Hong Kong, China — The Indian Cricket League, a brand new rebel organization, has thrown the gauntlet to the Board of Control for Cricket in India by designing its own tournament and contracting local talent, as well as roping top international stars to its base. The duel

Seoul, South Korea — China has been making much progress in almost every field since 1979. Economically the Chinese people are much better off than in 1970s.

Hong Kong, China — Today, the whole world is talking about India's progress in information technology in the last decade. Presently, the IT and business processing outsourcing companies employ about 1 million workers directly and around 3 million indirectly.

Sharjah, United Arab Emirates — With a silent prayer in my heart, I read the front page news about yet another bomb blast last weekend in Hyderabad, India, ripping apart dozens of people. The accompanying gruesome images were difficult to forget: an inconsolable mother wailing over the

Pune, India — Baby Nawathe is a 10-day-old child admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at King Edward Memorial Hospital in Pune, India. His weight is just 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds).

Hong Kong, China — Writer-director Feroz Abbas Khan's celluloid rendition of Mohandas K. Gandhi's complex and difficult relationship with his eldest son Harilal drew applause from South African President Thabo Mbeki and Nelson Mandela.

Beijing, China — In recent years, many provinces in China have introduced educational reforms, disrupting the rigid system whereby the whole country used the same textbooks. Beijing educational authorities also recently announced some new reforms.

Seoul, South Korea — As world leaders prepare for next month's U.N. General Assembly in New York, an international organization is advocating reforms of the world body that would include bringing religious leaders into its decision-making and running educational programs for

Meerut, India — Having just passed the 60th anniversary of India's independence last week, it is a fitting time to reflect on the noteworthy, extraordinary and exemplary role played by Mohandas K. Gandhi in the liberation of India.

Seoul, South Korea — Many Western politicians and scholars, as well as some famous Chinese experts, have predicted since 1989 that communist China would follow the former Soviet Union and come to the end of its history sooner or later. Yet this expectation has proved wrong.

Toronto, ON, Canada — It is no surprise to find mega prosperity alongside slums in Indian cities. Cows have not vanished from the roads, although they are far fewer than twenty years ago.

Kabul, Afghanistan — The kidnapped German lady was rescued last night, but it is hard to shake off a sense of depression. I can hear the helicopters flying low over my neighborhood, trying to give residents a semblance of peace and security.

Paris, France — As the Chinese Communist Party's 17th National Congress approaches, the nationwide media -- which is controlled by the Party and has long been its mouthpiece -- is fulfilling its goal of stopping people's mouths. Beijing authorities responsible for the me

Hong Kong, China — Security lapses, transport woes, and a passing typhoon did little to dampen the spirits of International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge, who praised Hong Kong's preparedness to host the equestrian events of the 2008 Beijing Olympics while revie

Macau, China — It is normal to expect that colonized peoples would hold a negative view of their former colonizers once they are free of their domination. But actually, European and U.S.

Goa, India — The last three decades have witnessed unprecedented conflict within and among nations, and religion has often been misused and invoked to justify sectarian strife. The United Nations, which was created "to save succeeding generations from the scourge of w

Manila, Philippines — A few weeks ago, the South Korean Embassy in the Philippines stopped issuing visas to protest the alleged extortion activities of some Philippine immigration agents. South Korean nationals had complained of being harassed by gun-wielding officials pretend

Pune, India — Changing lifestyles and food habits, lack of exercise and stress at work have long been incriminated as the risk factors for diabetes mellitus. But according to a recent study, a risk factor may be present right at birth if the mother is deficient in vita

Meerut, India — The test of the relevance of a great man's works and views lies in their application to the prevailing conditions of time and space. Mohandas K.

Washington, DC, United States — A desire for freedom, security and opportunity is sending many of Nepal's young people out of the county in search of better lives in India, the United States and Europe. A friend of mine who recently moved to India said her life there was an improvement

Seoul, South Korea — The Chinese Communist Party has been deeply unhappy over the moves of Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party toward establishing a "Taiwan state." Yet, as the eight-year leadership of the DPP reflects, there has been a change in the Taiwanese attitude towa

Manipal, India — Not every teacher of the language would find that the numerous versions that pass for English in India have much in common with Shakespeare. For example, Mumbaikars (Bombayites, to the unwary) pronounce "snack" as "snake," terrifying friends from abroad w

Bangkok, Thailand — Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Paiboon Wattanasiritham called on Asia's youth to assume the mantle of leadership and foster sustainable, peaceful and harmonious societies, at the International Youth Leadership Conference in Bangkok last week. The confer

Washington, United States — As part of a traditional family growing up in Nepal and as a woman, I was not allowed to dance and sing. It was very strict.

Macau, China — A survey of local young people on the impact of Macau's shiny new casinos shows both benefits and drawbacks, including some serious social concerns. The territory's gambling business was monopolized by local tycoon Stanley Ho until 2002, when the governme

Seoul, South Korea — Ignoring orders from the Iraqi government, celebratory gunfire resounded across Baghdad and revelers poured into the streets after Iraq beat Saudi Arabia in Jakarta, Indonesia, to clinch its first Asian Cup soccer championship Sunday night. It should ha

Beijing, China — When Beijing TV broadcast a report about a street vendor selling dumplings stuffed with cardboard, the story was promptly picked up worldwide as another example of China's unsafe food production. Surprisingly, Chinese authorities and the TV station quickl

Pune, India — Ramesh, (not his real name), a strong young man of 26 years, felt the sky had fallen on his head that day in 1999. In the hospital for simple lip surgery, he was told for the first time that he was HIV positive.

Tokyo, Japan — Japan has 55 nuclear power stations across the country, the third highest number in the world behind the United States and France. It is also an archipelago prone to earthquakes.

Seoul, South Korea — Seven years into the new millennium, which many people hoped would be an era of peace, that dream is still a far cry from reality. Yet some groups are still relentlessly pursuing new and innovative paradigms for peace.This was the theme of a unique inte

Beijing, China — Confusion over property rights is causing considerable commotion in China. The latest dispute concerns the ownership of villas built on rural land classified as "collectively owned" and sold to individuals.

Pune, India — With the arrival of the monsoon season, Indian cities start experiencing outbreaks of rain- related diseases. Dengue fever is one of them, a viral fever that spreads through the bite of the female Aedes Egypti mosquito.

Mumbai, India — Nothing cripples life in Mumbai more than its much-celebrated monsoon rains. The classic rain song in the film "Shree 420" may look romantic in the cozy comfort of our drawing rooms, and every budding poet may hark instinctively to the sounds and sight of

Washington, DC, United States — Nepal is an attractive tourist spot for those who appreciate nature and adventure. However, the violence that has afflicted much of the country over the past 10 years has adversely affected tourism.

Taipei, Taiwan — The concept of cultural revolution in China is generally linked to the disastrous 10-year Cultural Revolution from 1966-1976. That, in fact, was a political revolution centered on Mao Zedong with the purpose of reclaiming power from President Liu Shaoqi.

Seoul, South Korea — Nationalism can be considered the twin of the nation state; a unique national identity to accompany a strong national sovereignty. The inhabitants of the nation state not only live and work together, but share a common folklore, mythology, language and an

Manipal, India — What do you get when you cross Wahabbism and Khomeinism? The "W-K virus" -- a set of mutually reinforcing creeds that promote religious supremacy, the notion that the followers of a particular faith are superior to the rest.

Beijing, China — There have been a number of moves in China to force Internet users to reveal their real names online, rather than using a pseudonym. The latest is a move by local authorities in Xiamen city, who have proposed a regulation that would ban anonymous postings

Pune, India — Every year half a million women are diagnosed with cervical cancer worldwide. About 270,000 of these will die from the disease.

Meerut, India — On Thursday, for the first time in U.S. history, the United States Senate opened with a Hindu prayer.

Seoul, South Korea — The Chinese Communist Party and the Nationalist Party, or Kuomintang, share a common challenge in the pursuit of Taiwanese independence by the Democratic Progressive Party of Taiwan. The CCP and the KMT have long been rivals, fighting and disgracing each

NAGERCOIL, India — Our guide was leaning on a walking stick and limping, yet he patiently led a couple of friends and me through more than 100 panels at an exhibition on Islam, held in Chennai (Madras). Suave and gentle, he explained skillfully how science vindicates Islam.

Beijing, China — The Beijing government has been criticizing advertisers for using misleading words like "luxury," "supreme," and "mansions" to sell goods and properties, saying such ads are not conducive to building a harmonious society. The Beijing Administration for In

Seoul, South Korea — South Korea's Jeju Island, known as the "Island of the Gods," is an attractive vacation spot for both Koreans and foreign visitors. With its volcanic rock, frequent rains, and temperate climate, it resembles the Hawaiian Islands in the United States.

Washington, DC, United States — With only a year to go until the Summer Olympics, advocacy groups worldwide are ratcheting up efforts to expose the dark side of China, from child labor exploitation to forced relocation of some of its most vulnerable people. Yet public outcry over report

Toba, Japan — The Japanese people, surrounded by oceans, have naturally developed a refined appetite for seafood. Their favorite sushi, or raw fish, has now become popular around the globe.

Ise, Japan — Japan's indigenous religion, Shinto, has remained intact over two millennia. Its primary shrine, the Ise Jingu, or Ise Shrine, has maintained its dignified and inspirational presence as the nation's spiritual soul by literally renewing its entire premises

Beijing, China — The former chief of China's State Food and Drug Administration, Zheng Xiaoyu, was sentenced to death two weeks ago for corruption after a number of scandals involving tainted food and medicines. This case seems extreme, but within the vast Chinese bureauc

Beijing, China — Many Chinese young people are facing a life-and-death ordeal this week, as they confront the university entrance examination that will determine their futures. Over the years, uncountable numbers of students have gone through this exam with a wide range o

Seoul, South Korea — South Korea, one of the world's most wired societies, has offered to share its technology expertise with Asian and Middle East countries to bridge the region's widening digital divide, in a move to forge better ties with oil exporters and win support for