Topic: Asia-Pacific Politics

Free Expression? Heavy Price...

At a meeting yesterday of China’s Communist Party Politburo, President Hu Jintao warned that more stringent controls on internet content must be put into place. Over the last week, the Chinese media has been leading a campaign to ...READ»

Courting the Enemy

Revenue from DVD sales have been helping film studios out of the hole left by poor box office receipts, except in China. Experts guess that up to 90% of DVD sales in China are pirated. Hoping to take a step forward, Hollywood signed ...READ»

10th Anniversary of Chinese Sovereignty in Macau

After nearly 500 years as a Portuguese colony, Macau returned to Chinese rule in 1999. The territory has always technically been connected to China -- it is, after all, primarily a peninsula -- but in other ways, the two are worlds ...READ»

New targets for carbon emmissions ?

A coalition of 99 companies is asking political leaders to set targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions and to establish a global carbon market. Their blueprint for tackling climate change is being handed to Japanese Prime ...READ»

Backlash Mounts Against China's Mandated Web Censorship Software

China’s announcement Monday that all computers sold in that country must include state-approved software to filter out pornography has drawn a good deal of commentary this week, none of it good. PC makers, civil liberties groups, ...READ»

Can PR Save China?

Recently, "Made in China" has been associated with dying pets, an amputated finger, poisoned children, and even toys that emit a date-rape chemical when swallowed. Can the country salvage its reputation? READ»

Mining Copper in Zambia

I ask Xiao Ye, an Africa statistical researcher for the World Bank, whether a clear chart or table exists laying out the full extent of China's economic involvement in Africa. "I don't know anyone who has done such a ...READ»

Weasel Words

Don Watson, a former speech writer for Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating, has a book coming out: Death Sentences: How Cliches, Weasel Words and Management-Speak are Strangling Public Language. Don Watson's book and Web site ...READ»

China Delays Rule Requiring Web Filtering Software on PCs

Without explanation or details, the Chinese government has suspended the enforcement of the new rule mandating that Web filtering software, known as Green Dam Youth Escort, be included with every computer sold in that country. The ...READ»

Journalism and the Great Firewall of China

Can’t say I didn’t see this coming a mile away – Western journalists in China for the Olympics (gasp!) can’t access certain websites. This despite the International Olympic Committee’s claim that reporters would have ...READ»

India's $10 Laptop

On February 3, the Indian government will unveil a $10 educational laptop intended to bring computing to the masses, reports the Times of India. By comparison, a computer-shaped cake pan is $20 plus shipping in the U.S. Will the $10 ...READ»

Shanghai Surprise

Notes from the field desk.READ»

Fast Talk: A Pioneer's Startup Story

Tom Bedecarre CEO, AKQA San Francisco, California Tom Bedecarre, 51, who recently launched AKQA mobile to create ad content for cell phones, has several clients--including Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Nike, and Visa--with their eyes ...READ»

The Atlantic Century: Benchmarking EU & U.S. Innovation and Competitiveness

Five countries—Singapore, Sweden, Luxembourg, Denmark, and South Korea—outperform the United States in international competitiveness and innovation, according to The Atlantic Century: Benchmarking EU & U.S. Innovation and ...READ»

You Down with GDP? II

In response to an entry earlier this week, FC Now reader Jivha indicates that Indian finance minister Jaswant Singh employs the metric Gross National Contentment. Jivha expands on the two concepts in a blog entitled The Tongue.READ»

migrant links london and slim internally displaced persons

The Coalition has expected verified news of abductions of under-18s from migrant links london and slim internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in attitude to such a stopover. LONDON - Children under 18 days are being abducted from ...READ»

China Attacks Itself

China's decision to force the use of the "Green Dam" censorware on every PC gives us the latest--and possibly the most glaring--example of a social auto-immune disorder.READ»

Tibetan Freedom Concerts

New York's Beastie Boys spread a message of nonviolence and freedom through their fourth annual benefit concert to Free Tibet.READ»

Live From Davos: Is It Time to Stop Worrying About China?

China's vice premier Zeng Peiyan told a plenary session at Davos Wednesday evening that his country's development over the next five years will create opportunities for the rest of the world. Specifically, he said China will focus on ...READ»

Trash Into Treasure: South Korea Builds First Landfill-Powered Hydrogen Station

Landfills now have a use besides stinking up large areas of land. The South Korean government is working on a project to produce hydrogen from natural biogases (aka methane) produces in landfills. The facility, which is being ...READ»

Cheap, Artificial Glaciers Could Help Save Disappearing Ice Sheets

Geoengineering is a controversial topic, and for good reason. It's risky to toy with our planet when so much damage has already been done, but that hasn't stopped researchers from investigating everything from forests of synthetic ...READ»

The Olympics: Green or Brown?

Beijing's pollution isn't a secret. But as part of its bid to secure the Olympic contract, the world's 13th filthiest city (according to a World Bank study) embarked on a massive cleanup to improve air quality, sanitize drinking water and purify the rivers in time for the games, which began on Thursday. New sports stadiums were built with solar power and other energy-saving technologies, while new public transit systems were introduced to the streets. But can Beijing really claim this summer's games are green?READ»

• Are Beijing's Olympics Really Green?
• The Power of Green

Korea Shoots For The Moon Using Green Energy

For some, the present financial crises signals a defense against the many variables of an uncertain future. For others, it is the impetus to create the future of our imaginations. Nations with an emphasis on sustainability are about to emerge as the architects of the new global economy.READ»

HABITAT ENERGY PARKS- HOW TO EVOLVE LOCAL LEADERSHIP IN INDIA!

LOCAL POWER SOLUTIONS BY NEW GENERATION OF LEADERS! HABITAT ENERGY PARKS- HOW TO EVOLVE LOCAL LEADERSHIP IN INDIA! Could we imagine that sons and sons of Chief Ministers would be logical choice of leadership for us Indians? ...READ»

China Disables Google Features as Anti-Pornography Campaign Intensifies

China is not relenting in its latest campaign against "vulgar" material on the Web. In its latest salvo against the free flow of information, the People's Republic has ordered Google to shut down its foreign Web site search and ...READ»