All Asia Pacific
An iconic Tibetan horse festival – with politics in the wingsThe Yushu festival is one of the most famous events on the Tibetan Plateau – an impressive sight for those who can get tickets, handed out by officials. But critics say the event serves Beijing's political interests in a sensitive region.
First LookWhy South Korea's offer for talks with the North continues unrequitedSeoul's collaborative offerings to North Korea were ridiculed but President Moon still thinks the South should take the lead when it comes to solving the North Korean nuclear problem.
First LookNorth Korea releases jailed Canadian pastor amid tensions with USAs President Trump leveled a warning at the hermit kingdom via tweet, a Canadian pastor was freed early, although there is no clear link between this incident and the escalation of tensions between the US and North Korea.
First LookAustralian PM asks public to weigh in on gay marriagePrime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced Tuesday that if approved by the Senate, Australia would hold a non-binding and mandatory poll – the fourth in Australian history and the first in 43 years.
As global reach grows, China builds military to matchPresident Xi has implemented sweeping reforms to modernize the People's Liberation Army – which celebrated its 90th anniversary this week – and protect China's expanding economic influence. But as its ambitions increase, so does the risk of conflict.
First LookTo tour in China, Grammys will respect media constraintsThe Grammy Awards in China will promote only 'positive and healthy' artists in order to break into the world's second-largest economy.
First LookFootage leads analysts to question robustness of North Korean ICBMA Japanese video showing atmospheric re-entry of North Korea’s most recent ICBM suggests the rocket failed to survive extreme heat and pressure on re-entry.
First LookNorth Korean economy fueled by thousands of laborers in US-allied nationsNorth Korean workers supply the hermit kingdom with hard currency while living abroad in deplorable conditions. Why they may be the secret to the country's survival despite tough international sanctions.
First LookSouth Korea strives for more labor-friendly growth and financial equalityPresident Moon aims for a 'complete paradigm shift' calling for more transparency, support for small businesses, and broader social safety nets for the unemployed.
First LookWhy is North Korea giving its neighbor the silent treatment?South Korea initiated rare face-to-face talks with the North with no response so far. What the cold shoulder from the hermit kingdom might mean.
First LookDisruption of WhatsApp in China triggers censorship fearsDuring a politically fraught time in China, authorities are paying close attention to encrypted messaging platforms like WhatsApp.
First LookSouth Korea offers dialogue with the North to ease border tensionsIf President Moon's overture to the North is successful, it will be the first family reunion talks since 2015.
First LookChina, India capable of handling border dispute like ‘so many situations in the past’Following tension sparked by a border dispute in June, China and India should be able to reach a consensus that reflects their 'strategic maturity', says India’s foreign secretary.
First LookSouth Korea's president is ready for a meeting with North Korea's Kim Jong UnSouth Korean President Moon Jae-in seeks common ground with North Korea's President Kim Jong Un. After decades of discord between the neighboring nations, Mr. Moon wants to alleviate tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
North Korea wants to keep its 'ultimate insurance.' Should the US accept it?The United States has insisted that denuclearization be a prerequisite for negotiations with North Korea. But accepting a freeze on the program – sooner rather than later – may be a wise move, some analysts argue.
The ExplainerNorth Korea missile test: How big a technological breakthrough?North Korea's missile test on Tuesday suggests the rogue nation may have dramatically expanded its missile range. They can't yet reach the continental United States, but doing so is only a matter of time, defense experts say.
First LookNorth Korea refuses to put its nuclear program on the negotiating tableAfter a milestone launch, it appears North Korea will continue to test its long-range weapons until it perfects missiles that can strike anywhere in the United States.
First LookChina takes hard stance in territorial dispute with IndiaTension in a month-long territorial standoff escalated to an all-time high over a plateau in the Himalayan mountains when Bhutan sought India's help to stop Chinese crews from building a road there.
Amid anniversary protests, fears that Hong Kong is 'just another mainland city'Twenty years after Britain returned Hong Kong to Chinese control, questions about Beijing's commitment to the city's legislative and judicial autonomy are widespread. But for many, being Hong Konger is also a cultural identity – one that they worry could be diluted by mainland influence.
FocusChina spent $100 billion on reforestation. So why does it have 'green deserts'?Beijing's Grain-for-Green program has helped blanket the country's hillsides with trees, undoing damage from decades of blistering development. But fostering biodiversity remains a challenge, conservationists say.
