Friday, 25 April 2014

Monday, 21 April 2014

Americans still don't trust the stock market

More than five years after the financial crisis, the average American is still wary of the stock market, according to a survey released Monday.
Link

Friday, 11 April 2014

CIA's 'harsh interrogations' exceeded legal authority

A classified U.S. Senate report found that the CIA's legal justification for the use of harsh interrogation techniques that critics say amount to torture was based on faulty legal reasoning, McClatchy news service reported on Thursday.
Link

Wednesday, 9 April 2014

Japan opposition fears Abe 'destabilizing' region

Japan's main opposition leader chided Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for conservative statements on war history and voiced fear he could be a "destabilizing" factor in East Asia.
Link

Tuesday, 1 April 2014

CIA misled on interrogation program, Senate report says

A report by the Senate Intelligence Committee concludes that the CIA misled the government and the public about aspects of its brutal interrogation program for years — concealing details about the severity of its methods, overstating the significance of plots and prisoners, and taking credit for critical pieces of intelligence that detainees had in fact surrendered before they were subjected to harsh techniques.
Link

Monday, 31 March 2014

Neville Maxwell interview: the full transcript

In his first interview after a Snowden-style disclosure of the contentious secret report on the 1962 China-India war, Neville Maxwell tells Debasish Roy Chowdhury of the South China Morning Post what the 50-year-old document means for the future of China-India relations.

Neville Maxwell discloses document revealing that India provoked China into 1962 border war

Journalist’s Snowden-like revelations about 1962 war boost China’s claims of ‘peaceful rise’

Sunday, 23 March 2014

NSA infiltrates servers of China telecom giant Huawei

The U.S. National Security Agency has infiltrated servers in the headquarters of Chinese telecommunications and internet giant Huawei Technologies Co, obtaining sensitive information and monitoring the communications of top executives, the New York Times reported on Saturday.
Link

Tuesday, 18 March 2014

Russia won’t take an unreliable West at its word

The revival of East-West tension over Ukraine looks thoroughly geopolitical. But the context is bad economics. In the last century, Russia was damaged by flawed ideologies which originated in the West. And today it is damaged by Western economic policy.

Monday, 17 March 2014

‘No link’ between pilot’s politics and loss of Flight 370

Reports linking the pilot’s political affiliation to the plane’s disappearance were dismissed as wild, groundless allegations by the Malaysian opposition People’s Justice Party, of which the captain is a life member.

Saturday, 15 March 2014

Police too soft on foreign workers in area: Shopkeepers

A group of shopkeepers in Little India who witnessed the violence unfold on Dec 8 told the Committee of Inquiry (COI) yesterday that the police have been too soft on foreign workers who congregate in the area.

Donnino Rossetti, Italian restaurant owner jailed for attacking cabby in Singapore


Shanghai men attracted to plump women

A survey by a matchmaking website has confirmed a long-held suspicion — that Shanghai men prefer chubby, well-rounded women compared to their brethren elsewhere in China.

Wednesday, 12 March 2014

Poorest doc jailed for big money transfers to lover

How China's official bank card is used to smuggle money

Growing numbers of Chinese are using the country's state-backed bankcards to illegally spirit billions of dollars abroad, a Reuters examination has found.
Link

Saturday, 8 March 2014

Japanese historians slam sex-slave apology review

A group of Japanese historians on Friday stood behind their government's 1993 apology over wartime sex slavery, slamming Tokyo's possible move to revise it as "unforgivable".
Link

Friday, 7 March 2014

Saturday, 1 March 2014

The international law basis behind China’s claims

Many have called on China to base its claims in the South China Sea on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos). In fact, Unclos might not be the proper forum for China’s claims. Customary international law, which recognises historical claims of the kind China is putting forth, might be a more apt avenue.

Friday, 28 February 2014

Former NUS law don Tey Tsun Hang acquitted of corruption charges on appeal

Former National University of Singapore law professor Tey Tsun Hang, who was previously convicted in a sex-for-grades scandal, was on Friday morning acquitted of all his charges in Singapore’s High Court on appeal.
Link

UK, US spies 'stored millions of Yahoo webcam images'

US senators said British and US spy agencies showed a "breathtaking lack of respect" for privacy after reports they had intercepted and stored images from webcams used by millions of Yahoo users.
Link

Nanjing massacre memorial stirs strong emotions in China

The skulls, bones, and names of thousands of dead at the Nanjing massacre memorial stand as a stark demonstration of China and Japan's inability to move beyond history in their increasingly tense relationship.
Link

Wednesday, 26 February 2014

Monday, 24 February 2014

Japan considers revision of comfort women apology

Japan is to consider revising its landmark apology for its wartime system of sex slavery, a top official said on Monday, in a move likely to draw fury in South Korea and beyond.

Saturday, 22 February 2014

Sichuan mining tycoon’s fall from philanthropist to ‘triad boss’

Revelations about Sichuan mining magnate Liu Han’s alleged crimes have shaken those who knew him as a great philanthropist

Media’s heavy hints signal endgame in the pursuit of Zhou Yongkang

The Communist Party’s main mouthpiece has pointed the finger at party and law enforcement officials for protecting a Sichuan billionaire who allegedly ran a mafia-type gang.

Directive bans patients from making ‘cash gifts’ to hospital doctors

Some medics welcome move to end payment of ‘red packets’, but others contend practice will endure as long as health worker wages stay low

Monday, 17 February 2014

Singapore repatriation firms’ tactics under workers’ rights microscope

Bangladeshi claims he had knife held to his throat by ‘repatriation firm’ hired by Singapore employer trying to force him out to reclaim bond

Documents released by Snowden links NSA to spying on US law firm

The National Security Agency was involved in the surveillance of an American law firm while it represented a foreign government in trade disputes with the United States, according to a new report based on a top-secret document that had been obtained by former NSA systems analyst Edward Snowden.

Sunday, 16 February 2014

NSA Australia allies 'spied on US law firm' in Indonesia row

Australian spies tapped a US law firm representing Indonesia in a trade dispute with the US, new leaks say.
Link

Saturday, 15 February 2014

Chinese army cracks down on housing, cars in anti-graft drive

Link

China sacks police chief of vice hub in prostitution scandal

The Chinese government on Friday sacked the police chief of the southern “sin city” of Dongguan following a candid report by the state broadcaster on the underground sex industry there, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

China state media slams Aston Martin over handling of sports car recall

China’s state media has slammed Aston Martin over a recall of its luxury cars involving parts produced in the country, saying the British firm is using the stereotype of low-quality ‘Made in China’ manufacturing to mask its own shortcomings.

Thursday, 13 February 2014

Nanjing seeks Unesco listing for massacre documents


China has applied to Unesco for inclusion of documents related to the 1937 Nanjing Massacre in a move seen as a response to Japan’s request to add kamikaze pilots’ letters

Japan on backfoot in global PR war with China after Abe shrine visit

Japan risks losing a global PR battle with China after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to a controversial shrine for war dead and comments by other prominent figures on the wartime past helped Beijing try to paint Tokyo as the villain of Asia.
Link

US cracks down on luxury car re-exports to China

Criminal or civil actions have been filed in US states, but some contend it’s just a commercial dispute

Wednesday, 12 February 2014

War sex slavery unspeakably bad, says former Japanese PM Tomiichi Murayama

It’s time for Tokyo to resolve issue, Murayama says after meeting ‘comfort women’ in Seoul

Tuesday, 11 February 2014

Chinese state media slam Japan PM Abe’s ‘gangster logic’

A Chinese Communist Party mouthpiece on Tuesday criticised Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in unusually harsh terms, denouncing the leader for comparing the Asian rivals’ tensions to the British-German relationship before the First World War.

Monday, 10 February 2014

What type of cheater are you?

Whether a cheating spouse is forgiven may depend on the type of affair, with women more upset by emotional affairs, while men care more about physical ones, according to a survey by cheaters' website Victoria Milan.
Link

Sunday, 9 February 2014

Can Jakarta be more sensitive?

“The diplomatic row between Indonesia and Singapore is unfortunate and could have been avoided if we had been a little more sensitive towards our neighbour.

Friday, 7 February 2014

Thursday, 6 February 2014

Briton Christopher Gordon Sang jailed two weeks for pushing cabby on the head


China criticizes Japan over comments doubting Nanjing massacre

China's Foreign Ministry has criticized remarks by a board member of Japan's state broadcaster who said a massacre carried out by Japanese troops in China's then-capital of Nanjing in 1937 did not happen.
Link

China furious at Japan NHK manager's Nanjing denial

China reacted furiously on Wednesday to the denial of the Nanjing massacre by a senior manager at Japan's national broadcaster, calling his remarks "a barefaced challenge to international justice".
Link

Tuesday, 4 February 2014

NHK manager’s Nanjing denial no problem, says Japan government

Countries in the world ignored the propaganda ... that Japan’s troops carried out a massacre in Nanjing. Why? There was no such thing. - Naoki Hyakuta

That's why Japan cannot and will not be forgiven.

Foreign education no guarantee of success in China job market

Record numbers of newly minted university graduates are returning to the mainland to a job market not overly impressed with all their efforts

Monday, 3 February 2014

China says no cover-ups using state secrecy as excuse

China has unveiled new rules telling officials not to cover up what should be publicly available information using the excuse it is a state secret, in what state media said was a move towards greater government transparency.

Chinese firms march to Beijing’s austerity beat

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

Sunday, 2 February 2014

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.

Saturday, 1 February 2014

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.

Wednesday, 29 January 2014

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.
Link

Tuesday, 28 January 2014

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).

Monday, 27 January 2014

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.
Link

Sunday, 26 January 2014

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”.

Wednesday, 15 January 2014

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

Sunday, 12 January 2014

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

Wednesday, 8 January 2014

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.

Sunday, 1 December 2013

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'

Saturday, 30 November 2013

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’

Friday, 29 November 2013

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

Wednesday, 27 November 2013

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

Tuesday, 26 November 2013

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

Link

Monday, 25 November 2013

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.

Saturday, 23 November 2013

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.

Friday, 22 November 2013

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

Link

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.

Thursday, 21 November 2013

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.

Wednesday, 20 November 2013

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

Tuesday, 19 November 2013

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

Link

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.

Thursday, 14 November 2013

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.

Monday, 11 November 2013

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