All Asia Pacific
First LookNorth Korea to skip Tokyo Olympics because of COVID-19North Korea said it will not participate in the Tokyo Olympics to protect its athletes from the coronavirus. But the Games have also been a conduit for politics, and the North鈥檚 decision is seen as a diplomatic setback.
First LookChina continues Hong Kong clampdown as activists are convictedSome of Hong Kong鈥檚 most prominent pro-democracy advocates have been found guilty of unauthorized assembly, on charges stemming from anti-government protests in 2019. It is the latest blow to Hong Kong civil liberties.
First LookIn Myanmar, opposition leaders seek alliance with armed groupsAn underground government of civilians challenging Myanmar鈥檚 ruling military junta have crafted a new constitution, and is seeking an alliance with armed ethnic minority groups in the countryside who have long sought more autonomy.
First LookHow Beijing is tightening its grip on Hong Kong鈥檚 legislatureBeijing has reduced the amount of directly elected seats in Hong Kong鈥檚 legislature, likely increasing the mainland government鈥檚 grip on the island鈥檚 politics. 鈥淭he election system is completely dismantled,鈥� said one former lawmaker.
Myanmar protesters bridge religious divides to counter military coupMyanmar鈥檚 protesters are uniting across long-standing religious divides to oppose the military coup, activists say.
First LookMyanmar junta frees over 600 protestors as silence strike beginsHundreds of imprisoned protestors in Myanmar have been released in the first apparent gesture by the military to try to placate the protest movement. Meanwhile, protestors began a 鈥榮ilence strike鈥� on Wednesday.
First LookMyanmar junta justifies crackdown, accuses Suu Kyi of graftMyanmar鈥檚 military junta accused ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi of corruption in an effort to discredit her. The military also said they are justified in their crackdown because demonstrators were violent.
First LookIn Myanmar, garment unions hope to disrupt economy under juntaShould multinational firms stop doing business in Myanmar?聽Some Burmese union leaders are聽urging major international brands like H&M and L.L. Bean with factories in Myanmar to denounce the takeover, even if that means the loss of jobs.聽
First LookTokyo Olympics: Another sexist scandal, another resignationTokyo Olympics creative director Hiroshi Sasaki has resigned after making demeaning comments about Naomi Watanabe, a well-known celebrity in Japan, just four months before the Olympics is scheduled to open.
First LookJapanese court rules in favor of same-sex marriageThough the ruling has no immediate legal effect, lawyers and their supporters said it was 鈥渁 big first step toward equality.鈥澛燡apan is the only country G7 country where same-sex marriages are not legal.
Electoral reform: In changing Hong Kong, who counts as a 鈥榩atriot鈥�?China鈥檚 legislature approved sweeping changes to Hong Kong鈥檚 electoral system last week, with officials calling for 鈥減atriots鈥� to run the territory.
First LookWomen in Myanmar hang sarongs in streets to defy coupAs protestors continue to resist the military coup in Myanmar, some women have taken to hanging feminine clothing as a way to deter superstitious policemen and soldiers. Women have long played a role in聽Myanmar鈥檚 fight for democracy, activists say.
Are Myanmar's generals open to persuasion? Depends who鈥檚 persuading.Diplomatic efforts to end a crisis in Myanmar show how a decade of opening created some limited pressure points on its military rulers.聽
First LookMyanmar police intensify violence against anti-coup protestsA U.N. official said it had 鈥渃redible information鈥� that 18 people were killed. The Feb. 1 coup reversed slow progress toward democracy in Myanmar after five decades of military rule.
First LookIn single swoop, dozens of Hong Kong activists charged with subversionThe crackdown comes as Chinese officials prepare to unveil electoral reforms that will likely further diminish the influence of opposition forces.
As Beijing鈥檚 power grows, can it shift meaning of 鈥榟uman rights鈥�?Debates over whether to boycott Beijing鈥檚 2022 Olympics highlight a deeper trend: China鈥檚 growing leverage in reshaping the human rights agenda.
First LookWith Hollywood dark, Chinese filmmakers get the spotlightUnlike many parts of the world, COVID-19 is more or less under control in China. And now Chinese box office sales are surpassing sales in the United States as theater audiences grow.
Why Japan still plugs into nuclearTen years after the Fukushima disaster, the country needs the energy source to bridge to a greener future.
Cover Story10 years after tsunami: A Japanese town rebuilds its homes and heartA Japanese fishing village, destroyed聽by a wall of water after an earthquake 10 years ago, is a study in resilience.
First LookElectoral reformers want Beijing 'patriots' to run Hong KongBeijing continues to tighten its control over Hong Kong as the Communist Party plans to overhaul the electoral system in the semi-autonomous territory. The electoral reforms, which are expected to pass in March, will further erode the pro-democracy movement.
