Actions speak louder than words in military relations

Editor's Note: US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel begins his first visit to China on Monday since taking office. A Chinese military expert offers her views on bilateral military ties.

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Hostages taken to Philippines' small island

Armed forces deployed to help with hunt for Abu Sayyaf militants

Thai PM's supporters head for rally

Hundreds of thousands of Thai government supporters are expected to descend on Bangkok this weekend in a symbolic show of force after months of sometimes violent protests aimed at bringing down Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

ROK test-fires ballistic missile amid tensions

The Republic of Korea has test-fired a new ballistic missile with a range of 500 km and will try to extend the range to 800 km so it can strike any site in its northern neighbor, its defense ministry said on Friday, days after Pyongyang fired a mid-range missile.

Erdogan blasts ruling that lifted twitter ban

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized a Constitutional Court ruling that lifted his government's March 20 ban on Twitter.

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Answering the call to prayer

For Chinese residents living near narrow, tree-lined Jinrong Street in the center of Guangzhou, Guangdong province, Friday is the day when they are treated to a spectacle - a weekly event they can almost set their clocks by.

Building a culture far from home

Religion plays a crucial role in the life of African Muslims overseas, and the Guangzhou authorities should make greater efforts to embrace the distinct cultural traditions, said Adams Bodomo, a professor of African Studies at the University of Vienna.

An oasis of calm at the center of the hustle and bustle

I've always regarded Guangzhou as the epitome of the bustling Chinese mega city - both in terms of its huge population of migrant workers and its trade volume - so to step into Xianxian Mosque in the city's old town was like entering a time capsule. It left me with an enchanting sense of disbelief; I couldn't believe such an oasis of calm could exist in such a busy city.

White Crane dance takes flight

A new dance craze has been sweeping Faku county in Liaoning province. Like the traditional dances performed by generations of locals through the ages, the White Crane, which mimics the movements of the majestic bird for which it's named, is based on the natural world.

The regular visitor

Faku welcomes regular guests every year, enthusiasts who travel across China to follow in the footsteps of the white cranes to observe them and take photos.