All Asia Pacific
Hong Kong democracy: three questions on the brewing battle with BeijingA crucial vote this week in Hong Kong's legislature will test the resolve of democrats opposed to Beijing's formula for electing the city's future leaders.
Hong Kong activists march ahead of vote on electoral packageHong Kong's legislature is due to begin debate on the package on Wednesday with a vote due by the end of the week. Beijing has proposed a direct vote for Hong Kong 's next leader in 2017, but only pre-screened, pro-Beijing candidates will be allowed to stand.
How Zhou Yongkang verdict aids President Xi's 'Chinese dream'The former security chief was arrested last year and now faces a life sentence in jail for corruption and related offenses. Xi Jinping has made an anti-corruption drive central to his presidency.
Ex-China security chief sentenced to life in prison for corruptionZhou Yongkang received his life term after being tried May 22 on charges of receiving bribes, abuse of power and leaking state secrets. The trial was held behind closed doors because of the final charge.
Making first visit to China, Aung San Suu Kyi's pragmatism in playMyanmar's opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Aung San Suu Kyi, is due to meet China's Xi Jinping in Beijing during a five-day visit.
China takes precautions as MERS virus spreads in South KoreaAfter its handling of SARS and swine flu in 2002 and 2012, China appears to have learned lessons on how to manage public health crises. In South Korea, the number of confirmed MERS cases has reached 95.
As China knocks down Christian crosses, the faithful restore themIn Zhejiang Province authorities have knocked down more than 450 crosses from official Protestant churches in an anti-Christian campaign. On June 8 they demolished a large edifice in Yanxie near Wenling. But many parishioners are not accepting the change.
FocusOn China's campuses, scholars battle ideology and red tapeMore academics say their work is coming under a cloud that has Mao-era features as President Xi Jinping tightens the screws on independent thought.
China cruise ship righted in search for more victimsWith 103 confirmed dead and 339 missing, the capsizing is likely to become the country's deadliest boat disaster in seven decades.
Recovery effort continues for capsized Chinese cruise shipMore bodies were recovered Thursday, but many more are expected to be found in the coming days.
Exiled Tiananmen student leaders find that home remains out of bounds26 years ago, pro-democracy protesters filled Tiananmen Square for weeks before government troops brutally dispersed them. Student leaders who fled into exile did not dream then that they would never be allowed to return.
China ship disaster: Why retirees take 'red setting sun' cruisesChinese retirees are increasingly targeted as tourists on cheap but highly prized visits to sites like the Three Gorges Dam.
China ship rescue: 'We will treat them as our own,' official tells relativesHundreds of mostly elderly passengers and crew are still missing, with some possibly trapped inside the hull, after a Chinese cruise ship capsized on the Yangtze River, en route to the Three Gorges Dam.
Search continues for survivors in Yangtze River shipwreckHundreds are still missing after a cruise ship carrying more than 400 people capsized in China's Yangtze River on Tuesday.
Yangtze River ship sinks in China: More than 450 on boardYangtze River ship sinks: Fifteen people have reportedly been rescued from the ship that sank overnight in the Yangtze River. More than 450 people were on board.
Puffing dragon: China's new smoking ban faces economic blowbackBeijing now forbids smoking indoors. But the government agency charged with carrying out the ban also owns the company that makes and sells cigarettes.
Myanmar should give citizenship to Rohingya Muslims, US official saysSince early May, more than 4,600 boat people from Myanmar and Bangladesh have been brought ashore from Southeast Asian waters. Some are Rohingya Muslims who have fled persecution in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, which has denied them basic rights.
- How will US respond to China's artificial islands?
US Defense Secretary Ash Carter sharply condemned Saturday the artificial island-building by China in the South China Sea.
- Powerful earthquake rocks Japan, but no tsunami
Japan was shaken by a magnitude 8.5 earthquake Saturday. There were no reports of significant damage or injuries.
In Japan's bid for 'world heritage' sites, Korea sees denial of historyJapan wants 23 locales to be designated as UNESCO sites for their role in the founding of modern Japan. But Korea says seven of them used forced labor during World War II, and should be dropped from the bid.
