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THE TRUTH ABOUT: Ming gao - The Untold Story

China’s durian craze has turned this tropical fruit into a tool of diplomacy

Distinctive in taste and famously divisive, durian is not everyone’s choice of fruit. This was certainly the case for some Chinese explorers when they first encountered it during the Ming Dynasty’s early maritime voyages.

The Conversation

Japan’s problem with women’s equality is getting worse, not better

In the 2025 global gender gap index (GGGI), Japan ranks 118th out of 148 countries – still the lowest among the G7 nations and among the poorest performers globally. This is largely because of limited political participation by women. The current cabinet of prime minister Ishiba Shigeru says it all.…

The Conversation

What will it take for China to arrest its declining birth rate?

China’s central government introduced a childcare subsidy on July 28 that will provide families with 3,000 yuan (around £312) a year for each child under the age of three. The announcement came days after plans were unveiled to roll out free preschool education across the country.

The Conversation

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A rare, direct warning from Japan signals a shift in the fight against child sex tourism in Asia

Japan’s embassy in Laos and its Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a rare and unusually direct advisory, warning Japanese men against “buying sex from children” in Laos.

The Conversation

Labubu plushies aren’t just toys. They’re a brand new frontier for Chinese soft power

One of the most sought-after items of 2025 isn’t a designer handbag or the latest tech gadget. It’s a plush elf with a snaggle-toothed grin.

The Conversation

South Korea election: Lee Jae-myung takes over a country split by gender politics

Liberal candidate Lee Jae-myung has won South Korea’s snap presidential election with a clear lead. With all of the ballots counted, Lee won almost 50% of the vote, ahead of his conservative rival Kim Moon-soo on 41%. He takes over a country that is deeply divided along gender lines.

The Conversation

Soaring rice prices are stirring political trouble in Japan – history shows this often leads to a change of government

Japan’s agriculture minister, Taku Etō, resigned on May 21 just six months into his term, following a public backlash to his joke that he never buys rice because supporters give it to him for free.

The Conversation

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How Trump is prompting China to change its relationship with the world

China has spent much of the past two months shoring up friendships both near and far. Two rounds of ministerial meetings with regional rivals Japan and South Korea took place in Tokyo and Seoul at the end of March.

The Conversation

China’s dwindling marriage rate is fuelling demand for brides trafficked from abroad

China’s marriage rate is in steep decline. There were 6.1 million marriage registrations nationwide in 2024, down from 7.7 million the previous year. This decline has prompted Chen Songxi, a Chinese national political adviser, to propose lowering the legal marriage age from 22 to 18.

The Conversation

Ne Zha 2: the record-breaking Chinese animated film showcases China’s ambition on the global stage

Ne Zha is a legendary child warrior from Chinese mythology, often depicted as a rebellious deity who defies fate to carve out his own destiny. Born as a demon, feared for his supernatural powers and doomed to live only three years, he struggles to overcome his destiny and forge his…

The Conversation

What is the story of hongbao, the red envelopes given out at celebrations like Lunar New Year?

Red envelopes, known as hongbao in Mandarin, are a cherished cultural tradition in China and many other parts of Asia.

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