All Asia Pacific
First LookDisruption of WhatsApp in China triggers censorship fearsDuring a politically fraught time in China, authorities are paying close attention to encrypted messaging platforms like WhatsApp.
First LookSouth Korea offers dialogue with the North to ease border tensionsIf President Moon's overture to the North is successful, it will be the first family reunion talks since 2015.
First LookChina, India capable of handling border dispute like 鈥榮o many situations in the past鈥�Following tension sparked by a border dispute in June, China and India should be able to reach a consensus that reflects their 'strategic maturity', says India鈥檚 foreign secretary.聽
First LookSouth Korea's president is ready for a meeting with North Korea's Kim Jong UnSouth Korean President Moon Jae-in seeks common ground with North Korea's President Kim Jong Un. After decades of discord between the neighboring nations, Mr. Moon wants to alleviate tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
North Korea wants to keep its 'ultimate insurance.' Should the US accept it?The United States has insisted that denuclearization be a prerequisite for negotiations with North Korea. But accepting a freeze on the program 鈥撀爏ooner rather than later 鈥撀爉ay be a wise move, some analysts argue.
The ExplainerNorth Korea missile test: How big a technological breakthrough?North Korea's missile test on Tuesday suggests the rogue nation may have dramatically expanded its missile range. They can't yet reach the continental United States, but doing so is only a matter of time, defense experts say.
First LookNorth Korea refuses to put its nuclear program on the negotiating tableAfter a milestone launch, it appears North Korea will continue to test its long-range weapons until it perfects missiles that can strike anywhere in the United States.
First LookChina takes hard stance in territorial dispute with IndiaTension in a month-long territorial standoff escalated to an all-time high over a plateau in the Himalayan mountains聽when Bhutan sought India's help to stop Chinese crews from building a road there. 聽
Amid anniversary protests, fears that Hong Kong is 'just another mainland city'Twenty years after Britain returned Hong Kong to Chinese control, questions about Beijing's commitment to the city's legislative and judicial autonomy are widespread. But for many, being Hong Konger is also a cultural identity 鈥撀爋ne that they worry could be diluted by mainland influence.
FocusChina spent $100 billion on reforestation. So why does it have 'green deserts'?Beijing's Grain-for-Green program has helped blanket the country's hillsides with trees, undoing damage from decades of blistering development.聽But fostering biodiversity remains a challenge, conservationists say.
First LookAfter 20 years of Chinese rule, Hong Kong hype marred by pro-democracy tensionsWhat was once described as 鈥榦ne country, two systems鈥� is now being called 鈥榦ne country, 1.5 systems鈥� as Hong Kong citizens feel increasingly stifled under a tightening Communist grip.聽
First LookChina passes new intelligence law to 'ensure nation's security interests are met'A Chinese intelligence law quickly passed on Tuesday is part of a raft of legislation in the country that will expand government powers to monitor, raid, and seize property.聽
First LookNorth Korea denies cruel treatment of Otto Warmbier, says it is 'biggest victim'After the death of detained American student Otto Warmbier just a few days after his return to the United States, North Korea claims it is being targeted in a smear campaign.聽
Poverty-free China by 2020? Beijing says it's possible 鈥� but steepest climb aheadWhile President Xi Jinping鈥檚 foreign-policy initiatives have made headlines abroad, one of his most ambitious domestic priorities is entering the final stretch: the race to build a 'moderately prosperous society.'
First LookAmerican student death prompts call for North Korea to release detaineesThough the details surrounding Otto Warmbier's death remain unclear, South Korean President Moon and President Trump condemned North Korea's human rights violations.
First LookAs Hong Kong nears its waste capacity, authorities ponder solutionsOne of the world鈥檚 leading financial centers is bursting at the seams with trash, while recycling efforts flag. Solutions-based initiatives are underway, but may face opposition.
Eyeing Beijing's backwater, China sees next megacity as a game-changerMegacities from scratch? China鈥檚 done that before. But as Beijing turns its economy towards more consumer-focused growth, it hopes the Xiongan New Area can model more sustainable urbanization to fuel it.
First LookA new law allows Japan Emperor Akihito to abdicate. Who would replace him?With the recent passing of a law allowing Japan's 83-year-old聽monarch to resign from the throne, discussion of ending male-only succession is at the forefront of thought.
First LookSouth Korea stands firm against North Korea post-missile launchSouth Korean President Moon Jae-in refuses to compromise with North Korea on national security. North Korea's actions, he warns, are only exacerbating the state's economic and international challenges.
First LookSoup, persistence, and prayer prepare Chinese teens for college entrance examsChinese students undergo rigorous test prep in the hope that high scores will lead to a better life. Determination by students, support from family members, and compassion by community members help to quell the mounting pressure associated with this annual event. 聽