All Asia: South & Central
First LookAI makes the fashion industry faster and greener. But what will that mean for workers?Suppliers and brands across the $1.7 trillion global fashion industry are starting to use AI technology to boost production and reduce their climate impact. But recent innovations could threaten some of the 75 million jobs in the labor-intensive industry.
How India’s crackdown on Kashmir – and the blowback – transformed the region’s politicsIndia’s curb on separatist militancy and other forms of dissent pushes new candidates – and voters – to participate in local elections in Kashmir.
The kids are all right: How rural India’s ‘goat nurses’ help animals – and themselvesIn rural India, a goat is a valuable asset. For the women who have been trained to care for them, they’re also a path to greater dignity.
First LookSri Lanka elects Marxist lawmaker as president after years of economic turmoilAnura Kumara Dissanayake’s victory is seen as a rejection of Sri Lanka’s old political guard that has been widely accused of pushing the nation toward economic ruin.
First LookShe’s chubby, wet, and fierce. Meet Moo Deng, a baby hippo and internet darling.Spawning memes, merch, and crowds at the zoo, baby hippo Moo Deng went viral within weeks of being born. Appropriately, she likes to “deng,” or bounce, and her zookeepers post clips of her giddy frolics. Now, the Thai zoo seeks to patent “Moo Deng the hippo.”
The ExplainerWhy Kashmir’s local election could usher in a new political eraWith fresh faces emerging to challenge the traditional political powerhouses, the region’s political dynamics already appear to be changing.
A former prime minister facing military trial? Pakistan flirts with risky precedent.Pakistan’s democracy is at an unprecedented crossroads as the government, army, and judiciary decide whether to try Imran Khan in a military court.
To reach Kashmir’s Himalayan nomads, teachers bring classrooms to the pastureAccess to education looks different depending on the community. In the hilly pastures of Kashmir, mobile schools meet little shepherds where they are.
Protests over women’s safety in India are taking cues from an unusual sourceIndia has long struggled to tackle gender-based violence. But as Kolkata reels from a brutal attack on a young doctor, some protesters point to neighboring Bangladesh as proof that with enough solidarity, change is possible.
Five years after India stripped it of statehood, Kashmir prepares for electionsThe return of elections to Jammu and Kashmir won’t restore the political agency lost over the past decade – but it’s a step forward that many in the heavily militarized region hope to build upon.
Young, educated, and jobless: Is India’s unemployment crisis ‘waiting to explode’?Amid high unemployment and higher-education scandals, young Indians are questioning traditional, merit-based paths to prosperity.
On paper, Bangladesh was on the rise. Why didn’t progress translate on the ground?Bangladesh’s impressive advancements overshadowed a growing discontent, which erupted into weeks of violent protests. Some hope Mr. Yunus’s interim government marks a fresh start.
First LookWorld’s longest-serving female prime minister flees Bangladesh amid protestsBangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned from her job and fled the country following weeks of protests. What began as peaceful student-led protests against job quotas have evolved into a violent uprising against Ms. Hasina.
Bangladeshi youth bore the brunt of last week’s violent protests. They want accountability.Bangladeshis are reeling from one of the most violent weeks in their country’s recent history. At the center of the chaos are young people striving to be heard.
First LookIn Malaysia, royal families take turns on the throne. This king rides a motorbike.Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar was officially installed on July 20 under a unique system where nine ethnic Malay state rulers take turns as Malaysia’s king. The 65-year-old monarch from southern Johor state is outspoken about Malaysian politics and corruption.
First LookPakistan’s political crisis deepens as government seeks to ban Imran Khan’s partyThe political party of imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan faces a potential ban by Pakistan’s government on charges of foreign funding and inciting riots, shortly after key acquittals for Mr. Khan.
India-Russia summit: Why the world’s largest democracy is keeping Putin closeIndia-Russia ties seem as strong as ever after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin spent two days together in Moscow. But for India, experts say, the trip was really about asserting independence.
Nepalis thought they were going to Russia to ‘help.’ They were made to fight – and die.Russia has sent thousands of foreign “helpers” to fight in Ukraine – including many Nepalis. Families of missing recruits are searching for answers.
First LookMailboxes on every street: Afghanistan’s plan to modernize postal servicesPhasing out the traditional “pay and pray” system, Afghanistan’s postal service plans to replace mosque-based drop points with mailboxes nationwide.
After tumultuous India election, Modi softens toward KashmirIndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi appears to be easing up on Kashmir – a shift that could restore a sense of political agency to millions in the beleaguered region, and buttress peace efforts.
