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Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha survives a no-confidence vote Saturday in parliament over his handling of the coronavirus, prompting members of the pro-democracy movement to vow to raise the stakes by using protests to voice their discontent. Camera: Black Squirrel Productions
The Chinese government is drawing parallels between Afghanistan and Taiwan, suggesting the U.S. is a weak and unreliable partner. Analysts say the accusation is part of China’s political warfare – as VOA’s Elizabeth Lee reports.
The last surviving leader of the Khmer Rouge, Khieu Samphan, launched his final defense in appealing his conviction for genocide this week as the long-running United Nations-backed tribunal held its last public hearings before winding down. Luke Hunt has more.
Thailand’s young protesters have been joined by the "Red Shirt" veterans of the kingdom’s pro-democracy battle. That brought tens of thousands out over the weekend calling on Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha to resign. But as violent clashes with police become a nightly ritual, experts say Prayuth is unlikely to bend to the protesters’ demands anytime soon. Vijitra Duangdee reports from Bangkok.
In May 2021, China allowed its families to have up to three children, just five years after it had increased the limit to two. However, the changes are not likely be felt anytime soon because of the far-reaching impacts of China’s one-child policy, which lasted more than 35 years. Here is a look back at the controversial one-child policy and how its many ramifications are affecting the current state of families in China.
A weekend of major protests across Bangkok in defiance of an emergency order to control the pandemic, brought out thousands of anti-government protesters, including some of the city’s rich, a new threat to the royalist establishment and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha's grip on power. For VOA, Vijitra Duangdee reports from Bangkok.
While Ukraine’s president prepares for a visit to Washington, Kyiv is accepting COVID-19 vaccines from China and has signed a major infrastructure agreement with Beijing to cooperate on roads, bridges and railway projects. Some experts worry China is attaching strings to the ventures, as VOA's Senior Diplomatic Correspondent Cindy Saine reports.
It’s not unusual for the Olympic Games to attract controversy. Then again, not every Olympics is hosted by a country being accused of genocide. That’s what is creating waves upon the approach of the 2022 Winter Olympics, as VOA’s Bill Gallo reports.Jesusemen Oni contributed to this report.
Many isolated tribes have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. One such tribe in Indonesia, the Baduy Tribe has been devastated economically. To survive, some members of the community have embraced a local taboo, as VOA’s Rendy Wicaksana reports.Camera: Rendy Wicaksana
The pandemic’s economic impact has led to bankrupt businesses and unemployment around the world. In Malaysia an increasing number of people are looking for cash quickly to keep their families and businesses afloat. But as Dave Grunebaum reports, many soon find themselves in over their heads dealing with debt and threats.Camera: Dave Grunebaum
In the south Asian region that has been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the tiny mountain kingdom of Bhutan stands out as a rare success story. It has reported two deaths and about 2,500 cases and vaccinated 90% of its adult population. As Anjana Pasricha reports, even though Bhutan has a small population, health experts say the country has emerged ahead of many nations despite its limited resources.
29 elite athletes from 11 countries comprise the International Olympic Committee’s Refugee Olympic Team. The group will compete in the Summer Games in Tokyo that open later this month. As VOA’s Laurel Bowman reports, it is only the second time in history that a team of refugee athletes will compete in the Games. Producer: Adam Greenbaum and Laurel Bowman
As the Delta variant spreads in record numbers in Indonesia, hospitals are overwhelmed. The situation is forcing many residents to care for sick families themselves. VOA’s Ahadian Utama reports.Producer: Eva MazrievaAhadian Utama contributed to this report.
The Maldives – a tiny nation of about twelve hundred islands set in crystalline waters – depends on income from tourism. The pandemic cut that revenue in half. But with COVID on the run, the government’s wooing tourists, especially from China. VOA’s Janine Phakdeetham reports. Video editor: Warangkana Chomchuen
The Biden administration is sending 3 million doses of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine to Indonesia as the archipelago deals with a surge in COVID-19 cases. The Indonesian government said it would use the doses as booster shots for health workers who have already been fully vaccinated with the Chinese Sinovac vaccine. White House Correspondent Patsy Widakuswara has this report.
Long before China began using N95 masks and COVID-19 vaccines as part of its diplomatic efforts, it used pandas. The furry bears have been used by China to generate goodwill with other countries for more than 1,000 years.
North Korea’s coronavirus lockdown has taken a major toll on its economy. Its leader, Kim Jong Un, has hinted at a humanitarian crisis. Some fear the situation could get much worse, as VOA’s Bill Gallo reports from Seoul.
Amid rising caseloads of coronavirus infections as it emerges from a strict COVID lockdown, Cambodia is pinning its hopes on a vaccination rollout that will help the nation reach herd immunity, even as the nation confronts unique challenges that could hamper that effort. Luke Hunt reports from the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh.Camera: David Potter, Luke Hunt, Sarum Sreynat-Hardman Producer: David Potter
Indonesia is struggling with another peak of COVID-19. Infections topped two million in June, with the Delta variant driving the current surge. And as the county’s pediatricians point out, 1 out of 8 of confirmed cases are found in children and the fatality rate among children is the highest in the world. VOA’s Rendy Wicaksana reports.
July 1 marks the 24th anniversary of the moment when Hong Kong reverted from a British colony back to Chinese rule. While changes to the financial hub were gradual at first, China has been quickly reshaping Hong Kong in the past year. VOA’s Elizabeth Lee has more.Camera: Songlin Zhang, Suli Yi Produced by: Elizabeth Lee
Hong Kong’s Apple Daily has printed its last edition as national security law charges leveled against its founder and executives force the paper out of business. VOA’s Jessica Jerreat has details. Camera: VOA Mandarin Producer: Miguel Amaya
The Delta COVID-19 variant first identified in India has spread quickly around the world and is now hitting Indonesia. Southeast Asia’s largest country now looks at another peak as it hits the 2 million mark in confirmed cases. VOA’s Ghita Permatasari reports. Ahadian Utama contributed to this report.Camera: Ahadian Utama
A deadly second wave of the novel coronavirus has hit India’s remote areas, many of which had not been affected by the first wave last year. Anjana Pasricha looks at the impact of the pandemic in the mountain villages in the northern state of Himachal Pradesh.Camera: Rakesh Kumar
South Asian countries are turning to China for COVID-19 vaccines as India suspends vaccine exports. Analysts say that will help Beijing increase its clout in a region where it has long jockeyed for influence. From Mumbai, Anjana Pasricha has a report
Myanmar's military on Monday arrested American journalist Danny Fenster. VOA's Esha Sarai speaks with his brother about Fenster's work and the family's campaign to bring him home. Produced by: Esha Sarai
U.S. journalist Danny Fenster was imprisoned in Yangon on Monday. His family has been given no information as to why the editor of Frontier Myanmar was detained. Fenster is one of dozens of journalists arrested since Myanmar’s military seized power in February.Producer: Esha Sarai. Contributor: Jessica Jerreat.
COVID-19, climate change and cooperation in high-tech industries were the focus of a summit between U.S. President Joe Biden and South Korean President Moon Jae-in at the White House Friday. While the leaders also discussed North Korea, prospects for a breakthrough on denuclearization appear dim. White House Correspondent Patsy Widakuswara has this report.
China has created its very own digital currency, which is controlled by its central bank. Here's what you need to know about the digital yuan.
Since the military coup in February, thousands of people in Myanmar’s ethnic states have been displaced by renewed conflict between the national army and ethnic armed organizations. With reports of daily shelling and regular airstrikes, many are fleeing to the border with Thailand where a youth group is trying to help. Tommy Walker reports from Mae Sot, Thailand. Camera: Tommy Walker Video editor: Marcus Harton
Joon Baek, a Korean student at Columbia University in New York City, was riding the subway last year when a woman sitting across from him began to shout. In America’s largest city of nearly 8 million people, it is not unusual to hear someone ranting. “I was commuting from campus back to Korea Town where I live, and I tried not to say anything, to just look down, was just minding my own business,” Baek described. “But it got worse and worse, and it wasn’t just any kind of verbal assault. I realized it was actually directed at me.” Joon Baek, a Korean student at Columbia University in New York City. (Courtesy of Joon Baek)Baek said he was uncomfortable, given that anti-Asian hate crimes that have spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to police data. He decided to get off at the next stop. Most of the international students in the U.S. are students of color, according to statistics from the Institute for International Education. Jessica, a Chinese national from South Africa graduating from the Parsons School of Design in New York, said news reports of anti-Asian incidents make her more cautious. “I used to feel really safe in New York, but that hasn’t been the case since 2020. … For the first time, I feel targeted when I’m walking down the street,” she said. “It’s really sad because I have to avoid going out in the dark. I have to avoid certain streets which are dark. I have to always be very cautious and very aware of my Asian identity.” All the students VOA talked with said they generally feel comfortable on campus and among America’s diverse urban populations. They say the experience of living in a multicultural society has opened their eyes. Baek, who studies cyber privacy and data security, said he came to the U.S. in 2015 from South Korea for the excellence in education. “America offers the best universities, the most renowned ones, and I felt like going to America, studying there, would open up new opportunities that I wouldn’t have if I had studied back in Korea.” Andy Mao, a biology graduate from New York University, was taking photos with three non-Asian classmates in front of the school, laughing and enjoying their graduation celebration. “It’s been an amazing journey, especially when I look back and I got to see so many different cultures coming together. And most importantly, meet friends from different countries, cultures and ...
Thailand thought it had escaped the worst of the public health crisis posed by the novel coronavirus through border closure, which has instead crippled its economy. A new wave of the coronavirus infections has killed 400 people since April 1, though, the deadliest wave so far. As pressure mounts to speed a sluggish vaccine rollout, Bangkok’s main airport has become an unlikely location for shots. Vijitra Duangdee reports for VOA from Bangkok.Camera: Black Squirrel Productions.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken released the State Department's annual international religious freedom report, singling out Iran, Myanmar, Russia, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and China as some of the world's worst violators of what Blinken termed a core human right. VOA's Senior Diplomatic Correspondent Cindy Saine has the story.
A community of Asian Americans and their allies in Los Angeles are offering free self-defense classes. Volunteer trainers hope to equip people with skills that could save them from the rising violence against Asians in the U.S. Supakit Pattaratearanon reports.Camera: Supakit Pattaratearanon
Thailand’s southernmost provinces bordering Malaysia have been the center of an insurgency since 2004. Over 7,000 people have been killed — mostly civilians — caught up in the fighting between shadowy Malay-Muslim rebels and Thai security forces. But a new generation is determined to reclaim a space from violence. Vijitra Duangdee reports for VOA from Pattani. Camera: Black Squirrel Productions
Through his first 100 days in office, U.S. President Joe Biden has preserved many key aspects of his predecessor Donald Trump’s tougher approach toward China. Some U.S. allies in Asia, though, are still deciding whether to join Washington’s effort to counter Beijing, as VOA’s Bill Gallo reports from Seoul.
The Mekong is one of the world’s great rivers - a 5,000-kilometer waterway which threads from China through Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.However, dams have subverted the ecosystem, bringing drought in monsoon season and high water when it should be dry. That has forever changed the lives of those dependent on the river's water for food and work in northeastern Thailand. Panning for flecks of gold on the bank of the Mekong River in northeastern Thailand, Rodjana Thepwong says the waterway has been her playground, food supply and source of income throughout her 64 years. But it is changing at a speed she can barely believe. She says that when she was younger, the water would be so low in the dry season that she could walk over to the Lao side, a few hundred meters away. Now the water rises in the dry season so she stays on the Thai side of the river and pans for tiny amounts of gold. Upstream dams - many built by China - have upended the natural cycles of the river, a waterway that subsists 60 million people as it snakes through Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam. The riverbank used to provide farmland to the poorest Mekong villagers. Now water levels rise and fall without warning when the dams are closed to generate electricity, and the land yields little. Campaigners say fish species have been decimated as the river downstream now lacks vital sediment, sending a shock through the entire ecosystem. Locals fear a new $2 billion China-backed hydroelectric dam planned for Sanakham on the Mekong in Laos - less than 2 kilometers away - will be the end of the living river in northern Thailand -- that it will lack nutrients and the sediment that provides nutrients for fish. The dam is currently undergoing a consultation process, but that is widely seen as a formality. From a rare conservation area on the Thai bank, a few kilometers downstream from the proposed dam, local researcher Apisit Soontrawirat maps the destruction of the river. He says the Chinese and Lao dams have ruined the ecosystem and dozens of species of fish have vanished due to lack of sediment.FILE - Fishermen cast their nets on the Mekong River near Luang Prabang, Laos, close to the site of a future dam, Feb. 8, 2020.Dam operators say they have taken all precautions to mitigate environmental damage, including creating a “fish ...
Strategic competition with China was one of the main issues discussed in U.S. President Joe Biden's Friday meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, the first foreign leader to visit the White House since Biden took office. White House Correspondent Patsy Widakuswara has this report. Producer: Kim Weeks
When Japan’s prime minister visits the White House Friday, China is likely to be high on the agenda. U.S. officials hope the visit demonstrates a greater willingness for the alliance to counter Beijing. For Tokyo, though, it’s a careful balancing act, as VOA’s Bill Gallo reports from Seoul, South Korea.Produced by: Henry Hernandez
The plan to pull troops from Afghanistan could give terrorist groups like al-Qaida and Islamic State a chance to regenerate the capabilities they would need to carry out an attack against the United States, according to top U.S. intelligence officials.Their warning, coming the same day U.S. President Joe Biden formally announced his decision to end America’s longest-running war, touches on the deep-rooted concerns many current and former U.S. officials have voiced about pulling 2,500 to 3,500 troops from Afghanistan, along with thousands of trainers and contractors.It also may serve to fuel further criticism of the withdrawal, with critics seizing on fears that the conditions that allowed Afghanistan to become a haven for terrorists could soon return, despite nearly two decades of fighting."There is a significant risk once the U.S. military and the coalition militaries withdraw," Bill Burns, recently confirmed director of the CIA, told lawmakers Wednesday.“The U.S. government’s ability to collect and act on threats will diminish. That's simply a fact," he said, cautioning that al-Qaida and IS in Afghanistan “remain intent on recovering the ability to attack U.S. targets, whether it's in the region, in the West or ultimately in the homeland.”But the stark warning was accompanied by a plea for lawmakers to be “clear-eyed.”No matter how much al-Qaida and IS may want to strike the U.S., Burns said, "the reality is that neither of them have that capacity today."Other top intelligence officials also made the case that the terror threat that caused the U.S. to go to war in Afghanistan in the first place is no longer the preeminent danger it was.“There are terrorist groups, whether it's al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), in other parts of the world, who represent much more serious threats,” Burns said. #Afghanistan: "I was at the table for a number of discussions leading up to the decision" per @ODNIgov Dir Haines "I'm not sure that the decision was made in a specific meeting" — Jeff Seldin (@jseldin) April 14, 2021Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told lawmakers the danger posed by Afghanistan has also been eclipsed by threats from countries such as China — which she called an “unparalleled priority” — as well as Russia, Iran and North Korea."We have now over 2,000 investigations that tie back to the Chinese gvt" per @FBI's Wray "On the economic espionage investigation side alone, it's about a 1300% increase over the last several years." "We're opening a new ...
The Free Burma Rangers — a multi-ethnic humanitarian group that has aided oppressed ethnic groups, mainly in Myanmar — and reported on the conflicts for more than 25 years has increased aid in the border regions of Karen state, site of the recent air strikes by the Myanmar army. The group has worked in other countries including Sudan, Syria, Iraq and Kurdistan. From Thailand, Steve Sandford has more. Camera: Steve Sandford
The Myanmar army is attacking journalists and increasing censorship in its deadly crackdown against opponents of the February coup. Five major media groups have been banned and the internet has been shut down, but Burmese journalists are not giving up. For VOA, Steve Sanford reports from Mae Sot, Thailand.Video editor: Henry Hernandez
Inspired by a growing trend in the U.S., some villagers in Indonesia have set up free libraries to foster the love of reading and learning among local children. As VOA's Vina Mubtadi reports, there were some unique challenges to overcome in Indonesia to make the project work.Camera: Vina Mubtadi
Hundreds of civilians in Myanmar — including activists, members of former de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy and villagers in the ethnic areas being bombed by the army — have gone into hiding. Some are seeking refuge in Kayin state, opposite Thailand. It is a region controlled by the Karen National Union, an ethnic armed organization that is no stranger to conflict, having been fighting for greater autonomy in Myanmar for more than seven decades. Steve Sandford reports from Mae Sot, Thailand.Camera: Steve Sandford Producer: Jon Spier
A recent case involving a Christian student being forced to wear a hijab in a public school in Indonesia is drawing criticism from rights activists. Rendy Wicaksana reports from Jakarta.Camera: Nabila Ganinda
Retired Admiral James Stavridis spent 37 years in the military serving in NATO and as head of the U.S. Southern Command. He has spent his career dealing with the world’s great naval powers. VOA’s Jela de Franceschi spoke with him about the current state of affairs between Beijing and Washington.
As Thailand’s youth-led pro-democracy protesters are battered by rounds of legal charges, a teenager faces up to 15 years in jail under the country’s hardline royal defamation law. His crime is wearing a crop top, allegedly mocking Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn. Vijitra Duangdee in Bangkok reports.Camera: Black Squirrel Productions Produced by: Mary Cieslak
The Biden administration says it is concerned about illegal fishing by Chinese vessels. China leads the illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing industry, with a fleet of thousands around the world. White House Correspondent Patsy Widakuswara has this story.
The U.S. Treasury Department issued new sanctions Thursday imposing penalties on two companies with ties to Myanmar’s military. As VOA’s Congressional correspondent Katherine Gypson reports, U.S. lawmakers are calling for more sanctions against oil and gas companies to help prevent a civil war in Myanmar. Produced by: Katherine Gypson
Escaping the Cambodian genocide to a refugee camp in Thailand, 17-year-old Linath Lim wanted to become a medical doctor after meeting an American dentist. Her journey, in the medical field began in 1982, but ended as COVID-19 hit its peak in America. VOA’s Chetra Chap reports.
Thousands of Rohingya refugees live in temporary camps in India’s northwestern Jammu and Kashmir region, where they fear deportation back to Myanmar. VOA Urdu Service’s Zubair Dar visited a camp of people in Bathindi Narval who said they fled abuses and do not want to go back. Roshan Noorzai narrates the story.
Britain is preparing for tens of thousands of Hong Kong citizens to apply for special visas to settle in the UK — after the government launched a new scheme offering fast-track citizenship to residents of the former British colony. Britain’s move, in response to China’s crackdown on basic freedoms, has been denounced by Beijing. VOA’s Henry Ridgwell spoke to one pro-democracy activist in London who was forced to flee Hong Kong — and is now applying to settle in Britain.Camera: Henry Ridgwell, William Gallo, Brian Padden
The United States and South Korea are conducting annual springtime military exercises. The drills are smaller than usual due to the coronavirus pandemic, but North Korea may still respond angrily, as VOA’s Bill Gallo reports from Seoul.
A small village in Indonesia is sending less and less of their household waste to landfills. VOA’s Rendy Wicaksana reports on how they’re making environmental waves.Camera: Rendy Wicaksana
U.S. President Joe Biden and the leaders of Japan, India and Australia will meet virtually later this week for the first summit of the “Quadrilateral Security Dialogue.” The group of countries, also known as “the Quad,” will likely discuss China’s vaccine diplomacy and other regional issues. White House Correspondent Patsy Widakuswara has this story.
The idea of universal basic income, where every citizen receives a regular amount of money from the government, has long been considered a fringe or radical idea in South Korea. The coronavirus pandemic may be changing that, as VOA’s Bill Gallo reports from Seoul.Contributer: Kim Hyungjin, Producer: Marcus Harton
The National Bank of Cambodia is aiming to reduce the country’s dependency on the U.S. dollar with the introduction of digital currencies and the phasing out of small-denomination U.S. dollar bills — $1, $2 and $5 notes — in favor of Cambodia’s local currency, the riel.Camera: David Potter, Luke Hunt Producer: Luke Hunt
Nearly 50 countries have either received or ordered at least one of the three Chinese-developed COVID-19 vaccines, according to an Associated Press survey. More with VOA’s Mariama Diallo on the vaccine rollouts.
Last month’s arrest of one of Asia’s most wanted men - Tse Chi Lop - may have dented Southeast Asia’s multibillion dollar drug trade. But with major money to be made, the cartel’s main product—methamphetamine -- keeps flowing and Thailand is on the front line to stem that flow. For VOA, Vijitra Duangdee reports from Bangkok.Videographer: Black Squirrel Productions
“Minari,” a film by Korean American filmmaker Lee Isaac Chung, tells the story of a young Korean immigrant family chasing the American dream. Like the Korean herb minari, known for its adaptability to a variety of climates and conditions, the young Korean family is determined to put down roots in the American rural South. VOA’s Penelope Poulou has more.
Artillery and tanks have rolled back, and Chinese and Indian soldiers have retreated from along the banks of Pangong Tso, a strategic Himalayan lake that straddles their border. It is the biggest push to ease tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors since Indian accusations of Chinese transgressions into its territory and a deadly clash in June led to a huge nine-month military build-up along their Himalayan border. Announcing the “smooth” completion of the disengagement process, a joint news release by both sides called it a “significant step forward.” This handout photograph released by the Indian Army on Feb. 16, 2021 shows People Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers and tanks during military disengagement along the Line of Actual Control at the border in Ladakh. (Indian Defense Ministry/AFP)But analysts caution that the troop withdrawal from Pangong Lake represents only a start of a potentially long process as soldiers from both sides remain massed along several other stretches of the Himalayan border. “It’s a first step, a tentative step,” according to Jayadeva Ranade at Center for China Analysis and Strategy in New Delhi. “It is aimed at defusing the tension which exists particularly at this point around Pangong.” Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh told parliament earlier this month that other disputes remain to be resolved along the border known as the line of actual control, or LAC.“There are still some outstanding issues with regard to deployment and patrolling at some other points along the LAC,” the minister said. “We will focus on these in future discussions.” The most contentious dispute centers on a large strategic plateau of over 900 kilometers known as the Depsang Plains where the two Asian giants have also deployed a significant number of troops, according to analysts. Following the disengagement at Pangong, negotiations on pulling back from three other so-called “friction points” where troops are still in close proximity have begun between military commanders. In the joint statement, the two countries said they will “push for a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues in a steady and orderly manner, so as to jointly maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas." Analysts warn however that the negotiations will not be easy as the months-long standoff has significantly damaged ties, particularly in the wake of the brutal clash last June in which 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers were killed. While India said the standoff was triggered by Chinese intrusions into its territory, Beijing ...
With mass protests taking place in Myanmar against a coup, migrant workers in neighboring Thailand are also voicing their outrage about the military takeover back home. Details from Vijitra Duangdee in Bangkok.Camera: Black Squirrel Productions.
What would prompt a person to run 880 kilometers for a person he met on Facebook? Maxim Moskalkov met two people who can explain. Camera: Sergey Sokolov
China is promising to provide its Sinovac vaccine to Central and Eastern European countries scrambling to obtain COVID-19 vaccinations for their populations. Beijing’s pledge came at a summit earlier this month with 17 Central and Eastern European nations in what experts see is part of a global effort by Beijing to expand influence and diversify China’s trading partners. VOA’s Ardita Dunellari reports.
People across Myanmar continued protesting a military coup and called for the release of the country’s de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. This, despite an increased show of force by military and police. VOA’s Arash Arabasadi reports. Produced by: Arash Arabasadi
Myanmar’s police cracked down on people protesting the country’s military coup in the capital of Naypyitaw Tuesday by firing warning shots, rubber bullets and water cannon. At least two demonstrators are reported seriously injured, with what are believed to be gunshot wounds, VOA’s senior diplomatic correspondent Cindy Saine reports.Produced by: Jesse Oni
A United Nations report says North Korea has used cyberattacks to steal hundreds of millions of dollars to fund its nuclear program and ballistic missile capabilities. Henry Ridgwell has more. Camera: Henry Ridgwell
A confidential United Nations report says North Korea has used cyberattacks to steal hundreds of millions of dollars to fund its nuclear program and ballistic missile capabilities, in violation of international law. The report, which was leaked to the media Tuesday, says North Korea managed to bolster both its nuclear and missile programs in 2020 despite being subject to numerous international sanctions. One unnamed U.N. member state quoted in the report said North Korea financed the military expansion with over $300 million stolen through cyber hacks and online fraud. The report highlights new ballistic missiles that have been on display in recent military parades, which the report says could be large enough to carry nuclear warheads and could potentially put the entire United States within range. FILE - This picture taken on Jan. 14, 2021, and released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) shows what appears to be submarine-launched ballistic missiles during a military parade.Pyongyang boasted in January of developing what it claimed to be “the world’s most powerful weapon” — a submarine-launched ballistic missile. The weapon has yet to be tested, and its capabilities remain unknown. The display of military strength is partly a response to the change of administration in Washington, said Sojin Lim, a Korea analyst at Britain’s University of Central Lancashire. “The nuclear program is the only survival strategy for North Korea, especially for Kim’s family (and) the regime’s survival,” Lim told VOA. “Recently, because of the COVID-19 situation, their economic situation has become even worse. And especially with the new administration in the (United) States, the new President (Joe) Biden, North Korea has no other way to discuss or negotiate with America.” The report was written by independent monitors for the U.N. Security Council’s North Korea sanctions committee and leaked to the media Tuesday. North Korea is subject to a range of multilateral and unilateral sanctions from the United Nations, the United States and the European Union, among others. The measures have not worked, argued Lim. FILE - A man sits in front of a TV screen showing North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Jan. 15, 2021, the day after North Korea's parade celebrating a ruling party congress.“Sanctions give more hardship for civilians, but its own aims or purpose, which is the change in policy of the country, has not been working in that way,” she said. “And North Korea ...
Myanmar police cracked down on people protesting Myanmar's military coup in the capital of Naypyitaw Tuesday by firing warning shots, rubber bullets and water cannons, seriously injuring at least two protesters with what are believed to be gunshot wounds. Demonstrators gathered in the streets of Myanmar’s capital for a fourth consecutive day, defying a set of restrictions imposed by the military junta aimed at stopping the massive protests against the overthrow of the elected civilian government. An unnamed physician who treated protesters at a Naypyitaw hospital told VOA’s Burmese Service that at least two demonstrators sustained what he believes were live gunshot wounds, one to the head, the other to the chest. Twenty-year-old Myat Thwe Khine was placed on a ventilator as she slipped into a coma after receiving a gunshot wound to the head, according to the physician, who said X-rays show the bullet is still lodged in her head. The doctor said 23-year-old Soe Wai sustained a gunshot wound to the chest. The doctor could not say how may protesters were injured by bullets or water cannons, but he said most of the 20 people treated at the hospital were not injured by rubber bullets. Tuesday’s protests in Naypyitaw occurred just hours after the military announced an 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew would be imposed in the cities of Yangon and Mandalay. The regime has also banned gatherings of more than four people across the country. Demonstrations were also staged in Yangon and Mandalay. News agencies say the protesters were blasted with water cannon in all three cities. Tens of thousands of people have come out in force across Myanmar since the demonstrations began, holding signs reading “Save Myanmar,” “We want democracy,” as well as photographs of Aung San Suu Kyi, the de facto leader of the deposed government.Protesters also raised a three-finger salute as they marched, a sign of resistance against tyranny in the popular “Hunger Games” movies. The demonstrations entered a new phase Monday as civil servants, railway employees, teachers and workers in other sectors began a nationwide strike. But Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the general who led the coup, made no mention of the unrest in his address to the nation late Monday, his first since taking power exactly one week earlier. The general reiterated claims that last November’s elections, overwhelmingly won by Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party, were fraudulent. But he promised to hold ...
Tens of thousands of people in Myanmar continue to protest a military coup and to demand the release of the country’s democratically elected leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. Amid escalating confrontations, police have warned they may resort to live ammunition rounds, as VOA’s Arash Arabasadi reports. Produced by: Arash Arabasadi
Tens of thousands of people in Myanmar took to the streets over the weekend to protest a military coup and call for the release of the country’s democratically elected leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. VOA’s Arash Arabasadi reports.Contributor: VOA Burmese Service Producer: Arash Arabasadi
Tens of thousands of people in Myanmar took to the streets over the weekend to protest a military coup and call for the release of the country’s democratically elected leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. VOA’s Arash Arabasadi reports.Contributer: VOA Burmese Service Producer: Arash Arabasadi
As part of its power grab this week, Myanmar's military cut access to the internet. It’s a tactic seen globally at times of tension and unrest. VOA’s Esha Sarai has more. Produced by: Esha Sarai
Volunteering in your community is not a new idea. But for one Indonesian scuba diver his volunteer work is dangerous and sometimes terrifying. VOA’s Rendy Wicaksana reports.
The United States is calling Myanmar's military arrest of civilian leaders a coup, which triggers a review of U.S. assistance to the country formerly known as Burma. VOA's diplomatic correspondent Cindy Saine has more from Washington.
Myanmar’s military seized power Monday, declaring a yearlong state of emergency and detaining leader Aung San Suu Kyi among others, drawing immediate condemnation from Western leaders. VOA U.N. correspondent Margaret Besheer reports. Produced by: Jesse Oni
Myanmar’s military took control of the country Monday just hours after detaining civilian leaders including Aung San Suu Kyi. The military cited a lack of action on its voter fraud claims in recent elections. VOA’s Arash Arabasadi reports.
Heavily dependent on tourism and exports, Thailand was one of Asia's worst-hit economies by the coronavirus in 2020. Now as a second wave strikes, an unpopular government is desperately trying to avoid the economic damage of a full lockdown. Nevertheless, bars, massage parlors and restaurants are struggling even as the public health crisis worsens. From Bangkok, Vijitra Duangdee explains.
In a year of declining press freedom amid the global pandemic, China took the lead in media repression. The world’s leading jailer of journalists censored and arrested those covering COVID-19, delayed visas and imposed restrictions on Chinese nationals working for foreign press outlets and introduced a national security law in Hong Kong that authorities used to detain high-profile journalists and pro-democracy activists. Producer: Bronwyn Benito
Thailand contended with a multi-pronged crisis in 2020 - the COVID pandemic, an economy flatlined by it, and a youth-led pro-democracy movement demanding widespread reform to Thai society and its once untouchable monarchy. Vijitra Duangdee reports for VOA from Bangkok. Camera: Black Squirrel Productions
From a new bilateral economic dialogue to high-level visits by American officials and arms sales, the ties between the U.S. and Taiwan under the Trump administration have been ascendant. This is in sharp contrast to Washington's relationship with Beijing which has deteriorated to its worst point in decades. State Department correspondent Nike Ching reports.
For more than a year, the Cambodian government has been rounding up supporters of the banned Cambodian National Rescue Party and charging them with treason. Amid tight security and chaotic scenes, 129 of them appeared Thursday before the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, although their trials have now been put off until early next year. With David Potter contributing, Luke Hunt reports from Phnom Penh.Producer: Luke Hunt. Camera: David Potter, Luke Hunt.
The economic impact from COVID-19 has led to the shutdown of companies around the globe. But as Dave Grunebaum reports, one small business in Malaysia found a way to go from bust to boom.
Up until recently, the Indonesian tourist destination of Bali has seen empty beaches and hotel rooms. But that’s changing in a most unusual way. Rendy Wicaksana reports. Camera: Rendy Wicaksana
In South Korea, one of the main ways the coronavirus has spread is through cluster infections in religious communities. That has forced many religious groups to adapt to new ways of worship, as VOA's Bill Gallo reports from Seoul.
Volunteers in Malaysia are stepping up to help a remote area of the country that has been especially hard hit by the coronavirus. Dave Grunebaum reports from Shah Alam, Malaysia.Videographer: Dave Grunebaum, Producer: Henry Hernandez
While much of the world’s media coverage about North Korea focuses on the country’s nuclear weapons, many South Koreans are seeing a more human side of the isolated country. As VOA’s Bill Gallo reports from Seoul, that’s because North Korean defectors are becoming more involved in telling their own stories.
Cambodia is deploying 2,000 soldiers to train as deminers after Western nations, led by the United States, bolstered their efforts to rid the country of landmines and other unexploded ordnance by 2025.Camera: David Potter, Luke Hunt, Ny Chhan Producer: Luke Hunt
Analysts say North Korea's newly unveiled intercontinental ballistic missile appears designed to overwhelm U.S. missile defenses. As VOA’s Bill Gallo reports, that means it’s getting harder and more expensive to defend against North Korea’s growing missile force, according to experts. Producer: Rod James
China’s economic rise and its greater assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific is setting off alarms in Washington, already rattled by the devastating consequences from COVID-19 — the virus that came from Wuhan. As the two countries navigate their evolving and tense relationship, some analysts are looking back at how American policy toward China failed and what that means for the future. VOA’s Jela de Franceschi speaks with two influential American military strategists for what to expect next. Mary Alice Salinas narrates.Producer: Marcus Harton
Alex Chong, whose company, MBA Crew, owns nine restaurants in Malaysia was having trouble last Friday luring customers in for lunch, a sign of the economic pain facing the country because of the COVID-19 pandemic. There was not a lot of foot traffic at the MyTown Shopping Centre, a destination mall in a commercial area, and Chong, MBA Crew’s managing director, was standing in front of one of the company’s restaurants, Leleh, specializing in Malaysian food. “Just a couple of weeks ago, we would have had a lot more foot traffic in the mall at this time,” he told VOA. It has been this way across Malaysia for the past week. The country has seen a surge in confirmed COVID-19 cases. Alex Chong says a recent spike in confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Malaysia has meant a dramatic drop in business at his company’s nine restaurants. (Daven Grunebaum/VOA)“So, people are just staying at home and they are more afraid,” Chong said. For several months it looked like Malaysia had things generally under control, but the country had record high new case numbers several days last week. A popular shopping mall has been temporarily closed after several positive cases were linked to it. Even Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and several members of his Cabinet are now in quarantine after Religious Affairs Minister Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri tested positive. “It just shows how anyone can get this and we all need to be really careful,” said Sam Lee, age 29, as he headed to his car after finishing work on Friday. “I’m going straight home now. No happy hour drinks for me,” he said. Rising health concerns are taking an increasing toll on local businesses. Alex Chong says after several rough months during the start of the pandemic, business was bouncing back in August and September. (Dave Grunebaum/VOA)Chong said business at his restaurants is down by more than 50% from just a few weeks ago. He said if this continues for a few more weeks he may have to close two restaurants and lay off about 20 employees. “We’ll have to shut down those locations where our landlords don’t give us rebates, our landlords don’t help us with the rentals,” Chong said. Hakimi Azri, 32, had lunch outside with some friends Friday but said such occasions are becoming rarer for him because the rising number of COVID-19 cases has convinced him to spend more time at home. Hakimi Azri (middle) enjoyed lunch ...
North Korea has unveiled what defense analysts say appears to be a new intercontinental ballistic missile. The ICBM was displayed during a carefully choreographed military parade that was held despite concerns about the coronavirus pandemic, as VOA’s Bill Gallo reports from Seoul.
The Cambodian government has allocated $1.2 billion to bolster an economy struggling with the withdrawal of some European trade perks and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Luke Hunt reports from Phnom Penh.David Potter and Ny Chann contrinbuted to this report.
With international travel almost nonexistent because of the coronavirus pandemic, the global tourism industry is finding new ways to make money. In Asia, one way companies are trying to stay profitable is through so-called "flights to nowhere," as VOA's Bill Gallo explains from Seoul.
In Malaysia, the coronavirus pandemic has led to an increase in the number of food deliveries. But frequent accidents are raising questions about delivery driver safety. Dave Grunebaum has the story. Camera: Dave Grunebaum
Cambodians have greeted the death earlier this month (September 2) of Khmer Rouge commandant Kaing Guek Eav – commonly known as comrade Duch – as one more milestone for the country as it continues to move on from its tragic past. As head of a notorious prison, Duch presided over the killing of as many as 16,000 people during the Khmer Rouge regime of the 1970s. Luke Hunt reports from Choeung Ek, Cambodia.Videographers: David Potter, Ny Chann, Luke HuntVideo editor: Jason Godman
A new report shows how the Chinese border town of Dandong continues to provide a vital lifeline for the North Korean economy – despite United Nations sanctions that have been in place since Pyongyang conducted a nuclear missile test three years ago. The report authors say businesses based in Dandong are trading in goods that could be used for Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programs. Henry Ridgwell reports.Camera: Henry Ridgwell
The pandemic has not only affected the livelihoods of people around the globe, but it has also taken a toll on many household pets. In Malaysia there has been a significant increase in the number of abandoned pets as families face financial pressures after losing their jobs. Dave Grunebaum reports from Puchong, Malaysia.PRODUCER: Rod James
During his first term as president, Donald Trump met three times and reportedly exchanged at least 25 personal letters with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. But those interactions could soon end, depending on the outcome of the November presidential election, as VOA’s Bill Gallo reports from Seoul. PRODUCER: Jon Spier
New York City’s Chinatown neighborhood is struggling to get back on its feet as New York City reopens. Now, thanks to an outdoor dining project, restaurants in the neighborhood are gradually getting their customers back. VOA’s video journalist Jiu Dao reports in this piece narrated by Lin Yang. Camera: Jiu Dao
The impact of COVID-19 has taken a toll on Malaysia’s economy, where many workers are starting up their own companies. As Dave Grunebaum reports, the country is seeing a surge in microbusinesses. Camera: Dave Grunebaum Producer: Henry Hernandez
Crackdowns against pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong took a very public turn this week. Authorities arrested a tabloid owner, marching him in front of cameras through the newspaper’s printing operation in what has been widely decried as a blow to free speech. VOA’s Arash Arabasadi has more.Produced by: Arash Arabasadi
From high-definition TV broadcasts to shiny new on-screen graphics to laid-back video blogs, North Korean state media have been getting a makeover. But the cosmetic changes won't be able to alter North Korea's perception as one of the world's most censored and isolated countries, as VOA's Bill Gallo reports from Seoul.
Conservationists in Australia are hoping infrared drones might help save the remaining koala population in New South Wales, one of the regions most affected by recent Australian bushfires. The infrared camera makes it easier to spot the iconic marsupials -- not bears -- which scientists say could be extinct by 2050. VOA's Mariama Diallo has this report.
After months of insisting it was completely coronavirus-free, North Korea this week acknowledged its first suspected infection. That admission signals a possible new approach to a pandemic that has the potential to become North Korea’s biggest threat in years, as VOA’s Bill Gallo reports from Seoul
As Thailand’s economy struggles to recover from the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, renewed anti-government demonstrations have sprung up across the country. Activists are demanding amendments to the constitution, the dissolution of parliament and a stop to the harassment of rights activists. The rallies were temporarily halted earlier this year when the COVID outbreak curbed large gatherings. Steve Sandford has more from Chiang Mai, Thailand. Videographer: Steve Sandford Video editor: Jason Godman
Amid rising diplomatic tensions, China has ordered the United States to close its consulate in Chengdu. Experts see the move as retaliation for the U.S. closing of China's consulate in Houston, and they say it reflects a new level of hostility between the two countries ahead of U.S. presidential elections in November. VOA's Diplomatic Correspondent Cindy Saine reports from Washington.Videographers: Stella Hsu, Zoom video interviews; Jela de Franceschi, Skype interview
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo laid out the current U.S. policy on China at the Nixon Library in Southern California, calling it a choice between “freedom and tyranny” -- 48 years after President Richard Nixon reopened relations with China. VOA’s Elizabeth Lee has the details from Los Angeles. Camera: Elizabeth Lee Produced by: Barry Unger
China is threatening to retaliate after the U.S. ordered the closure of its consulate in Houston, Texas, accusing Beijing of massive illegal spying and theft of American intellectual property. VOA's Diplomatic Correspondent Cindy Saine reports on a dramatic escalation of tensions between the two countries.Videographer: Teng Xu.
Across the Mekong Delta fishermen, farmers and their families are hoping the current wet season will end a long running drought. Its effects are being felt in Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and here in Cambodia where rainfall has been way short of expectations. Luke Hunt has our story.Camera: David Potter, Ny Chhan, Luke Hunt Producer: Jason Godman
There are growing calls among British lawmakers for Chinese officials to become the next target of sanctions against human rights abusers – including the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, Carrie Lam. As Henry Ridgwell reports, Western nations are ratcheting up their response to Beijing’s recent imposition of a security law on Hong Kong, which severely limits the right to protest and criticize the government.Camera: Henry Ridgwell
South Korea's police force has overcome a troubled and sometimes violent legacy in order to build trust with citizens. Now it's trying to export its crime-fighting practices across the globe.South Korea's K-pop music and film industry are some of its best-known cultural products. But the so-called "Korean Wave" also includes the country's police forces — known as K-cops. The Korea National Police Agency (KNPA) says it has a lot to offer countries that want to improve their law enforcement systems. In 2015, the KNPA launched the K-cop program to share that knowhow and has worked with overseas partners in 110 nations."It's a way for us to collaborate with other countries to fight international crime," said the KNPA's chief of international cooperation, Yeo Tae-su. "The international border system has been weakened, so we need to work together to stop things like drug trafficking, terrorism and other organized crime."Through the K-cop program, the KNPA holds workshops for visiting law enforcement officials and dispatches KNPA officers overseas for training projects.FILE - A woman stands at the door of a Chinese restaurant near China's embassy in Seoul as police officers monitor a group of pro-democracy activists holding a Tiananmen commemoration event, on June 4, 2020.Yeo tells VOA that most of the agency's partners are interested in enhancing their cybercrime investigation capabilities.The agency describes some of its capacity-building initiatives as "smart policing," which relies heavily on technology-based systems. That includes surveilling the internet for illicit videos or suspicious activity, as well as using a network of closed-circuit television cameras to monitor areas where crimes have been reported.Yeo adds that partners can also learn from South Korea's own experience of building up its police force over the past 70 years."After the Korean War, everything was destroyed here and we needed to rebuild all of our society's systems," he said, noting that South Korea received assistance from the United States and some European countries in that process."Developing countries can look toward South Korea today as a model to improve their own systems," Yeo said.Overcoming 'awful reputation'South Korea's police force hasn't always been seen as a good model.Michael Breen, author of the book The New Koreans: The Story of a Nation, tells VOA that the KNPA had an "awful reputation."He explains that during South Korea's Cold War-era military dictatorship, the national police force "became the most anti-Communist agency in government" and was tasked with quelling student-led pro-democracy movements, which ...
Editor’s Note: China’s government is expanding its censorship controls by targeting Chinese citizens overseas who criticize Beijing on social media. The pressure tactic is called “zhulian” – an ancient punishment meaning “guilt by association.” It usually involves police threatening family members in China for the actions of their relatives overseas. This happened to “Zoo” (short for @HorrorZoo, her main handle on Twitter), a Chinese student pursuing graduate studies in Australia, whose father has been repeatedly summoned to the police station because of her criticism of Chinese Communist Party leaders on social media. But instead of censoring her Twitter account, “Zoo” has become more outspoken, providing multiple videos of police intimidating her via video chat. Her story provides a rare look at how China tries to use the families of dissidents to silence them. In April, Zoo’s father was summoned to the police station in a small city in Southern China. The police questioned him about Zoo’s Twitter account @FakeNewsOfChina. The account had around 5,000 followers at the time of her interview with VOA, and she regularly uploads pictures and Tweets critical of China’s President Xi Jinping. The police asked Zoo’s father to call her via video chat on the spot, trying to force her to hand over the account password. Zoo recorded the whole conversation and later shared it with VOA. In the video chat, her father repeatedly urged her to tell the police her password. FILE - Chinese President Xi Jinping reaches to vote on a piece of national security legislation concerning Hong Kong during the closing session of China's National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, May 28, 2020."You are being used by foreign forces,” her father said. “President Xi is such a great leader for our country.” Ironically, her father is a professor of Marxism in a university, teaching Communist Party history as well as Xi Jinping’s political philosophy. “You speak Chinese, right?” said an officer who identified himself as Hu. "No matter where you are, you got to remember you are Chinese, you have to remember all your families are Chinese.”Zoo denied having any association with the Twitter account."There are lots of anti-Xi Twitter accounts, and we linked this one to you,” the officer said. “That means you are in charge of the account!” Officer Hu then toughened his tone. “You have taught others how to use VPN to bypass the firewall, haven’t you? You think we are not aware of your actions?” “You ...
The death of African Americans while in police custody and the ongoing protests demanding racial justice have had a major impact on most Americans, including immigrants many of whom have had experiences with racism. VOA's Valdya Baraputri spoke with some Indonesian Americans who talked about what they have endured.Camera: Valdya Baraputri
After President Trump signed into law to ban network infrastructure from blacklisted Chinese manufacturers, dozens of American rural carriers will have to “rip and replace” their Huawei and ZTE equipment. VOA’s Calla Yu has more. Camera: Austin Ao
The European Union is moving to stop the purchase of strategic European companies by foreign subsidized corporations, especially from China. The European Commission has taken a first step by adopting a white paper on distortions that foreign subsidized companies are causing in Europe. More in this report by Alfonso Beato in Barcelona narrated by Jonathan Spier.
Baker David Wong knows the preferences of his regular customers — whether it’s an iced latte or marinated chicken with a local coconut rice dish known as Nasi Lemak. But his most popular item is the pineapple tarts that are made with his mother’s recipe. “She taught me how to bake. That is the seed she has sewn in me,” said Wong. “From a young age I helped my mom to bake.” After leaving his father’s property development company, Wong, age 46, opened a bakery that he later expanded into a cafe, Swee Bee by Baker Dave, named after his mother. “It’s all about the passions and the love of baking and cooking that I love,” Wong said. “I wanted to bring it out and share it with my customers, friends and family.” On a recent afternoon, Shamir Chakrabarty enjoyed his chicken lunch. Chakrabarty and his wife have been coming to Swee Bee for the past four-years. “The food is great,” Chakrabarty said. “The atmosphere is nice and Dave is so friendly.” The cafe is in a commercial district and primarily attracts office workers. But fewer laborers have been working nearby during the past few months because of restrictions in place due to COVID-19. Even though the local economy has been reopening in phases and customers have been allowed to dine in, many of the cafe’s regulars still work from home. Wong says business during April and May was down 70% of what is normal for that time of year. So last Friday he shut down his cafe. “In the blink of an eye I have to leave,” Wong said. “I have to make a decision because economically I can’t sustain.” There are similar stories across Malaysia. Local trade groups say five to ten percent of the small mom and pop type restaurants — as well as retail stores — have gone out of business during the past few months. Analysts say some small businesses could not adapt quickly enough after restrictions were put in place because of COVID-19, especially those that depend on walk-in customers. “Some businesses try to adopt a digital solution to it, try to have e-commerce platform and for e-hailing riders to deliver your products, but that has not been successfully played out in many of these SMEs or small businesses,” said Lau Zheng Zhou of the Kuala Lumpur-based think tank the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs. “To expect businesses to disrupt their business ...
“Rose” is a refugee from Burundi. She's lived in Hong Kong for nearly five years. Rose, a single mother who faced significant struggles raising her son in a new country, has started to turn her life around through two unanticipated pastimes: long-distance runs and hiking along the scenic trails of Hong Kong. With the help from a charity organization, Rose has found a new peace and rediscovered her confidence. She's now ready to face a better future. Camera: Maggie Tan Producer: Michael White, Euna Lee
It’s been eight years since Aung San Suu Kyi’s by-election win. Her victory raised hopes that refugees – who had been displaced by seven decades of fighting in southeast Myanmar's Karen state – would be able to return home. But a majority remain without a permanent residence, as sporadic fighting continues into 2020. Steve Sandford talks to refugees and internally displaced persons, or IDPs, from Karen state about the ongoing conflict.PRODUCER: Jason Godman
Seira Kiyono, a Thai-Japanese ballerina and a former actress in The King & I Broadway musical, says the COVID-19 outbreak in New York City has forced her to reinvent herself. With shows and live performances cancelled, Kiyono is now teaching ballet online and picking up tap dance to retool herself for future auditions. Nat Rudarakarnchana has the story, narrated by Warangkana Chomchuen. Camera: Warangkana Chomchuen
North Korea continues to escalate military pressure on South Korea, a day after it blew up the countries’ de facto embassy. More from VOA’s Bill Gallo in Seoul.
London and Beijing are engaged in a heated dispute over plans to make it easier for some Hong Kong residents to emigrate to Britain. The British government announced the proposal in response to China’s attempt to impose a new security law on the territory, following violent anti-government protests. Hong Kong is meant to be semi-autonomous from Beijing — but critics say the new law threatens that status. Henry Ridgwell reports from London.Camera: Henry Ridgwell
In an effort to help the unemployed during the onset of COVID 19, the Thai government introduced social security benefits. But the qualifications needed to receive the aid have excluded the most vulnerable - including millions of migrants. A Thai bank account and at least six months of contributions is required to be eligible for compensation. Steve Sandford talks to workers for this report from Chiang Mai, Thailand.Camera: Steve Sandford
While life in South Korea is slowly returning to normal, its film industry is still recovering from the coronavirus pandemic. From Seoul, Jason Strother tells us why audiences aren’t coming back to movie theaters.
Hundreds of activists and ordinary citizens in Hong Kong marked the first anniversary of the city’s anti-government movement by staging protests across the Asian financial hub on Tuesday. On June 9 last year, about one million Hong Kongers staged a peaceful protest against a proposed extradition law that would allow individuals to be sent to China for trial. The government at the time insisted on pressing ahead with the law, prompting more people to take to the streets in a series of mass protests that plunged the former British colony into one of the deepest crises in its history. More than 8,900 people, of whom about 40% were students have been arrested in more than 1,000 protests since the protests began June of last year.
Humanitarian aid groups operating in southern Bangladesh are bracing for a potential worst-case scenario now that COVID-19 is spreading in Rohingya refugee camps. Considerable progress has been made to improve the treatment available. But as Dave Grunebaum reports, if there is a major outbreak medical teams may be forced to ration health care.
China is touting its success in curbing its outbreak of COVID-19 that has now spread to the rest of the world. But the so-called success came at a steep price: The state’s massive surveillance network now intrudes even further into people’s lives, with more crackdowns on speech and more government critics in prison. Beijing argues the hard-line measures are needed, but other countries show such extreme measures may not be necessary. VOA State Department correspondent Nike Ching reports.
A massive fire broke out early Tuesday in an overcrowded camp that houses nearly 1 million Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar district in southern Bangladesh. VOA’s Muazzem Hossain Shakil was there and has more from the scene in this report narrated by Bezhan Hamdard.
Personal Protective Equipment is a term many people have become familiar with since the COVID-19 outbreak a few months ago. There’s a big demand for them around the globe to help protect against the virus. But factories that make the protective gear haven’t been able to keep up with the demand. Dave Grunebaum shows us how volunteers in Malaysia are answering the call.
Millennials in Asia say they are benefitting from remote working by using the extra hours to get more rest and pursue their hobbies. Some also feel that working from home has liberated them from the constraints of a traditionally hierarchal, the-boss-always-knows-best type of work culture. VOA’s Julie Taboh has more.
A smiling Kim Jong Un made his first public appearance in 21 days Saturday, amid a wave of intense rumors that he was gravely ill, or even dead. As VOA’s Bill Gallo reports from Seoul, South Korea, Kim’s reemergence is a reminder of how little is known about developments in North Korea.
During a recent Covid-19 press conference, VOA Khmer reporter Kann Vicheika sought answers from Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on a 'state of emergency' draft law.
North Korea remains silent on the whereabouts and condition of its leader, Kim Jong Un, more than two weeks after he failed to appear at a major celebration in Pyongyang. The silence has helped fuel global rumors that Kim is sick or even dead. VOA’s Bill Gallo explains what we know about Kim’s status and why it matters. Yass Monem and Park Chin contributed.
In Myanmar, an estimated 350,000 internally displaced persons living in crowded and sometimes unsanitary conditions face the danger of a widespread outbreak of COVID-19. Special teams are forming in some of the camps to help provide information and some equipment to prevent a disaster as the country comes to grips with the pandemic. Steve Sandford reports from Thailand.
China’s alleged underreporting and misinformation about the coronavirus outbreak that originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan is becoming a heated topic in the U.S. presidential election. VOA’s Brian Padden reports that both President Donald Trump and his Democratic rival, Joe Biden, have launched dueling campaign ads accusing each other of being soft on China’s handling of the pandemic.
The monks of Pa Book temple in Lamphun, Thailand, observe Earth Day every morning by collecting alms through methods that minimize waste. They’ve transformed the village of Pa Book into a model for zero-waste living. VOA’s Warangkana Chomchuen reports.
Having already rapidly slowed the spread of the coronavirus, South Korea has now held one of the world's first major elections during the pandemic. VOA’s Bill Gallo in Seoul shows how South Korea protected voters while preserving democracy during a time of social distancing.
South Korea has been widely praised as a global model for how to contain the coronavirus. Now, it is trying to show the world how to vote during the pandemic. The country is holding a legislative election April 15.Dressed in his official blue campaign jacket, South Korean lawmaker Lee Hae-sik is sweeping the sidewalk and picking up trash along with several volunteers. He says his party told him to hold a social distancing-approved campaign. So here he is, cleaning the street and disinfecting public surfaces. He says these are his main campaign activities now. South Korea is moving ahead with its legislative election, even during a time of social distancing. Gone are the noisy street rallies that are a hallmark of South Korean elections. Instead, the two-week campaign is more subdued, with candidates focusing much of their efforts online. Voting will look different too. At polling stations, face masks, plastic gloves, and temperature checks will be required. Anyone showing symptoms will vote at a separate booth. Many coronavirus patients will be voting by mail. Some problems couldn’t be fixed. Because of lockdowns overseas, only about half of Korean voters living in foreign countries will be able to vote. But there was never any serious consideration of delaying the election, says candidate Shin Beom-chul. He says the conditions may not be very ideal, but they’re the same for everyone. So he thinks the vote should proceed. The vote is a midterm test for President Moon Jae-in. Moon’s approval ratings have gone up as his government is seen as having taken measures to successfully contains the virus. But analyst Jeong Han-wool says Moon isn’t in safe yet territory yet, especially because of South Korea’s fragile economy. But so far, the outbreak has not forced South Korea’s economy to shut down, as in other countries. And now its democracy is also finding a way to move forward, even during a pandemic.
Residents in the Chinese city of Wuhan, the original epicenter of the coronavirus, are breathing a sigh of relief as a mandatory lockdown is over and some of the other restrictions have been gradually lifted. They also are mourning those who lost their lives to the illness. VOA correspondent Mariama Diallo reports.
As the number of coronavirus infection cases rises in Cambodia, businesses that cannot afford to close enact strict hygiene standards but remained worried about the future. From Phnom Penh, VOA’s Phorn Bopha and Khan Sokummono filed this report, narrated by Chetra Chap.
China's foreign coronavirus aid is boosting Beijing's image with countries in need, analysts say, but the outreach is paired with spreading false narratives that blame the U.S. for starting the pandemic and hiding the severity of the outbreak at home. VOA's Brian Padden reports on China's outreach at a time when the U.S. is putting some medical foreign aid on hold to focus on mitigating the outbreak in America first.
The coronavirus pandemic has shut down virtually all professional sports, leaving a major hole in the lives of fans around the world. One big exception is baseball in South Korea. Some Korean teams have been broadcasting practice games on YouTube. The games are attracting a big audience and bringing a bit of optimism amid the pandemic. VOA’s Bill Gallo reports from Busan, South Korea.
In an unprecedented videoconference of G-7 foreign ministers, global leaders are pledging to work together to battle the coronavirus outbreak. The United States says it is ready to work with China to end the global pandemic and restore the world economy. But as VOA’s State Department correspondent Nike Ching reports, some analysts are skeptical about the ability of both countries to cooperate to fight the global pandemic.
South Korea, which has been among the best in the world at coronavirus testing, has agreed to provide the United States with badly needed test kits. Seoul says U.S. President Donald Trump asked South Korea for the coronavirus help on Tuesday. As VOA’s Bill Gallo reports, Trump’s request comes at a tense moment in U.S.-South Korea relations.
South Korea has been widely praised as a global model of how to contain the coronavirus without resorting to forced restrictions on movement or widespread business closures. One of the ways it has done that is by loosening digital privacy laws during disease outbreaks, as VOA’s Bill Gallo reports.
It’s been more than 40 years since Bula Tawan first cast his fishing net out across the Mekong River when the waterway was rich in marine life.But the days of big catches have disappeared for most fishermen like Tawan, who once relied on the big hauls to earn a living and feed his family.“The water and the color have changed because when the water was natural it was not clear like this and it would have sediments and nutrients in there,” explained the lean 66-year-old father, as he scooped up a handful of transparent river water.“The water is clear, but the sediments and nutrients have gone.”The Thai government’s view of the matter is somewhat different.“The water’s change to a blue color has made the tourists more excited for the color and it has gone on social media making it more popular so that more tourists want to visit,” said Tanaporn Sriyamoon from the Thai government’s Planning Policy office.Water transformsThe timing of the water’s transformation, along with extreme fluctuations in river levels, coincide with the upstream Lao government-owned Xayaburi dam, which began generating hydropower last October.According to the Xayaburi website, the $3.8 billion dam is “a run of river barrage which will trap substantially less sediment than conventional storage schemes,” but new evidence indicates that major blockages still occur.Now, the Network of Thai People in Eight Mekong Provinces has gone to court to try and slow down the generators and sale of electric power to Thai companies, 95% of which will be purchased by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, or EGAT.“The people who set the limit to sell the power to Thailand is EGAT so it has an impact on the ecosystem of the Mekong River,” said Network spokesperson Ormbun Thipsuna.Ormbun Thipsuna says that recent reports from the Ministry of Energy indicate that Thailand has enough electricity to supply the country’s needs.In February, the network submitted evidence to the Thai Supreme Administrative Court in an ongoing lawsuit that pinpoints five Thai state agencies including EGAT.EGAT did not respond to questions submitted by VOA.Suspend power agreementIn addition to the evidence of environmental damage caused by the dam, the plaintiffs also request that the court issue an injunction to suspend the power purchase agreement until new information can be checked regarding the dam’s impact on the river’s ecosystem.One analyst sees the network’s new approach as shining much needed light on the fact ...
As the coronavirus rattles global markets, some analysts are now warning of a possible global recession. The damage is already starting to show in some countries hit hardest by the outbreak, as VOA’s Bill Gallo reports from Seoul
As the coronavirus rattles global markets, some analysts are now warning of a possible global recession. The damage is already starting to show in some countries hit hardest by the outbreak.Lee Jae-hoon is standing in the Korean barbecue restaurant he owns in this normally busy office district of Seoul. There are almost no customers.He says at this time on Thursdays, the restaurant is always filled with customers. But as you can see, there is no one.This is what many restaurants in South Korea look like now, amid a voluntary “social distancing” campaign meant to contain the coronavirus.Lee says it’s the first time in his 59 years of life he’s ever seen sales drop this sharply - for any reason.At this Seoul flower shop, sales are also taking a big hit.Owner Kim Choon-hwan says no one is buying flowers. She says she needs a loan, but she doesn’t know if she’ll get one.Economist Woo Seok-jin says not only are small businesses taking a hit. So are large ones. He says the virus is delivering a double economic gut punch.He says disease outbreaks usually just affect demand -- that is, people buy fewer things. But in the case of the coronavirus, it is also disrupting the production side, too.Some factories in South Korea have temporarily closed, either because of infections or a shortage of parts from China, where the outbreak began.In response to the virus, South Korea has announced a nearly $10 billion economic stimulus package. Among other measures, it will allow business owners to get cheaper loans.The help can not come soon enough for Seoul travel agency owner Lee Jeong-hwan.No customers are calling, he says, let alone booking trips. He says he’s waiting on a government emergency loan.As the virus spreads, it’s a situation that many countries may soon find themselves in.Kim Hyungjin and Lee Juhyun contributed to this report.
Despite several monumental pushes for women’s rights around the globe over recent decades, activists say progress has been very slow. According to the United Nations, women continue to be undervalued, underpaid, have fewer choices and continue to experience multiple forms of violence around the world. VOA’s Jesusemen Oni has more.
Over the past two weeks, there have been more than 5,000 cases of coronavirus in South Korea. More than half of those infections have been linked to a single fringe religious group -- one of many offshoots of Christianity in the country. Its members say their group was only unlucky. But many South Koreans disagree, saying the sect is secretive and hasn’t fully cooperated with authorities. VOA’s Bill Gallo has more details from Seoul.
South Korea has experienced a massive spike in confirmed coronavirus infections over the past week. One reason the numbers have jumped so quickly: South Korea is making it very easy for people to get coronavirus tests. As of Friday, the country had tested about 80,000 people. Many are getting tested at specially created drive-through clinics. VOA's Bill Gallo and Korean service video journalist Hyungjin Kim have the details.