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The article reports on conditions of the Bangladeshi election on January 5, 2014, noting violence and low voter turnout. A boycott of the election by the opposition political party Bangladesh National Party (BNP) meant over half of 300 parliament seats automatically went to the Awami League, the in-power political party of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The article discusses a boycott by Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) on November 10, 2013. Topics include issues related to Sri Lanka's alleged human-rights violations and war crimes against the Liberation Tigers separatist group, concerns about the message that allowing Sri Lanka to host CHOGM sends about what the Commonwealth stands for, and the economic dangers of alienating Sri Lanka.

The article discusses a U.S. drone attack on November 1, 2013 which reportedly killed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leader Hakimullah Mehsud, focusing on the potential impact of the drone attack on the progress of peace talks between the Pakistani government and the Pakistan Taliban militant group TTP. Pakistan's Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan claims that the drone strike was a direct attack on the peace process. Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is also mentioned.

The article offers the perspective that political leaders should attend the November 2013 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka and pressure the Sri Lankan government into investigating war crimes committed during its 26-year war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) separatist movement. The article notes the United Nations has called for an independent investigation into alleged human rights violations reportedly committed by the government and LTTE.

The article focuses on the bilateral security agreement (BSA) plan negotiated between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Afghan President Hamid Karzai regarding the continued presence of U.S. forces in Afghanistan after 2014. Topics include the prohibition of unilateral military operations by U.S. forces after 2014 and the withdrawal of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) troops in 2014.

The article discusses public opposition to the planned formation of the new Telangana state in the Andhra Pradesh region of India. An October 2013 strike by electrical workers opposed to the move shut down power plants and caused electric outages, shortages, and violent protests in the region. Critics of statehood cite the possible negative political and economic impacts of making the technological hub city of Hyderabad part of Telangana.

The article reports academics in the Asia-Pacific region are working on an international project called Disaster University as of October 7, 2013 that will share information about preparing for and managing natural disasters such as tsunamis and volcanoes. The article notes the project is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The damage caused by a March 2011 tsunami that hit Japan and another in December 2004 that hit Indonesia is noted.

The article discusses a reported feud between the Indian-born economists Jagdish Bhagwati and Amartya Sen as of August 2013, focusing on market reforms, public expenditures, and analyses of the differing views about India's economic policy. The book "An Uncertain Glory: India and Its Contradictions" by Sen and Jean Drèze is addressed, along with the Reserve Bank of India's decision to cut its fiscal year growth forecast. It states that Sen is in favor of social-welfare programs.

An essay is presented in which the author discusses political and economic reforms in India. She examines initiatives from Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh designed to increase foreign investment in retail, create more jobs, and decrease prices that were met with protests by those angry over increases in diesel prices and reforms that could take jobs from traders. In addition, sanitary conditions and the lack of toilets in India are also covered.

The article suggests that residents of the Japanese island of Okinawa anticipate an ongoing presence of the U.S. military on the island and in the South and East China Seas. As China grows more assertive in its claims on the area, surrounding countries are caught between economic dependence on China and political ties to the U.S. Other topics include oil and gas resources in the East China Sea and the tenuous relationship the U.S. military has had with civilians in Japan.

The article focuses on the flooding of the Brisbane River in Queensland, Australia, that occurred on January 10, 2011, and notes that extreme weather in Australia may increase due to climate change.

The article reports on the flooding that occurred in many areas of Queensland during late December 2010, killing more than 20 people with production losses from coal mines projected to exceed 1.25 billion U.S. dollars.

The article reports that Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama is facing protest from Okinawa people over the U.S. Futenma airbase in Okinawa.

A review is offered for L'Hotel in Pietra located in Matera, Italy.

The article describes the success of kangaroo meat sales in Australia. The attractiveness of kangaroo meat due to the fact that it is more affordable, nutritious, and leaner than beef or lamb is mentioned, noting that raising free-range kangaroos for consumption produces lower levels of gas emissions than raising cattle.

The article utilizes scenes from the cult film "101 Reyjavík," by filmmaker Baltasar Kormákur, to describe tourist attractions in Reyjavik, Iceland. 101 is the postal code for the city's downtown area which features vibrant nightclub life, diverse shopping areas, outdoor hot springs, and inviting cafes.

A review is offered for Duke's Burger, a restaurant in Hong Kong, China.

The article offers a description of Santa Catalina Island, a small island off the coast of Los Angeles that has often been used for scenery in Hollywood films. The author presents the island as a forgotten getaway that has been overlooked by commercialism. The article provides a perspective on the island as place that is past its heyday but still holds a certain amount of charm.

The article lists "Time" magazine's 10 biggest departures of 2007 in politics and society, including the stepping down of Tony Blair as prime minister of Great Britain, of Jacques Chirac as president of France, and of Karl Rove as chief political strategist for U.S. President George W. Bush.

The article reports on the success of Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific, whose profits have surged on its reputation for excellent service on long international flights. The company's productivity and team-building training are discussed. Chief executive Tony Tyler and a team-building consultant are quoted.

The article focuses on the negative impact man made factors such as pollution and over fishing have had on the world's coral reefs in 2007. A discussion of research done by the University of North Carolina which found that at least 600 square miles of coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific region have disappeared annually is presented. A global network of volunteer scuba divers that monitor reefs which was founded by C. Mark Eakin, and the importance of coral reefs to the environment is discussed.

The article reviews several saunas offered in establishments in Finland, including the Cafe Tin Tin Tango, Uunisaari, and the Bowling Center Finland.

The article discusses cloud seeding experiments in Toowoomba, Australia, and states that if they succeed, it may be the answer to the drought that has plagued the region. The article describes the process of cloud seeding, and states that new innovations in Doppler radar weather-measuring tools are giving scientists hope that these experiments will yield more usable results.

Features the tourist industry in Reykjavik, Iceland. Suitability of various spots for lesbians; Blend of individualism and tolerance in the place; Number of bars and restaurant in the region. INSET: Reykjavik Must-Dos:..

The article examines the potential for youth in Japan to save the country following the destruction caused by the 2011 Sendai Earthquake and subsequent tsunami. The economy of Japan has allegedly been in a state of recession since the 1980s, and the author attests that this has made many Japanese youth underemployed and withdrawn from society. However, following the earthquake, many of them are volunteering their time, money, and social-networking knowledge to coordinate aid efforts and reunite family members. Politics and bureaucracy in the nation are also discussed.

The article discusses unemployment among young people in 2012 and offers suggestions for job creation. It states that the global financial crisis of the early 21st century and the subsequent Great Recession have limited the employment options for millions of people worldwide, including young people in Greece, England, and the Middle East. According to the article, excessive labor protections, high birthrates, and a lack of training and skills are contributing factors to the high unemployment figures.

The article profiles Kim Jong Un, the Supreme Leader of North Korea and son of late Supreme Leader Kim Jong Il, who died in December 2011. The repressive, autocratic regime in North Korea is described. Topics discussed include the U.S. State Department's hopes to include North Korea in talks about disarming the country, biographical information about Kim Jong Un provided by a former regime chef, and beliefs that Kim Jong Un is being ruled by Kim Jong Il's sister Kim Kyong Hui and her husband Jang Sung Thaek. How Kim Jong Un will deal with North Korea's nuclear arsenal and whether he will liberalize the country's economy are considered.

The article examines the impact of the Sendai earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011 on social conditions in Japan. The country's extremely high level of disaster preparedness, particularly its earthquake and tsunami warning systems, is discussed. The social cohesion displayed by victims of the disaster is considered. The inability of the government's emergency management operations to provide disaster relief in keeping with the scope of the disaster is examined, particularly crisis communications failures. Volunteer efforts in disaster relief are considered.

The article lists and discusses the so-called 50 best inventions of the year that include the Ares 1 rocket developed by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the company Clean Seas' development of landlocked tank breeding of southern bluefin tuna in Arno Bay, Australia, and Philips Electronics' development of a 10-watt light emitting diode (LED) bulb that substitutes for a 60-watt household incandescent bulb and last 25 times as long. INSET: Flying Lessons..