Asia News Wrap: China's Shenzhou-22 spacecraft launched, and more

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

China's Shenzhou-22 spacecraft launched 

China successfully launched the Shenzhou-22 spacecraft on Tuesday. A Long March-2F carrier rocket lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China and docked with the space station module later that day. 

The Shenzhou-22 mission carried essential supplies, including food for space, medical supplies, fresh produce and spare parts for the station. It also included specialized equipment to address the window crack found on the Shenzhou-20 return capsule.

Malaysia to ban under-16-year-olds from social media 

Malaysia plans to ban social media for users under 16 starting next year, joining a growing list of countries restricting access to digital platforms due to concerns about child safety. Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said on Sunday that the government was reviewing mechanisms for enforcing age restrictions on social media use in Australia and other countries, citing the importance of protecting youths from issues such as cyberbullying, financial scams and child abuse. 

From January, major social media and messaging platforms with at least 8 million users in Malaysia will be required to obtain a license as part of the government's tightening of oversight over digital platforms. Licensed platforms must implement age verification, content safety measures and transparency rules, reflecting the government’s effort to create a safer digital environment.

Floods and landslides in Sri Lanka kill at least 40

Floods and landslides in Sri Lanka, caused by heavy rains, have killed at least 40 people, injured 10 and left 21 missing this week, according to authorities on Thursday. 

Most of the deaths occurred in the central tea-growing district of Badulla, where 16 people were buried alive when mountain slopes collapsed onto their homes overnight, the Disaster Management Centre said in a statement. An additional four people died similarly in the neighboring Nuwara Eliya district. The remaining fatalities were reported elsewhere. Nearly 400 homes were damaged in mudslides, and over 1,100 families have been displaced to temporary shelters.

Indonesia grants unlimited stay permits instead of dual citizenship

Indonesia opened applications on Monday for a permit that allows former Indonesian citizens to live and work in the country indefinitely as an alternative to dual citizenship, an official at the Immigration Ministry has said. Indonesian law does not recognize dual citizenship for adults, and anyone with two passports must choose a single nationality upon turning 18. 

The new policy, called Global Citizenship of Indonesia (GCI), is modeled on the Overseas Citizenship of India initiative, which permits foreigners of Indian descent to visit, work and live in India indefinitely, the ministry said. "GCI is a strategic solution to the issues of dual citizenship by giving an unlimited stay permit for foreign nationals with strong ties to Indonesia," an official told Reuters on Saturday.

(Cover: The Shenzhou-22 spacecraft is launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, November 25, 2025. /CFP)