All Asia Pacific
First LookU.S. stands with Philippines after China rams boats in disputed watersTwo Chinese vessels damaged a Philippine coast guard ship supplying a contested shoal in the South China Sea. The U.S. has warned that it is bound by treaty to defend the Philippines.
China鈥檚 Belt and Road Initiative: What鈥檚 working and what鈥檚 notTen years ago, China launched a massive global infrastructure push. As the Belt and Road Initiative enters a 鈥渘ew stage,鈥� has it delivered on its promises of mutual prosperity?
Cover StoryHow two women transformed learning in rural ChinaOnce word got out about classrooms in caves, determination and global generosity transformed education in one corner of China.聽
First LookNew Zealand swings rightward as Labour suffers election defeatNew Zealand鈥檚 National Party is set to end six years of center-left Labour Party government. National is working to build a conservative coalition, though the exact makeup of parliament is still unclear.
First LookAustralians deny constitutional recognition to Indigenous people. Why?More than 60% of Australians voted against changing the constitution to recognize Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through the creation of an Indigenous advisory body. The block could invite more divisive politics, analysts say.聽
First LookBooks by Japanese feminist gain traction in China despite censorshipJapanese feminist scholar Chizuko Ueno鈥檚 books have helped keep feminism in mainstream conversations in China amid increasing censorship. Ms. Ueno does not directly write about China, but is highly critical of societal expectations of women and misogyny.
Difference MakerIn Japan, domestic violence survivors help victims 鈥� and abusersDomestic violence survivors are at the front of the charge to break women鈥檚 silence and end cycles of violence across Japan. They say compassion is their superpower.
First LookChina promotes unity at Asian Games as its regional disputes continueChina will be spending billions to host the Asian Games and portray the image of Asian unity and success. But critics say that shouldn鈥檛 overshadow the nation鈥檚 continued, persistent efforts to vie for power over disputed territory.
The ExplainerWhy China鈥檚 鈥榤iracle鈥� growth has slowedDecades of rapid economic growth have made China a central player in the global economy. Now, the tide appears to be turning, but experts say the challenges China faces aren鈥檛 that new 鈥� nor are they insurmountable.聽
First LookNobel winner Maria Ressa acquitted of tax evasion charge鈥淔acts wins, truth wins, justice wins,鈥澛燦obel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa told reporters after being acquitted of a final tax evasion charge. She faces two remaining legal cases she believes the former Philippine president used to muzzle her reporting.
First LookKim could be on his way to Putin to deepen ties. Why now?The prospective meeting between North Korea and Russia comes as Russia seeks to bolster its ammunition for its war in Ukraine, U.S. officials say. In return, North Korea is expected to ask for food, energy shipments, and sophisticated weapons technologies.
For Koreans in Japan, this little-known massacre still carries weightJapan is reluctant to acknowledge colonial-era violence, leaving the job of historical reckoning to individuals and civic groups.聽For Koreans investigating a 1923 massacre, it鈥檚 not just a matter of truth, but also one of dignity and survival.
In Pictures: How Filipino salt makers saved their craftThe traditional聽asin tibuok salt聽is only found on one island in the Philippines. Thanks to these artisans, the craft hasn鈥檛 been lost.聽
How the Cultural Revolution shapes Chinese families decades laterIn her book 鈥淩ed Memory,鈥� journalist聽Tania Branigan offers a candid look at China鈥檚 Cultural Revolution and illuminates the relevance of that decade of chaos in deciphering China today.
To green their ancient alleys, Beijing鈥檚 hutong gardeners get creativeFor Beijing鈥檚 hutong gardeners, growing peppers and gourds is more about feeding the soul 鈥� and sharing that joy with others.
Activist or terrorist? How Filipino authorities blur the line.Who鈥檚 considered a terrorist in the Philippines? The designation of activists and Indigenous leaders as 鈥渢errorist individuals鈥� has sparked calls to revisit the country鈥檚 approach to domestic security.
First LookBeijing鈥檚 worst flood in 50 years: Xi calls for 鈥榓ll out鈥� rescueChina鈥檚 capital and nearby cities are reporting fatalities and people missing in the worst floods in 50 years. Typhoon Doksuri has destroyed roads and homes and led Leader Xi Jinping to issue an order to help those still trapped.
First LookClimate-resilient women: Seaweed farmers feed families and futuresIn the face of climate change, women seaweed farmers in the Philippines聽are cultivating a lucrative alternative crop. Seaweed farming is the world鈥檚 fastest-growing form of aquaculture and the Philippines is the fourth largest producer globally.
The ExplainerJapan鈥檚 plan for Fukushima wastewater: Three questionsIn Japan, plans to release treated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant have fishing communities and neighboring countries sounding alarms. But in this case, the fear doesn鈥檛 match the facts.
FocusFrom ditch digging to herding donkeys, no rest for China鈥檚 rural seniorsIn rural China, where low incomes and limited social support mean no rest for elders, seniorhood is defined more by resilience than by comfort.
