More than just bread
Afghan stories
Jewish stories
Vietnamese stories
Category Archives: Asia
These kids deserve a childhood
Gabrielle Brophy (source 
)
) 
I have just returned from Cambodia, a country of gentle and sincere people spread across a beautiful landscape. But behind the beauty, Cambodia is one of the poorest countries in Southeast Asia, with one third of the population living on less than $2 per day. Rag picking children colouring with peer educator Devi at the World Vision Cambodia night outreach program. Photo credit: Ben Knop … Continue reading
Posted in Asia, Australasia, Child labor, General, Global issues, Human rights, Humanity, Opinion, Poverty, Society, Young generation
Leave a comment
A Tentative Peace in Myanmar’s Kachin Conflict
Editorial (source )
) 
Yangon/Jakarta/Brussels: The deal that has now been struck between the Myanmar government and the Kachin armed group is a major step forward, but securing a sustainable peace will require much more work. In its latest briefing, A Tentative Peace in Myanmar’s Kachin Conflict, the International Crisis Group examines the preliminary peace agreement that the Myanmar government signed with the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO), the last … Continue reading
Posted in Agreement, Asia, Politics, Reconciliation
Leave a comment
Taliban militants attack Kabul airport, explosions and gunfire rock city
Correspondent Michael Edwards in Kabul, wires (source )
) 
Taliban militants have launched a grenade and gun attack on Kabul airport, taking over two nearby buildings as blasts and shooting rocked the Afghan capital. Photo: Afghan police arrive at the site of the attack (Reuters: Omar Sobhani ) Map: Afghanistan The attack came just after dawn in the airport area, which is also home to a large NATO-led military base. Loud explosions and bursts … Continue reading
Posted in Asia, Middle East, Security, Terrorism
Leave a comment
Soil around Fukushima to be frozen to stop groundwater leaking in
North Asia correspondent Mark Willacy, wires (source )
) 
The Japanese government has ordered the operator of the Fukushima nuclear plant to freeze the soil around its crippled reactor buildings to stop groundwater seeping in and becoming contaminated. Photo: The Japanese government issued the order to limit the contamination of groundwater. (AFP: Tomohiro Ohsumi, file image) Related Story: Fukushima operators fear radioactive water leak Related Story: Rats shut down Fukushima reactor… again Related Story: … Continue reading
Middlepowerism & Continuity in South Korean Foreign Policy
Jeffrey Robertson (source )
) 
The way Seoul defines its middle-power status could offer the best insight into its policy direction. On coming to power, every South Korean presidential administration seeks to differentiate itself from those that went before. There are no exceptions. Administrations with identical party roots will distinguish themselves by creating new administrative structures, rebranding policy and reinventing rhetoric. This gives academics plenty to write about when they … Continue reading
Posted in Asia, Leadership, Opinion, Politics
Leave a comment
Asylum seekers: deterrence policies won’t stop the boats
Sunili Govinnage (source )
) 
I’ve explained to asylum seekers why they shouldn’t get on boats – but without options, they make their choices regardless. Sailors from the Indonesian Navy stand guard as victims of a boat sinking headed to Christmas Island, Australia, are unloaded. Photograph: Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images comments The Australian has yesterday reported on a spike in boat numbers, and that the election “has supercharged the people-smuggling industry”. … Continue reading
Neon-pink ‘peace’ balloons bring smiles in war-weary Afghan capital
Editorial (source )
) 
Artists and activists handed out 10,000 bright pink balloons to residents in Afghanistan’s war-weary capital on May 25, bringing smiles to surprised Kabul residents a day after a major Taliban siege on an international compound in the city. Afghan volunteers and Yazmany Arboleda (R) the organizer for ‘We Believe In Balloons’ poos for a group picture during the prepration in Kabul on May 25. After … Continue reading
Posted in Arts & Culture, Asia, Humanity, Society
Leave a comment
‘Landmark’ Sino-Swiss pact signed
Ding Qingfen in Bern and Chen Jia in Beijing (source )
) 
China rejects trade and investment protectionism, premier says. China and Switzerland signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the conclusion of free trade talks on Friday during Premier Li Keqiang’s visit to Bern, the Swiss capital, in what business leaders called a landmark deal. Premier Li Keqiang joins members of the Jodelclub Saengerrunde Zurich yodeling band during his visit to a farm in the village of … Continue reading
Posted in Agreement, Asia, Diplomacy, Economy, Europe, Global issues, Politics
Leave a comment
Bob Brown Joins Battle To Save Sarawak
Jenny Denton (source )
) 
Former Greens leader Bob Brown has joined activists in Sarawak to protest the development of hydroelectric dams which will displace thousands of indigenous people, reports Jenny Denton Photo by Save Rivers (www.savesarawakrivers.com) Former Australian Greens leader Bob Brown says “a living culture is facing death” in Malaysian Borneo, where the planned construction of a string of hydroelectric dams would flood the lands of tens of … Continue reading
