CNOOC, Nexen deal wins US approval

US regulators have approved the $15.1 billion takeover of Canadian oil and gas company Nexen Inc by China's State-owned CNOOC Ltd, removing the final obstacle to the country's largest foreign takeover.

Chocolate valentine a heady idea

Chocolate hearts for loved ones on Valentine's Day are so last year - at least in Japan where one Tokyo design firm offered up its 3-D scanner to make miniature chocolate replicas of faces.

IN BRIEF (Page 4)

Catholics rocked by Pope's resignation

Pope Benedict left the Catholic world in shock after becoming the first pontiff since the Middle Ages to resign his office, saying that failing strength had left him unable to lead the church through a period of relentless change and turmoil.

Intrepid Japanese dining on dirt

French-style seafood was always the big seller at Toshio Tanabe's Tokyo restaurant, but the chef for many years had a secret passion: soil.

IN BRIEF (Page 4)

Tackling mountain of difficulties

Since December, Gaoligong Mountain National Nature Reserve in Yunnan province has been covered by heavy snow up to 10 meters deep. The road that winds around the mountain to the county seat of Gongshan in Nujiang Lisu autonomous prefecture has been inaccessible to traffic.

Risky contracts

Since 2010, six villages in the township of Dulongjiang have undertaken a huge road-building project through the rocky mountainsides. Dozens of private contractors from regions across Yunnan rushed to the small town lying between Gaoligong Mountain and northern Myanmar.

Prosperity on the plateau

After its peaceful liberation from millennia-long feudal serfdom, huge vitality has been released in the Tibet autonomous region since democratic reforms were launched in 1959. "Leap-forward" progress has been made, especially over the last three decades.

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Inequality must be addressed

On Feb 1, in a train heading to his hometown, Mohe, the northernmost city of China, Dong Guofa appeared a bit bashful when interviewed by a television reporter. The man, in his 50s, had not eaten any food for a whole day since he left Dalian, Liaoning province, where he worked. He said he only had 300 yuan ($48) with him and he didn't want to use a single yuan, because the money was reserved for buying Spring Festival gifts for his family. A gentle smile spread over his face when he said he wanted to buy some candies and stationery for his granddaughter.

Peninsula needs restraint

With rising speculation that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea may soon conduct another nuclear test, tension is once again building on the peninsula. This is worrying, as it is detrimental to peace and stability in the region and beyond. The issue of foremost importance now is the parties concerned exercise the utmost restraint and prevent the situation from spinning out of control.