Asia News Wrap: China's Shenzhou-20 crew returns, and more

Here are a few stories from around Asia you may have missed this week.

China's Shenzhou-20 crew returns after more than 200 days in space

After spending over 200 days aboard the China Space Station, the Shenzhou-20 crew safely returned to Earth on Friday, November 14. Their journey was unprecedented – their original return date was postponed due to a suspected collision with space debris, and they returned aboard the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft. During their time in space, Commander Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie completed four spacewalks, installed debris protection equipment and carried out pioneering experiments.

Rain-triggered landslides kill at least 23 in Indonesia 

Rain-triggered landslides in two regions of Indonesia's Central Java province last week resulted in at least 23 deaths, authorities announced on Monday, with search efforts still ongoing. A landslide in Cilacap city last week buried a dozen houses in Cibeunying village, according to the disaster mitigation agency. Search and rescue operations were difficult because people were buried 10 to 25 feet underground, the agency said. Excavators were brought in to dig through the dirt in Cilacap. 

Local officials also stated that 296 houses would be relocated from the landslide-prone area within the next six months, and each family waiting for a new home will receive 600,000 rupiah ($36) per month in compensation. Separately, two people died and 27 are missing after a landslide on Saturday in the Banjarnegara region of Central Java. The country's rainy season began in September and is expected to continue until April, bringing a high risk of heavy rainfall and flooding, the weather agency said.

Floods and landslides cause 16 deaths in Vietnam

Floods and landslides caused by heavy rain in central Vietnam since Saturday and Sunday have resulted in at least 16 deaths. Traders warned that these events could disrupt the ongoing coffee harvest. Since Sunday night, rainfall has exceeded 1,500 millimeters in several parts of central Vietnam. The region, known for its significant coffee production and popular beaches, is highly vulnerable to storms and flooding.

Pollution reappears on Yamuna River in Delhi after Hindu festival

Toxic pollution has reappeared on the Yamuna River in New Delhi, India. A check on Monday showed large parts of the river covered in white foam from waste left behind by Chhath puja (a Hindu festival during which devotees offer prayers to the setting and rising sun at riverbanks). Boatmen hired by authorities were seen steering their vessels upstream and downstream to improve water flow and push the foam further along. 

Officials also "routinely spray chemicals" into the water to break up the foam. Despite these efforts, the foam has persisted, indicating worsening water quality after the festival. Dissolved oxygen – essential for aquatic life – fell to zero as the river left Delhi, even though it had been recorded along the entire stretch the previous month.

(Cover: Shenzhou-20 taikaonaut Wang Jie safely exits the spacecraft at the Dongfeng Landing Site, November 14, 2025. /CFP)