All Asia: South & Central
First LookYouth protests spur change in Nepal's coronavirus responseThe movement marked a victory in getting the government to switch to more reliable tests, cover costs for COVID-19 patients, and provide more personal protective equipment for front-line workers.
First Look'The most important step': India, China to de-escalate borderIndia and China have agreed to disengage thousands of troops along their disputed border in the Ladakh region. The de-escalation is a change of trajectory since a deadly border clash in June and an exchange of fire last week.
First LookWarning shots fired on both sides of India-China borderIndia and China accuse each other of firing shots along their disputed border in a violation of agreements. China says it is the first exchange of fire in 45 years, the latest strain on an uneasy truce between the nuclear-armed nations.
First LookIndians collect water and a paycheck in aquifer programIndians who were forced to return home, jobless, during the pandemic are finding work digging water capture pits. The pits are part of a program to restore aquifers in drought-stricken areas, and provide families with a source of income.
In India, an ancient grain is revived for the modern eraResistant to heat and drought, millets are making a comeback in India, along with a chance for marginalized farmers to take control of their lives.
First LookWhat India's new residency law means for KashmirisAbout 400,000 people have been given domicile certificates to Kashmir under India's new residency law. Kashmiris view the move as the beginning of settler colonialism that would alter the demographic mix in India's only Muslim-majority region.
Kashmir’s media survived blackout – but warn of shrinking freedomsKashmir’s journalists have faced increasingly difficult conditions since India revoked the state’s special status last summer.
First LookBaluchistan insurgency strikes Pakistan stock exchangeThe Baluchistan Liberation Army claimed responsibility for a Monday attack on Karachi's stock exchange. The group has been waging an insurgency for years, demanding independence for Pakistan's gas-rich southwestern Baluchistan province.
First LookPlane crash probe finds 30% Pakistani pilots hold 'fake' licenseIn response to a probe into a Pakistan International Airlines plane crash last month, Pakistan’s state-run airline announced it will ground 150 pilots on charges of obtaining "fake" pilot licenses.
Behind deadly clash with India, a pattern of Chinese assertivenessChinese and Indian soldiers fought Monday along the disputed border in the Galwan Valley. Beijing is increasingly pressing its territorial claims.
First LookTrading border accusations, can India and China make peace?After a deadly clash between Chinese and Indian troops that killed 20 Indian soldiers, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is meeting top opposition leaders to discuss diffusing tensions with China. Making peace will be no easy feat, say observers.
First LookWhy a Dhaka foundation is delivering fruit baskets in a pandemicThe Bidyanondo Foundation, previously known for its work with street children, is stepping in to support virus victims and their families. Volunteers hope to promote a "humanitarian approach" to caring for Bangladesh's ill.
First LookIndia, China clash on Himalayan border in deadly confrontationSoldiers have been facing off in the region for weeks, but the Indian soldiers' deaths mark the first fatal confrontation between the two Asian giants since 1975. China released no details on any casualties from their side.
First LookLandmark trade deal: Vietnam and EU forge new relationshipAs the European Union is attempting to diversify its supply chains, Vietnam has emerged as a manufacturing powerhouse. The nation has ratified a significant trade deal with the EU in the midst of the coronavirus lockdown.
First LookIn India's slums, neighbors unite against a pandemicIn Dharavi, Mumbai, home to a million people in one square mile, young community leaders have been stepping up to help those affected by the coronavirus.
First LookWhy New Delhi's Sikh kitchens cook 100,000 meals dailyThe Bangla Sahib Gurdwara has remained open through wars and plagues, serving thousands of people food. During India's ongoing coronavirus lockdown about four dozen men have kept the Sikh temple's kitchen open, cooking up to 100,000 meals a day.
First LookMillions in India, Bangladesh head for safety amid cyclone, virusA strong cyclone struck coastal India and Bangladesh on Wednesday sending millions of people to seek shelters, as evacuation measures become more challenging by the coronavirus.
First LookTrump praises malaria drug and India ups its productionPresident Donald Trump’s previous endorsement of hydroxychloroquine to fight the coronavirus catalyzed a tremendous shift in India to make much more of it and prescribe it for frontline health workers. But there is evidence against using the drug for COVID-19.
‘Bridge to health’? Why some question India’s contact tracing app.India is aiming to gradually reopen the economy, while limiting the spread of COVID-19. But its Aarogya Setu contact-tracing app has raised concerns.
What a lockdown means when home is hundreds of miles awayIndia’s COVID-19 lockdown has shone a spotlight on migrant workers, among the most vulnerable to both the public health and economic crises.
