Asia

World News

Tension rises between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea

5:15pm March 16, 2024

by Michael Sullivan

A collision between Philippine and Chinese Coast Guard vessels in the South China Sea earlier this month has again raised fears of an escalation in an area China claims almost entirely as its own.

Why India's Hindu nationalist party has the support of some Muslims in the country

8:03am March 16, 2024

by Diaa Hadid

The ruling Hindu party in India has secured support from some Muslims, even though the party has been hostile to the religion.

Nobel Prize-winning author Mo Yan is being sued in China for 'distorting history'

8:03am March 16, 2024

by Scott Simon

The Chinese Nobel Prize-winning author Mo Yan is being sued for allegedly insulting national heroes. NPR's Scott Simon speaks to Cornell Professor Jessica Chen Weiss about the case.

World News

Hong Kong jails 12 people for storming the legislature during 2019 protests

1:30am March 16, 2024

by The Associated Press

Hundreds of protesters swarmed into the legislature the night of July 1, 2019 at the height of the anti-government protests.

President Biden talks with supporters during a campaign event in Saginaw, Mich., on March 14.

Biden opposes Nippon Steel takeover of U.S. Steel. It's an issue in some swing states

3:31pm March 14, 2024

by Ximena Bustillo

Former President Donald Trump has already said he would block the deal between U.S. Steel and its Japanese rival. Now President Biden is speaking out about it, too.

World News

Southeast Asian has its first high-speed railway — in Indonesia

2:08pm March 14, 2024

by Anthony Kuhn

Southeast Asian countries could grow faster economically but they're held back by a lack of infrastructure. The region now has its first high-speed railway — in Indonesia.

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Health & Safety

Indian judge says billion-dollar ayurvedic company has taken the public 'for a ride'

11:45am March 14, 2024

by Omkar Khandekar

The country's supreme court has temporarily banned Patanjali, a leading maker of ayurvedic products with ties to the prime minister, from advertising certain items due to a history of false claims.

Key takeaways from China's annual Two Sessions

5:58pm March 13, 2024

Following China's annual Two Sessions meetings, NPR's Rob Schmitz speaks with Wilson Center's Robert Daly about China's state of affairs and its economy.

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House passes bill that would force TikTok's China parent company to sell or face ban

5:12pm March 13, 2024

by Bobby Allyn

TikTok's Chinese parent company would have to sell off the popular app under a bipartisan bill approved overwhelmingly by the House Wednesday — or face a ban on all U.S. devices.

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Hong Kong's government nears passage of a new national security measure

5:20am March 13, 2024

NPR's Leila Fadel talks to Eric Lai of the Center for Asian Law at Georgetown University about what's in the bill that builds on legislation imposed by Beijing following 2019's pro-democracy protests.