Asia Pacific

When Pope Francis holds a Catholic Mass in Manila this weekend, he’s expected to draw up to six million people. But there are conflicting hopes and expectations for what he’ll say to Asia’s most populous Catholic country.

In the face of sequester budget cuts, the American military is shrinking significantly. Normally associated with peacetime adjustments, downsizing during wartime is unheard of. For some officials, such as Acting Deputy Secretary Christine Fox, this is cause for concern. In the face of sequester budget cuts, the American military is shrinking significantly. Normally associated with peacetime adjustments, downsizing during wartime is unheard of. For some officials, such as Acting Deputy Secretary Christine Fox, this is cause for concern.

There is plenty at stake in Ukraine for many governments around the world, especially China. Beijing has developed strong ties with Ukraine in recent years, but Chinese leaders don’t want to risk alienating their much more powerful friends in Moscow.There is plenty at stake in Ukraine for many governments around the world, especially China. Beijing has developed strong ties with Ukraine in recent years, but Chinese leaders don’t want to risk alienating their much more powerful friends in Moscow.

China has detained a prominent advocate for the Uighur ethnic minority in far western Xinjiang. The State Department has expressed its concern over the arrest of Ilham Tohti. The Chinese government is also cracking down on a group of anti-corruption activists called the “New Citizens Movement.”

Chinese documentary filmmaker Hu Jie uses personal stories to highlight some of the most difficult and horrific episodes in recent Communist Party history. Hu lives in Nanjing, China, where he continues to do his work, telling the stories that people don’t want to talk about.