Asia

Russia hosts a delegation from Afghanistan and other countries for talks

7:26am October 21, 2021

The Russian government has been holding a conference in Moscow for the Taliban, China, Pakistan and other states concerned with the future of Afghanistan. The U.S. in not participating.

News brief: COVID boosters, voting rights failure, Russia hosts Afghan talks

5:51am October 21, 2021

The FDA authorizes Moderna and J&J COVID-19 vaccine boosters. Attempts by Democrats to shore up protections for voting rights have hit a wall. Russia hosts a delegation from Afghanistan.

World News

The underground world of debt collection in South Korea

4:54pm October 20, 2021

In the show Squid Game, the poor compete to the death for money to pay their debts. NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with L.A. Times reporter Victoria Kim on the underground world of South Korea's loan sharks.

Rahm Emanuel addresses handling of Chicago police shooting during ambassador hearing

4:40pm October 20, 2021

by Michele Kelemen

Two key Biden administration ambassador nominees, Rahm Emanuel and Nicholas Burns, face the Senate to answer questions about U.S. policy in Asia.

Lee Bae-yong, the first woman to officiate a Confucian ceremony in the country's long history with Confucianism, at Museong Seowon, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

A woman takes a lead role in Confucian ceremonies, breaking a new path in South Korea

11:15am October 19, 2021

by Anthony Kuhn

Women's equality has made slow progress in South Korea. Some South Koreans want to bring about change starting at the country's cultural roots by reinterpreting Confucius.

North Korea launches its eighth missile test of the year

7:30am October 19, 2021

The test appears to be its first submarine-launched ballistic missile in two years. It comes as the U.S. and Asian allies are meeting to discuss how to get North Korea back to the negotiating table.

India may replace car horns with the sound of musical instruments

5:33am October 19, 2021

The country's transportation minister says he will introduce a measure to replace all vehicle horns with the sounds of traditional Indian musical instruments. He's also looking into changing sirens.

President Biden told Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta that the U.S. would donate 17 million COVID vaccine doses to the African Union. The U.S. is also working to boost production on the continent.

The world needs more COVID vaccines, so the U.S. is helping finance overseas plants

5:07pm October 18, 2021

by Franco Ordoñez

The Biden administration has been criticized for hoarding COVID vaccines when millions of people around the world are unvaccinated. Now they're looking at how to help finance plants overseas.

Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, commander in chief of Myanmar's armed forces and head of Myanmar's coup regime, attends the 9th Moscow Conference on International Security in Moscow in June.

World News

Myanmar will release 5,600 anti-regime prisoners

2:26pm October 18, 2021

by Scott Neuman

The move comes days after a regional bloc of nations snubbed the country's ruling junta, disinviting coup leader Min Aung Hlaing from an upcoming summit.

Health & Safety

News brief: Haiti kidnappings, China's economy slows, COVID boosters

6:52am October 18, 2021

A group of U.S.-based aid workers and their families are kidnapped in Haiti. The growth rate for China's economy has slowed. More big moves on COVID-19 vaccine boosters are expected this week.

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