Asia Pacific

A study of the salaries of civil servants for the Chinese government has found they are well below those of people with similar qualifications in other jobs.

Indonesia has become the world’s 10th-largest economy, climbing five places in six years, according to the World Bank. But analysts in Indonesia warned against too much rejoicing, pointing out that the country’s economy is driven primarily by consumption by its 250 million people.

Children’s Day, marked last week in South Korea, was a day of grief and sadness across the country in reaction to the death of scores of high school students in the sinking of a ferry last month.

Police in Pakistan have noticed a large increase in arms and ammunition being smuggled into the country.

The Taiwanese government has decided to hold a referendum on whether or not to turn on the country’s controversial fourth nuclear power plant.

A report in the April 22–28 edition of this newspaper left the impression that a third of Japan’s nuclear reactors are operating again, after all 48 were shut down in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima earthquake and tsunami disaster.

The Atlantic Council, a Washington-based think-tank, has warned India and Pakistan that their military spending, fuelled by regional rivalries, is impeding economic development in both countries.

The passion among China’s wealthy for flashy sports cars is encouraging Malaysia’s auto manufacturer, Proton Holdings Berhad, to manufacture the iconic English-designed Lotus marque in China.

New Zealand is rushing into the vacuum created by Canada’s abandonment of its immigrant investor program, which became overloaded by wealthy Chinese applicants.

South Korea is considering giving permanent resident status to foreigners who buy empty apartments or houses worth more than the equivalent of $500,000. There are about 61,000 unsold homes in South Korea.