Dystopian Hong Kong film Ten Years touches nerve with Beijing

Ten Years, a film which portrays a dystopian future Hong Kong under tight Chinese Communist Party control, has been a hit in Hong Kong and abroad, selling out cinemas, sparking discussions and being screened at international film festivals. But Chinese state media has criticised the film and that has aroused new concern about mainland influence over Hong Kong despite a one country, two systems formula meant to preserve the citys autonomy. Mar 17, 2016

Video of Japanese Nusra Front hostage Jumpei Yasuda surfaces

A video surfaced on 17 March, appearing to show a missing Japanese journalist, reportedly held by an al Qaeda affiliate in Syria, reading a message to his family and country. Hello, I am Jumpet Yasuda. Today is my birthday, 16 March, the bearded man, who appears to be the Japanese freelance journalist of that name, says on the video, posted on Facebook. Mar 17, 2016

Ted Cruz reaches out to Marco Rubio supporters as Republican race narrows

The Republican presidential race narrowed to three candidates: businessman Donald Trump, US Senator Ted Cruz and Ohio Governor John Kasich after Marco Rubio suspended his campaign on 15 March. Cruz, a conservative US senator from Texas, reached out to Rubios supporters during a rally in Houston. Cruz said Rubio ran a a strong, optimistic, positive campaign. Mar 16, 2016