Last week, the 10 members of ASEAN signed a charter including an article that provides for the formation of a human rights commission. This body will start its operations once it receives its terms of reference, which are to be defined by ASEAN's foreign ministers.

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After reading the report "Fake shark fins may be infiltrating the Taiwan market" (Nov. 24, page 2) I felt terrible.

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By Li Thian-hok 李天福
ON JUNE 18, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) announced that he would hold a referendum on applying for UN membership under the name "Taiwan."

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By Pan Han-shen 潘翰聲
The coalition government led by conservative Australian Prime Minister John Howard suffered defeat in the election on Nov. 25. Labor party leader Kevin Rudd secured victory, calling on election eve for policy on climate change to be a priority.

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There is more in common between the ethical traditions of East and West than some might admit
By Hans Kung
Many Europeans doubt that Asia can catch up with Europe in terms of regional integration.

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There is no shortage of arguments for\n pessimism over the Middle East. But there are also good reasons not to give up hope
By Jonathan Freedland
So now we know. This is what soon-to-be-ex-presidents do: Bill Clinton spent his final hours in the White House trying to patch together a deal between then Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian president Yasser Arafat.

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By Jane Brody
Suicide is more common among older Americans than any other age group. The statistics are daunting. While people 65 and older account for 12 percent of the population, they represent 16 percent to 25 percent of the suicides. Four out of five suicides in older adults are men. And among white men over 85, the suicide rate -- 50 per 100,000 men -- is six times that of the general population.

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