All Asia: South & Central
First LookWhat's next for Afghanistan as the US prepares to pull out?As the U.S. prepares to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, questions remain for Washington鈥檚 goal of global security, and for Afghanistan鈥檚 internal security and governance.
Difference MakerIndia trashes 100 million tires a year. She turns them into playgrounds.Anthill Creations, the brainchild of Pooja Rai, is a Bengaluru-based nonprofit that designs and builds low-cost playgrounds throughout India.
First LookIn Myanmar, funerals become platforms for pro-democracy protestsThe escalating violence - which took the lives of 114 people Saturday - prompted a U.N. human rights expert to accuse the Myanmar junta of 鈥渕ass murder.鈥澛�
First LookMost Indian tea pickers are landless. Can their kids fight back?After a lifetime of picking tea, plantation workers are left landless once they stop working 鈥� their housing, on the tea estates, is tied to their labor. Their children, who are often stuck working at the plantations to keep their parents housed, are fighting for a better deal.
In this Kashmiri library, the power of books goes beyond wordsKashmir is home to the 鈥淭raveler鈥檚 Library,鈥� one man鈥檚 testament to the power of books聽鈥� although he himself cannot read.
Vaccine diplomacy: Will free shipments pay off for India?India is sending millions of COVID-19 vaccines abroad, amid its own domestic campaign. Experts say New Delhi sees an opportunity for soft power.
First LookWith Myanmar media under pressure, livestreams become essentialWith established media under pressure following the military coup in Myanmar, local journalists and citizens alike are shaping their country鈥檚 story by posting videos, photos, and livestreams to Facebook 鈥� if they can get around internet shutdowns.
First LookPakistan and India agree to cease-fire for first time since 2003Pakistan and India have agreed to a cease-fire in the disputed region of Kashmir for the first time since a 2003 accord. The move could be a major step in defusing tensions, even paving the way for a broader detente.- First LookMyanmar pro-democracy protesters call for national strike
First LookHope for women as Indian journalist is acquitted in #MeToo caseA New Delhi court has acquitted journalist Priya Ramani of criminal defamation after she accused M.J. Akbar, a prominent former editor-turned-politician of sexual harassment in 2018. Mr. Akbar had filed a case against Ms. Ramani, denying the allegations.
First LookWomen farmers in India join national protests to push for rightsWomen farmers have long complained about their particular difficulties in accessing wholesale markets, owning land, and securing credit. Now, the demonstrations in Delhi have given them a forum to press their demands as part of the greater protest movement.
First LookRescuers hunt for missing after Himalayan glacier burstsRescue efforts are under way after part of a Himalayan glacier broke off on Sunday and sent a wall of water and debris rushing down a mountain, trapping power plant workers in a tunnel. Experts say the disaster could be linked to global warming.
First LookAmid protests, a 'chilling development for the press' in IndiaIn response to continued demonstrations against new agricultural reforms, India is clamping down on free speech. Hundreds of Twitter accounts were suspended on Monday, and at聽least nine journalists have been charged for their coverage of the protests.聽
First LookThe military has taken over in Myanmar. Why now?Civilian leaders, who co-led Myanmar as part of a power-sharing agreement with the military, have been detained following a coup. The military cite election fraud as one of the reasons it took control, promising new elections in a year.
First LookMilitary coup in Myanmar: Elected leaders arrestedAung San Suu Kyi and other elected officials in Myanmar's National League for Democracy party were detained under house arrest, and communications were cut to the capital.聽
First LookTractors roll through New Delhi as farmers escalate protestsAs India celebrated Republic Day, farmers previously camped on the outskirts of the capital rolled into the city, ramping up their protests against agricultural reform laws. The government insists that the laws will boost production through private investment.
No Tamil movie ending, yet: Lockdowns dim Bhuvi Velu鈥檚 prospectsIn her last year of an engineering degree, with lockdowns affecting the job market, she says she鈥檚 even contemplating telemarketing to find an income.
First LookLogging on to a new life: India's migrant workers get job skillsIndia's economy depends on the work of 100 million internal migrants, whose livelihoods were considered most vulnerable to the coronavirus. Now, a growing number of online programs are offering practical training and job placement.
Difference MakerFor Indian teen who launched village library, it鈥檚 about more than booksSadiya Shaikh realized her family鈥檚 ancestral village in Bihar, India, had no library. So the 18-year-old set one up herself: Maulana Azad Library.
First LookWhy India is banning the export of newly approved vaccinesIndia will not allow the export of the Oxford University-AstraZeneca vaccine for several months, the Serum Institute鈥檚 CEO said Sunday. That means poorer nations won't have access until March or April.聽
