Saving Elephants in Laos

There are only several hundred elephants in Laos today, a country which was once known as the 'land of the million elephants'. Animal welfare groups vow to save the elephants

Massive Credit Card Data Theft Hits 20 Million South Koreans

In an effort to quell public anger, authorities have released tougher regulations, but people remain livid.

Xinjiang Cuisine: 5 Must-Eat Foods

Chinese Billionaire Activist's Confession and Release

Chinese billionaire activist Wang Gongquan, who was arrested and detained for more than 4 months, was released on bail after making “confessions” that he and another citizen right activist Xu Zhiyong had organized and incited criminal activities to assemble a crowd to disrupt order in public space. Offbeat China has...

‘Steamed Buns Store’ Song in Ode to Chinese President Xi Jinping

A song praising Chinese president Xi Jinping’s everyman behavior has been composed in ode to his appearance at a small Beijing eatery late last year. The song will be officially released after the Spring Festival. Offbeat China has translated the lyrics:  (accompaniment) Steamed buns store, steamed buns store (solo) Here’s the story:...

Zhihu: A New Space for Questions and Discussion in China

Since China's crackdown on the most popular social media Sina Weibo, a new online platform Zhihu has become popular among public intellectuals as a space for rich discussion. Similar to Quora.com, Zhihu allows Chinese web users to post questions, with the best responses upvoted by others. It is free from...

South Korea: I Would Rather Sell My Personal Info

Personal information of about 20 million people, which amounts to two fifth of the entire South Korean population, has been compromised in the country's worst identity theft. Customers of the affected three major credit card firms gasped at the sheer extensiveness of the breach; it is not just the user's real name,...

East Timor: ‘Australia Spied on Us for Oil Secrets’

East Timor is battling Australia in The Hague over Australia's alleged spying and violation of East Timor's sovereignty in a dispute over an oil and gas treaty between the two.

China Arrests Ilham Tohti, Peaceful Advocate for Uyghur Minority

Chinese Communist Party mouthpiece Global Times accused university professor Ilham Tohti of being a separatist. His supporters maintain he opposes violence and independence for the Uyghur people.

How the Vietnamese are Using Facebook Pages

Despite being regularly blocked by the government, Facebook continues to grow in terms of users in Vietnam. Patrick Sharbaugh of Vietmeme explains how Vietnamese are maximizing Facebook pages: …they don’t use it only for posting personal information, but often for creating temporary civil society communities and advocating for pet causes....

Cambodia Garment Workers Demand $160 Monthly Minimum Wage

The poster illustrates the $160 monthly minimum wage demand of Cambodia garment workers.The current standard is $80 but the government is only willing to grant a $15 increase. A nationwide strike was launched by workers last December but this was violently dispersed by the police early this month.

Iran:Tehran Welcomes China's Help to Launch the National Internet

Iranian authorities in the Ministry of Information recently met with their Chinese counterparts and said they welcome China's experience to launch Iran's national internet.” Amin Sabeti tweeted: #China will help #Iran to launch the National Information Network or the National Internet http://t.co/nhLSmQRMnv @Liberationtech @lorenzoFB — Amin Sabeti (@AminSabeti) January 20,...

Malaysian Prime Minister Sparks Water Spinach Meme Over Rising Prices

Reacting to protests against rising food prices, Malaysia's prime minister reminded the public that the price of kangkung or water spinach has gone down. This remark unleashed a kangkung meme

Lunar New Year Ad From A Desperate Chinese Mom

The letter said: To my son Peng, I’ve made many calls to you, but you never picked up. This ad is probably the only thing that can reach you. Mom and dad won’t force you to get married any more. Please go back home for Spring Festival this year! Loving...

Most Annoying Emoticons and Expressions in Chinese Online Communication

An online survey has revealed a list of the most objectionable expressions and emoticons in online communication of 2013. More from Nanfang insider.

Chinese Civil Servants Demand Higher Salaries

People's Congress representative from Guangdong province suggested the government to increase civil servants’ salaries. Indeed their basic salaries are low, but they enjoy huge benefits and subsidies. The proposal immediately stirred up hot reactions from netizens. ChinaSMACK curates the story in English.

Philippine Typhoon Haiyan Victims Complain of Slow Relief and Substandard Shelters

Dead bodies are still being retrieved in the Visayas two months after typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines. Temporary shelters were also exposed to be overpriced and substandard

Korean Seniors Prompt Boycott of McDonald's and Get McResolution

Korean elderly made headlines in New York City, as they loitered at McDonald's from early in the morning till well after dark - a not unfamiliar scene to South Koreans.

Indonesian Maid Says She Was Beaten, Starved and Burned in Hong Kong

Another damning case of foreign maid abuse has recently been exposed in Hong Kong. Activist groups are working together to end this modern-day slave system.

One Million Yuan to Hire a Girlfriend for Chinese New Year

"I'm too busy with work, mom is pressuring me to get married, so I sincerely plan to hire a girlfriend to take home."

South Korea Accused of Rewriting History in High School Textbook

The South Korean government is blamed for favoring textbooks that support their political views and grant them excuses for their past flaws.