All Asia Pacific
First LookChinese solar company takes root in India to avoid import taxesGlobal complaints of Chinese trade policies have risen recently, and several countries are considering import taxes against the nation. In response, one of the China's largest solar suppliers announced plans on Tuesday to invest in manufacturing facilities in India.
First LookChinese activists decry so-called 'female morality schools'A video from a Chinese 'morality school,' intended to teach women to be submissive, has spurred sharp critique from women's rights activists. The presence of these schools in China is raising difficult questions about women's social position in the nation.
In Japan, baby-at-work fuss highlights deeper issue: few women in politicsA city council's reprimand to a member for bringing her baby to work has heightened awareness of working moms' challenges in Japan. Better daycare would help – but deeper attitude shifts require more women in government, advocates say.
First LookHong Kong commits to ban ivory trading by 2021In a landmark decision, lawmakers in Hong Kong approved a proposal to ban local ivory trading by 2021, agreeing to include stiffer fines and penalties. WWF called for other Asian countries such as Vietnam and Laos to institute similar bans to deter ivory traders.
First LookToo big to fail: worries surround South Korea's chip industryIncreased demand for microchips in South Korea has generated immense wealth, but also increasing concern for the future. The titanic industry has restructured South Korean society by decimating professions like architecture and shipbuilding.
First LookMalaysian court gives both parents a voice in deciding religion of their childrenThe Malaysia court has decided that both parents must give consent in the religious conversion of a minor, a victory for religious minorities in the Muslim-majority nation. Hindu women now have a say in whether or not their children are converted to Islam.
First LookProtests rumble in China after fraudulent investment scheme failsFollowing the collapse of Qianbao.com, a major Chinese investment scheme, authorities are working to quell protests in the eastern city of Nanjing. China's lax regulations on internet investment have allowed several fraudulent companies to grow in recent years.
First LookSouth Korean protesters burn 'unification flag' and photos of Kim Jong-unProtesters in South Korea took to the streets during the visit of North Korean pop-star in Seoul to voice displeasure about the North's participation in the Winter Olympics and recent rapprochement deals between the neighboring nations.
Cover StoryReturn to China: One reporter finds a nation that has gone from bicycles to bullet trainsFor a visiting journalist, the country of today feel worlds away from the China she first encountered decades earlier.
First LookSouth Koreans chafe against North-South unified Olympics teamAn agreement to have North Korea and South Korea march under one flag and field a joint hockey team in the Winter Olympics has triggered a backlash in South Korea from young and old alike who feel the move is nothing more than political propaganda.
In a threatened Cambodian forest, hand-in-hand push to protect land and peopleCambodia's deforestation rate is one of the fastest in the world. That puts endangered animals at risk, as well as cultures that have long drawn on the forests for their livelihoods and traditions. But conservation initiatives may help protect these communities.
First LookA joint women's hockey team could be the first unified Korean Olympics team everThe two Koreas took a great stride toward unity when they agreed to consider fielding a joint women's Olympic hockey team. If successful, the unified Korean Olympics team would be monumental in reconciling the alienated sister countries and reducing frontline hostilities.
First LookRipple effect of #MeToo in China: Beijing professor dismissed over sexual allegationsInspired by the #MeToo movement in the United States, a former student of Beihang University in Beijing spoke out against her professor. Her actions, in turn, inspired students from more than 50 universities around the country to do the same.
After South-North talks, Seoul tries to chart slow-but-steady courseAfter months of rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula, many analysts say the immediate outcomes of Tuesday's talks seem inadequate – or just a bid for time. But South Korean President Moon Jae-in, a champion of dialogue with Pyongyang, appears to be betting on incremental, unity-building moves.
First LookFirst signs of thaw: North Korea will send athletes to OlympicsNorth and South Korean delegates meet for the first time in two years. In an effort to ease a strained relationship, North Korea agrees to send athletes to the upcoming Games and to restore a military hotline between the two countries.
First LookWhat North-South Korea hope to achieve in joint talksAs the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics draw near, two neighbors seek to thaw a frosty relationship and ease tensions after nuclear missile testing by the North.
For China, Olympic dreams and 'snow business' in winter sports boomChina will host the Winter Olympics in four years. New investments in ski resorts and other winter sports double as bets on service industries like tourism becoming a greater economic driver.
First LookCommunication channel officially reopens between the KoreasNorth Korea has accepted overtures from its neighbor and announced it will hold talks with South Korea, another sign of easing animosity between the rivals after a year of nuclear bomb and missile testing by the North and a showdown of insults with Washington.
In a changing Mongolia, higher stakes for out-of-school herding boysIn many countries, girls have fewer educational opportunities. For years, that was reversed in Mongolia, with boys pulled out of classes to help their families herd. They've made strong gains – but as the climate and economy shift, education becomes even more important.
First LookSouth Korea continues its overture to North Korea as Olympics draw nearSouth Korea's President Moon has invited the nation's northern neighbor to discuss Olympic cooperation and how to improve ties. High-level talks have not occurred between the two nations since December 2015.
