Asia Pacific
US, South Korea and Japan urge a stronger international push to curb North Korea鈥檚 nuclear program
The national security advisers of the United States, South Korea and Japan are calling for a stronger international push to suppress North Korea鈥檚 development of nuclear weapons and missiles.
US and Philippines condemn the Chinese coast guard鈥檚 water cannon blasts on fisheries vessels
The Philippines and its treaty ally, the United States, have separately condemned a high-seas assault by the Chinese coast guard and suspected militia ships that repeatedly blasted water cannons to block three Philippine fisheries vessels from a disputed shoal in the South China Sea.
As Pakistan cracks down on illegal migrants, nearly half a million Afghans have left, minister says
Pakistan鈥檚 caretaker interior minister says nearly half a million Afghans who were living in Pakistan without documents have returned home in the past more than two months as part of an ongoing crackdown on foreigners living illegally in the country.
Japan鈥檚 leader grilled in parliament over widening fundraising scandal, link to Unification Church
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and several key Cabinet ministers have been grilled by opposition lawmakers in parliament over a widening fundraising scandal that threatens to further drag down the government鈥檚 sagging popularity.
Lawmakers seek action against Elf Bar and other fruity e-cigarettes imported from China
House lawmakers are demanding information on federal efforts to stop the influx of kid-appealing electronic cigarettes from China.
Chinese leaders wrap up annual economic planning meeting with scant details on revving up growth
China鈥檚 state media say top leaders held an annual planning meeting where they agreed to step up spending to help rev up the economy.
Taiwan鈥檚 presidential candidates will hold a televised debate as the race heats up
The three candidates running in Taiwan鈥檚 presidential election will hold a televised debate on Dec. 30 as the race heats up under pressure from China.
South Korea defense chief threatens strikes on 鈥榟eart and head鈥� of North Korea if provoked
South Korea鈥檚 defense minister has threatened massive retaliatory missile strikes on 鈥渢he heart and head鈥� of North Korea in the event of provocation, as the rivals escalate their rhetoric over their respective spy satellite launches in recent days.
Indonesia鈥檚 youth clean up trash from waterways, but more permanent solutions are still elusive
Young people have been at the forefront of environmental and climate change movements in recent years: initiatives like school strikes for climate action, protests at United Nations climate talks and around the world, and local clean ups have often been youth-led.
APWeek in Pictures: Asia
Dec. 1-7, 2023
Mount Marapi spews volcanic materials during its eruption in Indonesia, a powerful earthquake struck Saturday off the southern Philippines and a hospital is flooded after heavy rains along the Bay of Bengal coast in Chennai, India.
Mount Marapi spews volcanic materials during its eruption in Indonesia, a powerful earthquake struck Saturday off the southern Philippines and a hospital is flooded after heavy rains along the Bay of Bengal coast in Chennai, India.
Myanmar鈥檚 army is facing battlefield challenges and grants amnesty to troops jailed for being AWOL
Reports from Myanmar say its military government has been freeing soldiers and police who had been jailed for desertion and absence without leave as authorities seek to get them to return to active duty.
Japan pledges $4.5B more in aid for Ukraine, including $1B in humanitarian funds
Japan鈥檚 Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has pledged $4.5 billion to Ukraine, including $1 billion in humanitarian aid to help support the war-torn country鈥檚 recovery efforts.
Powerful earthquake shakes South Pacific nation of Vanuatu; no tsunami threat
A powerful earthquake has shaken the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu, but countries in the region say there is no threat of a tsunami. The U.S.
Chinese navy ships are first to dock at new pier at Cambodian naval base linked to Beijing
Chinese naval vessels have become the first ships to dock at a new pier at a Cambodian naval base that the United States and some international security experts say is destined to serve as a strategic outpost for Beijing鈥檚 navy.
Democracy activist Agnes Chow says she still feels under the watch of Hong Kong police in Canada
Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Agnes Chow says she still feels under the watch of the Chinese territory鈥檚 police after moving to Toronto.
Australia pushes against China鈥檚 Pacific influence through a security pact with Papua New Guinea
The Australian government has signed a security pact with its nearest neighbor Papua New Guinea that strengthens Australia鈥檚 place as the preferred security partner in a region where China鈥檚 influence is growing.
Indonesian maleo conservation faced setbacks due to development and plans for a new capital city
A critically endangered bird that only exists on a few Indonesian islands is facing a new threat as the country builds a new capital hundreds of miles away.
National security advisers of US, South Korea and Japan will meet to discuss North Korean threat
The national security advisers of the United States, South Korea and Japan will meet in Seoul this week to discuss North Korea鈥檚 military threat and other issues as they continue to promote trilateral cooperation in Asia.
Indonesia ends search for victims of eruption at Mount Marapi volcano that killed 23 climbers
Indonesian authorities have ended the search for any more victims among climbers who were caught by a weekend eruption of the Mount Marapi volcano that killed 23 people and injured several others.
Australian Parliament rushes through laws that could see detention of freed dangerous migrants
The Australian government has rushed legislation through Parliament that could place behind bars some of the migrants freed after the High Court ruled their indefinite detention was unconstitutional.
3 killed at massive fire in Pakistan鈥檚 largest southern city of Karachi, officials say
Officials say a massive fire has swept through a multi-story commercial building in Pakistan鈥檚 largest southern port city of Karachi, killing at least three people and damaging several shops.
Italy reportedly drops out of China Belt and Road initiative that failed to deliver
Media reports say Italy has formally withdrawn from China鈥檚 global Belt and Road initiative that seeks to deepen relations with foreign countries through infrastructure investments.
Top US and Chinese diplomats agree to build on recent progress in ties
The top U.S. and Chinese diplomats have agreed to build on recent progress in bilateral ties and work together to keep the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza from spreading.
Volkswagen-commissioned audit finds no signs of forced labor at plant in China鈥檚 Xinjiang region
An audit commissioned by Volkswagen has found no indication of forced labor at its plant in China鈥檚 Xinjiang region, where Western governments have accused the Chinese government of human rights violations against the Uyghur ethnic minority.
A Year in Power: Malaysian premier Anwar searches for support as frustration rises over slow reform
Marking his first anniversary of coming to power, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahm admitted he was still struggling to win over ethnic Malay votes and acknowledged frustration over the slow pace of reforms.
Arizona man charged over online posts that allegedly incited Australian attack in which 6 died
A U.S. citizen has been charged in Arizona over online posts that allegedly incited what police describe as a 鈥渞eligiously motivated terrorist attack鈥� in Australia a year ago in which six people died.
These men once relied on the Aral Sea. Today, the dry land is a reminder of lost livelihoods
Brushing the dust from his hat and lying on the floor inside his home, Ali Shadilov recalls how he and other fishermen used to laugh at town elders who warned that the enormous sea they relied on was disappearing.
Australian government hopes to rush laws that could detain dangerous migrants
The Australian government hopes to rush legislation through Parliament that could place behind bars some of the migrants who have been freed since the High Court ruled their indefinite detention was unconstitutional.
Taliban鈥檚 abusive education policies harm boys as well as girls in Afghanistan, rights group says
A rights group says the Taliban鈥檚 education policies are harming boys as well as girls in Afghanistan.
At least 16 dead and 12 injured as passenger bus falls off ravine in central Philippines
Philippine officials say at least 16 people have been killed and 12 others injured when a passenger bus lost control while negotiating a downhill road curve in a central mountain village and plunged into a deep ravine.
Air Force identifies the 8 US crew lost in Osprey crash in Japan and recovers 6 bodies
Air Force Special Operations Command has recovered the remains of six of the eight service members who were lost when their Osprey aircraft crashed off the coast of Japan last week.
Papua New Guinea鈥檚 prime minister says he will sign a security pact with Australia
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape says he will sign a bilateral security pact with Australia during a visit this week.
Bus crashes in western Thailand, killing 14 people and injuring more than 30 others
A bus has crashed in western Thailand, killing 14 people and injuring more than 30 others. Officials said the accident occurred early Tuesday in Prachuap Khiri Khan province as the bus was traveling from the capital, Bangkok, to Songkhla province in the deep south.
A roadside bombing in the commercial center of Pakistan鈥檚 Peshawar city wounds at least 3 people
Pakistani authorities say a roadside bomb went off near a school in the country鈥檚 northwest on Tuesday, wounding at least three passersby and damaging windows of a nearby bank and several shops The bombing happened in the commercial center of Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bord
Photographers in Asia capture the extraordinary, tragic and wonderful in 2023
Individually, the photographs are the product of a moment, capturing glimpses of joy, grief, rage, hope, and resilience.
Heavy rains leave at least 12 dead before storm Michaung makes landfall on India鈥檚 southeast coast
A powerful storm has made landfall along India鈥檚 southeast coast, unleashing torrential rains and strong winds.