International Business News - Asia/Pacific http://www.ibtimes.com/rss/feed/asiapacific.rss All articles are copyrighted by IBTimes.com 120 30 http://www.ibtimes.com/rss/feed/asiapacific.rss http://www.ibtimes.com/images/top_logo_ibt2_3.gif H1N1 swine flu is on the rise in China and Japan after triggering an unusually early start to the winter influenza season in Europe, Central Asia and North America, the World Health Organization said on Friday. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091106/who-says-pandemic-flu-on-rise-china-japan.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/223680-who-says-pandemic-flu-on-rise-in-china-japan.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091106/who-says-pandemic-flu-on-rise-china-japan.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091106/who-says-pandemic-flu-on-rise-china-japan.htm Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:27:28 EST A U.S. trade panel on Friday approved two new investigations into charges of unfair trade practices by China, but rejected another one week ahead of President Barack Obama's trip to Asia. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091106/uoks-two-more-import-probes-versus-china.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/223677-uoks-two-more-import-probes-versus-china.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091106/uoks-two-more-import-probes-versus-china.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091106/uoks-two-more-import-probes-versus-china.htm Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:44:24 EST The United States and Japan look set to avoid a collision over where to relocate a Marine base when President Barack Obama visits Tokyo next week, but the row could still fray security ties in the months ahead. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091106/japans-avoid-bases-feud-obama-visit.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091106/japans-avoid-bases-feud-obama-visit.htm Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:29:14 EST Turkey's President Abdullah Gul accused the European Union on Friday of "interfering" after the bloc asked Ankara to reconsider a decision to invite indicted Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir to an Islamic summit. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091106/sudan-leaders-planned-visit-sparks-turkey-eu-row.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091106/sudan-leaders-planned-visit-sparks-turkey-eu-row.htm Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:22:11 EST China denounced as protectionist new U.S. anti-dumping duties on steel pipes and launched its own investigation into imports of U.S.-made automobiles on Friday, a week before a visit by President Barack Obama. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091106/china-blastss-duties-ahead-obama-visit.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/223657-china-blastss-duties-ahead-of-obama-visit.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091106/china-blastss-duties-ahead-obama-visit.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091106/china-blastss-duties-ahead-obama-visit.htm Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:04:21 EST China urged more contact with the U.S. military on Friday while President Hu Jintao said his nation's plans for space were peaceful, striking a conciliatory tone ahead of U.S. President Barack Obama's visit. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091106/china-urges-military-cooperation-ahead-obama-visit.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/223631-.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091106/china-urges-military-cooperation-ahead-obama-visit.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091106/china-urges-military-cooperation-ahead-obama-visit.htm Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:03:28 EST A U.S. diplomat said on Thursday that Washington was "fully committed" to its alliance with Japan, as the two governments prepared for a visit by President Barack Obama that has been clouded by a feud over a U.S. Marine base. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091105/ufully-committed-japan-as-feud-simmers.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/223571-ufully-committed-to-japan-as-feud-simmers.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091105/ufully-committed-japan-as-feud-simmers.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091105/ufully-committed-japan-as-feud-simmers.htm Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:32:06 EST It would be "very hard" for next year's elections in Myanmar to be legitimate without the involvement of detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a senior United States official said on http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091105/myanmar-election-needs-suu-kyi-involvements-says.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/223525-myanmar-election-needs-suu-kyi-involvements-says.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091105/myanmar-election-needs-suu-kyi-involvements-says.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091105/myanmar-election-needs-suu-kyi-involvements-says.htm Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:19:06 EST U.S. authorities allowed Sri Lanka's military chief to return home without being questioned over human rights violations in the last months of the country's 25-year civil war, the Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091104/sri-lankas-top-general-leavess-unquestioned.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091104/sri-lankas-top-general-leavess-unquestioned.htm Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:52:09 EST Tropical storm Mirinae killed 42 people after plowing into central Vietnam this week and several others are missing, state media reported on Wednesday. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091104/storm-kills-42-vietnam-several-missing.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091104/storm-kills-42-vietnam-several-missing.htm Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:50:21 EST Republicans rolled to victory in Virginia and New Jersey governor's races on Tuesday in a sharp blow to Democrats that showed the limits of President Barack Obama's political clout. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091104/republicans-win-virginia-jersey-governorships.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/223439-republicans-win-virginia-new-jersey-governorships.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091104/republicans-win-virginia-jersey-governorships.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091104/republicans-win-virginia-jersey-governorships.htm Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:34:57 EST A trip by Japan's foreign minister to Washington to try to soothe strained ties was up in the air on Monday as doubts simmered over whether a feud about a military base will be resolved before a visit by President Barack Obama. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091102/japan-minister-trip-tos-not-set-ties-strained.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/223349-japan-minister-trip-tos-not-set-ties-strained.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091102/japan-minister-trip-tos-not-set-ties-strained.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091102/japan-minister-trip-tos-not-set-ties-strained.htm Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:18:37 EST North Korea called on Monday for direct talks with its long-time foe, the United States, and gave the clearest signal so far it was ready to return to nuclear disarmament talks it has boycotted for almost a year. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091102/north-korea-calls-direct-talks-withs.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/223340-north-korea-calls-for-direct-talks-withs.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091102/north-korea-calls-direct-talks-withs.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091102/north-korea-calls-direct-talks-withs.htm Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:37:58 EST The third typhoon to hit the Philippines in five weeks slammed into the main island of Luzon on Saturday, uprooting trees and toppling power lines, but there were no immediate reports of widespread damage. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091031/typhoon-cuts-power-uproots-trees-philippines.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/223300-.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091031/typhoon-cuts-power-uproots-trees-philippines.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091031/typhoon-cuts-power-uproots-trees-philippines.htm Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:19:53 EDT Japan is preparing new aid for Afghanistan of up to $5 billion (3 billion pounds) to be used to help former Taliban fighters find jobs and build roads, a big increase from previous commitments, the Nikkei newspaper said on Saturday. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091031/japan-preparing-tobillion-afghan-aid-report.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/223299-.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091031/japan-preparing-tobillion-afghan-aid-report.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091031/japan-preparing-tobillion-afghan-aid-report.htm Sat, 31 Oct 2009 09:57:35 EDT India is withdrawing about 15,000 soldiers from Jammu and Kashmir, a military official said Thursday, in a move aimed at boosting prospects of peace talks with the disputed region's separatist groups. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091029/india-withdraws-some-kashmir-troops-peace-gesture.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/223236-.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091029/india-withdraws-some-kashmir-troops-peace-gesture.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091029/india-withdraws-some-kashmir-troops-peace-gesture.htm Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:15:03 EDT Chinese President Hu Jintao has invited reclusive North Korean leader Kim Jong-il for a visit as Pyongyang has reached out to its foes and signalled it could return to dormant nuclear talks hosted by Beijing. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091029/chinas-hu-invites-north-koreas-kim-visit.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/223235-.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091029/chinas-hu-invites-north-koreas-kim-visit.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091029/chinas-hu-invites-north-koreas-kim-visit.htm Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:12:29 EDT For those who see North Korean leader Kim Jong-il as a dangerous lunatic prepared to risk the annihilation of his regime by launching a devastating attack on his neighbors, there is no shortage of supporting evidence. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091028/why-its-sane-kim-jong-il-be-crazy.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/223155-why-its-sane-for-kim-jong-il-to-be-crazy.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091028/why-its-sane-kim-jong-il-be-crazy.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091028/why-its-sane-kim-jong-il-be-crazy.htm Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:33:17 EDT Taiwan has relaxed rules for Chinese media, long regarded as spy organizations for the Communist government, as relations warm between the two long-time political rivals, officials said on Wednesday. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091028/once-seen-as-spies-taiwan-eases-china-media-curbs.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091028/once-seen-as-spies-taiwan-eases-china-media-curbs.htm Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:26:01 EDT Chinese President Hu Jintao told a senior North Korean official on Wednesday that ties between the two nations have reached a new level of goodwill, avoiding direct mention of the North's nuclear dispute in his public praise. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091028/chinas-hu-lauds-north-korea-sidesteps-nuclear-dispute.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20091028/chinas-hu-lauds-north-korea-sidesteps-nuclear-dispute.htm Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:23:46 EDT