Topic: China

Backchannels
Backward step for reform in Myanmar?

Yes, Myanmar's military backed government has promised elections in 2015 and released Aun San Suu Kyi from prison. But it's still calling the shots - and violently.

Taiwan undersea oil plans raise neighbors' eyebrows

The island's exploration efforts in the South China Sea could fuel tensions with China and other nations with territorial claims there. Heated rhetoric last year prompted the US to intervene.

Starbucks $1 reusable cups: Curb trash, get a discount (+video)

Starbucks $1 reusable cups: Starbucks will introduce $1 reusable plastic cups at its cafes starting Thursday. Starbucks already gives customers a 10-cent discount for using reusable cups for refills, but it hopes the $1 plastic cups will increase the habit and reduce trash. 

Energy Voices
Shale oil and gas predictions for 2013 and beyond

North America will continue to show the world the way on shale gas and oil, Grealy writes, but we're only at the first baby steps of shale.

Horizons
A very techy Christmas: 50 million new phones and tablets activated

Christmas week saw a record 50 million iOS and Android devices activated, and more than 1.7 billion apps downloaded, according to analytics firm Flurry. On Christmas Day alone 17.4 million new devices were unwrapped.

The Monitor's View: Who forced a 'fiscal cliff' deal? Try foreign investors.

Washington is now all too aware that foreign creditors and investors will punish it for any macroeconomic mismanagement. American competitiveness was at stake in the fiscal cliff negotiations.

Energy Voices
Unconventional wisdom: 5 possible energy surprises for 2013

Cobb lists potential surprises in the energy world that conventional wisdom has judged rather unlikely to happen in 2013.

In South Korea, Kim Jong-un's New Year speech generates surprise - and doubt

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un called for economic reform and expressed a wish to improve relations with South Korea, departing from the usual North Korea rhetoric.

$1 million Apple heist: Thieves hit Paris store on New Year's Eve

$1 million Apple heist at the flagship store in Paris was a 'well prepared' operation, police said. Four armed thieves used the commotion around New Year's Eve festivities in downtown Paris to carry out the $1 million Apple heist.

The Monitor's View: For journalists and Internet, 2013 must not repeat 2012

Record assaults on journalists in 2012 and official moves to censor the Internet show how much authoritarian regimes fear the truth. Perhaps in 2013, truth-tellers will start to win.

Sports in 2012: here are some Monitor highlights

It’s impossible to list all the records set in 2012, but here’s a short rundown of some heralded highlights, plus 20 of our favorites, including some you might have missed.

9 chats with top true-crime authors

In 2012, writers pondered murder and mayhem across the globe and across centuries.

Editor's Blog
Bad news is loud. Good news rules

If you look behind the often dire headlines and examine the long-term trends, you'll see that crime is falling, lifespans are increasing, and poverty is ebbing. In other words, there's solid evidence for hope.

2012's 'good news' stories

2012 saw jobs returning to the US, health concerns improve in historic numbers, and more.

Cover Story
Progress watch 2012: Smart phones, jobs returning to America, and war crimes trials

The often-slow arc of good news may not make headlines. But 2012 brought its quiet share: from extreme poverty dropping by half since 1990 to a robot with the bulky profile of an NFL player that may have a role in bringing jobs back to the US.

UN Envoy warns of mass death next year in Syria

The international envoy to Syria emphasized the deteriorating situation in the country, and called for a quick end to the conflict, warning hundreds of thousands could die next year.

2012 enters the record books. Were you paying attention? A news quiz.

The year 2012 brought no shortage of significant news, from scheduled political transitions in the US and China to unexpected tragedies, moments of human triumph, and more record-setting in the realm of social media.

It's gone by quickly. Were the London Olympics really just a few months ago? Test your knowledge of these events with the Monitor's 2012 news quiz.

Energy Voices
Why is world using more coal? The China trade.

International trade – especially the addition of China to the World Trade Organization in 2001 – has sharply boosted coal mining.

Energy Voices
Top energy stories of 2012. What's your pick?

From the fracking revolution to the CAFE standards  to India's record blackout, 2012 had plenty of energy stories. Vote for your pick of top energy story for the year. 

Russia's proposed ban on US adoptions: What would it mean for orphans?

Children's rights advocates say there's nothing wrong with efforts to reduce international adoption – if those efforts are focused on strengthening families and encouraging domestic adoption. Russia, however, has a long way to go to find domestic families for its orphans.

Horizons
Next Mac Mini might be 'Made in USA'

Apple CEO Tim Cook said earlier in December that the company would produce some Mac computers in the US in 2013, but he didn't say which ones. A new rumor from Taiwanese tech magazine DigiTimes says the Mac Mini will be moved stateside.

Energy Voices
Energy independence for fossil fuels? There's no such thing.

In a world energy market, where companies seek the highest profits, far-away events affect domestic prices. 

Focus
In 2013, possibilities for stability from Somalia to South China Sea

Policymakers in many of the world's hot spots have a common New Year's wish: for unity to usher in and consolidate political and economic stability.

More than a turnaround, Toyota sees record-breaking sales in 2013

Despite the Japanese earthquake and tsunami which interrupted production in 2011, and massive safety-related recalls this year, Toyota Motor Corp. expects to finish 2012 with 9.7 million vehicle sales, more than ever before.

Beyond the 'fiscal cliff': 6 reasons to be optimistic about America's future

As Americans take stock of 2012 and gear up for 2013, it's tempting to adopt "decline think" about the country, especially since there is still no deal to avoid the "fiscal cliff" of steep budget cuts and tax increases. But here are six reasons Americans should still be optimistic about their future.