All Asia Pacific
First LookNew Zealand’s Ardern wins 2nd term in election landslideCredited with successful leadership against the coronavirus, 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 – 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’s apology is likely to de-escalate tensions between the two countries.
First LookChina, world’s 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.
First LookWhy a two-day rally by Thai students could be a turning pointStudent activists have been at the forefront of protests in the past few months. But observers say this weekend's rally could force a government crackdown as activists push for democratic reforms to the monarchy – long seen as sacrosanct in Thailand.
First LookSelf-made and strong-willed: Meet Japan's new Prime Minister SugaYoshihide Suga, a farmer's son, is a self-made politician, a rarity in Japan's largely hereditary political landscape. He succeeds Shinzo Abe and is known for having an iron-fist approach in policy matters.
The ExplainerHimalayan pullback: The tense history of India-China borderIndia and China have pledged to deescalate the tensest standoff along their contested border in decades. But deep mistrust and nationalism continue.
First LookJapan's ruling party elects Yoshihide Suga to replace Shinzo AbeLeadership shift: Japan's Liberal Democratic Party chose Yoshihide Suga as head after outgoing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced his resignation. Mr. Suga is expected to be officially tapped for prime minister in a parliamentary election later this week.
First LookBeijing opens its skies to international flightsFor the first time since March, travelers from designated countries can fly to Beijing. China has gone weeks without new cases of local infections of COVID-19. Elsewhere across Asia, numbers continue to spike in India and South Korea reports a new surge.
The ExplainerApp wars: TikTok aside, Trump WeChat ban could be bigger dealPresident Trump’s executive order seeks to ban the messaging app WeChat. What is it – and why would restrictions matter?
First LookJapan's economic recovery met with challenge as Abe resignsAfter a stagnant economy in the 1990s and 2000s, Japan found a semblance of stability and progress under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Mr. Abe’s resignation because of a health issue leaves many of his goals unrealized and an economy staggering to recover from the pandemic.
First LookNew Zealand mosque shooter sentenced to life in prisonAustralian Brenton Harrison Tarrant, who pled guilty to killing 51 people in two Christchurch, New Zealand mosques in March 2019, has been sentenced to life without parole. New Zealand, which banned semi-automatic weapons after the attack, abolished the death penalty for murder in 1961.
First LookWhy Thai pro-democracy protests are spreading beyond the campusSunday's pro-democracy rally in Bangkok, Thailand, was one of the largest in years. It ended peacefully after eight hours of speeches, kits, and music.
First LookNorth Korea rejects aid from South as they reopen border cityNorth Korea is dealing with both the coronavirus and the aftermath of heavy floods which wiped out thousands of homes and crops in recent weeks. South Korea offered financial aid to their northern neighbor, but Kim Jong Un has rejected outside help.
