Japan Q1 GDP rises 1.5 pct q/q, fastest in nearly three years

May 15 (Reuters) - Japan's economy grew 1.5 percent in January-March from the previous quarter, posting its biggest expansion since July-September 2011, as consumer spending jumped ahead of an April 1 sales tax increase, government data showed on Thursday.

http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/05/15/japan-economy-gdp-idINT9N0N204E20140515

Japan and Russia Look for Common Ground

The recent Russo-Japanese warming of relations has come under pressure during the Ukrainian crisis as Japan seeks to show solidarity with the West and Russia courts Chinese economic cooperation. But neither Tokyo nor Moscow wants to miss the rare opportunity to work together now that each has something the other needs.

Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Akitaka Saiki denied that Japan would suspend negotiations with Russia over the disputed southern Kuril Islands and a peace treaty, Russia's Itar-Tass reported May 12. Previous rumors indicated that Tokyo would suspend talks temporarily amid the Ukrainian conflict, according to Kyodo News. The latest round of territorial and peace talks began in April 2013 and is part of the larger initiative between Moscow and Tokyo to improve relations for the sake of broader national security and economic interests.

http://www.stratfor.com/analysis/japan-and-russia-look-common-ground

Q&A on anti-China unrest sweeping Vietnam

HANOI - Festering anti-China tensions have erupted in Vietnam with riots at foreign-owned factories after Beijing moved a deep-sea oil drilling rig into contested waters.

Here are some questions and answers on the sudden surge of violence.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/world/05/16/14/qa-anti-china-unrest-sweeping-vietnam

NEW SERIES: What Americans Think About China

Two common American attitudes toward China can be identified from the latest U.S. public opinion surveys published by Gallup and Pew Research Center in the past year.
 
First, most of the Americans surveyed have unfavorable opinions of China as a whole, but do not view the country as a threat toward the United States at the present time.
 
Second, most survey respondents expect China to pose an economic and military threat to the United States in the future, with more Americans worried about the perceived economic threat than the military one. 

http://www.voanews.com/content/new-series-what-american-think-about-china-/1913088.html

Caught on Camera: A New Island in the South China Sea

http://feedly.com/e/c4-tnuC7