urban centers. The funds will be spent on infrastructure, mainly in residential, trade and technical areas. Road networks, water and drainage, electricity and other public utilities will get priority.
No, not that President Kim
This week North Korea's President Kim begins a tour of Indo-China. Have Kim Jong-il's two trips to China given him a yen for wider horizons? Nope. Not that president Kim. So did they elect someone else?
Korea takes aim at Asia's Big Three
The South Korean government has decided to allow foreign exchange brokers from abroad to work in the country soon as part of efforts to develop Seoul into one Asia's four major financial hubs, the others being Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo, the Ministry of Finance and Economy has announced.
Private Triumph
Out from under the heavy hand of the state, Vietnam's enterprising thespians are reviving live theater. Audiences are returning, but the gate won't make anyone rich
Police battle to quell clashes
Hundreds of riot police are battling to contain serious violent clashes in Bradford which have seen two people stabbed and 80 police officers injured.
The trouble started in the city centre but has spread to the Manningham area of Bradford, a largely Asian area.
Killing 41, Maoist Rebels in Nepal Warn of More
Nepal A Maoist rebel leader who took responsibility for the killing of 41 policemen last week asked his followers Sunday to gear up for fresh attacks.
Rebel leader warns of more Nepal attacks
Fresh attacks are being called for by the leader of a group of Maoist fighters who have claimed responsibility for the killing of 41 policemen in bloody raids.
The two sides will be shaking hands by the end of the year
Visiting Myanmar recently, it became evident that a political breakthrough is imminent.
------------------------------------ 09/07/2001
David Copperfield to Perform in Guangzhou
David Copperfield, the American magician who is recognized “the greatest magician of the world”, will give his magic performances in the new Guangzhou Gymnasium for five evenings on end as from July 11.
China gambles on trumping cold warriors
On July 3 both the US and European Union delegations to World Trade Organization talks announced significant progress toward resolving their differences with China about its entry into the organization. The same day, a London-based monitoring group said China was barring religious instruction for an 8-year-old Tibetan boy, Pawo Rinpoche, believed to be the reincarnation of the Panchen Lama, Tibet's second most important religious authority.
Why China needs one Korea
The radical change of the situation on the Korean peninsula in the second half of 2000 has brought the security pattern of Northeast Asia to the threshold of transformation.(1) Consequently, the policies of the six parties of the region (China, the United States, Russia, Japan and the two Koreas) will have to be modified. Such modifications must be based on an understanding of the essence and trend of the recent changes.
Seoul, Washington set to discuss defector's trip
The South Korean and U.S. governments will likely begin consultation soon on the proposed visit to the United States by Hwang Jang-yop, the top-ranking North Korean defector, Seoul officials said yesterday. The consultation will focus on the safety of the former North Korean Workers' Party secretary in the United States, according to the officials.
Philippine industry facing output cutbacks, layoffs
Faced with the double whammy of declining exports as the global economy slows and higher input costs as the peso slumps, some Philippine manufacturers have quietly begun cutting back output and laying off staff.
Malaysia: Ready, aim, shoot in foot
Malaysia's opposition alliance will have to get its act together if it does not want public support for it to dissolve in a sea of acrimony.
Tackle or tiptoe: How to handle North Korea
Bravo, the Jangs. The seven-strong North Korean refugee family's bold ploy of seeking sanctuary in the Beijing office of the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) last week paid off, and faster than many expected. Just three days later they were on a plane to Seoul: via Singapore and Philippines for form's sake, and despite predictable protests from Pyongyang.
US backs Japanese economic plan, leaders to meet
The United States is prepared to support a Japanese economic reform plan that is designed over time to end a decade of stagnation, a senior US official said on the eve of a Japanese-American summit.
Opposition Leader Arrested in India
Police cracked down on top opposition leaders in a southern Indian state on Saturday, arresting one of India's most senior politicians, a federal minister and hundreds of local leaders in a bribery scandal. Another federal minister was injured.
N. Korean Refugees Reunited in Seoul
Seven North Koreans began their new lives in South Korea with a reunion — with three relatives who had fled their communist homeland ahead of them, officials said Sunday.
China's Red Party Marks Birthday
The ash-gray former girls' school where China's Communist Party was born is now a national shrine. It's also part of a new shopping mall shared with an Italian ice cream parlor, a hair salon and a Starbucks coffee shop.
Air Force Sergeant Questioned in Japan
Police spent a second day Saturday questioning an U.S. Air Force sergeant about the alleged rape of a Japanese woman he spent the night drinking with near the American military base on Okinawa.
Ramos: S-E Asian nations need to revive trade, economic ties
Philippine President Fidel Ramos called on South-East Asian economies to revive trade and economic co-operation in the region so as to cope with globalisation.
Burma: Khin Nyunt warns customs staff over misconduct, graft
Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council [SPDC], met with staff of Customs Department at the Ministry of Finance and Revenue at 1400 [local time] today. Firstly, Finance and Revenue Minister U Khin Maung Thein explained the organizational set-up of the ministry, background history of the Customs Department, staff structure and strength, departmental programmes, objectives, and other salient points.
Thailand's tiger economy
Thailand may no longer classify as a "tiger" economy, but if a recent report by the London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) is correct, the country's illegal trade in tigers and tiger-based products is a flourishing business.
