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Global News Blog China sends largest fleet yet to disputed islands

China sent a fleet of patrol ships today to the sea area it disputes with Japan, following a controversial visit by Japanese officials to a war shrine. The latest moves are seen as a setback for a diplomatic resolution.
Terrorism & Security Israel charges Syria with lethal chemical weapons use

The Israeli military says its evidence shows that the Syrian regime used sarin gas during a March clash with rebels, reversing earlier reports that no such weapons had been used.
Japan will join Asia-Pacific free trade talks

Member countries of the Trans-Pacific Partnership will allow Japan to join talks on a US-led Asia Pacific free trade agreement. The pact would cover nearly 40 percent of global economic output.
3 novels with unforgettable main characters

These protagonists will still be on your mind long after you've reached the last page.
New N. Korea threats against South, U.S.

N. Korea issued new threats after protesters in Seoul burned effigies of the North's leaders. N. Korea threatened retaliatory measures against S. Korea and "unspecified military countermeasures" unless the U.S. stops conducting military drills nearby.
The Monitor's View Alternative currencies like bitcoin are a mirror of their users

The e-currency bitcoin spiked and then fell last week, sowing doubts about alternative currencies, whether on the Internet or in local communities. Such experiments need a firm basis of trust.
Decoder Wire North Korea nuclear talks: Did John Kerry soften conditions? (+video)

North Korea nuclear talks are possible if the North gives up its nuclear program, Secretary of State John Kerry said this weekend. That's not new, but Kerry's tone has worried some analysts.
North Korea crisis: Can John Kerry persuade China to lean harder on Kim?

Secretary of State John Kerry meets with Chinese officials in Beijing Saturday, with tensions spiraling ever higher in the region as North Korea threatens to carry out a ballistic missile test.
Chapter & Verse Haruki Murakami's new novel becomes an instant bestseller in Japan

"Murakami mania" has gripped Japan since the release of Haruki Murakami's new novel, 'Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage' at midnight on Friday. No English translation is yet planned.
Kim Jong-un's goal? Status as the unequivocal god-king of the North.

Kim Jong-un is showing he is firmly in charge of North Korea, capable of challenging the mighty United States and a worthy successor to the Kim dynasty. That might be a good thing.
The Monitor's View A path to peace in land, resource disputes

A Taiwan-Japan agreement on fisheries near the Senkaku islands sets a model for China in avoiding dangerous moves on island claims.
What hope for diplomacy to defuse North Korea crisis?

Any diplomatic resolution to the North Korea crisis depends upon China's priorities and Kim Jong-un himself. Here's why both are difficult to gauge as Secretary of State John Kerry prepares to travel to the region.
Amid crisis, influential South Korean politician wants to deploy US nukes

A member of the South Korean National Assembly called for US tactical nuclear weapons on the peninsula. He also suggested that Seoul consider developing its own deterrent.
North Korean missiles: Could US shoot them down? (+video)

The Pentagon has been deploying more missile-defense ground batteries and ships to East Asia. Here's a rundown of the three-tiered system that the US could use to counter North Korean missiles.
Stay or go? Embassies in North Korea weigh warning.

North Korea is warning that it can no longer guarantee diplomats' safety in Pyongyang as international tensions mount.
Stocks rise; Best Buy jumps 16 percent

Stocks ended higher on Wall Street Thursday, regaining half of its plunge the day before, as buyers returned to the market. Among stocks making big moves, electronics retailer Best Buy jumped $3.48, or 16 percent, to $25.13.
Decoder Wire Caroline Kennedy: Good or bad choice for US ambassador to Japan? (+video)

Caroline Kennedy has largely shunned public political life, spending much of her time working at nonprofit organizations. Is it a good idea to send someone with little diplomatic experience as envoy to an important US ally?
Could China and Japan see a spring thaw in relations?

Diplomatic visits between Japan and China had been largely suspended since last September, when a territorial dispute brought the two Northeast Asian powers to the edge of a confrontation.
Why Caroline Kennedy is likely to get a warm welcome in Japan (+video)

The Kennedy name is well known in Japan. Ms. Kennedy would be the first female ambassador to the close US ally if her likely appointment is approved.
NTSB: Dreamliner battery fire more serious than first thought

NTSB released new documents indicating that a battery fire on a 787 Dreamliner took an hour and 40 minutes to extinguish. The smoke reduced visibility to zero and the heat was so intense it melted a stainless steel casing for Dreamliner's lithium-ion batteries, according to the NTSB.
North Korea threatens to nuke D.C.: why it's especially angry this time (+video)

The UN Security Council unanimously passed a resolution Thursday that's based on a draft text negotiated by the US and China – North Korea’s closest ally. This suggests Beijing may be ready to try to slow its neighbor.
Focus China-Japan island dispute opens door to misunderstandings

Stubbornness over conflicting claims to the Diaoyu/Senkaku islands in the East China Sea holds out the prospect of competing maritime patrols and continued tensions, raising the risk of an incident.
Focus Will China, Japan, and South Korea hit the 'reset' button for Asia?

In a historic moment of coincidence, new leaders are taking the helm in China, Japan, and South Korea, providing an unprecedented moment for the region to refresh relations.
Global News Blog How many frogs does it take to make a handbag? Tokyo museum has the answer

Tucked away in Tokyo is a little trafficked museum that houses bags from the world over. It is an unexpected reminder of how much more than a bag a piece of luggage can be.
Energy Voices Japan should invest in European shale gas

Shale gas is already having an impact as Japan looks to import suddenly plentiful natural gas from the US. Natural gas from shale should force Europe to recalibrate its own energy future.