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ISIS Demands $200 Million From Japan To Free Hostages

6:10pm January 22, 2015

The Islamic State, also known as ISIS, says it will kill the two hostages if the ransom is not paid. Renee Montagne talks to Anna Fifield, Tokyo bureau chief for The Washington Post.

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On Jan. 1, people gathered at a makeshift memorial marking the site of a New Year's Eve stampede on the Bund in Shanghai, China. Three dozen people died, and dozens more were injured.

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Shanghai Fires 4 Officials Over Fatal New Year's Eve Stampede

2:57am January 22, 2015

by Frank Langfitt

Investigators said the officials were off enjoying a banquet at an opulent Japanese restaurant during the stampede along the city's waterfront that killed three dozen people and injured 49 others.

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ISIS Demands $200 Million Ransom For Japanese Hostages

8:00pm January 21, 2015

by Peter Kenyon

The Japanese government is facing a ransom demand of $200 million for the lives of two Japanese men held by the self-described Islamic State. The demand was made in a video posted online, in which a hooded fighter gave Japan 72 hours to come up with the money.

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North Korean defector Shin Dong-hyuk came to prominence in a 2012 book about his life in a North Korean prisoner camp. He now says some key parts of his story were not true. His case highlights the difficulty in confirming information in a closed society

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The Challenge Of Fact-Checking North Korea

3:16pm January 21, 2015

by Jasmine Garsd

A prominent North Korean defector now says he made up some parts of his story. His case highlights the difficulties of pinning down information in a closed, secretive society.

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Shanghai Officials Fired Over Stampede That Killed 36

8:40am January 21, 2015

by Frank Langfitt

It was announced that the Huangpu District's Communist Party secretary, government chief, police chief and deputy police chief were fired and 7 other officials were demoted or otherwise disciplined.

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Chinese Prisoners Inovate How To Get Out Of Jail

7:58am January 20, 2015

A law allows certain prison terms to be commuted for convicts who come up with serious technical innovations. The Beijing Youth Daily reports that's led to a business in "get out of jail" patents.

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Bacon Blamed For China's Smog Problem

7:37am January 19, 2015

An environmental official says smoking, the traditional method used to preserve pork, is polluting the air. As residents smoke meat in preparation for the Chinese New Year, the smog has increased.

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Pope Francis waves to the crowd as he arrives at Quirino Grandstand to celebrate his final Papal Mass in Manila, Philippines, on Sunday. In his homily, Francis warned about the Philippine government's

Record Turnout For Pope's Sunday Mass In Manila

8:08am January 18, 2015

by Scott Neuman

Francis concludes his four-day visit to the region's only predominately Catholic country advocating for the poor and warning against the government's "insidious" family planning program.

Wearing a yellow raincoat, Pope Francis gives a thumbs up to the faithful as he arrives in Tacloban, Philippines, on Saturday.

Storm Causes Pope To Cut Short Visit To Typhoon Hit Tacloban

6:10pm January 17, 2015

by Scott Neuman

Francis led a prayer in memory of the thousands killed in 2013 by Typhoon Haiyan — the strongest cyclone ever to make landfall.

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Fire Doors And Sprinklers Debut At Garment Factories In Bangladesh

11:57am January 17, 2015

by Amy Yee

In April 2013, the Rana Plaza in Bangladesh collapsed, killing over 1,100 workers employed in the garment factories in the building. Now there's an effort to make sure all garment factories are safe.

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