Asia

World News

After 27 Hours, Our Train Ride Through Pakistan Ends In Karachi

6:20am November 23, 2016

by Philip Reeves

Over the nearly thousand mile journey down the middle of Pakistan, we've been meeting NPR's Philip Reeves' fellow travelers, and learning about their hopes and fears at this stage in history.

Queue Listen Now

More than a quarter of Japan's population is over the age of 65, and its birthrate is falling steadily.

Golden Years, Iron Bars: Japan Sees Rise In Crime By The Elderly

5:50pm November 22, 2016

by Elise Hu

Senior citizens are committing crimes like shoplifting in bigger numbers than teenagers, and the threat of jail time doesn't seem to be a deterrent.

Turkish women protest against a government proposal on Tuesday in Istanbul, Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2016. The sign in the middle reads: "We will not allow legalized rape with marriage!"

Turkey Withdraws Controversial Bill That Eased Penalties On Child Sexual Abuse

5:41pm November 22, 2016

by Merrit Kennedy

The measure would have allowed some child sexual abusers to escape prison time if they married their victims. It was sharply criticized by opposition parties and human rights groups.

Trump's Rejection Of TPP Paves Way For China To Strike Asian Trade Deals

4:39pm November 22, 2016

by Jackie Northam

President-elect Donald Trump's abandonment of the massive Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal opens the way for China to strike its own deals across Asia.

A mother and her 7-month-old daughter sit beneath a mosquito net at a hospital in Mogadishu.

The New Debate Over Bed Nets

4:07pm November 22, 2016

by Jason Beaubien

Do they still help prevent malaria? A five-year study offers cause for concern as well as good news.

Donald Trump Jr. (left) and Eric Trump (right), sons of President-elect Donald Trump, pose with Philippine real estate developer Jose E.B. Antonio at a 2012 news conference in Manila announcing the launch of the Trump Tower Manila, a $150 million project

Who's The New Philippine Envoy? The Man Building Trump Tower Manila

11:14am November 22, 2016

by Michael Sullivan

U.S.-Philippine relations have been rocky. The new trade envoy tasked with improving them is a Philippine real estate magnate who's already working with Donald Trump on a major building project.

Queue Listen Now

This map by the U.S. Geological Survey shows the epicenter of the quake, which hit Japan early Tuesday local time.

World News

Tsunami Warning Follows Earthquake Off Japan's Coast

7:00pm November 21, 2016

by Merrit Kennedy

The Japan Meteorological Agency says waves as high as 9 feet are "expected to hit repeatedly" along the Fukushima coast and "damage due to tsunami waves is expected."

Members of Japan's Ground Self-Defense Forces arrive at the airport in Juba, South Sudan, on Monday.

World News

Japan Deploys Troops Authorized To Use Force For First Time In Almost 70 Years

4:30pm November 21, 2016

by Merrit Kennedy

More than 100 Japanese peacekeepers have landed in the capital of South Sudan. Their mandate includes using force, if necessary, to protect aid workers and others.

Fried tilapia with jollof rice, a West African specialty served at African Pot. The 3-year-old restaurant in Guangzhou, China, caters to the city's many African immigrants. Lately, it's seen a surge in Chinese customers, too.

World News

'Fufu' Diplomacy: How Food Is Helping Chinese See Immigrants As More Than Foreign

3:58pm November 21, 2016

Guangzhou is home to many African and Mideastern immigrants. In their small way, restaurants catering to these newcomers have helped Chinese diners start to see them as more than just the "other."

This undated photo released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on Nov. 11 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un at a defense detachment on Mahap Islet.

How Uncertainty In The Korean Peninsula Could Be A 'Recipe for Disaster'

11:00am November 21, 2016

by Elise Hu

President-elect Trump's statements on North Korea have reflected contradictory aims. Political turmoil in South Korea and Pyongyang's nuclear capability make for a mix that worries Korea-watchers.