All Asia Pacific
First LookNew Okinawa governor addresses the complexity of US bases in JapanDenny Tamaki, the first elected leader of Okinawa to have an American parent, is leading a push against the US military presence on the island. Many consider him a "new kind of leader" as he stands for diversity in a country with a reputation for uniformity.
First LookKoreas begin to remove landmines near border to reduce tensionsSouth Korean officials announced the beginning of demining efforts in the demilitarized zone on Oct. 1. The efforts are part of a deal with North Korea to reduce military tensions on several fronts.
First LookRescue efforts under way as Indonesian tsunami claims more than 800 livesSeveral large coastal towns in Indonesia were hit by an earthquake and tsunami on Sept. 28 washing out communities and trapping residents under rubble. Poor roads and lack of heavy equipment, medical supplies, and experts is making recovery efforts difficult.
First LookNorth and South Korea take steps toward easing tensionFollowing a series of meetings between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in, the two announced an ambitious program aimed at bringing peace to the Korean Peninsula – including a pledge on denuclearization.
First LookSouth Korean president in Pyongyang for new talksThe continued dialogue between North and South Korea after President Trump's June meeting with Kim Jong-un heralds the possibility of renewed economic and diplomatic ties between the two countries.
First LookInside Hong Kong's mission to curb clothing wasteA new textile mill in Hong Kong is taking aim at the tons of textile waste dumped into landfills as a result of "fast fashion" with technology that will separate fabric blends in waste garments and produce a recycled yarn to be spun into new clothes.
First LookSearch missions continue in Philippines after typhoon MangkhutAs hurricane Florence continues to ravage the American South, the Philippines is working its way out from under another natural disaster as landslides pummel the country after typhoon Mangkhut. The government has blamed the mudslides on illegal mining operations.
First LookNew liaison office designed to improve communication between KoreasLocated in the North Korean border town of Kaesong, the office will be staffed by officials from both Koreas in hopes of easing tensions between the two countries ahead of their leaders' summit in Pyongyang next week.
For West, Aung San Suu Kyi’s silence complicates response to Rohingya crisisAung San Suu Kyi is hardly the first icon who has wound up leaving many admirers disillusioned. But amid the Rohingya crisis, the consequences of the world’s bewilderment may be especially high.
First LookChina pushes companies to look for non-US suppliers, buyersAs a response to President Trump's tariff hikes, Beijing is pushing companies to trade less with the United States. But there are few alternatives to the US as an export market and technology maker.
How ‘heritage players’ are helping Vietnam build a basketball cultureAthletes whose families fled Vietnam decades ago are now returning to play professional basketball. They’re key in the effort to expand the sport’s popularity.
As China detains Muslim Uyghurs, its economic clout mutes world criticismHas China simply become too powerful for the world to protest its human rights abuses? A vast surveillance and detention campaign against a Muslim minority is putting that to the test.
First LookLatest leader-swap frustrates AustraliansFormer Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was forced out of office on Friday by disgruntled lawmakers, the fourth prime minister pushed out of the job since 2010 in a period of political instability. The leadership change has struck a particularly sour note among Australians.
First LookSeparated Korean families reunite for brief, long-awaited meetingsDozens of elderly South Koreans crossed the heavily fortified border into North Korea for emotional reunions with relatives. The weeklong event, the first of its kind in almost three years, comes as the rival Koreas ramp up their reconciliation efforts.
First LookJapanese Emperor expresses remorse for his father's warAhead of his abdication, Emperor Akihito again expressed remorse for World War II in a speech on the anniversary of Japan's surrender. Throughout his reign, he has visited some of the harshest battlefields of the war and promoted pacifist, democratic views.
First LookNorth and South Korean leaders agree to a fall meetingNorth and South Korean leaders are planning to meet for the third time this year in September, continuing diplomatic negotiations on denuclearization amid renewed worries.
Will rising summer temperatures raise world’s climate change concern?It’s been an extraordinarily hot summer – with deadly effect – all across the Northern Hemisphere. Has the heat been changing how people think about climate change?
First LookIn China's 'Solar Valley,' solar cookout aims to woo chefs, reduce carbonA solar cooker company held a cookout to show that traditional Chinese dishes can be made in its devices. China is a "global hotspot" for black carbon emissions, half of which comes from residential kitchens and heaters.
First LookChristians in China's heartland face government suppressionChinese President Xi Jinping is waging the most severe systematic crackdown on Christianity since religious freedom was written into the country's constitution in 1982, experts and activists say.
First LookJapanese students create VR experience of Hiroshima bombingThe Japanese high school students are using virtual reality to transport users back in time to before, during, and after the US dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima 73 years ago today.
