All Asia Pacific
First LookSee you in court: Hindu nationalists petition to access Muslim mosquesFor nearly three centuries, Muslims and Hindus in Varanasi city have worshipped separated by one wall. But Hindus now say the Gyanvapi mosque sits on top of temple ruins. The dispute is one of many in which Hindus claim mosque sites are their property.聽
First LookBiden vows to protect Taiwan, launches Indo-Pacific trade pactPresident Joe Biden launched a new trade deal with 12 Indo-Pacific nations Monday aimed at strengthening their economies. Mr.聽Biden also said the U.S. would intervene militarily if China were to invade Taiwan. But the island nation was not included in the trade deal.
First LookConservative rule ends: Australians elect center-left prime ministerAfter nine years of center-right conservative government, Australian voters Saturday elected a new prime minister, Anthony Albanese, the center-left Labor Party leader.
Ahead of crucial party congress, Xi faces doubts over policiesXi Jinping is poised to claim a rare third term in power at the聽20th Communist Party Congress this fall.聽But experts say his assertive style and efforts to centralize control could cost him 鈥� and China.聽
First LookBalancing act: Marcos victory could test US-China relationsFerdinand Marcos Jr.鈥檚 apparent landslide victory in the Philippines could complicate American efforts to counter Chinese influence and power in the Pacific. President Rodrigo Duterte, who fostered ties with China and Russia, is departing with a 67% approval rating.
First LookSri Lanka prime minister resigns but protesters refuse to let upAmid a dire economic crisis in Sri Lanka, protesters for weeks demanded the resignations of the prime minister and the president. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned on Monday. Still, anti-government protesters continue to defy a countrywide curfew.
First LookJohn Lee to lead Hong Kong as critics decry eroding democracyOn Sunday, John Lee was elected to replace Carrie Lam as Hong Kong鈥檚 next leader. The selection took place under a new electoral system, where only loyal 鈥減atriots鈥� can hold office and the political opposition is virtually eliminated.
Where were you April 21 at 4:17 p.m.? Beijing ramps up COVID tracking.Beijing鈥檚聽COVID-19 control measures are at once Orwellian and paternalistic. They also incorporate lessons learned from Shanghai.聽
Marcos, rebranded: Why son of dictator is leading Philippines鈥� pollsThe campaign of 鈥嬧�婩erdinand 鈥淏ongbong鈥� Marcos Jr. in the Philippine presidential race shows how carefully curated mythmaking and historical revision can shape an election.
Beijing diary: Scenes of mass testing, panic buying 鈥� and pride?Keeping 鈥測our eyes peeled for carrots,鈥� and other lessons from our Beijing bureau chief as China鈥檚 capital grapples with a COVID-19 outbreak.
First Look'All aboard!' Japan rolls out its first green energy train lineA Japanese railway in Tokyo says聽it now gets 100% of its energy for everything from the locomotives to vending machines from renewable sources. Some are skeptical of the impact it could make as Japan works to become carbon neutral by 2050.
China loophole: Why Taiwan relies on Indigenous diplomacyAs China鈥檚 economic and political clout grows, Taiwan鈥檚 Indigenous communities offer the government an international relations lifeline.聽
First LookIn Jakarta, protests erupt over possible election delay, inflationHundreds of people in Jakarta held demonstrations on Thursday amid speculation that the 2024 Indonesian election may get delayed. The protestors are also opposing rising oil and food prices, and the government鈥檚 treatment of dissenters.聽
First LookIn Russia鈥檚 Ukraine setbacks, China sees lessons for its futureAs Russia faces setback after setback in its invasion of Ukraine, China is taking notes. China鈥檚 President Xi Jinping might be reworking his expansionist aims, especially related to Taiwan, as a small, outnumbered country foils Russia鈥檚 army a world away.
First LookNorth Korea celebrates key milestone without typical military paradeNorth Korea celebrated the 110th birth anniversary of the country鈥檚 late founder Kim Il Sung on Friday. The anniversary comes at a time of increased nuclear buildup and was accompanied by calls for continued loyalty to current leader Kim Jong Un.聽
Cattle farms or bullet trains? Japanese village faces uncertain future.Oshika is the latest rural community bearing the weight of Japan鈥檚 rapid economic growth. But will it see the reward?
鈥楲ike a Kafka novel鈥�: Witnessing China鈥檚 zero-COVID policyThe Monitor鈥檚 China bureau chief found comfort in a WeChat group during her chaotic quarantine in Shanghai.
First Look鈥楲ong-awaited law鈥�: Indonesia passes law against sexual violenceIndonesia鈥檚 parliament has passed a law to prevent sexual violence after a high-profile case of a school principal assaulting young students captivated the nation. The law also has provisions for protection and recovery for survivors.
First LookSri Lankans take street to protest, call for president to resignSri Lankans gathered Sunday in front of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa鈥檚 office to demand his resignation over the country鈥檚 devastating economic crisis. Many blame the Rajapaksa family, which has been in power for most of the past two decades.
First LookHong Kong's Chief Executive Lam to retire with Beijing in controlHong Kong leader Carrie Lam announced Monday that she will not seek a second term. Ms. Lam鈥檚 five years as chief executive have been marked by violent protests, dissent crackdowns, and a health care system overwhelmed by the global pandemic.
