By Muneeza Naqvi
The Associated Press
NEW DELHI (AP) — Nearly 100 million women across Asia have “disappeared” because of a huge and growing gender gap that has fatally deprived them of access to health care and food. This has led to widespread abortions of female fetuses, according to a U.N. report released on March 8. Read the full story
By Jay Alabaster
The Associated Press
Japan’s Princess Aiko in 2008 (Photo provided by Xinhua News Agency)
TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s Princess Aiko, granddaughter of the emperor, has missed several days of classes because of bullying by boys at her elementary school, a spokesman for the royal family said on March 5.
The news provided a rare glimpse into the private affairs of the world’s oldest hereditary monarchy, which usually abides by strict, formal protocols and is tightlipped about personal matters.
The 8-year-old princess complained of a stomachache and expressed deep anxiety, and has not attended school since coming home early on March 2, the spokesman for the Imperial Household Agency said. He declined to provide his name, citing agency policy.
An investigation by the agency and the school revealed that she and several other students had suffered “violent things” from boys in another class, the spokesman said, declining to elaborate. Read the full story
By Samantha Henry
The Associated Press
NEWARK, N.J. — A lovesick graduate student from China who slipped under a rope barrier at Newark Liberty International Airport to say goodbye to his girlfriend, prompting a security breach and leading to worldwide flight delays, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge last Tuesday and apologized publicly for the first time. Read the full story
By Ashok Sharma
The Associated Press
NEW DELHI (AP) — India’s government will present a bill to lawmakers on March 8 aimed at empowering the nation’s often-marginalized women by reserving one-third of legislative seats for them, a governing party spokesman said. Read the full story
By Jay Alabaster
The Associated Press
"The Cove" is a recent Academy Award winner for Best Feature Documentary. The film describes the annual killing of dolphins in a National Park at Taiji, Wakayama, in Japan from an anti-dolphin hunting campaigner's point of view.
TAIJI, Japan (AP) — The Japanese fishing village featured in “The Cove,” which won an Oscar for best documentary, defended its practice of hunting dolphins on March 8 as a part of a long tradition.
The movie, which mixes stunning underwater shots of gliding dolphins with covertly filmed grisly footage of their slaughter, also claims that dolphin meat is laden with toxic mercury.
Taiji, a quiet fishing village on the rocky coast of southwestern Japan, kills only a small fraction of the dolphins hunted by the country each year. But it has long been a target of environmentalists and animal lovers because it uses a method called “oikomi,” in which the dolphins are chased into shore, making the hunt more visible.
Though few residents said they had seen the film, there was universal disgust at its portrayal of the town. Taiji proudly bills itself as “Whale Town” and a main bridge is adorned with dolphin statues. But after years of what locals see as unfair treatment by the foreign press, few are willing to talk on the record. One young dolphin trainer turned and ran away when asked for her opinion. Read the full story
By Eric Talmadge
The Associated Press
TOKYO (AP) — The tsunami from the deadly earthquake in Chile hit Japan’s main islands and even reached the shores of Russia last Sunday, but the smaller-than-expected waves didn’t cause significant damage. Read the full story
By Raf Casert
The Associated Press
RICHMOND, British Columbia (AP) — Head coach Kim Kwan-kyu was looking for the right word on his translation computer to explain South Korea’s stunning success in speedskating at the Vancouver Games. Read the full story
Gift shop owner George Mar, left, hangs flags as he opens his shop in Chinatown in Vancouver, British Columbia, Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010. The Olympic opening ceremony celebrated Canada’s aboriginals and French-speakers, but gave little hint of Vancouver’s huge, dynamic Asian population. Dismayed civic leaders are pleading for a different story at the closing show. (Photo by Jae C. Hong/AP)
By David Crary
The Associated Press
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — The Olympic opening ceremony celebrated Canada’s aboriginals and French speakers, but gave little hint of Vancouver’s huge, dynamic Asian population. Dismayed civic leaders are pleading for a different story at the closing show. Read the full story
By Becky Bohrer
The Associated Press
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaska officials are looking to China, in what some believe will be that country’s strong demand for natural gas, to help the state advance its long-held pipeline dreams. Read the full story
By Muneeza Naqvi
The Associated Press Writer
NEW DELHI (AP) — India again successfully test-fired a nuclear-capable missile on Sunday, Feb. 7, that can hit targets across much of Asia and the Middle East, a defense ministry press release said. Read the full story
By Jay Alabaster
The Associated Press
TOYOTA, Japan (AP) — Even in its hometown, the great automaker has lost some of its mystique. Read the full story
By Elena Becatoros
The Associated Press
RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (AP) — Taunted at home, Sanhya ran away at age 12, searching for acceptance — neither male nor female, but a member of a third gender. Read the full story
