All Asia Pacific
First LookWhy Djokovic may not be able to volley Australia's strict visa rulesOn Friday, Australia revoked tennis player Novak Djokovic鈥檚 visa for the second time this month. The incident has spotlighted Australia鈥檚聽long history of strict immigration policy 鈥� from its 鈥淲hite Australia鈥澛爌olicy to its offshore detention camps for refugees.聽
Rural migrants are denied rights in Chinese cities. Can Xi fix the problem?Rural migrants in China are denied the rights of urban residents, creating a two-tier system. A reform plan would relax some residency rules.聽
Indian anti-terror law snags more than terroristsThe Indian government is using broad anti-terror legislation to detain opponents of all stripes, but rarely obtains convictions in court.
Is China ensnaring poor countries by building their infrastructure?China鈥檚 Belt and Road Initiative garners criticism as a tool of 鈥渄ebt-trap diplomacy,鈥� but some experts say that criticism is too simplistic.聽
First LookThe people鈥檚 choice? Beijing loyalists win Hong Kong elections.On Sunday, supporters of China鈥檚 Communist Party won the majority of legislative seats in Hong Kong. The elections, which took place under new vetting procedures ensuring only 鈥減atriots鈥� can run for office, saw the lowest voter turnout since 1997.聽
First LookRescue efforts continue in Philippines after Typhoon RaiThree days after super Typhoon Rai struck the Philippines, search and rescue efforts continued. On Sunday, the reported death toll rose to 146 people.聽
First LookCan blocking imports from Xinjiang protect China's Uyghurs?The U.S. Senate passed a bill Thursday blocking imports from China鈥檚 Xinjiang region unless businesses can prove they were produced without forced labor. The bill awaits President Joe Biden鈥檚 signature but has already been decried by China as an unfair trade practice.聽
The ExplainerTime to be clear on Taiwan? 鈥楽trategic ambiguity鈥� faces test.Facing an assertive China, some members of Congress want Washington to promise to defend Taiwan. But most experts support continued 鈥渟trategic ambiguity.鈥�
First LookA decade in, Kim Jong Un鈥檚 challenges ruling North Korea mountKim Jong Un came into power a decade ago this week. His rule over North Korea has been characterized by his consolidation聽of power and his larger-than-life personality. Now, Mr. Kim is facing his toughest period yet. How will he fare?
First LookPolitical breakup: Nicaragua allies with China, ices out TaiwanOn Thursday, Nicaragua announced it is breaking diplomatic relations with Taiwan and will only recognize one China. The severance of ties continues a competition for allies between China and Taiwan that has been ongoing since 1949.
First LookNew Zealand government proposes ambitious plan to end smokingOn Thursday, New Zealand鈥檚 government unveiled their one-of-a-kind plan to end smoking by annually raising the minimum age required to purchase tobacco. The nation hopes to have less than 5% of the population smoking by 2025.
First LookPolitical neutrality? China says US violates Olympics spirit with boycott.The Olympic Charter established the political neutrality of sports, focusing on being 鈥渕ore united.鈥� After the U.S. announced a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Games over human rights concerns, China says they violated Olympic spirit.
First LookMyanmar court convicts Aung San Suu Kyi. What鈥檚 next?Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar鈥檚 former leader ousted by a military coup this year, was found guilty of incitement on Monday in a trial criticized for being politically motivated. She will face additional charges in the coming weeks that could extend her sentence.
First LookLaos-China railway opens. Who is going to benefit?A railway built by China that connects Laos to China鈥檚 markets will open this week. The project, part of Beijing鈥檚 Belt and Road Initiative, comes with promises to revamp the isolated Laotian economy 鈥� and a $5.9 billion price tag, primarily financed by loans from China.
First Look#WhereIsPengShuai: World calls for transparency from ChinaChina鈥檚 tennis star Peng Shuai took part in a video call with Olympic officials on Sunday, nearly three weeks after disappearing from the public eye.聽But tensions remain high as fans and the international community continue to question Ms. Peng鈥檚 whereabouts.
Xi Jinping, 鈥榗hairman of everything,鈥� secures his futureThe Chinese Communist Party has paved the way for Xi Jinping to extend his rule for a near-unprecedented third term. But doubts cloud his succession.
First LookIn a step forward, China and US ease restrictions on journalistsThe U.S. and China reached an agreement this week to ease restrictions on foreign journalists. Experts say it鈥檚 a 鈥渉ard-won achievement鈥� 鈥� the result of more than a year of U.S.-China negotiations.
All work, no play? Chinese millennials opt to 鈥榣ie flat鈥� instead.Youths rebel against China鈥檚 ultracompetitive environment 鈥� with calls for people to 鈥渓ie flat鈥� and do the minimum 鈥� and聽Xi Jinping takes note.
First Look鈥楾here鈥檚 always hope鈥�: Myanmar frees jailed American journalistDanny Fenster, an American journalist聽who was sentenced by a Myanmar court to 11 years in prison, has been freed after six months through diplomatic negotiations. He is one of at least 126 journalists who have been detained since the military took power.
First LookAmid free press crackdown, Myanmar sentences US journalistOn Friday, a Myanmar court sentenced American journalist Danny Fenster to 11 years in prison. The country鈥檚 military-installed government has forced media outlets to close, and an estimated 100 journalists have been arrested.
