Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi warned the country's media on Friday that they need to cooperate, be responsible and ethical. The Thai prime minister has given similar advice to his country's media. It's a shame that they and other Asian leaders don't adhere to the same guidelines.

The Beijing Olympic torch made a triumphant journey through Hong Kong Friday, its first stop on Chinese soil after a tumultuous trip around the world. Local residents turned out in force, sporting red T-shirts and waving Chinese flags in a rare display of patriotism.

"Patriotism" seems to be a magic word for the Chinese. As long as a Chinese person claims to be a patriot, he or she immediately assumes the moral high ground. Whatever he or she says or does in the name of patriotism is perfectly justified, and other citizens are classified as either patriots or traitors.

President Lee Myung-bak is facing a fresh political test following his decision to fully open the South Korean market to U.S. beef. Lee branded previous moves against U.S. beef imports as "politically motivated," ruling out any health risks from U.S. beef. But many South Koreans believe otherwise.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army opened its barracks at three locations in Hong Kong Thursday, allowing local residents a rare glimpse of their living quarters and lifestyle, in a bid to promote understanding and trust of the troops garrisoned here.

The global food price crisis has revived the population debate in the Philippines. Analysts insist the high population growth rate of the Philippines is not sustainable. Food production may be increasing over the years but the number of Filipinos is increasing at a faster rate.

Bangladesh, a poverty-stricken country of 150 million people, suffers from inadequate healthcare. State-funded medical schools produce many doctors, but they tend to go abroad to work. Expatriate doctors and health professionals could do a lot if they pooled their resources to help their country.

South Korea has expressed "strong regret" over violence by Chinese students and residents during the Olympic torch relay in Seoul, with concerns that public outrage here may harm Seoul-Beijing ties. Some 6,000 Chinese residents assembled to defend the beleaguered Olympic torch against 300 protesters.

A record 5.4 million children in Afghanistan are attending classes in the new school year that began March 23. This is despite attacks on 10 schools in various parts of the country by unidentified gunmen since classes began last month. The will to study is strong despite the danger.

Pope Benedict's visit to the White House in an election year seems to be manna from heaven for the Bush administration. The papal visit also accidentally coincided with the furor over Barrack Obama's "bitter" speech, in which he described the religion of small-town Americans in unflattering terms.