News Archives

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. North Korea warns on South Korea-US military drills
North Korea has reacted angrily to the start of annual joint military exercises by the US and South Korea. Thailand invokes emergency laws before rally
The Thai government has announced that it will invoke the Internal Security Act from 11-23 March, in Bangkok and seven surrounding provinces. Indian upper house passes women's quota bill
The upper house of India's parliament has approved a bill to reserve a third of all seats in the national parliament and state legislatures for women. China’s Cyberposse
Some Chinese Internet users are hunting down and punishing people who have attracted their wrath. China Blames U.S. for Strained Relations
The blame for friction in Chinese-United States relations “does not lie with China,” and it is up to the United States to take steps to repair the frayed ties, China’s foreign minister repeated Sunday. Earthquake in eastern Turkey kills 57
A strong earthquake killed 57 villagers in a remote part of eastern Turkey before dawn on Monday, officials said, and aftershocks continued for hours after while rescuers searched for trapped survivors. Myanmar Enacts Election Laws, Paving Way For Polls
Myanmar announced the enactment of long awaited laws on Monday that set the stage for the country's first election in 20 years to be held sometime this year. India Wants To Give Women 1/3 Of Legislative Seats
India's government introduced a bill to parliament Monday that would reserve one-third of the legislature's seats for women, angering socialist lawmakers who tore up papers and tried to tear out microphones. Vietnam releases human rights lawyer from prison
A Vietnamese human rights lawyer has been released from prison after serving a three-year sentence for advocating for a multiparty government in Internet posts.