CHINA

The two leaders had a brief chat Wednesday easing a standoff after Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte called Obama a “son of a bitch” ahead of a summit of Asian leaders in Laos.

Leading conservationist Zhang Hemin announced that it is too early to downgrade the giant panda’s conservation status fearing that the change might affect conservation efforts.

Speaking on the sidelines of a regional summit in Laos, Beijing’s vice foreign minister said that China and the Philippines had had “thousands of years” of good relations.

A new (and questionable) leak appears to suggest that Apple may take a different direction with the packaging of its new smartphone.

A new poll shows support for Black Lives Matter is growing among young, white Americans.

President Barack Obama was the latest addition to the ever growing list of high-profile people Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte has insulted.

The South China Sea region has been claimed by several countries — most assertively by China — triggering tension in the area.

The Philippines, along with Japan and other countries, is locked in maritime territorial disputes with China.

Barack Obama, on the sidelines of a summit in Laos, also said bigger countries should not dictate to smaller ones, likely referring to China.

The North Korean leader’s comments come a day after South Korea said that the reclusive nation fired three ballistic missiles into the East Sea.

The Philippine president had called Barack Obama a “son of a whore” during a press conference Monday, leading to a meeting between the two leaders being cancelled.

Barack Obama was set to hold his first meeting with Rodrigo Duterte, but cancelled after the Filipino president lobbed an insult at him in front of reporters.

Both Beijing and Manila have competing claims over the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea near the coast of the Philippines.

China’s comments were in response to questions whether it intentionally failed to provide Obama’s plane with a staircase, an event that has fueled speculation it was a diplomatic snub.

The summit in Hangzhou, China, came at a time when doubts are being raised about the benefits of an open world economy.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov were unable to strike a deal for a ceasefire in Syria and differences remain, a senior official said Monday.

Although conservation efforts led by the Chinese government have led to a rebound in the giant panda population in recent years, climate change still threatens to reverse the gains.

Several pro-independence candidates won seats in Hong Kong’s legislative election on Sunday, results likely to further strain ties with Communist Party rulers in Beijing.

The three missiles were fired into the East Sea just hours after the South Korean president and her Chinese counterpart concluded a meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in China.

The British government has not formally invoked Article 50, which would start a two-year countdown for the country’s exit from the European Union.

Despite speculation that a deal could be announced very soon, U.S. President Barack Obama, who is currently in China for the G-20 summit, said, “We’re not there yet.”