All Asia Pacific
First LookChinese officials defensive over Muslim re-education campsChinese officials have responded to a letter from 15 foreign ambassadors, spearheaded by Canada, expressing concern over the incarceration of thousands of Chinese Muslims, saying the letter contained "unreasonable requests" and was based on hearsay.聽
First LookAustralia looks to remove children from island refugee settlementSince 2013, refugees who attempt to reach Australia by boat have been diverted to refugee camps on Nauru or Papua New Guinea. Australian officials are now looking to bring children on Nauru to Australia for care as health concerns escalate.聽
First LookSymbolic mega-bridge connects Hong Kong to mainlandOn Oct. 23, China opened up the world's longest-sea crossing bridge between Hong Kong and the mainland. While some celebrated the bridge as a feat of engineering, others saw it as loaded with political significance.聽
First LookProgressives criticize South Korea for denying Yemenis refugee statusOn Oct. 17, South Korea's Justice Ministry said it would not grant refugee status to nearly 400 Yemenis who are fleeing a civil war as well as a cholera outbreak. Progressives have denounced the move as xenophobic, though others are calling for deportation.
China's cold but cleaner skies bring an economic challenge
As China clamps down, internet users find it harder to scale 'Great Firewall'Beijing has moved to restrict the availability of virtual private networks, or VPNs, amid an overarching strengthening of Communist Party control under President Xi Jinping.
First LookFollowing US disapproval, S. Korea backs off from sanction liftsOn Oct. 10, South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha indicated an interest in lifting some sanctions against North Korea, but backlash from President Trump and South Korean conservatives was swift, as聽US-led international sanctions remain firmly in place.
First LookAs relations warm, South Korea considers lifting North Korea sanctionsSouth Korea's foreign minister, Kang Kyung-wha, believes that a lifting of sanctions against North Korea could be the next step in a series of negotiations between the two countries. However, many South Koreans still harbor resentment against their neighbor to the north.聽
First LookAustralia considers banning immigrants from settling in major citiesAs population continues to increase rapidly in Sydney and Melbourne, Australian officials are considering preventing immigrants from settling in these cities unless they have employment or family connections there.聽
First LookIn Indonesia, some survivors refuse to give up hopeOn Sept. 28, a 7.5 magnitude earthquake rocked the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, leaving thousands dead, injured, or missing in its wake. Amid the uncertainty and grief, Indonesians search for survivors and pray to be reunited with loved ones safely.聽
Slice of life: A reporter's search for knives in BeijingBeijing has cracked down on knives in recent years, in response to high-profile knife attacks and stabbings. What's a Chinese chef to do?
First LookNew Okinawa governor addresses the complexity of US bases in JapanDenny Tamaki, the first elected leader of Okinawa to have an American parent, is leading a push against the US military presence on the island. Many consider him a "new kind of leader" as he stands for diversity in a country with a reputation for uniformity.聽
First LookKoreas begin to remove landmines near border to reduce tensionsSouth Korean officials announced the beginning of demining efforts in the demilitarized zone on Oct. 1. The efforts are part of a deal with North Korea to reduce military tensions on several fronts.聽
First LookRescue efforts under way as Indonesian tsunami claims more than 800 livesSeveral large coastal towns in Indonesia were hit by an earthquake and tsunami on Sept. 28 washing out communities and trapping residents under rubble. Poor roads and lack of heavy equipment, medical supplies, and experts is making recovery efforts difficult.
First LookNorth and South Korea take steps toward easing tensionFollowing a series of meetings between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in, the two announced an ambitious program aimed at bringing peace to聽the Korean Peninsula 鈥� including a pledge on denuclearization.
First LookSouth Korean president in Pyongyang for new talksThe continued dialogue between North and South Korea after President Trump's June meeting with Kim Jong-un heralds the possibility of renewed economic and diplomatic ties between the two countries.聽
First LookInside Hong Kong's mission to curb clothing wasteA new textile mill in Hong Kong is taking aim at the tons of textile waste dumped into landfills as a result of "fast fashion" with technology that will separate fabric blends in waste garments and produce a recycled yarn to be spun into new clothes.
First LookSearch missions continue in Philippines after typhoon MangkhutAs hurricane Florence continues to ravage the American South, the Philippines聽is working its way out from under another natural disaster as landslides pummel the country after typhoon Mangkhut. The government has blamed the mudslides on illegal mining operations.
First LookNew liaison office designed to improve communication between KoreasLocated in the North Korean border town of Kaesong, the office will be staffed by officials from both Koreas in hopes of easing tensions between the two countries ahead of their聽leaders' summit in Pyongyang next week.聽
For West, Aung San Suu Kyi鈥檚 silence complicates response to Rohingya crisisAung San Suu Kyi is hardly the first icon who has wound up leaving many admirers disillusioned. But amid the Rohingya crisis, the consequences of the world鈥檚 bewilderment may be especially high.
