Chinese firms march to Beijing’s austerity beat

Airlines, high-end hotels and eateries cutting prices, catering to masses now

Japan upset by South Korean ‘comfort women’ comics at French show

Japan has expressed its “regret” at a South Korean exhibit at an international comic book festival in France featuring “comfort women” forced into wartime sex slavery in Japanese military brothels.

The lingering stench of an imperial era

The English banker and “relationship manager” Anton Casey - who stirred a storm of indignation among Singaporeans earlier this month with his intemperate comments - is the latest in a long line of Westerners to have disparaged Asians in language laden with barbs about their race and class.

Biden asked Abe not to visit war shrine

US Vice President Joe Biden spent an hour trying to persuade Japan's prime minister not to visit the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, two weeks before a pilgrimage that sparked fury in Asia, a report said Wednesday.
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Snowden claims NSA collects economic intelligence as well

There is “no doubt” the US engages in industrial espionage, Edward Snowden said in an interview in which he also asserted that he worked alone in disclosing mass surveillance by the National Security Agency (NSA).

As 'African' Chinese park money in Hong Kong, Beijing targets 'naked' officials

Step by step, Chinese authorities are making life tougher for officials looking to spirit assets and family members out of the country to avoid close scrutiny and strict currency controls.
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Japan NHK head’s ‘comfort women’ remark stirs controversy

The newly appointed head of Japan’s public broadcaster NHK has stirred controversy by saying the system of forcibly drafting women into military brothels during World War II was “common in any country at war”.

Anton Casey loses job over derisive comments

Anton Casey, the British expatriate whose derisive comments about Singapore’s public transport have stirred public anger, is no longer with wealth management company Crossinvest Asia.

British expat Anton Casey's posts 'deeply offensive': Shanmugam

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Arrogant Crossinvest Banker Anton Casey calls Singaporeans a 'wuss'

How Anton Casey is making life tough for arrogant expat bankers in Singapore

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British expat Anton Casey on anti-Singaporean Facebook posts: Please forgive me

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Beijing orders shutdown of ‘secret’ clubs, restaurants within public parks

The Beijing city government has issued an order to close down all private clubs and high-end entertainment venues set up at the city’s spacious public parks, amid efforts to curb officials’ lavish lifestyles and crack the whip on corruption.

China hails first test of hypersonic nuclear missile carrier

US no longer only one with Mach 10 glider that can outfox defences and deliver nuclear warhead

US biological weapons tested in Okinawa in 60s

The US army conducted field experiments of biological weapons, which could harm rice cropping, in the Japanese island of Okinawa in the early 1960s, a press report said Sunday.

Hong Kong triads supply meth precursors to Mexican drug cartels

Members of 14K and Sun Yee On crime gangs supplying the notorious Sinaloa cartel with raw materials to produce ‘Ice’ as demand surges

Over 1,000 ill as Japan tainted food scandal widens

More than 1,000 people have fallen ill after eating pesticide-contaminated frozen food as a scandal widens across Japan, Jiji Press reported Wednesday.

Thai protest leader Suthep a son of the elite with an axe to grind

Suthep Thaugsuban, the leader of the Thai protests, is a political veteran with a chequered past and a hatred of what he calls the 'Thaksin regime'

Chris Harris pits the Porsche 911 Turbo S against a McLaren 12C

Declaration of air zone is a sign that Beijing thinks risk of conflict is rising

The motives are complicated, analysts say, but it could signal an end to the era of China ‘hiding its capabilities while biding its time’

Technological progress gave China confidence to declare ADIZ

Improvements in the People’s Liberation Army’s air surveillance and control systems helped give Beijing the confidence to create its air defence identification zone (ADIZ) over the East China Sea, military experts said.

Italian mafia fed man alive to pigs

A group of Calabrian mafia assassins beat a rival with a spade and fed him alive to pigs, Italian police said after rounding up 20 people for various mob crimes including five murders.

Canada let NSA spy on G20, G8 summits

Canada allowed America’s National Security Agency to spy on G20 talks in Toronto in 2010 and at the G8 summit days earlier, according to documents cited by public broadcaster CBC.

By law, the CSEC cannot target anyone in Canada without a warrant, and is prohibited by international agreement from getting the NSA to spy on its behalf.

Guardian

Producer of Pretty Woman, Arnon Milchan, admits he’s an Israeli spy

Now the Israeli businessman behind hits such as Pretty Woman, Fight Club and L.A. Confidential has finally come forth with a stunning admission - for years he said he served as an Israeli spy, buying arms on the country’s behalf and boosting its alleged nuclear programme.

Protected air space over East China Sea to remain ‘forever’

Sudden announcement of controversial defence zone was under consideration ‘for some time’ and will not be rescinded, say Beijing advisers

Shrine find suggests Buddha may have been born two centuries earlier

Discovery of timber structure dating to 6th century BC suggests sage may have lived 200 years earlier than generally believed, say scientists

Malaysia summons Singapore envoy over spying reports

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Top-secret exposé: Singapore helping US spy on Malaysia

Neighbouring Singapore is a key partner of the “5-Eyes” intelligence group which was revealed to have tapped telephones and monitored communications networks in Kuala Lumpur, according to more top secret documents leaked by intelligence whistleblower Edward Snowden.

China creates air defence zone over Japan-controlled islands

Aircraft are expected to provide their flight plan, clearly mark their nationality, and maintain radio communication with Chinese authorities

Xi Jinping tipped to promote Communist Party allies to strengthen powerbase

Li Zhanshu, 63, one of Xi’s closest allies, is the front-runner to replace Han Zheng, 59, as Shanghai’s party boss, the sources said. The party boss outranks the city mayor.

Right-wing Japanese group dismisses fears of former Philippine ‘comfort women’

A right-wing historical group in Japan has criticised former comfort women in the Philippines who expressed fear at the sight of Japanese troops providing aid in their town as being the work of “professional accusers.”

Right-wing Japanese group dismisses fears of former Philippine ‘comfort women’

A right-wing historical group in Japan has criticised former comfort women in the Philippines who expressed fear at the sight of Japanese troops providing aid in their town as being the work of “professional accusers.”

Foreign trainees in Japan face exploitation

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Former bank officer jailed 11/2 years for Halloween fight which left party-goer dead

 

A Briton, who got into a fight at a Halloween party, was jailed for 11/2 years on Thursday. James Daniel Rhodes, 36, was convicted of causing grievous hurt to Mr Ronald Tan, an Australian. Mr Tan, 34, fractured his skull during the fight and died two months later.

Elliott Raymond Pitcher jailed for attacking cabby over $20 fare

A 31-YEAR-OLD commodities broker who kicked and punched a cabby over $20 in fares was jailed for two weeks yesterday.

Appointment of top audit official to Party organ signals shift in China’s anti-graft strategy

A personnel reshuffle in the Communist Party’s disciplinary forces in Shanghai appears to indicate a power transfer from local governments to the central anti-graft authorities, analysts say.

China, South Korea reject complaint from Japan over statue of assassin

China and S Korea reject complaint from Japan over proposed memorial to activist who killed colonial governor more than a century ago

Tokyo reacts to anti-Japanese sentiment in South Korea

Japanese attitudes towards South Korea harden in the wake of criticism over Tokyo’s wartime actions and Seoul’s pivot to major trading partner China

Indonesia downgrades Australia ties over spying row

Australian spy chiefs give assurances that there will be no more wiretapping in Indonesia

Chinese official shamed over adultery 'contract' that fines bad behaviour

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China praises Korean assassin whom Japan calls a ‘criminal’

China and South Korea are to cooperate on a memorial to a Korean national hero who assassinated a Japanese official a century ago, provoking a diplomatic row Tuesday.

Xi Jinping shows muscle by setting up panels on economic reform, security

The creation of two new panels to oversee economic reform and national security provides perhaps the strongest sign yet that President Xi Jinping has successfully consolidated power across the government after a year in office.

Impatient Beijing subway commuters get the better of German fare machines

Superior foreign technology often fails when put to the test in China’s different market conditions

‘Little emperors’ harden up on reality TV shows

Spoiled children taken out of their comfort zones prove to be surprisingly independent

Bombing exoneration for Fujian man 12 years on exposes China legal abuses

Beaten so badly he repeatedly tried to kill himself, when Chen Keyun signed his confession to bombing a Chinese Communist party office he was not even sure what it said.

Frustrated Hong Kong women head to mainland China in search of love

Unhappy with ‘limited options’ at home, more of the city’s singles are turning to matchmaking events over the border to find a life partner

Chinese Americans protest across US over Jimmy Kimmel’s ‘kill Chinese’ skit

British banking director, Mason Robert Alford, fined $4,000 for hitting cabby

Younger buyers spice up Bentley’s cars

They prefer two-door Continental coupes and convertibles in bold, bright colours

Hackers expose Asia’s weak cyber defences

A rash of website hackings in the Asia-Pacific has exposed weak cyber defences which must be improved to help the region deal with more sophisticated and sinister threats, particularly from criminal organisations, analysts said.

Timelapse China in Motion

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Jewel - Foolish Games

CIA compelled medics to torture terror suspects: independent report

Military trumped medics’ oath to be ethical and made them complicit in abuses, independent report says; CIA and Pentagon reject findings

China's Forbidden City Built with Giant 'Sliding Stones'

The Forbidden City, the palace once home to the emperors of China, was built by workers sliding giant stones for miles on slippery paths of wet ice, researchers have found.
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Kerry says in some cases US spying 'reached too far'

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Australia Participated in N.S.A. Program, Document Says

Australia, a close ally of the United States, has used its embassies in Asia to collect intelligence as part of the National Security Agency’s global surveillance efforts, according to a document leaked by Edward J. Snowden and published in the German newsmagazine Der Spiegel.

Manila Mayor Aims to Ease Tensions With Hong Kong

A former Philippine president, Joseph Estrada, now the mayor of Manila, hopes to accomplish in the next few weeks what the national government has failed to do in three years: mend strained ties with Hong Kong over a botched hostage rescue attempt in which eight tourists were killed.

US network apologizes for child's 'Kill Chinese' quip

A US network has apologized after a child flippantly suggested to "kill everyone in China" during a late-night comedy show which infuriated Asian American activists.
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China's Real Estate Bubble

Lawsuit after six million bottles of Australian wine poured down drain

Global drinks giant Treasury Wine Estates was on Monday facing a class-action lawsuit from Australian shareholders after oversupply issues forced six million bottles of wine to be poured down the drain.

Manila backtracks on South China Sea accusation against China

In an embarrassing twist after foreign affairs and defence officials had accused China of preparing to build new structures on Scarborough Shoal, a group of rocks about 120 nautical miles off the coast of the main island of Luzon, Aquino said the blocks found within the shoal "are not a new phenomenon" and "some of them have barnacles attached to them."
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Kunming's illegal street racing scene

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Xi sets up special unit to probe Zhou Yongkang corruption case

Xi Jinping takes unusual step of forming special unit to investigate Zhou Yongkang graft scandal, bypassing party’s internal disciplinary system

Elite French winemakers seek elusive Chinese blend

The world's fine winemakers have exacting standards for soil, climate and cultivation to produce the perfect grape. And they are looking to recreate that unlikely blend in China -- better known for cheap mass production.
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US businessman accused of being mob boss in China

When more than 500 policemen swooped in to arrest 40 suspected gangsters in southern China last year, the alleged kingpin was a Los Angeles businessman who had hoisted an U.S. flag amid a crowd to welcome Xi Jinping, now China’s president, to California.

Conflict and clashes over China's prized caterpillar fungus

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Porsche Experience Center

Netanyahu the Nuclear Hypocrite!

Trust is a many-splendored thing

Trust enables citizens and the Government to work together to build a cohesive and adaptive society - one with good quality of life for all; where Singaporeans can call home.

Chinese inspectors uncover widespread corruption in “shock and awe” probe

Bo Xilai’s former stronghold of Chongqing among places criticised by anti-graft teams for failing to impose sufficient checks on leaders

Xi Jinping hopes traditional faiths can fill moral void in China

President Xi Jinping believes China is losing its moral compass and he wants the ruling Communist Party to be more tolerant of traditional faiths in the hope these will help fill a vacuum created by the country's breakneck growth and rush to get rich, sources said.
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Myanmar old guard clings to $8 billion jade empire

Special Report

Chinese General’s son found guilty of gang rape, sentenced to 10 years in jail

A court in Beijing found Li Guanfeng, the 17-year-old son of prominent military artist Li Shuangjiang, guilty on Friday charges of gang-raping a woman earlier this year and sentenced him to 10 years in prison.

Hacker 'mercenaries' linked to Japan, South Korea spying: researchers

A small, sophisticated international hacking group was responsible for a widely publicized 2011 spying attack on members of Japan's parliament as well as dozens of previously undisclosed breaches at government agencies and strategic companies in Japan and South Korea, security researchers said.
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China adoption agency furious over 'child exchange' report

China's adoption agency said it was "very shocked and furious" about the findings in a Reuters report that exposed how U.S. parents use the Internet to abandon unwanted children they have adopted from abroad, including China.
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US targeted Indian diplomats with sophisticated bugs

The US National Security Agency targeted the Indian embassy in Washington and the Indian UN office in New York with sophisticated surveillance equipment that might have resulted in hard disks being copied, a report said Wednesday.
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At U.N., Brazil's Rousseff blasts U.S. spying as 'meddling'

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Myanmar's Suu Kyi looks to Singapore as model - minus the materialism

Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi cemented Singapore's role as a major economic partner and model for her country on a five-day trip to the island, taking home what she said were valuable lessons on education policy and anti-graft measures.
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Foreign manpower tightening up a notch

Higher qualifying salary for those on employment permits seen adding to labour costs

Hotel-style prison awaits China's Bo Xilai: inmates

Fallen high-flyer Bo Xilai can expect hotel-style treatment at a jail for China's political elite, where he will enjoy comfortable surroundings but be constantly monitored by government agents, former prisoners say.
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Both sides were ruthless and cruel, says former communist party member

Chin Peng has been accused of being cruel and ruthless by the Malaysian government, but his actions were no worse than that of the Malayan soldiers, said a former Communist Party of Malaya member.
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Bo Xilai sentenced to life in prison

Fallen Chinese political star Bo Xilai was sentenced by a court to life in prison Sunday, following a sensational scandal that culminated in the country's highest-profile trial in decades.
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Singapore paper examines Malaysian divide over Chin Peng

Even in death, Chin Peng remains a deeply divisive figure. Putrajaya remains firm that his remains cannot be brought back to Malaysia, the opposition and MCA have urged the government to show clemency and allow bygones to be bygones.
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Arabs target Israel at U.N. nuclear meet despite U.S. warning

Arab states will push ahead with a bid to single out Israel for criticism over its assumed atomic arsenal at this week's U.N. nuclear agency meeting, despite Western pressure to refrain, a senior representative said on Friday.
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US National Security Agency linked to hacking of telecoms giant in Belgium

Belgium has denounced the “substantial and invasive” hacking of its biggest telecommunications company, saying a foreign state may have been responsible, as media pointed the finger at the US National Security Agency.

Brazil's Rousseff calls off state visit to U.S. over spying

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has called off plans for a state visit to Washington in October because of revelations that the United States spied on her personal communications and those of other Brazilians.
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Chin Peng dies in Bangkok hospital

 

 

The Malay Mail

Bangkok Post

Mr Clean catches China's graft tigers by the tail

Behind China's aggressive drive to root out corruption is Wang Qishan, a historian-turned-economist who once felt so bad about getting free parking that he reportedly sent a colleague back to pay the fee.
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NSA passes unsifted intelligence to Israel

The U.S. National Security Agency routinely passes raw intelligence to Israel without first removing details about U.S. citizens, Britain's Guardian newspaper said on Thursday, citing documents obtained by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.
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NSA spying on Petrobras, if proven, is industrial espionage: Rousseff

Reports that the United States spied on Brazilian oil company Petrobras, if proven, would be tantamount to industrial espionage and have no security justification, Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff said on Monday.
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Longer wait for China residency permits irk foreign firms

Foreign executives in China are upset at a new rule that allows authorities to hold passports for up to 15 working days when processing and renewing residency permits, saying it could disrupt essential business travel within China and abroad.
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New Snowden documents say NSA can break common Internet encryption

The United States (US) National Security Agency (NSA) has secretly developed the ability to crack or circumvent commonplace Internet encryption used to protect everything from email to financial transactions, according to media reports citing documents obtained by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.

Obama unlikely to win support on Syria

His consensus-building strategy is akin to Bush the First's, but the US, Mid-East and world today are different from 1990

Action on CNPC signals Beijing’s resolve to hit corruption hard

Hu Shuli says the Politburo’s launch of a new five-year plan to tackle corruption, just ahead of a key meeting on reform, is significant

New visa and residence regulations for China

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Kerry portrait of Syria rebels at odds with intelligence reports

Secretary of State John Kerry's public assertions that moderate Syrian opposition groups are growing in influence appear to be at odds with estimates by U.S. and European intelligence sources and nongovernmental experts, who say Islamic extremists remain by far the fiercest and best-organized rebel elements.
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American jailed for offences in hostels

An American tourist was sentenced to nine months in jail yesterday for insulting and outraging the modesty of five women at backpacker hostels.

China hunts tigers in corruption crackdown

The ultimate test for the ongoing crackdown on corruption by China President Xi Jinping is aptly captured in his own campaign phrase: “Hitting tigers as well as flies.” One year on, what tigers could he catch?

Russia's Putin calls John Kerry a liar on Syria

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday called U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry a liar, claiming he had denied that al-Qaida was fighting with the Syrian opposition in that country's civil war.
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Brazil's Rousseff wants U.S. apology for NSA spying

Furious about a report that the U.S. government spied on her private communications, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff may cancel a planned White House visit and downgrade commercial ties unless she receives a public apology, a senior Brazilian official told Reuters on Wednesday.
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