FEATURED STORIES
Philippines election hack: Voter data breach stirs questions
Hiroshima and Obama’s nuclear disarmament legacy for future generations
For China, Pakistan ties more vital than designating Masood as terrorist
TOP NEWS
Manila ‘set to restart’ revamp of airport in South China Sea
(From China Daily)
The Philippines looks ready to restart work on upgrading a military airport at Zhongye Island (Pag-Asa Island for Philippines), a territory in the South China Sea that belongs to China, a source said.
The Philippine Air Force has recently used several transport planes to carry substantial amounts of construction materials, such as stones and sand, and various types of gasoline, ...
ASIA UNHEDGED
Let the rains come: India’s consumer prices fall more than expected
Retail inflation fell more than expected in March, India's Statistics Ministry reported Tuesday, leaving room for a "monsoon effect" on monetary policy later this year.
Consumer prices in March rose 4.83% year over year, but posted a significant drop from February's ...
IMF lowers outlook for global economy, but lifts China’s
With slow growth increasing the risks to the global economy, the International Monetary Fund in a quarterly update to its World Economic Outlook released Tuesday predicted Japan will experience a contraction next year. But the key monetary agency also lifted ...
Negative rates failed to boost Japan bank lending in March
(From Bloomberg)
Bank of Japan started policy in February to spur credit
Analyst 'skeptical' whether sub-zero rates will fuel loans
Japanese loan growth slowed to the weakest pace in three years in March, signaling the central bank’s introduction of negative interest ...
Alibaba buys control of Lazada in $1 billion bet on SE Asia e-commerce
(From Reuters)
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd has agreed to buy a controlling stake in Southeast Asian online retailer Lazada Group for about $1 billion, its biggest deal overseas, as the Chinese e-commerce giant seeks fertile new turf while growth slows at ...
ASIA TIMES NEWS & FEATURES
China: Taiwanese detained over suspected fraud
(From AFP)
China is holding a number of Taiwanese on suspicion of fraud, officials said after Taipei accused Beijing of "abducting" its citizens from Kenya and ...
As Stephen Hawking joins Weibo, users feel the cosmic touch
(From Irish Times)
Some Chinese internet users said it was like “touching the cosmos” when Stephen Hawking joined the Chinese microblog network Weibo, with the British ...
British lecturer missing in China confirmed killed
(From agencies)
A Hong Kong-based British lecturer who went missing hours after crossing over to the mainland in March was confirmed killed, the Hong Kong police said ...
Canada hounded Japanese even after WWII
Like their counterparts in the US, Japanese citizens in Canada were forced into internment camps during WWII. But after the war ended, things turned really ...
South Korea’s deadly infantry fighting vehicle is a terror on the battlefield
(From the National Interest)
By Ed Kim
For several years, South Korea has been in the throes of a military weapons binge. In particular, Seoul really wants ...
Japanese Navy destroyers visit Vietnam for 1st time since WWII
(From Asahi Shimbun)
By Manabu Sasaki
CAM RANH, Vietnam--For the first time since the end of World War II, Japanese destroyers dropped anchor at a Vietnamese port, ...
Asia Times Top Writers
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Sorry to have to tell you this, but the world just came to an end: Spengler
on in
The ancient devil, we learn from the Book of Job, tormented ancient man by taking away what he needed. The modern devil, we learn from the Faust legend, torments modern man by giving him what he wants. What if you… Read More ›
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The nuclear summit is merely a small win for Obama, in the face of huge changes in foreign policy
on in
(From China US Focus) By initiating and organizing the nuclear security summit, history might decide that President Obama’s show of statesmanship was worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize hastily bestowed on him at the beginning of his presidency. The Norway… Read More ›
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Alice in Trumperland and China’s currency: Spengler
on in
“There’s a trade war on with China, and we’re losing it,” radio talk show host Laura Ingraham hectored Sen. Ted Cruz, who opposes legislation to punish China for alleged currency manipulation. “Ted, you’re on the wrong side of history on… Read More ›
Fashion, Lifestyle, Sports, Travel, Food, Tech
(From Korea Times)
Luxury goods company Christian Dior apologized for a controversial photo it exhibited, after facing criticism that the photo seems to be disparaging Korean women as selling sex to buy a luxury bag.
The luxury fashion brand released an apology, ... Read More
Disney’s Zootopia seemed to have offended the Chinese military. Last week, PLA Daily, the official newspaper of China’s People’s Liberation Army, called the kids’ movie starring bunny rabbits and fennec foxes an ‘invisible propaganda,' intended to distort China’s culture and ... Read More
(From Caixin)
The central government has unveiled plans for developing China into an international soccer powerhouse by 2050.
The plan published on April 11 was drawn up by an inter-ministry office under the cabinet, the National Development and Reform Commission and two ... Read More
(From Yonhap)
Despite the United Nations slapping punitive sanctions on North Korea about a month ago, foreigners are still heading to the Asian country, a radio report said Wednesday.
The report by the Washington-based Radio Free Asia (RFA) quoted Paul Tjia, the ... Read More
Chinese restaurants and takeaways are popular among food buffs across the world. However, experts point out that the cuisine isn’t healthy.
After having scrumptious Schezwan fried rice and steamed dumplings, some people tend to suffer from what is called the ‘Chinese ... Read More
Planning to propose to your sweetheart? With 3D technology, you can do it differently.
Encode Ring, a Japanese company, has come up with a unique concept, which is radically personalized. The designers of this company will make use of your sound waves ... Read More