LinkTV World News Video Feed

Will China's 'Airpocalypse' Lead to Real Change?

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 16:26:00 -0800

Last week's pollution was considered the worst in Beijing's history, putting more pressure than ever on the government to revamp its environmental policies. LinkAsia speaks with Zhou Rong, an expert on climate and energy for Greenpeace China, about what China's government has to do clean up the country's air, and whether there is the political will to do so.

China: Bikes Make a Comeback in the Era of Smog and Traffic

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 15:54:00 -0800

China's worsening air pollution has mirrored the rise in car traffic and the cultural shift away from bicycles. But as contributor Mark Dreyer found, bikes are making a comeback in Beijing. Wealthy residents are avoiding heavy congestion on the roads by zooming through traffic on high-end two-wheelers.

Philippines Passes Landmark Birth Control Bill

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 15:24:00 -0800

Philippine president Benigno Aquino has signed the Reproductive Health Bill into law, expanding opportunities for women to receive birth control and family planning education. But as contributor Noel Tarrazona found, not everyone in this staunchly Catholic nation is happy with the law. And the debate has continued on social media.

Baseball Star's Suicide Rocks South Korea

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 14:59:00 -0800

Former star pitcher Cho Sung-min hanged himself earlier this month, five years after his ex-wife, actress Choi Jin-sil, committed suicide. South Korean broadcaster MBC reports that the country is taking a long look at the impact that suicide has on family members, and the greater community as well.

South Korea: Emaciated Models Are So Last Year

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 14:27:00 -0800

South Korea's fashion industry is making a concerted effort to shift away from impossibly skinny models, focusing on Body Mass Index as a way to promote healthy weight. MBC reports on what these slightly fuller-figured models look like.

East Asia Blows its Lid (Geologically-Speaking)

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 14:09:00 -0800

The volcanoes in Russia's volatile Kamchatka Peninsula are erupting one after another after a long dormant period, shooting up jets of lava as high as 700 feet in the air. South Korean broadcaster MBC reports that the spectacular eruptions aren't likely to stop any time soon.

Investigation: Stolen South Korean Phones Sold in China

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 16:47:00 -0800

Twenty people have been arrested for selling black market mobile phones in China that they had purchased from South Korean taxi drivers. The drivers came into possession of the phones when passengers left them in their cabs. South Korean broadcaster MBC reports that 60,000 mobile phones were sold in the last nine months.

China: Bikes are Back, This Time as Status Symbols

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 14:49:00 -0800

As cars dominate the roads and smog clogs the air, wealthy Beijing residents are returning to what used to be people's only mode of transportation. As CCTV News reports, high-end bicycles are becoming the trendy way for Beijing residents to get around town.

Beijing Residents Reeling from Catastrophic Smog

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 14:24:00 -0800

China's online retailers reported that half a million protective masks were sold over the weekend, with masks protecting against PM 2.5 selling particularly fast as major cities witnessed off the charts pollution levels. State-run CCTV News reports that the number of kids treated at Beijing Children's Hospital for respiratory ailments hit a five year high, with over 7,000 patients a day this past week.

Crippling Smog Hits South Korea, China Blamed

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 17:40:00 -0800

Much of South Korea is suffering from severe air pollution this week, with particle levels in major cities more than twice as high as normal. South Korean broadcaster MBC reports that high atmospheric pressure and heavy winds that have blown smog from China into South Korea are to blame.

Japan Antagonizes China with 'Island Defense Drill'

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 17:30:00 -0800

The images are striking: Japanese soldiers camouflaged with shrubbery storming up a hill on motorcycles and pouring out of helicopters. As China's state-run CCTV reports, Japan's Self-Defense Forces have carried out an "island defense drill" in the city of Narashino in Chiba Prefecture. The implication is that the drill is in preparation for combat over the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu islands.

Censorship Protests Up Pressure on Chinese Gov

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 17:48:00 -0800

On January 6, journalists at Guangzhou's hard-hitting Southern Weekly newspaper went on strike to protest government censors rewriting a scathing New Year's Day editorial calling for political reform. South Korean broadcaster MBC breaks down the series of events that led to mass protests against censorship.

Did China's Press Censors Finally Step Too Far?

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 17:18:00 -0800

There's always been an implicit understanding that Chinese journalists could negotiate changes with government censors. But, as contributor David Bandurski reports, the drama that unfolded in the Southern Weekly newsroom shows what happens when officials break this informal agreement. Bandurski looks at what the subsequent strikes and protests mean for the future of press freedom in China.

North Korea Welcomes Google Chairman, But Not Google

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 16:11:00 -0800

Google's Executive Chairman and former CEO Eric Schmidt accompanied former UN ambassador and New Mexico governor Bill Richardson in a high-level delegation to North Korea this past week. Broadcaster MBC gives the South Korean perspective on the trip and the reasons for going.

Google in the DPRK: What Did the Trip Accomplish?

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 15:47:00 -0800

The timing of Bill Richardson and Eric Schmidt's trip to North Korea took many by surprise, including the US State Department, which called it "unhelpful". LinkAsia speaks with Andray Abrahamian, executive director of the NGO Choson Exchange, about the delegation's specific goals and the reasons for including the high-profile Schmidt.

'New Awakening' in Middle Class India After Deadly Rape

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 15:20:00 -0800

India's booming urban middle class has emerged as an influential political constituency in the aftermath of the brutal rape that left a young New Delhi medical student dead. Contributor Ajoy Bose reports from New Delhi on how social media is providing a platform for people to call for stronger women's rights in the world's largest democracy.

Indonesia Pushes Ban on Women Straddling Motorbikes

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 14:51:00 -0800

Authorities in Indonesia's Aceh province have proposed a law that would require women to ride side-saddle on motorcycles instead of straddling them. Contributor Rachel Will looks at the reactions in social media, ranging from proponents saying that straddling motorbikes provokes male drivers to critics blasting it as discriminatory.

China's Moms Welcome Lucky Snake Babies

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 14:13:00 -0800

As Chinese New Year approaches, expectant mothers in China are welcoming their babies being born in the auspicious Year of the Snake. As CCTV News reports, the snake is the sixth sign of the Chinese zodiac, and is known for deep thinking and artistic talent.

China's Homeless Brave Worst Winter in Decades

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 16:02:00 -0800

As temperatures continue to drop across China, authorities have stepped up efforts to bring homeless people into shelters, going out at night to search for people sleeping on the streets. State-run CCTV News reports that many, however, choose to stay outside in the cold.

China Making Loud Noises Against Corruption

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 15:31:00 -0800

The Chinese government's disciplinary body has investigated nearly 160,000 corruption cases since they stepped up their anti-corruption fight, purporting to have recovered over seven billion yuan. State-run CCTV News gives China's official perspective on what this corruption crackdown will mean for the country.

China Seeks Safer Roads with Tougher Driving Test

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 13:28:00 -0800

China is making it tougher to get a driver's license in hopes that it will make roads safer. In some areas, only ten percent of people are passing the new written driving test, down from 80 percent before. State-run CCTV News reports that traffic accidents in major cities have already decreased since the new regulations took effect.

What's Behind China's Escalating Press Freedom Protests?

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 15:18:00 -0800

China's feisty Southern Weekly newspaper has become the focal point of renewed press freedom protests after their controversial New Year's editorial was rewritten by propaganda officials. LinkAsia speaks with Anne Henochowicz of the China Digital Times about the impact these protests will have on censorship and press freedom in China.

Why is Google's CEO Visiting North Korea?

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 12:48:00 -0800

Google CEO Eric Schmidt is part of a group, along with former New Mexico governor Bill Richardson and others, that has arrived in Pyongyang. South Korean broadcaster MBC reports that Schmidt is likely to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, yet the subject of talks remains unknown.

Climate Change: The Maldives' Existential Threat

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 15:46:00 -0800

As an island nation sitting at sea level in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives is facing the possibility of being wiped out due to rising sea levels. LinkAsia speaks with filmmaker Jon Shenk about his documentary "The Island President", a look at climate change warrior and former president of the Maldives Mohamed Nasheed.

China: Aging Population Increases Economic Worry

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 15:17:00 -0800

After decades of the one-child policy, China's population is aging rapidly. Government officials are worried that with retirees outnumbering the working population, the country won't be able to care for its seniors. State-run CCTV News reports on the 4-2-1 phenomenon, whereby an only child must support his or her two parents and four grandparents.

What Were Asia's 'Words of the Year' in 2012?

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 14:46:00 -0800

LinkAsia is jumping on the "year-end list" bandwagon by asking our contributors what the top words in social media were throughout Asia in 2012. Toshi Maeda reports from Japan, Yoo Eun Lee from South Korea, Ajoy Bose from India, Nicole Sy from China, and Wajahat Khan from Pakistan.

Can Asian Mobile Apps Conquer the US Market?

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 14:10:00 -0800

Mobile apps developed in Asia, such as Tencent's Weixin and LINE, are extraordinarily popular across the Pacific. But can they make waves in the American market? LinkAsia speaks with Hamish McKenzie, a tech reporter for PandoDaily, about Asia's top apps.

Is Facebook Destroying Vietnam's Social Fabric?

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 13:00:00 -0800

Facebook was blocked in Vietnam until 2009 due to government concern that it would become a tool of dissidents. Now, the country has the most Facebook users in Asia. But as state-run VTV4 reports, the new worry is that the social networking site is breaking up family life.

Chinese Directors Cash In on Box Office Hits

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 12:38:00 -0800

The end of the year in China means time to flood the theaters for the country's blockbuster hits. State-run CCTV News reports that this year, a wide variety of films illustrates how China's film industry is quickly growing as demand booms.

What Happened to India's Two Million Missing Women?

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 15:46:00 -0800

As India's anti-rape protests continue, LinkAsia speaks with Siwan Anderson of the University of British Columbia about other dangers facing women. Indian women face premature death at every phase of their lives, from abortions due to preference for boys to early childhood health disparities to injuries suffered in adulthood.

Dudes on Ice: China's Toughest Test Mettle

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 13:32:00 -0800

Four men in Changsha, China, spent the last day of 2012 wearing nothing but underwear in 23 degree Fahrenheit iceboxes as part of a 24-hour "ice room challenge." China's CCTV News reports that three of the four competitors lasted until the end, with no food or drink and little room to maneuver.

China Introduces 'Real-Time' Air Quality Reporting

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 12:43:00 -0800

Nearly 500 monitoring stations in 70 of China's largest metropolitan areas are now sending out real-time reports on air pollution levels. According to state-run CCTV News, sulfur dioxide, ozone, and the dangerous PM 2.5 are among the pollutants that citizens can monitor live on a new website.

China's New World Record: Champion Savers

Fri, 28 Dec 2012 16:00:00 -0800

The Washington-based International Monetary Fund reports that personal savings in China have reached 50 percent of incomes, more than twice the world's average. State-run CCTV News reports on what young people in particular are saving up for.

South Korea's Health Care Crisis: Checking Vitals

Fri, 28 Dec 2012 15:00:00 -0800

South Korea's health care system is in crisis. Broadcaster MBC has prepared a three-part series on the problems in the country's health care system, focusing on doctors changing specialties, declining public health, and the fight between doctors and the national health insurance system.

Grading the Supreme Leader: Kim Jong-un's First Year

Fri, 28 Dec 2012 14:00:00 -0800

It's been a year since North Korea's Kim Jong-il died, pushing his inexperienced 28-year-old son onto center stage. To assess Kim Jong-un's first year, LinkAsia speaks with Philip Yun, COO of the anti-nuke group Ploughshares Fund and a former State Department official on Korean affairs.

A Stroll Through the Hermit Kingdom

Fri, 28 Dec 2012 13:00:00 -0800

What is life like for normal North Koreans? Few Westerners have ever had the experiences that former Ambassador John Everard had in the Hermit Kingdom. LinkAsia speaks with Everard, British ambassador to Pyongyang from 2006 and 2009, about his new book, "Only Beautiful Please."

Pet Lovers Rejoice over Vietnam's Dog Cafes

Fri, 28 Dec 2012 12:00:00 -0800

Vietnam's economy has boomed for the past decade, reaching the World Bank's "middle income" status. Increasing wealth means access to more of life's little luxuries, like pets. According to Vietnamese broadcaster VTV4, pets are becoming a status symbol, and some cafes are even letting dog owners bring their in their pups.

Chinese Media Falls Silent on School Knife Attack

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 19:31:00 -0800

Compared to the non-stop coverage Chinese media gave to the Sandy Hook massacre, last week's shocking stabbing rampage at a Henan province elementary school got little attention. In addition, no high-level officials have addressed it. The lack of information and concern has many Chinese social media users venting their frustration.

China Ties Threaten Taiwan's Press Freedom

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 19:14:00 -0800

Next Media, one of Taiwan's most popular news organizations, is owned by well-known China critic Jimmy Lai. But now, a group of Taiwanese tycoons with ties to China are trying to buy him out. LinkAsia contributor Cindy Sui reports from Taipei on why this is worrying for many Taiwanese.

Meet Jiroemon Kimura, World's Oldest Person

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 18:57:00 -0800

Sunlight and education are the keys to a long life, according to the world's oldest person. Kyoto's Jiroemon Kimura, 115, became the oldest when Dina Manfredini of Iowa died earlier this month. He's learning English to keep his mind sharp as he enters his second teens. Footage from Reuters.

Newly Elected Hawks Raise South Korea-Japan Tensions

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 18:38:00 -0800

With both Japan and South Korea electing new leaders this week, the ongoing spat over a string of islands called Dokdo in South Korea and Takeshima in Japan is expected to get worse. Showing South Korea's perspective, broadcaster MBC reports on the hawkish tendencies of Japan's new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Vietnamese Tighten Belts as Economy Slumps

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 18:25:00 -0800

After growing at nearly ten percent a year in the past decade, Vietnam's economy will be lucky to reach half that in 2012. As a result, Vietnamese are curbing consumption and saving more. Vietnamese broadcaster VTV4 reports on what this means for the country's businesses.

Make-Out Olympics: Kissers Compete in Sichuan

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 18:06:00 -0800

A jewelry store in Sichuan province held an unorthodox kissing competition this week. Couples had to kiss while the woman's feet remained off the ground as long as possible. State-run CCTV News reports that the winners won matching rings for their efforts.

What's Behind the Pakistani Polio Worker Killings?

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 16:10:00 -0800

Eight polio vaccination workers have been shot in the past 48 hours across Pakistan. No groups have yet claimed responsibility for the attacks. LinkAsia's Wajahat S. Khan reports from Islamabad on the possible motivations behind the attacks, and how they are related to the doctor who helped the US find Osama bin Laden.

Ping Pong Faces Olympic Cut, China Freaks Out

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 14:49:00 -0800

Will China's unofficial national sport, Ping Pong, be bounced from the Olympics? State-run CCTV News gets reactions to the possibility from the streets of Beijing, and speaks with veteran sports commenter Yan Qiang about what it would mean for China's Olympic presence.

China: School Knife Attack Caught on Video

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 14:16:00 -0800

WARNING: Graphic content. China's state-run CCTV News is continuing to follow last week's stabbing attack at a school in Henan province closely. In this report, they have closed-circuit television footage of the attacker, Min Yingjun, chasing students, as well as interviews with several of the victims' parents.

China's Schools Beef Up Security After Attack

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 16:15:00 -0800

Min Yingjun, 36, stabbed 22 children at an elementary school in Henan province last Friday, the most recent in a wave of school attacks in China. State-run CCTV News shows what measures Beijing schools are taking to protect students and prevent further attacks.

Could a North Korean Rocket Hit the United States?

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 20:01:00 -0800

North Korea surprised everyone this week by successfully launching a long-range rocket. South Korean broadcaster MBC reports on what the rocket launch shows about North Korea's technological capabilities, and explores whether a rocket fired from the DPRK could ever reach the United States.

North Korean Launch Shakes Up Region's Politics

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 19:32:00 -0800

Not coincidently, the DPRK's successful rocket launch comes days before voters in Japan and South Korea head to the polls. LinkAsia speaks with Daniel Sneider of Stanford University's Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center about what affect the launch will have on Northeast Asian politics.

Japan: Far Right Politician Could Be 'Kingmaker'

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 19:20:00 -0800

Japan's opposition Liberal Democratic Party, further to the right than the name suggests, looks to capture a majority in the upcoming election. If it doesn't, reports contributor Toshi Maeda, then controversial former Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara's upstart Japan Restoration Party would hold vast sway in forming a coalition government and choosing the next prime minister.