All Asia Pacific
First LookFormer Malaysian leader arrested for theft, money launderingTwo months after being voted out of office, former Prime Minister Najib Razak has been arrested and will be charged for graft as a result of his suspected connection to the grand theft of millions of dollars from state investment firm 1MDB.
Why young professionals are taking up farming in ThailandAs Thailand's rural population ages, a new initiative is encouraging young professionals to return to the countryside and establish farming communities with modern technology.
Soccer World Cup spurs Chinese sporting ambitionsThe Chinese government used not to care much about soccer, but President Xi Jinping has chosen it as a marker of global influence. How long till a Chinese captain hoists the World Cup? Local fans are not holding their breath.
First LookAmnesty International: Myanmar military should be prosecuted for crimes against humanityAmnesty International's newly released report provides evidence of atrocities committed by the Myanmar military on the Rohingya population from a nine-month investigation.
First LookAustralia approves bill to make foreign influence on politics more transparentAustralia passed two bills that would criminalize any covert, foreign activity intended to influence domestic politics. While the government says the legislation is not aimed at any specific country, there are reports that the bills were created in response to Chinese interference in Australian policy.
First LookNorth Korea cancels its annual anti-US rallySince the monumental summit between President Trump and Kim Jong-un, North Korea has softened its stance toward the United States, canceling its month-long annual anti-US rally. But negative portrayals of Americans remain entrenched in the nation's culture and education.
First LookNorth, South Korea to host reunions for war-split familiesIn an effort to further peace talks, this August North and South Korea will each send 100 people to reunite with family members divided by the Korean War. Since 2000 nearly 20,000 Koreans have participated in 20 rounds of family reunions.
War games 'very provocative'? To S. Korea, so is calling them offPresident Trump's decision to call of an annual joint military exercise with South Korea has led some analysts to question if outreach to Kim signals a US retreat from the region.
First LookChina's reach fuels illegal protests in VietnamPopular opinion has concluded that China will be the main beneficiary of pending economic policy in Vietnam, triggering two weeks of protests. Protestors fear the proposed economic zones will enable Chinese companies to take over the coast with little regard for the environment or fishermen.
First LookChina hopes to see progress on US-North Korea summit agreementsKim Jong-un met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday to discuss his pledge to denuclearize the peninsula. The visit comes as Washington and Beijing are at odds over trade, which could complicate work toward a solution.
First LookUS and South Korea will likely suspend major military drillsThe news of an expected halt of the exercises came after a week of signs that Seoul and Washington were open to their suspension. Under the agreement, drills would restart if North Korea does not denuclearize, reported South Korean news agency Yonhap.
After dead-end jobs, promise of a future for migrant workers in TaiwanTaiwan is home to almost 600,000 low-skilled workers from Southeast Asia, who often face isolation and don't learn transferable skills. The One-Forty Foundation helps workers adapt and prepare for better careers in Taiwan or their home countries.
Despite murky details, summit sends NK clear message: Welcome to the clubMany nuclear policy analysts are bemoaning the statement’s lack of specifics. But the summit itself recast North Korea as a hermit kingdom no more – and signaled a faster sunset of American power in Asia.
Cover StoryChina's forced evictions: One migrant family's storyAlthough migrants have been important contributors to Beijing’s economic growth, they have also placed a considerable burden on its infrastructure and public services. Over the past three years, officials have embarked on an aggressive campaign to limit their numbers.
On sidelines of two-man summit, North Korea’s neighbors watch carefullyOn Tuesday, all eyes will be on Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump. But the meeting was shaped by many countries’ diplomacy – countries anxious to see if their perspectives on a region in flux will get a hearing.
First LookMyanmar, UN sign pact to encourage the return of Rohingya refugeesMore than 700,000 Rohingyas, an ethnic minority in Myanmar, have fled the country to escape government persecution since August 2017. On Wednesday, the United Nations and Myanmar signed an agreement that could be the first step toward solving the crisis.
What Beijing's surge in the South China Sea meansFive years ago China set out to assert its control over the South China Sea, regardless of international law or any of its neighbors' opinions. It has now succeeded, challenging traditional US preeminence in the western Pacific.
First LookBoth Koreas agree to discuss military, family reunionsThe Korean War was temporarily halted with an armistice agreement in 1953, but now the two Koreas are working to improve ties with upcoming talks to discuss issues that have kept the two nations divided.
First LookGlobal leaders assemble to discuss other pressing issues in Asian securityWhile the proposed US-North Korea summit on June 12 has dominated international conversations, this weekend's Shangri-La Dialogue is an opportunity for defense officials to examine China's growing naval presence and the role of the US in Asia.
First LookChina cuts tariffs again to boost consumer spending on local productsWith its third tariff reduction in six months, China wants its citizens to buy avocados, cosmetics shoes, and other goods from home instead of abroad in efforts to nurture self-sustaining economic growth based on consumer spending instead of trade and investment.
