Chinese Parents of Gay Children Call for Equal Marriage Rights

More than 100 parents of gays and lesbians from different parts of China have sent an open letter [zh] to delegates of China’s National People’s Congress asking the government to legalize same-sex marriage.

U.S. and South Korea: A Show of Force, But Running Out of Options?

North Korea’s third nuclear test provided the ideal opportunity for the United States and South Korea to respond with their own displays of military muscle. But what will be their next move?

Interactive Maps of China’s Most and Least Polluted Places

Beijing recently experienced its worst day of air quality on record. Since then, reporting on China’s “airpocalypse” has been accompanied by what seems like a monochromatic slideshow of the country’s iconic cities all smothered in thick smog.

First Crowdsourced News Site in Myanmar

A group of young programmers in Myanmar launched the country's first ever crowdsourced news site called “Buzz in Myanmar“. With the slogan “News for people, by people”, netizens are allowed and encouraged to submit neighborhood and other local news.

Being Fat, Talking Fat in South Korea

Many reports have been made about South Koreans’ obsessions with body image, some with shallow understanding of Korean culture. Youtube user durkeeinkorea in this video shares his experience in Korea where people are very ‘open about talking others weight’ and ‘calling someone fat’ in public happens frequently, with no harms intended. 

Open Letter to China on Human Rights

Just prior to China's annual “two meetings” of the NPC and CPPCC, which are scheduled to convene on March 5, more than 100 prominent individuals — including academics, journalists, lawyers and economists signed an open letter calling on China's government to immediately ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The open letter, circulated on Chinese social media...

China: Cultural Revolution Murder Trial

The trial of an elderly man named Qiu accused of murdering a doctor during the Cultural Revolution has generated discussions about the cultural revolution in China. China Media Project has translated the comments from Chinese social media and traditional media.  

China: Guangzhou Police Detain Protesters

Authorities in Southern China's Guangzhou city have detained 10 activists who staged a protest over North Korean nuclear test. The news triggered  netizens’ outrage. Radio Free Asia has more.

After Ang Lee's Oscar Win, China Imagines Cinema Beyond Censors

Looking to Taiwanese-born director Ang Lee's Oscar win for Best Director with pride and envy, mainland Chinese web users frustrated with China's tight grip on the film industry are wondering about their own country's cinematic potential.

Defending Capital Punishment in Japan

Would you still be against it if someone you loved was killed by a psychotic murderer? Human rights organization Amnesty International called for the death penalty to be abolished in Japan and criticized the Japanese Ministry of Justice for hanging three inmates. Beth at JapanCrush takes a look at reactions from netizens who are in favor...

China, Pollution and Cancer Villages

A Chinese billionaire's warning that no amount of money can protect the rich from China's environmental crisis has resonated with web users, many of whom are already alarmed about the country's toxic combination of air and water contamination and food safety issues.

Defying the Government, Chinese Families Resurrect Graves

Scores of families have fought back against a controversial campaign in China's central Henan province to raze millions of graves for farmland by re-erecting their ancestors' resting places during the Lunar New Year.

Chinese General Luo Yuan's Battle on Weibo

High-ranking Chinese military officer Luo Yuan opened a personal Weibo account on Feb 21. Since then, his pro-war comments on how to manage China's relationship with Japan and the recent nuclear test in North Korea have triggered sharp criticism from netizens. Offbeat recorded Luo Yuan's battle on Weibo.

Cambodia: Barcamp Angkor 2013

As Japan's Star Fades, Many Struggle for Hope

As Japan's economic growth continues to shrink each year, the Japanese, who find themselves more and more disconnected from their families and friends thanks to grueling works days and the Internet's erosion of personal relationships, are finding it difficult to put on a happy face.

Myanmar Netizens Expose Traffic Law Violators

Request Google to Look into Myanmar

Many Burmese netizens requested[my] the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Information who met with Google's Southeast Asia Country lead for Public Policy and Government Affairs to convince the company not to block Google Play in Myanmar and to put Burmese (Myanmar) language in Google Translate.

South Korea: Ex-Police Chief Jailed for Defaming Deceased President

A former South Korean police chief was sentenced to 10 months in jail for falsely accusing the deceased former president of maintaining slush fund bank accounts under assumed names.

Evacuate the Children of Fukushima

Parents, residents and lawyers are taking to the streets demanding that their children by evacuated from Japan's Fukushima region, where they claim radiation levels continue to be high.

In Pictures: The Polluted Rivers of China

Tencent News recently put together a photo story about the “colorful waters of China“, Offbeat China has translated the captions of the pictures.

Indonesia’s New Law on Mass Organizations Ignites Protest

The Indonesian Parliament is set to approve a bill that would amend the law governing mass organizations but human rights groups and experts have warned against its repressive provisions.