All Asia Pacific
First LookAustralian media demands press freedom after raidsRecent police raids have prompted Australian media organizations to unite in demanding legal reforms to bolster press freedom. Journalists seek what they view to be a healthier balance between national security and press freedom.
In N. Korea nuclear talks, what about human rights?As U.S. and South Korean officials seek to persuade North Korea to halt its nuclear weapons program, the issue of human rights remains largely in the background.
For Hong Kong’s leader, pressure isn’t just from protestersHong Kong protesters are increasingly frustrated with Chief Executive Carrie Lam’s handling of a controversial bill. But so is Beijing, analysts say.
First LookXi reassures Kim ahead of North Korea visitChinese President Xi Jinping set the tone for his North Korea visit, the first of its kind in 14 years, with an op-ed touting the relationship between the two countries. Mr. Xi to is likely seeking leverage in the ongoing U.S.-China trade war, experts say.
First LookHong Kong protestors demand Lam's resignationChief Executive Carrie Lam announced her government would suspend attempts to pass a controversial extradition bill after enormous island-wide protests. The protests, though, seem to have only gotten stronger, with many now calling for her resignation.
Cambodia’s islands are under threat. This woman is trying to save them.Decades of overfishing and indiscriminate waste disposal have taken a deep toll on Cambodia’s coastal and island communities.
First LookBaby love: A lost dugong has found home in the arms of Thai vetsA baby dugong, which resembles the American manatee, was found separated from her mother in April near Thailand. Marium has developed a close bond with her caretakers, and warmed hearts across the internet.
Hong Kong protests: ‘We have the power to demand democracy’Mass protests surrounded government headquarters on Wednesday, as residents continued to fight a bill intensifying concerns over Beijing’s influence.
First LookIndonesian Islamist group provides aid when government falls shortAn Indonesian Islamist group with a history of violence has repurposed its militia to help disaster victims, among other charitable acts. As the government faces criticism for neglecting peripheral regions, this "persuasive and peaceful" group offers hope to some.
First LookMassive protests fail to stop Hong Kong extradition billHundreds of thousands took to the streets of Hong Kong over the weekend to protest amended extradition laws that would allow criminals to be sent to the mainland. Chief Executive Carrie Lam remains firm that changes to the law will proceed.
First LookHong Kong court: government can't deny same-sex couples benefitsHong Kong’s High Court overturned an earlier ruling that denied same-sex couples access to spousal benefits. The decision inches closer to legalizing same-sex marriage.
First LookRobot baristas in South Korea push automation forwardSouth Korea's coffee scene has a new face: robotic baristas. While automation raises concerns that finding entry-level jobs will become harder, some millennials say they find comfort in antisocial servers.
First LookChina silences dissidents, blocks information on Tiananmen anniversaryChina transported activists out of Beijing and blocked people overseas from posting to a social media site Monday. Analysts say the Communist Party's regime of repression has continued from the 1989 military crackdown and into the present.
Tiananmen 30 years later: ‘Hope has not died,’ say Chinese dissidentsThe Tiananmen massacre of 1989 did more than quell protests; the ensuing crackdown froze China’s pro-democracy movement for years to come.
Japan loves its top tennis star. But do they think she's Japanese?Companies are lining up to sponsor Naomi Osaka. But as Japan wrestles with diversity, much of the debate has fallen on the young champ’s shoulders.
Tiananmen Square: 30 years later, what it means to next generation (audio)Beijing bureau chief Ann Scott Tyson talks with two Chinese Monitor reporters about how the Tiananmen Square massacre reverberates in China today.
First LookPhilippines protests waste dump, ships trash back to CanadaPhilippine officials claim 69 containers of Canadian trash were illegally transported to the Philippines. In shipping the waste back, the Philippines joins other Asian countries dissatisfied with wealthier nations dumping trash at their ports.
Trade war roils US, China, but it means jobs for rest of AsiaChina is still an engine of global manufacturing, but tariffs are prompting a rebalancing of production. Other Asian nations stand to gain.
In Tokyo rice shop, loyalty to a sacred stapleRice can seem nearly synonymous with Japan, but consumption has shrunk by half. Do rice shops have a future?
Global city or Chinese city? Hong Kong fears the balance is tippingA proposal to ease extraditions, including to mainland China, has prompted Hong Kong’s largest protests since the pro-democracy Umbrella Movement.
