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East Asia
N. Korea’s old tricks no longer work
So, these days North Korea is now in the middle of waging a ‘charm offensive’, which has suddenly superseded their belligerence campaign they conducted in March and April. In recent weeks, high-level North Korean envoys have reassured the world that North Korea is willing to return to the Six Party…
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East Asia
Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong to make official visit to China next week
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will make an official visit to China from Sunday till next Saturday at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. Besides Beijing, Lee will also visit China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Liaoning Province, according to the Prime Minister’s Office. In Beijing, Prime Minister…
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East Asia
TPP free trade talks make strides forward as sensitive issues still remain
Japan, as one of the 12 countries involved in the U.S.-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade talks, wrapped up the 19th round of talks in Brunei on Friday, while advances seemingly have been made on mutually- acceptable trade packages between the members, some pertinent issues still remain. Last month marked…
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East Asia
[Asia Round-up] Is Japan on the road to becoming militaristic again?
Editor’s note: Followings are summaries of editorials from major Asian media on current issues. China plastic surgery fraught with danger [China, China Daily, 13-08-2013] As an increasing number of people throughout the world resort to cosmetic surgery to improve their appearance, China has become the world’s biggest market for cosmetic…
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East Asia
Indonesia to introduce immunization policy to tackle infant deaths
A child is fed with vitamin during monthly medical health treatment for children at Tangerang, Indonesia, August 22, 2013. The Indonesian government this year will begin to introduce a new immunization policy to tackle the increase of pain and death in infant and children. A child receives vaccine injection during…
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East Asia
Disgraced politician Bo Xilai stands on trial accused of power abuse, bribery
Trial resumed Friday for disgraced politician Bo Xilai a day after he fiercely denied taking $3.5 million in bribes from businessmen and cross-examined one of them with a lawyer’s precision. His unexpectedly spirited defense at the proceedings aimed at capping China’s biggest scandal in decades appeared to be a last-ditch…
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East Asia
300 tons of highly radioactive water leaks from Japan’s Fukushima plant
Japan’s nuclear watchdog said a leak of highly radioactive water at the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant could be the beginning of a new disaster – a series of leaks of contaminated water from storage tanks. The plant operator has built hundreds of steel tanks to store massive amounts of…
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East Asia
How to internationalize the Kaesong Industrial Complex
[Editor’s note] The Kaesong Industrial Complex was shuttered in April this year when North Korea pulled out its workers as inter-Korean tensions escalated, but its role as a zone of engagement between North and South Korea catapulted into the headlines recently when Seoul and Pyongyang agreed to reopen the complex.…
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East Asia
China-Kenya sign US$ 5 billion funding agreement for development projects
The state visit to China by Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has effectively helped unlock billions of dollars to finance several Vision 2030 Flagship projects, officials said on Tuesday. The Vision 2030 Delivery Secretariat (VDS) Director General Mugo Kibati said the funding commitments extended by the Chinese government and related development…
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East Asia
Japan’s Kagoshima coated with layer of ash after Sakurajima volcano’s eruption
A volcano has erupted in southwestern Japan and coated a nearby city with a layer of ash. People in Kagoshima city wore masks and raincoats and used umbrellas to shield themselves from the ash after the Sakurajima volcano erupted Sunday afternoon. Drivers turned on their headlights, and local media described…
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