All Asia Pacific
First LookSouth Koreans seek answers to crowd surge, police apologizeSouth Korean officials have apologized and accepted responsibility for the October crowd surge that left 156 dead in the country鈥檚 worst disaster in years. They have called for innovation in crowd management and support for bereaved family members.
First LookSouth Korea responds to fatal Halloween crowd surgeAfter the deadliest crushing disaster in South Korean history, support is flowing in while officials investigate the cause of the accident to improve safety standards in other public places.聽
Why Xi鈥檚 fixation on loyalty could be perilous for ChinaThe ascent of Xi loyalists to top Communist Party positions this week promises Xi Jinping an iron grip over China鈥檚 government for at least the next five years. But prizing loyalty above all else doesn鈥檛 guarantee stability.
How Xi Jinping is reshaping China, in five chartsChinese leader Xi Jinping is expected to win a rare third term in this week鈥檚 20th Communist Party Congress. Understanding how Mr. Xi has transformed China over the past decade can offer clues for what comes next.
Safety or stagnation? Why China鈥檚 isolationism may backfire.China鈥檚 increasingly isolationist policies stem from Xi Jinping鈥檚 belief that the only safe China is a self-sufficient China.聽But openness, experts say, is also a source of strength.
First LookDown Under submerged as record floods engulf VictoriaAfter surviving wildfires triggered by El Ni帽o heat in 2019, Australia is seeing the effects of La Ni帽a with record floods across Victoria and Tasmania.聽鈥淚t鈥檚 far from over,鈥� said聽Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews, urging residents to evacuate.
First LookNorth Korean warplanes follow missiles, allied countries prepareHours after North Korea fired missiles over Japan, 12 North Korean warplanes flew near the North-South Korean border. The pattern of unusual activity has led to preparatory defense responses from South Korea, the United States, and Japan.
First LookMissile soars over Japan in North Korean weapons testNorth Korea has fired a nuclear-capable ballistic missile over Japan in its longest-ever weapons test. The missile is capable of reaching the U.S. territory of Guam and farther, and Japan issued evacuation alerts and stopped trains as precautions.聽
First LookIndonesian soccer fans seek justice after deadly stampedeAs Indonesians face the aftermath of a deadly stampede at a weekend soccer match, the National Police have opened an investigation into 18 officers who fired tear gas into the crowd.聽The event was among the world鈥檚 deadliest disasters at a sporting event.
First LookNorth Korea tests missiles hours after Harris departs South KoreaNorth Korea fired at least one ballistic missile toward its eastern waters after the departure of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris. The launch was North Korea鈥檚 third round of missile tests this week, part of a record level of missile testing this year.
First LookWhy plans for Abe's state funeral are dividing JapanFormer Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo's successor is organizing a state funeral for him. Here's why that unusual honor is prompting widespread protest.
United front: Understanding China and Russia鈥檚 deepening allianceChina鈥檚 deepening ties with Russia are likely to grow even stronger in coming years as each country reaps key benefits from the other. Yet historical mistrust and differing global aspirations remain potential weaknesses.
First LookXi Jinping to meet Putin in first trip abroad since pandemicChina鈥檚 President聽Xi Jinping will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization聽summit later this month, a bloc of nations the Communist leader sees as a counterweight to NATO聽and U.S. alliances in the Asia-Pacific.
UN鈥檚 Xinjiang report: A stand against China, and chance for justiceThe release of the U.N.鈥檚 long-awaited report on human rights abuses in Xinjiang聽not only offers victims a chance for justice, but also reveals聽the limits of China鈥檚 increased influence.
First LookUN report questions China's treatment of Uyghurs and other groupsThe U.N. has released a long-awaited report examining a crackdown on Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim ethnic groups. Beijing on Thursday denounced the assessment as a fabrication cooked up by Western nations.聽
What China is 鈥� and isn鈥檛 鈥� learning from military drills near TaiwanAs the Taiwan Strait heats up, experts say preserving peace sometimes means having cleareyed assessments of the potential for war.聽
How women are banding together to change Japanese politicsCooperation is helping some Japanese women break into politics. For many others, it鈥檚 a way to cope with election losses and incremental progress.
The ExplainerPort politics: How China fits into Sri Lanka鈥檚 economic crisisChina may not have caused Sri Lanka鈥檚 debt crisis, but recent moves in the Indian Ocean show how it benefits from lopsided lending.
First LookIs job-hunting a dead end? Many Chinese students think so.In China, there are fewer companies with job openings, but a steady number of young people looking for work. As the nation鈥檚 economy continues to shrink, there were almost two graduates competing for every job opening this spring, according to a job-hunting website.
First LookAfter Pelosi's visit, China tests missiles in Taiwan watersChina launched military drills in the Strait this week as a reminder to Taiwan of Beijing鈥檚 might and its intention to retain control over the island. The U.S. and its allies have become increasingly vocal in support of Taiwan鈥檚 independence from the mainland.
