All Asia Pacific
First LookSingaporean volunteer group gives more than money to help needyKeeping Hope Alive continues its volunteer work during coronavirus lockdowns by distributing groceries, doing repair work, and helping those in need in other ways. 鈥淲e support social distancing, not social isolation,鈥� said the group's founder.
First LookReform or reverence? Thai royalists, protesters size up monarchy.Mass pro-democracy protests in Thailand are calling for reforms of the monarchy, but for many Thais, especially of an older generation, the palace is revered and considered above politics.
First LookChina breaks silence to acknowledge Biden's US election winChina on Friday finally congratulated Joe Biden almost a week after major news outlets declared him the winner of the U.S. presidential election. Analysts expect Mr. Biden to pursue a more traditional policy toward China, but expect few major changes.
First LookWith resignations, Hong Kong democracy movement hangs in balanceThe en masse resignation of pro-democracy legislators in Hong Kong on Thursday to protest their colleagues鈥� expulsion means bills favored by Beijing could pass with little opposition.
U.S., China, Taiwan: Why the tense status quo may stick 鈥� for nowTaiwan鈥檚 military was on high alert during the U.S. elections, as concerns grow over the potential for a clash amid escalating Chinese incursions.
First LookOnline schooling in Indonesia? It takes a village.A dozen journalists in Indonesia campaigned to collect about 200 mobile phones and about $35,000 to help underprivileged students with schooling online at home during the pandemic. They have distributed nearly 300 phones so far.
First LookSound conservation: a different way of preserving historyAudio professionals in Asia record the everyday sounds of their cities to preserve audible heritage in the region鈥檚 fast-changing urban hubs. They say each sound has its own unique identity that captures the evolution of a place.
First LookWhy this year's Thai protests are the most ambitious yetFed up with an archaic education system and military rule, the youth-led protest movement is demanding聽changes to the constitution and the resignation of the prime minister, as well as questioning the role of the long-revered monarchy.
First LookJapan announces it will go carbon-free by 2050Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide declared in his first policy speech that Japan will achieve zero carbon emissions by 2050. He said a shift to carbon neutrality is an opportunity for economic growth as well as a counter to climate change.
Student protesters push Thai politics into uncharted watersThailand鈥檚 protesters represent a new face of opposition to the military-backed government, and have called for more accountability for the monarchy.
First LookNew Zealand鈥檚 Ardern wins 2nd term in election landslideCredited with successful leadership against the coronavirus,聽New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern won a second term in office Saturday.
First LookEmergency declared in Bangkok after protesters heckle royal motorcadeThe Thai government has declared a state of emergency after pro-democracy demonstrators gestured and shouted at a royal motorcade during protests on Wednesday, an act seen by many as crossing a sacred line.
First LookCloud kitchens given a boost as foodie Asians order inFood delivery services have seen a boom in Asia, where many are forced to stay indoors due to pandemic lockdowns. Since then, a new type of service is taking off 鈥� cloud kitchens, which use data to determine demand.
China, increasingly mighty, still learning how to project powerChina is struggling to wield soft power, complicating its bid to inspire global support. A Pew poll shows that negative public opinions are at a high.
First LookThousands of students, workers protest Indonesia labor lawLabor rights activists, workers, and students are protesting Indonesia's new labor law they say will undermine pay and benefits, as well as the environment. The law is part of the president's efforts to court foreign investors in a bid to drive economic growth.
First LookUS bans Malaysian palm oil producer over labor abusesThe palm oil industry is a supplier for major companies like Nestle and is facing increasing scrutiny. Imports of palm oil from Malaysian company FGV Holdings Berhad are now banned from the U.S. after an investigation revealed signs of labor abuses.
First LookA Thai village takes a novel approach to save ancestral forestA wetland forest in northern Thailand helped protect the villagers of Ban Boon Rueang from flooding. Faced with the threat of development, they launched a social media campaign to save their ancestral forest.
First LookKim Jong Un apologizes to South Korea over shooting incidentIn an unusual and rare move, North Korea leader Kim Jong Un apologized for the fatal shooting of a South Korea official on Friday. Mr. Kim鈥檚 apology is likely to de-escalate tensions between the two countries.
First LookChina, world鈥檚 biggest emitter, pledges carbon neutrality 2060In a United Nations speech, President Xi Jinping pledged China would go carbon neutral by 2060. The goal will be a challenge as the country relies heavily on coal.
First LookSingapore debates Muslim women wearing the hijab at workWhile Muslim women can wear the hijab in most settings in Singapore, some workplaces still ban the Islamic headscarf. Recent cases of women being told to take off their headscarves at work have rekindled debates on discrimination in the multicultural country.