All Asia: South & Central
As waters recede, Bangladesh takes stock – and plans for more flood-prone futureThanks to geography, Bangladesh is one of the most flood-prone countries in the world, particularly vulnerable to climate change. But as the country's economy grows, so may its ability to cope, adapt, and plan ahead.
First LookRohingya refugee camps swell to dramatic proportionsThe UN and the US sent humanitarian aid to Rohingya refugees, but it's not nearly enough for the 420,000 Muslims fleeing violent attacks, the UN says.
First LookPakistan breaks down gender barriers, one bike at a timeA new bike-sharing program has started up on a sprawling university campus in Islamabad. The goal was to reduce commute time, but it also brought an unexpected result: greater freedom for female students.
Quotas bring wave of Nepalese women into office. What they need next.Quotas for female candidates, and low-caste Dalit women in particular, are catapulting underrepresented groups into Nepal's local governments. It's a strong start, advocates say, but more work is needed to help them deliver on the promise of change.
First LookAs the world watched Harvey and Irma, devastating floods washed over South AsiaThe heaviest floods to hit South Asia in a decade has brought attention to the need for better prevention and preparation for the region's annual monsoon season.
First LookBangladesh leader offers aid to Rohingya refugeesBangladesh to provide 2,000 acres for a new camp in Cox's Bazar district to help shelter newly arrived Rohingya. The government was also fingerprinting and registering new arrivals.
First LookUNHRC describes Rohingya crises as 'textbook example of ethnic cleansing'As Rohingya refugees cross the boarder to Bangladesh, life-saving assistance, including food, water, sanitation, health and, protection are in urgent need.
First LookBangladesh hurriedly prepares to take in more Rohingya refugeesAid groups in Bangladesh expand refugee camps and ask for more aid as Rohingya refugees continue to enter the country, fleeing persecution in Myanmar. Myanmar's leader, Aung San Suu Kyi continues to label the crisis a 'misinformation campaign.'
First LookThe killing of an Indian journalist spurs protests for free speechAngry and disappointed, activists protest for the protection of free speech after Gauri Lankesh, a journalist, was gunned down outside her home in the southern city of Bangalore.
First LookPoor state planning blamed for 1,400 killed in South Asia floodsAt least 40 million people have been affected by two months of severe flooding in India, Nepal and Bangladesh, officials say.
First LookIn Myanmar, Buddhists take hard stance against Muslim Rohingya minorityBuddhist nationalists gathered to condemn recent attacks by Rohingya insurgents, even as a mass exodus of the country's Muslim minority crosses into nearby Bangladesh.
First LookClashes between Rohingya rebels and Myanmar army escalatePre-dawn attacks staged by Rohingya militants on border and police outposts led to 71 deaths.
First LookThailand authorities searching for ex-PM after Shinawatra failed to appear for verdict in criminal caseYingluck, who became Thailand's first female prime minister when her party swept elections in 2011, is accused of negligence in overseeing a money-losing rice subsidy program. She pleaded innocent and decried the charges as politically motivated.
First LookNatural assets critical to health of Indian cities, author saysHarini Nagendra, a professor at India's Azim Premji University, says that lakes, trees, and other natural resources are vital to maintaining health and nourishment in India's poorest cities.
First LookSouthern India police launch hotline to respond to 'honor killings'In efforts to curtail the practice of 'honor killings,' a new hotline has been set up to support married couples from different religious backgrounds.
FocusIn post-quake rebuilding, Kathmandu's carvers reclaim a fading heritageRestoration efforts after Nepal's 2015 earthquake have breathed new life into traditional art. But they have also unearthed strains between the past and present: between temples' roles as relics, and as living spaces; and between history, and the men restoring it.
Economy races ahead, but land-rights turmoil leaves many Cambodians behindCambodia’s continued economic growth has seen demand for land grow along with its price. Hundreds of thousands, however, have been affected by state-involved land conflicts – fueled, rights activists say, by disregard for citizens’ land rights.
Women take southern India's drought into their own hands – one shovel at a timeThree years of drought have driven many farmers to desperation. But thousands of women in Karnataka state are desilting lakes to deepen them, helping them retain water when the rains one day come again.
First LookFive weeks after ISIS captured town, residents forced to serve, marry, and fight for militantsIn a report Tuesday, the Army cited seven accounts of escaped or rescued hostages detailing the conditions of Marawi, Philippines, where civilians are being forced to convert to Islam.
First LookMyanmar protest for journalistic freedom underwayFired-up journalists displaying 'Freedom of the Press' armbands rally in the rain in opposition of a telecommunications law, possibly foreshadowing a larger public awareness movement.
