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Situations
Delayed but Delivered
Abhisit vows to bridge political divide, fix economy
The Nation, Thailand,  31 December
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday he would work to end political polarisation...
Defusing Tensions
Pakistan’s military leaders talk of peace
The Hindu,  30 December , Nirupama Subramanian
Islamabad: In remarks seen as key to the de-escalation of the post-Mumbai military tensions in the region,...
Regions
East Asia
Court backflips, detains Chen Shui-bian
Taipei Times,  31 December

BEHIND BARS: The former president's office criticized the move, saying it once again highlighted the Ma Ying-jeou administration's efforts to wage a political vendetta.

Official sacked for costly lifestyle
China Daily,  30 December , Wang Qian, Xin Dingding
Civil servants should listen to the public and behave in a manner that is appropriate to their status,...
Firms reneging on job offers to be named
Japan Times,  30 December
The labor ministry plans to make public the names of companies that retract job offers...
Beijing Olympics - China's come-of-age show
China Daily,  24 December
Beijing - China capped the most splendid year in its sports history when it concluded with a bang its debut as Olympic host in 2008.
South Asia
Kashmir results cut across communal fault lines
The Hindu,  30 December , Praveen Swami
Sunday's election results prove State's political map is a complex mosaic of sub-regional zones of influence.
Landslide mandate
Daily Star,  30 December
The Awami League-led grand alliance has swept back to power after seven years out of office...
US, UK not doing enough to rein in Pak: Pranab
Times of India,  23 December
New Delhi: India on Monday made plain its displeasure with US and UK for not doing enough to get Pakistan to fulfil its promise of action against jihadi terrorists behind 26/11...
Foreigner spilled the beans
Daily Star,  23 December
Afraid of safety, he detailed in Singapore Koko's bribery scam.
UN hails China’s naval ops in Gulf of Aden
People's Daily,  23 December
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the president of the UN Security Council, Neven Jurica ofCroatia, Monday both extended their welcome to China's decision to dispatch Chinese naval ships...
India's sabre rattling
The Nation, Pakistan, 
IN the midst of the highly charged post-Mumbai atmosphere...
South East Asia
Civilian trials for TNI in the works
Jakarta Post,  31 December , Abdul Khalik
In what has been hailed as a big step toward reforming the Indonesian Military (TNI), the House of Representatives and the government have agreed to allow civilian courts to try soldiers...
Car-free push key to rise in clean air days
Jakarta Post,  30 December , Tifa Asrianti
With the last car free event of the year held on Sunday, Jakarta will have seen 125 days with "good" air quality...
Than Shwe, Voodoo and the Number 11
Irrawaddy,  25 December , Aung Zaw
Whenever I speak to diplomats or foreign friends who want to learn more about Burma, I encourage them to draw parallels between the political decisions in the country...
Abhisit right to put the South on the agenda
The Nation, Thailand,  25 December

If Thailand is to end the southern insurgency, Thais must look to history for a lesson.

Economics
Business
3 nonlife insurers discussing merger
Asahi Shimbun,  30 December
Battered by the global financial crisis, three nonlife insurers are negotiating a merger that would create the leader...
China signs burmese gas deal for 30-year supply
Irrawaddy,  26 December , Wai Moe
The China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) has concluded a 30-year deal...
Li PCCW bid tipped to fail
The Standard,  30 December , Benjamin Scent
Tycoon Richard Li Tzar-kai's bid to privatize PCCW (0008) for HK$4.20 a share is likely to fail...
Gome chairman suspended from duties, wife quits
China Daily,  25 December , Ding Qingfen
China's largest consumer electronics retailer Gome said on Wednesday that its board of directors has suspended the executive duties of...
Indian IT’s next destination, Bhutan
India Times,  24 December
Thimphu: If things go according to plan, Bhutan could well become an important IT hub...
Downsizing sweeps Korean companies
Korea Times,  23 December , Yoon Ja-young
The automobile, semiconductor and petrochemical industries are expected to be the next targets...
Technology & Environment
Single male rhino, 20, seeks mate to save species
Jakarta Post,  30 December , Sean, Yoong
He probably hasn't dated in two decades, but the survival of a species may depend on whether Tam can get lucky soon.
Endangered birds face first winter test
Asahi Shimbun,  25 December
Sado, Niigata Prefecture - A true test for survival looms for rare toki crested ibises born and raised in captivity and released into the wild...
People
Country picks its unknown soldier as Indian of the Year
Times of India,  31 December
It's an indicator of the kind of year India has had that Bollywood, cricket stars and political biggies became also-rans in our annual survey to determine the Indian of the Year.
Dairy veteran returns to roots
China Daily,  26 December , Yang Zhen
Zheng Junhuai, former chairman of Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group, one of China's largest dairy producers, has reportedly emerged from prison...
Weekend
Travel & Leisure
Pushy tourists prove bothersome for maiko
Daily Yomiuri,  30 December
Kyoto - Residents and owners of restaurants in the Gion Kobu entertainment district of Kyoto have begun patrolling the area to protect geiko and maiko,...
Carrying the torch for traditional stage arts
Daily Yomiuri,  25 December , Hiroko Ihara
The 11th installment of "Touring Ancient Temples" explores Kofukuji temple's role in originating and fostering the traditional stage art noh..
Books & Arts
A life in public service
The Hindu,  30 December , Arvind Sivaramakrishnan
G. Sundaram adds being a meticulous diarist to having been a very distinguished public-service officer,...
Dueling with a rare Japanese superhero
Japan Times,  25 December , Mark Schilling

In her new film, 'K-20,' director Shimako Sato has brought to life an alternative-history Japan — and a truly compelling arch villain.

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