Q&A: What's going on with China's economy?

What’s going on with China’s economy, and what should New Zealanders know? In this new series, the Asia Media Centre speaks to experts about aspects of China’s diverse economy, from consumers to financial systems to investment.

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Sri Lankan social media expert: 'We must confront what we fear'

At a time when social media is under scrutiny for its role in tragedies such as the Christchurch mosque shootings, governments must avoid knee-jerk reactions, writes University of Otago PhD candidate Sanjana Hattotuwa.

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What has media in New Zealand been reporting about Asia? Here's a roundup of stories from the past week. 

• Going west: Big opportunities in China's smaller cities for Kiwi exporters 
  STUFF
    
• Chinese NZ Herald under Chinese state 'control' - experts
  NEWSROOM
    
• Rugby: Meet Michael Leitch - The Kiwi rugby player who is a national hero in Japan
  NZ HERALD (PAYWALL)
    
• An insider's view of Rodrigo Duterte
  NEWSROOM
   
• Indonesia vows to send back contaminated plastic waste to New Zealand
  ONE NEWS
   
• Jacinda Ardern and Japanese PM Shinzō Abe want to simplify exchange of classified info
  NEWSHUB

• Rugby World Cup: The Kiwi companies offering a bite and a swig to Japan
  STUFF

Our picks for analysis and longer reads about the region.

A Filmmaker Explored Japan's Wartime Enslavement of Women. Now He's Being Sued. | The New York Times
Miki Dezaki made a documentary examining why a group of politically influential conservatives fervently dispute internationally accepted accounts of Japan’s wartime atrocities. Now, five of them are suing him for defamation.

Cross-dressing in Myanmar: from mystical brides to lip-synching queens | Frontier Myanmar
Heavily made-up men who perform as nat kadaws or "spirit wives" enjoy broad acceptance in Myanmar society. But it’s a different story for cross-dressing men and members of the LGBTQ+ community who face widespread prejudice.

100 days of protest rock Hong Kong | South China Morning Post
It's been three months since Hong Kongers started protesting against a bill that would allow the extradition of criminal suspects to mainland China. Here's how those demonstrations escalated into a full-blown battle for democracy.

China: Beijing unveils Winter Olympics mascot

A smiling panda named Bing Dwen Dwen has been revealed as the mascot for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. The bear is clad in a full-body ice suit, with rings around its face to represent skating tracks — and 5G technology.

India: Government announces ban on vaping products

India has become the latest country to ban e-cigarettes and similar products amid concerns about their health risks, especially to young people. India has more than 100 million adult smokers, which made it a huge potential market.

South Korea: BTS spotted in the South Island

K-pop megastars BTS have been in New Zealand this week where they are thought to be filming the next season of their travel series, Bon Voyage. Eagle-eyed fans on Twitter revealed the band were in Omarama, in the South Island.