All Asia Pacific
South Korea elects its first woman president, Park Geun-hyeConservative candidate Park Geun-hye has made history by winning South Korea's presidential election, becoming the country's first female president-elect after defeating her liberal rival.
Japan's hawkish Abe claims the win, but not a mandateShinzo Abe is set to become Japan's seventh prime minister in 6-1/2 years on Dec. 26. While he is known for a tougher line on China, many say he will focus largely on Japan's economy.
Dictator's daughter leading polls ahead of South Korean electionConservative candidate Park Geun-hye holds the slight edge ahead of an election Wednesday that could affect relations with North Korea.- Chinese police suspect man who stabbed 23 kids 'influenced' by doomsday rumorJust hours before the Newtown, Conn., massacre, a man stabbed 23 children in a rural Chinese elementary school.聽
Japan's deadlock over? A supermajority emerges in exit polls.Japan鈥檚 main conservative party pulled off a major victory in Sunday鈥檚 election, giving its leader,聽Shinzo Abe, a mandate to push for big public spending and a hawkish foreign policy.- On election's eve, Japan's conservatives appear poised for dramatic comebackIf polls ahead of Sunday's vote are correct, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will take up the top slot again as leader of the LDP. His more hawkish tone on China has played well to an uneasy electorate.
Mysteries swirl around North Korea's satellite launchThe US believes North Korea's satellite is out of control, but the South Koreans insist that it is functioning normally.
'Act of Killing': In small screenings, by word of mouth, Indonesians learn of dark pastThe new film 'The Act of Killing' recounts the slaughter in Indonesia of up to 2 million people following an attempted coup in 1965. Filmmakers are showing it in small venues to dodge potential censorship.
North Korea rocket launch: Why China only 'expresses regret'Beijing's restrained response to a widely condemned rocket launch is based on its concern about North Korea's stability 鈥� and its view that a tough UN resolution could worsen regional security.
As North Korea celebrates surprise rocket launch, alarm mounts abroadNorth Korea went ahead with a rocket launch despite international pressure to call it off. Critics say the launch masks a weapons development effort and is a clear violation of UN sanctions.
China's economic recovery picks up pace, but for how long?While the global recession took a toll, China's economy is now in a sweet spot that may hold through the first half of 2013, say some analysts. But worrisome longer-term trends are surfacing.
Is Japan losing its cool?Manga, anime, J-pop 鈥� once it was all about Japan. 聽But the country's efforts to channel its 'cool' as part of a global soft power strategy may need a revamp amid intense competition from Korea.
Test passed? Japan's earthquake causes quick response near FukushimaComing so soon after Sunday鈥檚 tunnel collapse raised聽questions about Japan's聽infrastructure, the absence of major damage from today's quake shows Japan鈥檚 level of preparedness for them.
Japanese chef dishes on North Korean leader and missile launch'It鈥檚 hard to understand why surrounding countries are so sensitive,' says Kenji Fujimoto, who left North Korea in 2001 but returned for a visit last summer at Kim Jong-un鈥檚 invitation.
Japan tunnel collapse ignites debate about infrastructure spendingJapan has ordered immediate inspections of dozens of road and highway tunnels after the ceiling of a tunnel near Tokyo collapsed on Sunday, killing nine people.聽
Exclusive: How a Chinese prisoner release reveals business as usual at 'black jail'A Monitor investigation reveals that Tuesday's聽announced freedom for 70,000 prisoners was really just a regular release of several hundred petitioners.
Thai king's birthday marks time-out in Thailand's game of thronesThough the royal institution once enjoyed a near-universal respect, recent political polarization has raised questions about the role of the monarchy and about the country's future after his reign.聽
North Korea preps for rocket launch despite international warningsMany are concerned that聽North Korea's rocket launch is cover for developing the technology to attach a nuclear warhead to a long-range missile capable of going as far as Hawaii, Alaska, or the US West Coast.
Fight over snack in China lights up blogosphereControversy over how police handled a fight between ethnic minority snack vendors and a Han Chinese costumer went viral in China, highlighting discontent with 'leniency' for minorities.聽
China's leadership change is disturbing the corridors of powerOfficials at some top-level Chinese government meetings have been banned from simply reading their notes and have been encouraged to engage in real discussion.
