World Asia: South & Central
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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.
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First Look One million people to become homeowners in India's Odisha slums
A government program aims to give land rights along with loans to build sturdier houses to about 1 million people living in slums across the eastern Indian state of Odisha. Living in temporary structures is incredibly dangerous given near yearly cyclones.
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First Look After decades of fear, political parties openly campaign in Pakistan
Politician Altaf Hussain's political party long dominated Karachi, Pakistan's financial center. Now, open campaigning for the upcoming general election demonstrates the transformation of the coastal metropolis since his 1992 exile and a 2013 paramilitary crackdown.
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Afghan women write their own stories to fight for gender equity
Free Women Writers, a nonprofit in Afghanistan, strives to foster a shift in thinking about women in a nation rife with gender-based violence. It has published poems, memoirs, and articles written by more than 140 women and creates scholarships for women with the proceeds.
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First Look Three rescued Thai boys and coach live in stateless limbo
Three of the Thai soccer players and their young coach who were rescued from a cave in northern Thailand are stateless, shedding new light on an issue that affects up to 3.5 million people in the country.
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First Look Bond between players and coach may have saved Thai boy's lives
Encouraging words of wisdom from soccer coach Ekapol Chanthawong and his experience in meditation as a Thai monk may have played a large role in keeping the 12 Thai boys alive inside the flooded cave until they were rescued this week.
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First Look Rohingya take documentation of ethnic cleansing into their own hands
A 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.
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First Look In remote Himalayan town, women take on plastic to preserve natural beauty
When 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.
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First Look Pakistan's newly elected parliament convenes for swearing in
Former 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.
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First Look In northeast India, 4 million must prove citizenship as nativist anger churns
For 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.
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First Look Cricket star Imran Khan wins historic Pakistani election
Despite criticism of the election process, Imran Khan has won Pakistan's third consecutive election and promises to sweep out corruption and rebuild international relationships. But without majority support he must form a coalition before he can pursue his agenda.
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First Look Laos dam collapse raises questions about construction standards
The collapse earlier this week, which killed at least 27 people and left 131 missing, was most likely caused by heavy rainfall or shoddy engineering. Laos has dozens of other hydroelectric projects under construction.
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As Pakistan votes, military tightens its leash on the media
The country's July 25 elections represent its second civilian transition of power in its seven decades of independence. But many military critics have warned of its attempts to influence the election, particularly through control of the media.
Photos of the Week 08/20 Photos of the week
Morgan Hurd competes on the balance beam at the US Gymnastics Championships on Aug. 19, in Boston.
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First Look After 18 days, entire Thai soccer team rescued from cave
International efforts to rescue the 12 young Thai boys and their coach ended in success on Tuesday after a treacherous multi-day rescue mission. Their community, Thailand, and the world expressed relief and happiness at the successful rescue.
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First Look Philippine city ushers in 'community-led rehabilitation' after siege
After pro-Islamic State rebels forced more than 300,000 people last year from Marawi, Philippines, the government has begun funding residents' efforts to reconstruct homes and rebuild a sense of community.
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First Look Indonesian elections hint at rise of political Islam in the secular country
As local and national elections kick off this week in the world's biggest Muslim-majority country, some Islamic leaders have emerged as the most vocal opponents of the current president. They belong to a loose grouping of Islamists behind protests that culminated in the election defeat and jailing for blasphemy in 2017 of a governor and ally of the president.
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First Look India takes direct control in Kashmir after alliance ends
Kashmir, a contested territory between Pakistan and India, has come under direct control of India's federal government after a political alliance ended. In response, thousands of Kashmiris, who want independence or Pakistani rule, took to the streets to protest.
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Poachers become protectors: How tigers bounced back in an Indian park
Who knows how to fight poaching better than former poachers themselves? A program in Periyar Tiger Reserve has reduced poaching by not only policing the park, but also by giving former poachers an alternate economic lifeline.
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First Look Slum dwellers in the Philippines build homes through community programs
Through state-backed programs partnered with charities and private firms, many Philippine families are leaving behind their fear of eviction in the Manila slums to build their own homes, finding a greater sense of peace and community.
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Hindu prayer service? There’s an app for that.
The combination of religion and hand-held technology isn't new, but its horizons may be widest in India. A new crop of start-ups has caught the attention of temples and techies alike.
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First Look After fleeing violence in Myanmar, Rohingya refugees struggle in India
Thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have settled in India face significant hurdles to secure jobs, homes, and documentation in a country that is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention nor does it have laws to protect their rights.
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First Look Myanmar's farmers shift from growing poppies to raising silkworms
Farmers in the hills of eastern Myanmar have grown poppies for generations, much of which ends up as heroin. A Chinese company is working with locals to help them raise silkworms to export to China in hopes that opium loses its foothold in the nation.
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First Look Indian journalists face consequences if critical of Modi's administration
Some journalists say they increasingly face threats with physical harm and abuse on social media when they run stories critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India ranked 138th out of 180 countries surveyed in the latest World Press Freedom Index.
