All Asia: South & Central
First LookAasia Bibi free in Pakistan as hard-line Islamists protest blasphemyAfter spending 8 years on death row for allegedly insulting the Prophet Muhammed, Christian Aasia Bibi has left prison and is planning to seek asylum in Europe. Her case has sparked nationwide demonstrations by the extremist Tehreek-e-Labbaik Party.
India’s Modi stakes claim to future – and past – with world’s tallest statueTwice as tall as the Statue of Liberty, the Statue of Unity depicts an important freedom fighter. Hindu nationalists are making a bid to control his legacy, analysts say.
First LookIndia's ruling party caters to Hindu nationalists ahead of electionsCalls to ignore court orders, demolish mosques, and vote as a religious bloc suggest the political party of India's Prime Minister Modi is heading toward the extremes of Hindu nationalism.
First LookRohingya teen looks beyond refugee camp to college and a careerRahima Akter, born in a Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh, is one of only a few girls to complete a high school education. Now, she's preparing university applications and interviewing refugees who fled Myanmar last year, hoping to document their stories.
First LookIn Nepal, women learn how to build stronger homes after 2015 earthquakeIn April 2015, a 7.6-magnitude earthquake ripped through Nepal, leaving more than 785,000 families homeless. Rebuilding efforts are frustratingly slow, and so Nepali women have started to build their own homes – but this time, stronger.
First LookCan Asian leaders say no to Chinese-funded development as promised?New leaders in Malaysia, Pakistan, and the Maldives all campaigned on promises to reevaluate Chinese-funded development projects that increase the national debt and bolster China's influence. Now that they've been elected, will they follow through?
First LookPope and China to jointly decide on appointing Catholic bishopsSince the Communist takeover in 1949, the Catholic Church has had limited control in China with a split between underground and state-sponsored churches. This new compromise could signal a new direction for the faithful and a step toward restoring diplomatic ties between the Vatican and Beijing.
First LookIn high-stakes election in the Maldives, a win for democracyIn what many feared would be a rigged election and a slide back toward autocratic rule, opposition candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih declared victory over President Yameen Abdul Gayoom. Over the past few years, Mr. Yameen has grown increasingly powerful by jailing his opponents.
First LookInstant divorce of Muslim women outlawed by India's Modi governmentThe practice of talaq in Indian Muslim communities allows men to instantly divorce their wives. India's Hindu-led government is pursuing its punishment of this edict in efforts to, some experts say, broaden their electoral chances ahead of elections in April.
First LookA mountain water pipe brings peace to Pakistani villageWith a limited water supply, villagers in northern Pakistan struggled to grow crops, bathe, and drink clean water. But a new mountain pipe drastically increased water supply, yielding greener fields and a higher quality of life.
First LookWho will Aung San Suu Kyi stand with: the military or the Rohingya?As the Myanmar military continues to face international pressure for its role in the ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya minority last year, many are wondering what the country's democratically elected leader will do.
First LookIndia's highest court delivers victory for LGBT rightsThe country overturned an 1861 British colonial law that criminalized LGBT Indians. The court's decision is a first step toward the recognition of sexual orientation as a fundamental right in South Asia.
An Afghan woman, on top of the (tallest) mountainHanifa Yousoufi has entered the alpine record books as the first Afghan woman to summit Mt. Noshaq, which towers at 24,580 feet in her country's northeast. She hopes to inspire other women to push past barriers.
First LookRohingya who stayed behind still persecuted in MyanmarThe Myanmar government claims it is ready to repatriate its Rohingya refugees from camps in nearby Bangladesh. But Rohingya who did not flee Myanmar during the August 2017 exodus report continuing harassment from government forces and unlivable conditions.
First LookUnsung heroes: fishermen rescue thousands in Kerala floodsIn the worst floods in a century, fishermen in southern India were the ones who rescued their more affluent neighbors when official rescue response teams faced delays, resulting in tens of thousands of people saved by community volunteers.
As Imran Khan takes office, military looms over plan for 'New Pakistan'From campaign slogan to oath-of-office attire, Imran Khan has signaled he wants a new chapter for Pakistan. It’s a frequent promise of charismatic, break-the-mold politicians. But it often collides with the realities of government – in this case, a powerful army.
First LookRohingya take documentation of ethnic cleansing into their own handsA group of Rohingya refugees have painstakingly pieced together the only record of those killed in a brutal crackdown by Myanmar's military. The lists tell the stories of 10,000 people which the group hopes will serve as a historical record of atrocities that otherwise might be forgotten.
First LookIn remote Himalayan town, women take on plastic to preserve natural beautyWhen the town of Leh – located in the far north of India – became a popular tourist destination, plastic and pollution also came with the new attention. Steady environmental deterioration over the years inspired one women's alliance to take action.
First LookPakistan's newly elected parliament convenes for swearing inFormer cricket player Imran Khan is expected to be sworn in as prime minister. He has adopted a conciliatory foreign policy strategy and promised job growth.
First LookIn northeast India, 4 million must prove citizenship as nativist anger churnsFor decades, fears of migration from Bangladesh to Assam state have triggered tensions between its majority ethnic group, Hindus, and Muslims. Now, those left off of an official citizenship list are filing appeals to avoid possible detention, expulsion, or years in limbo.
