CNN – Asia/Pacific

By Heather Chen, CNN Shorter work weeks aimed at boosting worker productivity and happiness are catching on in parts of the world like Iceland and the United Kingdom. But in crisis-hit Sri Lanka the concept is more about coping with crippling food and fuel shortages. The South Asian country, struggling with the shortages amid its

By Rhea Mogul, CNN Pakistanis have been urged to drink less tea to keep the economy afloat, as the world’s largest tea importer grapples with soaring inflation and a fast-depreciating rupee. The country’s Federal Minister for Planning and Development, Ahsan Iqbal, on Tuesday told reporters that Pakistanis could reduce their tea consumption by “one or

By Emiko Jozuka and Helen Regan, CNN More than 11 years after Japan’s worst nuclear disaster, the government lifted evacuation orders in a section of a village previously deemed off limits on Sunday, allowing residents to move back into their homes. Kazunori Iwayama, a former resident of Katsurao village, which lies about 40 kilometers (24

By Jessie Yeung, Emiko Jozuka and Kathleen Benoza, CNN Japan’s parliament on Monday passed legislation making “online insults” punishable by imprisonment amid rising public concern over cyberbullying sparked by the suicide of a reality television star who had faced social media abuse. Under the amendment to the country’s penal code — set to take effect

By Heather Chen, CNN The world’s biggest powers might have once pledged to work toward a world without nuclear weapons, but global stockpiles are expected to rise over the coming decade, according to a new report. “There are clear indications that the reductions that have characterized global nuclear arsenals since the end of the cold

By Hilary Whiteman, CNN An Australian newspaper columnist has apologized for a story that appeared to accuse actor Rebel Wilson of spoiling his attempts to out her as gay. In a new column published Monday, Sydney Morning Herald journalist Andrew Hornery says he did not seek to “out” the star, but understands why his email

Story by Reuters Sri Lanka may be compelled to buy more oil from Russia as the nation faces shortages amid an unprecedented economic crisis, its prime minister has said. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in an interview with the Associated Press news agency on Saturday, said he would first look to other sources, but would be

By Simone McCarthy and Heather Chen, CNN South Korea will “dramatically” strengthen its defensive capabilities, its defense minister said Sunday amid international concern that Pyongyang is reviving its nuclear testing program. “Our government will strengthen capabilities to better implement the US extended deterrence and will dramatically enhance response capabilities of the Republic of Korea military

By Brad Lendon and Heather Chen, CNN Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe on Sunday accused the United States of being a “bully” and “hijacking” countries around the region, during a combative speech in which he said his country would “fight to the very end” to stop Taiwanese independence. “Taiwan is first and foremost China’s Taiwan,”

By Heather Chen and Yuki Kurihara, CNN It began as a family argument and ended in tragedy — a teenage girl stabbed to death by her elderly grandfather in a case that shocked a nation. In a court in western Japan last month, Susumu Tomizawa, 88, admitted to killing his granddaughter Tomomi, 16, nearly two

By Yoonjung Seo, Jake Kwon and Kathleen Magramo, CNN North Korea has named a top nuclear negotiator as the nation’s first female foreign minister, state media reported Saturday, amid warnings from the US that Pyongyang is preparing to conduct a nuclear test. Career diplomat Choe Son Hui was appointed at a plenary meeting of the

By Brad Lendon and Oren Liebermann, CNN US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin called out China on Saturday for a series of coercive, aggressive and dangerous actions that threaten stability around Asia and vowed the United States would stand by partners to resist any pressure. “Indo-Pacific countries shouldn’t face political intimidation, economic coercion, or harassment by