N.Korea - gambling on endurance

The UN World Food Program aims to have helped over 6 million Koreans avoid starvation in 2004 and currently has access to around 85% of the civilian population (of 23 million) through it's Special Operations section, more from the WFP... , but the DPRK government may be using that access as a bargaining chip.
A risky strategy considering - to quote the WFP - "In the latest survey, carried out in 2002, 40% of the children were stunted, 20% were underweight and 8% were wasted", more from The Guardian...

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N.Korea - Food rights and wrongs

North Koreans (among others) right to food is being violated, according to a UN official, more from The Chosun Ilbo... and the UNHCR...

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China - crackdown on North Korean refugees

Police have raided safe houses for N.Korean asylum seekers near Beijing. An underground railroad or just people trafficking ?more from Joong Ang Daily... and an opinion piece from S.Korea ...

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Japan - toxic textbooks are not history

A small minority of Japanese schools have started using revisionist history books more from Asia Times... and more on the view from Tokyo ...

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Japan - neighbours with axes to grind

Japan bashing may be a convenient political distraction for some nations in the region more from Japan Today...

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Japan - universal suffrage

Permanent residents may be given the vote, even if not Japanese nationals, more from Asahi S...

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Armenia - new poll shows an EU view

If Turkey is a candidate for the EU - why not Armenia ?. An opinion poll points the way, more from Radio Free Europe

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China - inscrutable statistics

The economic numbers look good for China (see yesterdays post), but is it ethnocentric to say the books are cooked ?, more from Asia Times...
Developing countries are always being criticised for inflated GDP figures, more from The Scotsman...

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China - shifting equilibrium

Europe should reconsider it's ethnocentric views on China's path to Modernity
more from LeMondeDiplo

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Russia - ready to follow Belarus example ?

Are Belarus, Russia and Ukraine competing for the 'worst practise' prize for democracy? - some fear a race to the bottom,

more from Moscow Times...

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Georgia - the centre tries to hold

Breakaway provinces are resisting the re-staffing of local government and police. Given the choice of a local crime lord or an unelected man-from-Tbilisi 'instability' threatens

more from EurasiaNet....

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S.Korea - worries over trade with China

China makes a bi-lateral offer you can't refuse

more from JDaily ....

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S.Korea - national security law reform

Old anti-communist statute to be scrapped - opposition warned against 'physical wrangling'

more from JDaily ....

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Uzbekistan - Murray's story reviewed

Ex-Ambassadors tale covered by the Guardian

more at The Guardian Weekend Edition .....

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Uzbekistan - Murray not our man any more

UK ambassador removed - had alleged torture was routine

more from Reuters ....

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Afghanistan - background

Also from BBC - analysis of issues facing Afghanistan

more from BBC In Depth ....

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China - roundup of recent news stories

BBC analysis of change in China

more from BBC In Depth ....

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Japan - Lawyers question Death Penalty

Japanese Lawyers association questions swift capital cases

more from The Guardian World Dispatch....

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US - Blood for oil

US oil use is growing but new supplies are mainly in the 'unstable' developing world - send in the marines...

more from Asia Times,l.....

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Turkey - EU's double standard

Test for European values in attitude to Turkish membership

more from Zaman, Istanbul.....

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Afghanistan - Run up to Oct 9th Presidential elections

Voter registration a challange

more from Asia Times.....

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China - issues faced by new party leader Hu Jintao

Overview of politics in China for 16th Party CongressMore from BBC News.....

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Turkey - A qualified yes from EU

End of the beginning for EU entry ?More from BBC World News.....

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