All Asia Pacific
China's epic 'Great Wall' blockbuster draws epic criticism, and officials are not pleased'The Great Wall' is the largest ever US-China co-production. The official People's Daily ran an op-ed that lambasted film critics' disdain for the film, but then softened their take in a commentary the following day.
The ExplainerEast Asia in 2017: On land and sea, a year of building power basesSeen as China's most powerful leader in decades, President Xi could secure his hold for years to come at the next Party Congress. In the South China Sea, a potential flashpoint, Beijing has already signaled its dominance.
As China's young head to cities, elders find new appeal in old age homesBy 2050, China will have half a billion elderly citizens, but the country's youth are increasingly unwilling or unable to provide traditional support to their parents. So some are opting for a more 'Western' solution.
Export-driven Taiwan's new import: a five-day workweekThe long workaholic and now more affluent Taiwanese, familiar with the leisure culture elsewhere in the world, are dedicating themselves to their children as well as their employers. The shift in work-life balance becomes law Jan. 1.
First LookSao Tome won over by 'One China' as it parts diplomatic ways with TaiwanSao Tome and Principe will reportedly seek to restore diplomatic ties with China after ending its recognition of Taiwan, leaving the island with only 21 diplomatic allies.
First LookRelations already tense, China warship seizes US Navy underwater droneThe Chinese ship acknowledged radio messages from the US ship, but did not respond to demands for the glider to be returned.
First LookChina installed weapons on hotspot islands in South China Sea, report saysBeijing argues that its operations are defensive, legal, and appropriate, but the international community worries the weapons could be a projection of power and militarization.
For Japan's Abe, a moment to end World War II with Russia?Prime Minister Abe and Russian President Putin will meet Thursday and Friday. A territorial dispute that has prevented the signing of a WWII peace treaty will be discussed.
Jakarta Christian governor trial tests Indonesia's religious freedomJakarta's first Christian governor is on trial for blasphemy over his previous remarks regarding the Quran, an accusation some say is politically motivated.
First LookSouth Korea voted to impeach its president. What happens next?Close ties between the US and South Korea could become less so under new governments in both countries. The ouster provides an opening for the center-left South Korean opposition, which has criticized trade and military ties with the US.
As South Korean women fight for their rights, the gloves come offBy holding up a confrontational online 'mirror' to South Korea's conservative yet tech-savvy society, a provocative website has paved a path for a new generation of activist young feminists.
First LookRescue workers search for survivors in 6.5-magnitude earthquake in IndonesiaClose to 100 people were killed and hundreds others injured by an earthquake that struck Indonesia's Aceh province early Wednesday morning.
Why a presidential scandal is boosting free speech in South KoreaThe level of protest and criticism of President Park is a major shift for a country that the UN Human Rights Committee warned last year was using criminal defamation laws to prosecute critics.
First LookNew Zealand's prime minister unexpectedly steps downAfter more than eight years in power, John Key said on Monday that it was the 'right time' to leave politics.
First LookWhy that Trump phone call to Taiwan is so controversialPresident-elect Donald Trump's phone call with Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen is drawing ire from China as concerns arise about stability of future Sino-US relations.
- North Korea rejects UN sanctions
North Korea called the sanctions an "abuse of power" and will be met with tough countermeasures.
Women find their voice as S. Korea's first female president falls from graceThe presidential scandal’s bizarre details have provided fertile ground for misogynistic beliefs in a nation where gender inequality is deeply entrenched. But women are pushing back.
First LookWill tougher UN sanctions cool North Korea's nuclear ambitions?The 15-member UN Security Council tightened sanctions Wednesday following North Korea's latest nuclear tests in September.
First LookCan Suu Kyi deliver on her promise of a path to peace for Myanmar?Following a flare-up of clashes between security forces and the minority Muslim Rohingya community in Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi is under pressure to address the violence.
- First LookWhy South Korea's president asked parliament to help her resign
South Korean president Park Geun-hye said Tuesday that she was willing to step down – and asked for parliament's guidance. For many, it's an effort to prolong her rule, even as she faces a corruption scandal and record levels of unpopularity.
