Saturday, 13 December 2014

Governments red-faced over ‘black site’ expose

US Senate report on CIA torture scheme sparks denials

Thursday, 11 December 2014

Americans Involved in Torture Can Be Prosecuted Abroad

The United States is obliged by international law to investigate its citizens suspected of engaging in torture, but even if it does not, Americans who ordered or carried out torture can be prosecuted abroad, by legal bodies including the International Criminal Court, legal experts say.

New York Times

Friday, 5 December 2014

Myanmar mine workers search for jade, find misery

Drugs, violence & graft mar jade industry amid insatiable China demand for the gem.

Wednesday, 3 December 2014

Eyeing a taxi licence?

Only Singaporeans aged 30 and above can drive taxis here.

Deleted Xinhua report gives rare insight into China corruption

By stating corruption is a systemic problem, article contradicted party line that it is all down to individual moral weaknesses

Sunday, 30 November 2014

America’s shameful Chinese Exclusion Act now largely forgotten

Chinese Exclusion Act passed by US Congress in 1882 stayed on the books until 1943, while Australia and Canada had similar laws

Saturday, 29 November 2014

Hong Kong occupiers are losing the high ground

Michael Chugani says the conduct of some Occupy protesters in Mong Kok is a good indication of why support for the movement is waning

Friday, 28 November 2014

Scientists in Yunnan unlock secrets of ‘magical’ microbe-killing plant

Pleasant-tasting relative of Sichuan pepper, long known to tribal doctors, shows promise as a safe, effective killer of dangerous microbes

Australia MPs Want Fines for Illegal Home Buying as Prices Soar

Bloomberg

Thursday, 27 November 2014

Is Harvard unfair to Asian-Americans?

For reasons both legal and moral, the onus is on the schools to make their admission criteria more transparent - not to use them as fig leaves for excluding some students simply because they happen to be Asian.

How China's shadowy agency is working to absorb Taiwan

Reuters

Wednesday, 26 November 2014

China, Russia and the Sinatra doctrine

For centuries, European navies roamed the world’s seas - to explore, to trade, to establish empires and to wage war.

Monday, 24 November 2014

Police probe political funding of mining magnate Clive Palmer

Australian police are investigating allegations about the misuse of A$12 million ($10.5 million) in Chinese funds during the 2013 political campaign of mining magnate Clive Palmer, The Australian newspaper reported on Monday.
Reuters

Sunday, 23 November 2014

Market players welcome LTA regulation of third-party taxi apps

Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) on Friday introduced a basic regulatory framework for third-party taxi-booking apps, in the latest move by a government to regulate such services that observers said have disrupted the taxi industry globally.

Philippines banning Hong Kong journalists is petty and vindictive

The Philippines has tried hard to end its diplomatic row with Hong Kong after the 2010 hostage killings in Manila. But by banning nine Hong Kong journalists from entering the country to cover next year’s Apec summit, it will only rekindle resentment and likely retaliation from Hong Kong. It is an appalling and unwise move.

Wednesday, 19 November 2014

WWII Celebration Plans by Putin and Xi to Score Points

Russia-China agreement to jointly observe war's 70th anniversary in 2015 aims to warn Japan against historical revision and could create difficulties for US-Japan alliance.

Tuesday, 18 November 2014

Don’t give Japan a free pass on its shameful past

Like “Holocaust fatigue”, many people thought the “comfort women” issue was ancient history, cynically dug up by Beijing to beat Japan whenever it wanted. That may be so. But just because you distrust China doesn’t mean Japan should get a free pass on rewriting its shameful past.