Asia-Pacific Region Intelligence Center

Japan's Meteorological Agency declared the opening of the "sakura season" on March 22 - that's when more than 80% of a benchmark tree at Yasukuni Shrine came into bloom. Holding "hanami", or cherry-blossom parties, is a centuries-old Japanese tradition. These women wearing hakamas have just graduated from university. Parks fill up with workers taking time out from the office, students and old p..

Xi Jinping (R) is widely expected to succeed Hu Jintao (L)China's leader Hu Jintao has been elected for another five-year term as president, after a near-unanimous vote in the National People's Congress. The Congress also voted to re-elect Mr Hu as chairman of China's powerful Central Military Commission. China's prime minister, Wen Jiabao, is expected to be confirmed in his post for another fi..

Ms Yi will spend several days at the space stationSouth Korea says its first astronaut will now be a female engineer, after Russian officials rejected the initial candidate over a breach of rules. Yi So-yeon, 29, is to replace Ko San, 31, on a Russian flight to the International Space Station in April. Russia's Federal Space Agency requested the change because Mr Ko broke training centre rules,..

The week-long crisis that threatened to plunge Latin America into turmoil began when Colombian troops killed a leading leftist rebel on a raid into Ecuador on Saturday 1 March. Initially, no diplomatic harm seemed to have been done. Colombia's defence minister described the raid as the "biggest blow so far" to Farc rebels, and congratulated the army. But the following day, Ecuador's President R..

Mr Medvedev worked as a lawyer before moving to the KremlinVladimir Putin's chosen successor, Dmitry Medvedev, is set to win Russia's presidential election by a wide margin, exit polls indicate. The state-owned pollster VTsIOM gave Mr Medvedev 69.6% of the vote. His nearest rival was Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov, on nearly 20%. He vowed to go to court over alleged fraud, Itar-Tass news age..

The elections will not be monitored by Western observersVoting is under way in Russia's presidential poll, bringing to a close Vladimir Putin's eight years in office. Polling stations in the Far East opened at 0800 (2000 GMT Saturday), in a vote pitting deputy prime minister Dmitry Medvedev against three challengers. If elected, Mr Medvedev, the Kremlin's preferred candidate, has promised to ma..

President-elect Lee Myung-bak always denied the allegationsSouth Korean President-elect Lee Myung-bak has been cleared of fraud allegations following an inquiry. "We found the president-elect was not involved in stock manipulation," Special Prosecutor Chung Ho-young said. The announcement comes four days before Mr Lee, who won a general election in December 2007, is due to be sworn in. During t..

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7238302.stm A 14th Century gate widely seen as South Korea's most treasured attraction has been ravaged by a fire that broke out late on Sunday. Namdaemun, or the Great South Gate, was the oldest wooden structure in Seoul. It served as the city's main entrance when it became South Korea's capital more than 600 years ago. More than 100 firefighters tried to..

Japanese crown prince ticked off By Chris Hogg BBC News, Tokyo Such high-level public criticism of the prince is unusualJapan's crown prince has been told by the bureaucrat who runs the Imperial Household to visit his parents, the emperor and empress, more often. The Grand Steward of the Imperial Household Agency, Shingo Haketa, used a news conference to reveal his unusually frank advice for th..

People around the world have been celebrating Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year, and welcoming in the Year of the Rat. Many chose to start the celebrations with a visit to a Buddhist temple, like these people in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur. Despite the cold weather, thousands of people gathered at temples in Beijing to mark the most important annual festival in much of East..

President Putin told the State Council he was not happy with NatoRussia's President Vladimir Putin says the world is engaged in a new arms race and Nato is failing to accommodate Russia's concerns. In a nationally-televised speech, he condemned Nato's expansion and the US plan to include Poland and the Czech Republic in a missile defence shield. "It is already clear that a new phase in the arms..

John McCain has forged ahead in his bid to win the Republican presidential nomination with primary wins in several states, according to projections. As Super Tuesday unfolded, Democratic rivals Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton traded victories, Mr Obama taking Illinois and Mrs Clinton New York. Meanwhile Republican outsider Mike Huckabee is doing better than expected, with four apparent victori..

Super Tuesday could seal the fate of some presidential hopefulsVoters in 24 US states are set to go to the polls in primaries and caucuses on Super Tuesday - the biggest day in the presidential nominating race so far. The states will account for over half the delegates who will formally choose the candidates for November's election. The Republican race, in which John McCain is leading his main ..

Male Transvaal dwarf chameleon (Bradypodion transvaalense) in typical display posture when facing a rival - throat extended, body flattened and tail coiled. Kynsna dwarf chameleons (Bradypodion damaranum) in contest. The male on the left is showing dominant coloration and the male on the right is showing submissive coloration. Transvaal dwarf chameleon (Bradypodion transvaalense) displaying to ..

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7208410.stm Behind the scenes on the Bond set The cast of Quantum of Solace pose for a photocall By Tim Masters Entertainment reporter, BBC News Warning this story contains plot spoilers. The secret is out. Although it doesn't trip off the tongue too easily, the 22nd James Bond film is now officially called Quantum of Solace. While it may sound like a pr..