In The News

North Korea Pursuing More Practical Line

Seo Hyun-jin October 28, 2003
North Korea's government has become more and more practical in its dealings with the US, says this Korea Herald article. "Pyongyang has become more practical under the Kim Jong-il regime," said one South Korean scholar. "It recognizes the nuclear deadlock would only worsen its economy and work against other pending matters." Earlier this year Pyongyang insisted that it...

The West Will Miss Mahathir – And for Good Reason

Sunanda K. Datta-Ray October 28, 2003
Despite his penchant for remarks that incensed many foreign observers, Malaysia's retiring Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad, will be missed by Western governments, says this opinion article in Singapore's Straits Times. Governing for 22 years, Mahathir oversaw the development of Malaysia into one of the world's top 20 trading nations. Appreciating his success and considering...

When Jobs Move Overseas (to South Carolina)

Yilu Zhao October 26, 2003
Why would a Chinese refrigerator company move to America, where wages are ten times higher than at home? Prestige, argues Yilu Zhao, and political benefits back home. The Chinese government is pushing to put 50 of its companies on the Fortune Global 500 list and sees foreign investment and a greater share of the US market as the surest way. Thus state-owned companies, like the refrigerator...

Roh Supports English as 2nd Official Language

October 24, 2003
South Korea's President Roh is throwing his weight behind a plan to make English his country's official second language. The Ministry of Finance and Economy expects to build 100 special zones nation-wide for English education, and several provinces are considering investing some of their own resources into English immersion schools. In a recent survey of 12 Asian countries, South...

Pyongyang Derides US Treaty Offer

October 22, 2003
The North Korean government is calling a US pledge not to invade North Korea a 'laughing matter'. US President George W. Bush had earlier offered the isolated communist country a written guarantee that the US and four other countries would not attack North Korea if Pyongyang agreed to give up its nuclear weapons development program. "We have demanded that the United States drop...

APEC Acts with Speed on Trade

Achara Pongvutitham October 22, 2003
Thailand wrapped up the summit of APEC leaders in Bangkok on a sharp note. Delivering the summit's Bangkok Declaration to the World Trade Organization's offices in Geneva immediately after the close of the meeting, Thailand and APEC members were “clearly sending a signal to the EU that it should come back to the negotiating table" on the issue of agricultural subsidies....

Malaysia Gains from HSBC Jobs Shift

K.P. Lee October 18, 2003
HSBC is the latest in a series of financial institutions that are moving certain functions out of the US and UK and into areas that provide cheaper labor. Malaysia and India have become some of the most attractive relocation sites, given the preponderance of English speakers. Banks, as well as other businesses, are eager to cut costs by moving "call center" and "backroom...