Asia Pacific: News and Reviews from The New York Times

Here is the latest Asia Pacific News from The New York Times.

Construction Firm Charged in India Overpass Collapse
The police in Kolkata detained five executives of the company that built the elevated highway, after at least 23 people died.

North Korea Jamming GPS Signals Across Border, South Korea Says
The attempt did not disrupt any mobile communications or air or ship traffic, the South Korean government said, unlike previous efforts.

Sinosphere: No April Fooling Please, We’re Chinese
A Chinese state news agency’s rejection of the West’s “Fools’ Day” received thousands of comments, and not everyone took the message seriously.

Dalian Wanda Group Seeks to Delist Its Commercial Property Arm
The potential privatization of Dalian Wanda Commercial Properties comes just 15 months after it raised $3.7 billion in a Hong Kong initial public offering.

Obama and President Xi of China Vow to Sign Paris Climate Accord Promptly
Officials cast the announcement as a statement of resolve by the world’s two largest greenhouse gas polluters, even though there are doubts about whether the United States can meet its obligations.

Starwood Hotels’ Chinese Suitor Backs Out of Bidding
A consortium led by the Anbang Insurance Group of China withdrew its $14 billion offer with no explanation, clearing the way for Marriott’s offer.

Eat: A Korean Noodle Dish for Lonely Hearts
Jajangmyeon is comfort food of the first order, as pleasing as takeout pizza or kung pao chicken.

South Korean Court Upholds Ban on Prostitution
Three of the Constitutional Court’s nine justices fiercely criticized what they called a government crackdown on women driven to the sex trade.

Sinosphere: One Envoy’s Take on China’s Hardball Diplomacy
Singapore’s ambassador at large describes how Chinese diplomats “perversely” often go out of their way to “accentuate rather than assuage anxieties.”

Activist Says China Didn’t Allow Her to Receive Award in U.S.
Beijing officials refused to grant the human rights advocate Ni Yulan a passport, saying she had ties to lawyers who have been detained.

Myanmar to Create New Post for Aung San Suu Kyi, Cementing Her Power
Her party, which won elections last fall, introduced a bill in Parliament to create the position of “state counselor,” which some compare to prime minister.

Seoul Journal: An American’s Home, ‘Heart’s Delight,’ Gets New Love in Korea
The home of Albert Wilder Taylor, an American journalist considered a hero in South Korea for breaking the news of the Korean revolt of 1919, is being restored for the centennial.

Kolkata Overpass Collapse Kills at Least 16, With Scores Feared Trapped
Rescuers were straining to save people believed to be trapped under the overpass, which was only partly finished in a project years behind schedule.

A Hole in North Korean Sanctions Big Enough for Coal, Oil and Used Pianos
When the United Nations approved tougher restrictions, it was understood they would work only if China complied. So far, border enforcement has been spotty.

Campaign Season’s Anti-China Tone Is Likely to Cloud Meeting With Obama
As President Obama and President Xi Jinping of China prepare to meet, Beijing is viewing the vitriol from candidates like Donald J. Trump as a gauge of American intentions.

In the South China Sea, a Near-Continuous State of Alert
In the hot azure waters off the Spratly and Paracel Islands, the United States and China are jockeying for dominance, including some 700 American Navy patrols in the past year.

Panjwai Journal: To Feed Hungry Minds, Afghans Seed a Ravaged Land With Books
A volunteer organization founded by a teenager has worked to reopen schools and create libraries in some of the Afghan provinces hardest hit by war.

Is Europe Safe for Travelers? Yes, Experts Say, but Here Are Some Tips
American tourists seem unfazed by recent terror attacks, but travel experts do suggest some basic precautions.

President Htin Kyaw Requests Patience as Myanmar Moves Toward Democracy
The new government will push for national reconciliation and an end to military conflicts with ethnic groups, he said.

Op-Ed Contributor: The Day Horror Invaded the Park
In Lahore, Pakistan, even children have become a target for terror.

Patrolling Disputed Waters, U.S. and China Jockey for Dominance
As tensions rise over control of the South China Sea, naval crews can find themselves swapping intense messages — while chatting about the weather.

Sinosphere: China Air Quality Study Has Good News and Bad News
Researchers found that Chinese government readings were accurate, compared with U.S. consular readings, but that pollution remained above international standards.

China Charges Tibetan Education Advocate With Inciting Separatism
After being detained in secret for weeks, Tashi Wangchuk, a local entrepreneur, could face up to 15 years in prison.

Harriet Mills, Scholar Held in ‘Brainwashing Prison’ in China, Dies at 95
Ms. Mills, imprisoned as an American spy in Communist China in the 1950s, later made clear to her sister that she had been indoctrinated.

World Briefing: Myanmar: State Curfew Is Lifted
Myanmar’s departing government has lifted a nearly four-year curfew in Rakhine, where clashes between Rohingya Muslims and Buddhists left more than 200 people dead.

Pakistan Releases Video of Indian Officer, Saying He’s a Spy
In a six-minute video, the officer, who was arrested this month, acknowledges carrying out a list of operations. India has denied that he is an intelligence operative.

Anonymous Call for Xi to Quit Rattles Party Leaders in China
A far-reaching investigation into the origin of the letter, which first appeared on the Internet, has drawn more attention than the document itself.

‘Ranger’s Apprentice’ to Be Adapted as Film, Financed by Chinese Firm
An entertainment company started by the former Disney chairman Dick Cook has tapped Paul Haggis as director of a film based on a popular children’s series.

Japanese Chefs Make Their Mark in Paris
A new generation of chefs from Japan run some of the most acclaimed French restaurants in Paris — a city that isn’t known for embracing outsiders.

Starwood Bidder Is an Ambitious Chinese Insurer With Opaque Backing
Anbang, which is in a bidding war for Starwood Hotels, is controlled by a murky group of interconnected companies and led by a reclusive chairman.

News Analysis: Obama Faces a Tough Balancing Act Over South China Sea
Relations between Beijing and Washington are at their lowest point in 15 years, buffeted by China’s territorial claims over the strategic waterway.

Feature: The Fall of China’s Hedge Fund King
Xu Xiang was a legend in the country’s booming stock market — until the bubble he helped to create took him down with it.

Beijing Seeks to Tighten Reins on Websites in China
A draft law posted by a technology regulator said sites in the country would have to register domain names with local service providers.

India Lets Pakistani Team Examine Site of January Attack by Militants
At least six militants infiltrated an air base, digging themselves in and engaging in a dayslong gun battle with India’s security forces before they were killed.

Sinosphere: China to Survey Children Left Behind by Migrant Workers
Researchers say these children often suffer from anxiety and depression in the absence of their parents, and exhibit high rates of juvenile delinquency.

Sinosphere: Editor Says He Is Resigning Over Media Controls in China
An editor at Southern Metropolis Daily posted a message online saying he could no longer “follow your surname,” a reference to the Communist Party.

Indonesian Sailors Said to be Kidnapped by Pirates in Philippines
Hijackers, claiming to represent an Islamist militant group, seized a tugboat and barge and are demanding a ransom for its crew, Indonesia said on Tuesday.

Editorial: Another Bombing, This Time in Pakistan
The Pakistani government has long cynically used Taliban groups as proxy fighters.

Automakers Expanding in China May Soon Face Weakening Demand
China is the world’s largest market for new cars, but its slowing economy could leave automakers with too many factories and not enough buyers.

Vietnam’s Battle With Tuberculosis
A country’s stunning progress against tuberculosis may be threatened by reduced support for a health care system stretched thin.

In 2 Minutes, Bangladesh Rejects 28-Year-Old Challenge to Islam’s Role
The High Court dismissed a petition, filed in 1988, that aimed to remove the designation of Islam as the state religion and struck a nerve among Bangladeshis.

Chinese Writer in Germany Says 3 Family Members Detained Over Xi Letter
Chang Ping denies any connection to the mysterious letter, which denounced the Chinese leader and called for his resignation.

Pakistan in Mourning as Toll From Lahore Suicide Bombing Rises
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif arrived in the city in a show of solidarity, after a faction of the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.

Comments by Donald Trump Draw Fears of an Arms Race in Asia
The Republican front-runner said he would consider withdrawing U.S. forces from Japan and South Korea if they did not spend more on military defense.

Op-Ed Contributor: Malaysia’s Immigrant Worker Debate
The country’s powerful economy has drawn in millions of foreigners, at the cost of sharp social tensions.

Ben Gray to Leave TPG Capital in Asia
Mr. Gray, the co-head of TPG in Asia, will leave at the end of year and is said to be setting up his own Australia-focused investment firm.

Bangladesh Editor Faces 79 Court Cases After an Unusual Confession
After admitting it was wrong to have years ago published allegations against the prime minister, Mahfuz Anam could be sentenced to 175 years in prison.

Shaxi Journal: An Ancient Caravan Town in China Is Reborn
In a project praised by Unesco, a Swiss-led team spent years renovating the square of Sideng Village, with an eye toward historical consistency that is rare in China.

Explosion at Park in Lahore, Pakistan, Kills Dozens
The blast, apparently caused by a suicide bomber, occurred in a parking lot at Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park, and wounded at least 100.

North Koreans Rely on Smuggled Cellphones to Connect to the Outside World
Mobile phones smuggled from China are an increasingly vital way for North Koreans to reach relatives who have defected abroad.

Sent Home to Australia, but Still Jailed for Chinese Crimes
Part of a prisoner exchange, Matthew Ng says he is now incarcerated for crimes he did not commit in a nation that would not consider his actions illegal.

Opinion: Please Cancel Your Vacation to North Korea
Americans don’t get dictatorships. They don’t know to be afraid.

North Korean Propaganda Video Depicts Nuclear Strike on Washington
The video uploaded Saturday includes a warning to “American imperialists” not to provoke the North.

A Revived Challenge to Islam as Bangladesh’s State Religion Goes to Court
Amid rising concerns about extremism, a 28-year-old petition supporting secularism has been revived, and the country’s Supreme Court is to hear the challenge on Sunday.

The Race Is On to Control Artificial Intelligence, and Tech’s Future
Amazon, Google, IBM and Microsoft are using high salaries and games pitting humans against computers to try to claim the standard on which all companies will build their A.I. technology.

Editorial: Human Trafficking on Trial in Thailand
The prosecution of 92 people is just a first step in reining in a huge criminal industry.

China Said to Detain Several Over Letter Criticizing Xi
The four employees of Wujie News, a state-run website, include two top editors. A freelance writer previously detained indicated he has been released.

Man Detained in North Korea Confesses to Spying for South
The man, Kim Dong-chul, who claims to be a naturalized American citizen, apologized for trying to steal military secrets in collusion with South Koreans.

Sinosphere: Hong Kong Bookseller Is Said to Return to Chinese Mainland
One day after the once-missing bookseller, Lee Bo, reappeared in Hong Kong, local news media reported that he was driven in a van to a border crossing.

Lives: A Risky Kiss in Karachi
It’s not just fooling around.

Tip: How to Ford a River
Watch the current. Keep your shoes.

Philippines Releases Ship Linked to North Korea
The Jin Teng was seized after being listed in United Nations sanctions against North Korea, but was later removed from the list, Reuters reports.

World Briefing: Malaysia: 15 Arrested in ISIS Inquiry
The people under arrest are suspected of planning an attack in Malaysia and collecting funds for the Islamic State, the country’s police chief said.

Hong Kong Bookseller Returns From Mainland China, Denying He Was Abducted
The disappearance of Lee Bo and four other people associated with Mighty Current Media drew concern over the state of media freedom in the semiautonomous city.

Myanmar Approves Cabinet Nominees, but Some Face Questions Over Credentials
Two of the picks list academic achievements from dubious institutions, prompting questions of the new government’s credibility.

Matter: Researchers Find Fish That Walks the Way Land Vertebrates Do
In a cave in Thailand, scientists discovered a parallel to one of evolution’s signature events: the transition from sea to land.

Chinese Lawyer Detained While Defending Churches Is Reported Released
It was unclear whether Zhang Kai, who was detained in August while fighting the removal of crosses from churches, had been released on bail pending a trial.

Sinosphere: German President Focuses on Political Prisoners in Visit to China
The president, Joachim Gauck, used a five-day state visit to raise human rights issues with Chinese leaders, his spokeswoman said.

New Zealand, Unmoved by Bionic Kiwi and Starry-Eyed Sheep, Keeps Its Flag
The judges weighed 10,292 options and the country spent two years thinking about it, but in the end the vote was decisively for the century-old ensign.

North Korea Tests New Rocket Engine, State Media Says
The test of the design, a solid-fuel rocket engine, would decrease the time needed to prepare the launch of a missile, defense officials said.

Kabul Journal: Buttressing a ‘Wall of Kindness’ Against a Harsh Reality in Afghanistan
Brightly decorated donation walls have spread rapidly from country to country, but the youths who created the Afghan capital’s wall have run into endless frustration.

U.N. Seeks Ways to Try North Koreans for Human Rights Abuses
The Human Rights Council will appoint a panel to identify legal avenues for prosecuting North Korean leaders for crimes detailed in a 2014 report.

World Briefing: Vietnam: 2 Sentenced Over Blog Posts
The blogger was sentenced to five years in prison, and his assistant to three years, after a court ruled that they were guilty of abuses of their freedom and infringements upon state interests.

Mudslinging Trumps the ‘Middle Way’ in Tibetan Exiles’ Election
Final voting was held for the political leadership of exiled Tibetans, a position that is often overshadowed by the presence of the Dalai Lama.

Face-Off Between Strongmen Exposes Afghanistan’s Political Rifts
In Balkh Province, a dispute over billboard portraits has reignited tension between two old rivals, the vice president and the provincial governor.

Sinosphere: Yi Fuxian, Critic of China’s Birth Policy, Returns as an Invited Guest
The University of Wisconsin researcher says that China’s economy will never surpass America’s because of its aging population and shrinking labor force.

Journalist Jailed in Eastern India Over Social Media Post
Prabhat Singh was accused of circulating obscene material and arrested after a post criticizing the police and calling for protections for reporters.

Blogger Gets Jail Term in Singapore for Posts Said to Incite Ethnic Hatred
The pregnant Japanese-Australian woman was arrested while on vacation in Singapore with her husband, who also faces charges.

Sinosphere: China Aims to Tighten Its Borders Against Foreign Place Names
A Chinese official said that names that “damage sovereignty and national dignity” would be targeted, a state news agency reported.

World Briefing: Bangladesh: Attackers Stab Christian Convert to Death
Assailants with knives killed the man in northern Bangladesh, the latest in a series of attacks of religious minorities there.

Op-Ed Contributors: How America Can Put Thailand Back on Track
Washington should rein in the junta’s increasingly dictatorial ways by isolating it from traditional Bangkok-based elites.

Sinosphere: As Obama Visits Cuba, China’s News Media Weighs In Warily
If President Obama was looking for encouragement after his meeting with President Raúl Castro of Cuba, Chinese news outlets were not the place to find it.

Protest in Indonesia Against Ride-Hailing Apps Turns Violent
Demonstrators on Tuesday blocked roads in Jakarta, Indonesia, and attacked drivers who were not taking part in the protest.

Sinosphere: Chinese Demand for Ivory Alternative Threatens Rare Hornbill Bird
The skull of the helmeted hornbill, which already faces habitat loss, is being sold as an alternative to ivory, conservation groups say.

U.S. Commander in Afghanistan Apologizes for Bombing of Hospital
His apology for the attack in October on the Doctors Without Borders facility came days after a dozen military personnel were disciplined by the Pentagon.

Aung San Suu Kyi Nominated as Minister in Myanmar’s Government
The move on Tuesday ensures a high-ranking post for the Nobel Peace laureate, who was barred from the presidency.

Report Ties Coal Plants to Water Shortage in Northern China
China’s coal-fired power plants consume more water where water is scarce than plants in any other country, according to the Greenpeace report.

World Briefing: Myanmar: State Dept. Says Persecution of Muslims Does Not Rise to Genocide
In a report to Congress seen, the department said it was “gravely concerned” about abuses against the Rohingya, but it did not constitute genocide.

An Australian Chef in Hong Kong, Serving Casual French Fare
Months after abruptly shuttering Bones in Paris, James Henry has opened a new restaurant and pop-up — and shares his whole roast chicken recipe with T.

Beijing Journal: Breathing Life Into Spaces Well Beyond 6 Feet Under Beijing’s Streets
A start-up that turns unused basements into community centers wants to reimagine the future of the city’s underground spaces — many of them former bomb shelters.

Sinosphere: China Says It Found Ring Said to Sell Improperly Stored Vaccines
The police say they are searching in dozens of provinces for 300 people involved in the illegal sales beginning in 2010.

In One-Party Vietnam, Independents Vie for Assembly Seats
A group of around two dozen activists and celebrities, more than in years past, are running as independents for the country’s rubber-stamp National Assembly.

Indonesia Summons Chinese Envoy Amid Tussle Over Fishing Boat
The move came after the Chinese Coast Guard forcibly recovered a vessel confiscated by the Indonesian authorities, in a sign of rising tensions.

North Korea Launches Short-Range Projectiles, Seoul Says
The projectiles, launched from the east coast, landed in the sea between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, the South Korean military said.

Seeking Access to Facebook in China, Zuckerberg Courts Risks
The founder of the social networking service has learned Mandarin and charmed audiences. But with a public presence in China comes official scrutiny.

U.S. Casts Wary Eye on Australian Port Leased by Chinese
Critics contend that the Chinese bought a front-row seat to spy on naval operations at the port of Darwin, which serves as a host base for the United States Marines.

‘Ip Man 3’ Distributor Is Punished Over Box-Office Fraud
Chinese regulators cracked down on Beijing Max Screen over inflation of ticket sales for the movie “Ip Man 3,” starring Donnie Yen and Mike Tyson.

Man Tied to Hindu Vigilante Group Among 5 Held in Deaths of 2 Muslims
Two cattle traders were leading oxen to be sold at a fair when they were spotted by a Hindu man who believed they were leading the animals to slaughter, the police in India said.