All Asia Pacific
- Duterte's diplomatic dance in China: How hard a pivot away from US?China is 'rolling out the red carpet' for the Philippines leader, whose four-day visit caps a months-long initiative to improve a strained relationship. Both sides are looking for concessions.
- Far from Bangkok, a heartfelt tribute for a Thai king born in MassachusettsHundreds gathered to mourn the late King聽Bhumibol Adulyadej Thursday evening at a square in Cambridge that is named for him. The late king had many connections to the area.
- In Thailand, a divided country confronts loss of a royal unifying forceThais are mourning King Bhumipol, who died Thursday and was a beloved figure. They have far less faith in the crown prince.聽
- King Bhumibol Adulyadej: Thailand's gentle leader and anchor of stabilityKing Bhumibol Adulyadej聽had been the world's longest reigning monarch.聽He聽addressed the US Congress when Dwight D. Eisenhower was president and met Elvis Presley on a visit with his queen in 1960.
- With brutal drug campaign as model, Duterte turns eye to Islamist rebelsPhilippines President Rodrigo Duterte is pledging a harsh crackdown on Abu Sayyaf rebels in Mindanao in hopes of ending decades of violence that has deterred investment.
- First LookWhy Australia blocked a vote on same-sex marriageA Gallup poll shows that 61 percent of Australians support same-sex marriage, but some argue that a public, non-binding vote on the issue would be more harmful than deciding the issue in Parliament.聽
- Despite travel frenzy, a newcomer finds luster in China's Golden WeekSeeing far-flung family is a priority as Chinese collectively hit the road during the week-long holiday that marks the founding of the People's Republic in 1949.
- First LookIs North Korea preparing for another nuclear test?A United States-based monitoring group has detected a spike in activity at the nation's聽Punggye-ri聽nuclear test site.
- First LookWhat's behind Duterte's pause of US-Philippines military cooperation?Philippines Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana announced a pause in plans for joint military exercises in the South China Sea. Other military cooperation is also expected to end. Is this a breakdown in relations or the search for a better position?
- As joint military exercises begin, Philippine president rages against USThe Philippines president's threat to 'break up' with the United States may be empty rhetoric, but his war on drugs has deepened a rift in the two countries' relations.聽
- FocusIn Beijing, 'historical preservation' effort sends blunt message to migrantsWorkers have built walls in front of many of the small, migrant-owned shops that dot Beijing's traditional hutong alleyways. Beijing is working to rein in urban growth, but critics say policies largely target the migrants who helped build Beijing.
- First LookTokyo looks for cost-cutting changes, as estimated Olympic bill soarsAfter a panel of experts estimated the costs of hosting the 2020 summer Olympics in Tokyo at $30 billion, officials are searching for ways to mitigate expenses.聽
- First LookMount Barujari: 1,000 tourists evacuated in Indonesia after volcano eruptionMount Barujari erupted without warning on Tuesday. Fifty climbers are still missing but believed to be safe.
- First LookHow Thailand's military junta has cracked down on dissentA news conference by聽Amnesty International, set to unveil details on torture by the military and police, was cancelled after Thai authorities threatened to arrest two of the speakers.聽
- First LookJapan scrambles fighter jets as China gets too closeJapanese fighter jets were sent to respond to Chinese forces coming too close to contested islands in the East China sea on Sunday. China has been conducting drills in the region.
- Why Japan is saying that threat by North Korea is worse than everJapan's concern seems largely in line with statements from American officials, but they also reflect a particularly contentious history between the Japanese and North Koreans.
- Can speech be limited to protect liberal values? Australia's debate rages.A 1995 Australian law sacrificing freedom of speech to defend multiculturalism and ethnic harmony is under renewed fire from conservatives.
- First LookChinese space station set to fall out of sky. How did that happen?Chinese officials appear to have admitted they lost control of the Tiangong-1, the country's first space station.聽
- First LookWhy did the US again fly supersonic bombers over South Korea?After last week's flyover, the US Air Force called this week's flight the closest bombers have ever flown to North Korea.
- Has South Korea hardened its stance on helping its northern neighbor?A spokesman for the South's Unification Ministry said it is unlikely the country will provide humanitarian aid to North Korea, even though a United Nations agency has asked for millions of dollars to fund flood relief. 聽