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Letter from Pyeongchang: Finding beauty in the Olympic struggleThe attention on medals belies the grander purpose of the Games 鈥� and their relevance to a world facing much harder challenges than triple axels or tricks in the halfpipe.
When Olympism runs in the familyFrom the bobsledding niece of an MLB player to the daughter of Olympic rowers, a number of this year's Winter Olympians have been propelled by athletically accomplished relatives. But 'propelled' doesn't always mean 'pressured.'
First LookSouth Korean chat app brings #MeToo movement to the countryThe app Blind is shedding new light on sexual harassment in the country's heavily male-dominated workplace. But聽many South Korean users say they are yet to see significant changes in their workplaces.
First LookAn Australian laundry business has a mission to improve the lives of its employeesVanguard Laundry Services exclusively hires unemployed people with mental illnesses to do laundry for more than 80 hospitals and hotels in eastern Australia. The business aims to provide employees with independence and financial security.
In Pyeongchang, a historically diverse Winter OlympicsThe 2018 Games represent a wider spectrum of humanity than ever before. That鈥檚 particularly true in women鈥檚 bobsledding 鈥� in which four of the top five teams in Pyeongchang included at least one black athlete.
US women win historic Olympic gold in cross-country skiingKikkan Randall and Jessie Diggins, powered by a tight-knit team, won the American women's first-ever Olympic medal in a close sprint with Sweden and Norway on Wednesday.
Japan wants Fukushima evacuees to go home. They're not so sure.About 160,000 people left their homes in 2011, after an earthquake and tsunami triggered the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl. Today, the government says it's safe for many to return. But regaining residents' trust remains a challenge.
In South Korea, a new Cinderella story is unfolding 鈥� on iceThe Korean women鈥檚 curling team has surprised many 鈥� not least of all their compatriots 鈥� by defeating almost every single country so far.
More than glitter: How US women pin Nordic medal hopes on teamworkAmerican women used to be the also-rans in cross-country skiing, a sport dominated by Scandinavians. But by valuing each other鈥檚 unique contributions, they have become one of the top teams in the world.
First LookAfter the Olympics, war-torn families still hope for reunionsFamilies separated at the outbreak of the Korean War聽hope that thawing relations between the two Koreas will be enough to restart reunion programs with loved ones that live across the border. Many believe North Korea's outreach is serious this time.
America鈥檚 Olympic team: faster, higher, stronger for longer 鈥� with kidsTraditionally, many Olympians hang up their skates, skis, and sleds in order to have a family.聽Today, more teams are helping聽athletes balance parenthood and full-time training to extend their careers.
Off the slopes, Olympians look up and out for a larger causeOlympians鈥� intense focus and self-sacrifice is key to reaching the highest levels of their sport, but leaves some hungry for a bigger purpose. Many competitors in Pyeongchang have embraced causes or relationships beyond their performance, looking for an even deeper sense of fulfillment.
At winter Olympics, science wins the dayIn sports like bobsled, luge, and snowboarding, where fractions of a second make a difference, it's not only athletes who are crucial. Hundreds of technicians work behind the scenes to help teams adjust to conditions that change by the day, if not the hour.
Winter Olympics 鈥� forging peace or false dawn?South Korean President Moon Jae-in hopes North Korea's participation in the Winter Olympics will pave the way to reconciliation. If it turns out to be flimflam, diplomacy will be weakened and the threat of war could loom again.
First LookSouth Korean firms hope North-South complex will reopenSouth Korean investors in the Kaesong complex, a joint North-South endeavor shuttered in 2016, hope thawing tensions surrounding the Winter Olympics could lead to a revival of the industrial park.聽
First LookChinese solar company takes root in India to avoid import taxesGlobal complaints of Chinese trade policies have risen recently, and several countries are considering import taxes against the nation. In response, one of the China's largest solar suppliers announced plans on Tuesday to invest in manufacturing facilities in India.
First LookChinese activists decry so-called 'female morality schools'A video from a Chinese 'morality school,' intended to teach women to be submissive, has spurred sharp critique from women's rights activists. The presence of these schools in China is raising difficult questions about women's social position in the nation.
In Japan, baby-at-work fuss highlights deeper issue: few women in politicsA city council's reprimand to a member for bringing her baby to work has heightened awareness of working moms' challenges in Japan. Better daycare would help 鈥� but deeper attitude shifts require more women in government, advocates say.
First LookHong Kong commits to ban ivory trading by 2021In a landmark decision, lawmakers in Hong Kong approved a proposal to ban local ivory trading by 2021, agreeing to include stiffer fines and penalties. WWF called for other Asian countries such as Vietnam and Laos to institute similar bans to deter ivory traders.
First LookToo big to fail: worries surround South Korea's chip industryIncreased demand for microchips in South Korea has generated immense wealth, but also increasing concern for the future. The titanic industry has restructured South Korean society by decimating professions like architecture and shipbuilding.
