All Asia Pacific
First LookNew Zealand government proposes ambitious plan to end smokingOn Thursday, New Zealand鈥檚 government unveiled their one-of-a-kind plan to end smoking by annually raising the minimum age required to purchase tobacco. The nation hopes to have less than 5% of the population smoking by 2025.
First LookPolitical neutrality? China says US violates Olympics spirit with boycott.The Olympic Charter established the political neutrality of sports, focusing on being 鈥渕ore united.鈥� After the U.S. announced a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Games over human rights concerns, China says they violated Olympic spirit.
First LookMyanmar court convicts Aung San Suu Kyi. What鈥檚 next?Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar鈥檚 former leader ousted by a military coup this year, was found guilty of incitement on Monday in a trial criticized for being politically motivated. She will face additional charges in the coming weeks that could extend her sentence.
First LookLaos-China railway opens. Who is going to benefit?A railway built by China that connects Laos to China鈥檚 markets will open this week. The project, part of Beijing鈥檚 Belt and Road Initiative, comes with promises to revamp the isolated Laotian economy 鈥� and a $5.9 billion price tag, primarily financed by loans from China.
First Look#WhereIsPengShuai: World calls for transparency from ChinaChina鈥檚 tennis star Peng Shuai took part in a video call with Olympic officials on Sunday, nearly three weeks after disappearing from the public eye.聽But tensions remain high as fans and the international community continue to question Ms. Peng鈥檚 whereabouts.
Xi Jinping, 鈥榗hairman of everything,鈥� secures his futureThe Chinese Communist Party has paved the way for Xi Jinping to extend his rule for a near-unprecedented third term. But doubts cloud his succession.
First LookIn a step forward, China and US ease restrictions on journalistsThe U.S. and China reached an agreement this week to ease restrictions on foreign journalists. Experts say it鈥檚 a 鈥渉ard-won achievement鈥� 鈥� the result of more than a year of U.S.-China negotiations.
All work, no play? Chinese millennials opt to 鈥榣ie flat鈥� instead.Youths rebel against China鈥檚 ultracompetitive environment 鈥� with calls for people to 鈥渓ie flat鈥� and do the minimum 鈥� and聽Xi Jinping takes note.
First Look鈥楾here鈥檚 always hope鈥�: Myanmar frees jailed American journalistDanny Fenster, an American journalist聽who was sentenced by a Myanmar court to 11 years in prison, has been freed after six months through diplomatic negotiations. He is one of at least 126 journalists who have been detained since the military took power.
First LookAmid free press crackdown, Myanmar sentences US journalistOn Friday, a Myanmar court sentenced American journalist Danny Fenster to 11 years in prison. The country鈥檚 military-installed government has forced media outlets to close, and an estimated 100 journalists have been arrested.
First LookWhy China wants to tone down its biggest online shopping dayChina鈥檚 annual Singles鈥� Day typically features "excessive" online shopping and glamorous galas with celebrity features. This year, amid President Xi Jinping鈥檚 push for 鈥渃ommon prosperity,鈥� companies will scale back and instead emphasize charity and sustainability.
First LookWhy Yahoo is discontinuing its platform in ChinaFollowing the lead of other major tech companies, such as Microsoft and Google, Yahoo announced Tuesday that it would no longer offer its services in China. The departure comes as China鈥檚 government increasingly limits the data these companies can collect and store.聽
Will China鈥檚 energy crisis dampen its effort to cut emissions?China will play a key role in whether the world can curb global warming. But recent power shortages reveal challenges ahead.
First LookYoung farmers bring new vision to Thailand's forestsIn Thailand, a small but growing back-to-the-land movement is drawing young people away from cities to take up farming. In the region of Mae Tha, residents won land lease rights in a protected forest, which is boosting conservation and jobs.
Japan鈥檚 elections showcase constraints on its democracyJapan鈥檚 democracy makes little room for outsider candidates, including women and innovators. The result is widespread voter apathy.
First LookLove over royalty: Princess Mako of Japan marries 'commoner'Former Princess Mako of Japan married commoner Kei Komuro on Tuesday in a controversial decision to prioritize love over her royal status.聽The newlyweds will move together to New York to begin a new life.聽
First LookWhat the Facebook leaks say about social media ethics in IndiaFacebook in India has only selectively curbed hate speech, misinformation, and anti-Muslim content, according to leaked documents obtained by The Associated Press and other media outlets.
First LookAmid stalled negotiations, N. Korea confirms new missile testOn Wednesday, North Korea confirmed it tested a new missile that can be fired from a submarine, two years after the last test of the same type.聽The U.S. has said it is open to resuming nuclear diplomacy, but North Korea considers the U.S. stance hostile.聽
First LookShortages, outages, and more: Why China's growth is slowingChina鈥檚 economy grew only 4.9% in the last quarter, down from 7.9% in the previous quarter. The slower growth is likely caused by limits on energy usage and parts shortages that have hampered manufacturing.聽
Cram school is out, forever. Why Chinese parents aren鈥檛 rejoicing.China鈥檚 crackdown on for-profit tutoring of K-12 students is part of a campaign aimed at curbing capitalist excess and promoting common prosperity.聽
