Asia Insight

After a military coup d'etat in Myanmar, a growing number of citizens have rushed to the Chinese border city of Ruili, struggling to rebuild their lives as they hope for the day when peace returns.

Fifty years after the end of the Vietnam War, many people still search for family separated in the chaos. YouTuber Tuan Vy uses his channel to track down clues and reunite loved ones.

Large-scale development in Hong Kong's northern area is building a high-tech industrial base, boosting the economy and jobs. Though mainlanders hold high expectations, some locals face eviction.

Government-approved online casinos have provided a major source of national revenue in the Philippines, but their availability has brought a crisis where citizens develop severe gambling addictions.

Thailand is experiencing an unprecedent boom in pet ownership, and pet-friendly hotels, movie theaters, and other facilities are on the rise. We explore how this is affecting local life.

A population imbalance has occurred in China where men outnumber women, and men in farming villages face difficulties when trying to marry, with expectations from women such as a condominium and car.

South Korea's Jeju Island is home to the free-diving women fishers called "Haenyeo." As their numbers dwindle due to aging, a new generation attempts to carry on the culture in their own way.

Many Chinese families choose educational migration to Chiang Mai to enroll their children in international schools, avoiding intense academic pressure and giving new options for their futures.

In Taiwan, traditional puppet theater is enjoying a resurgence, capturing the hearts of young fans, and finding new audiences through video and social media.

As Myanmar's civil war drags on, some soldiers are defecting, unhappy with the military's violent oppression of civilians. They are joining the fight for democracy from the country's border regions.

Bangladesh has held its first general election since antigovernment protests in which 1,400 protestors were killed. We join young voters who carry on the will of those who lost their lives.

In South Korea, the labor shortage has caused a spike in foreign workers. Many of them work under harsh conditions, and grass-roots efforts are underway to ease tensions between foreigners and locals.

The indigenous Taroko people are taking the stage to perform traditional songs and dances to entice visitors back to their famed Taroko Gorge after being impacted by a major earthquake in April 2024.

As the coffee market in China rapidly grows, ethnic minorities in Yunnan Province, which makes 98% of all Chinese coffee, are developing a unique specialty coffee brand using their local customs.

Cambodia has set out to build a historic new canal. While some have high hopes of business opportunities and economic stimulation, concerns remain about the displacement of around 1.6 million people.

Recently popular in China are "otome games" allowing female gamers to experience romance with male characters. Services providing costumed dates have emerged as a related business for fans.

During Indonesia's occupation of East Timor, thousands of children were separated from their families and taken to Indonesia. One project seeks to reunite these "Stolen Children."

Cambodia has witnessed remarkable economic growth, and women are on track to be the next driving force. With government support, more women are opting to launch their own businesses.

Divorce is illegal in the largely Catholic Philippines, but as a bill for legalization is to be deliberated by the senate, women enduring domestic violence advocate the controversial bill.

Following 15 years of strict censorship under the former administration, Bangladeshi journalists are now seeking the truth and freedom of press in order to regain the trust of the people.

Climate change has seen vegetable harvests fall in South Korea. One group of women is embracing hardy organic techniques, while the government is training a new generation of farmers with technology.

Alampu Village, located high among Nepal's Himalayas, had long been a location of handmade slate production by the Thami people, but modernization has changed life there over the last 20 years.

In Shenzhen, factories rely on recruiters using streaming to attract temporary workers to suit the workload. Many young people attempt recruiting to earn a good living among the changing times.

In the Philippines, a lengthy COVID-19 lockdown sparked unemployment that broke families apart. One theater troupe offers sanctuary to kids who support each other through life's hardships.

50 years after the Vietnam War ended, some veterans are still on duty - not as fighters, but as volunteer guardians of their hometowns. We go on night patrol in Canh Thuy Ward.

After US President Trump announced raised tariffs on products from China, among unsteady demand and falling rates, Chinese clothing factories seek solutions such as business with other countries.

Attacks by Islamic extremists had caused chaos in Indonesia, but social programs designed to reeducate prisoners are underway, and now the former terrorists attempt to reintegrate into society.

During Syria's 13-year civil war, more than 100,000 people are thought to have disappeared. In the aftermath of conflict, families are seeking truth, justice, and hope for the future.

Many Mongolian children dream of changing their family's lives by becoming a pro sumo wrestler in Japan. We meet the members of a school sumo club as they prepare for a national tournament.

The fashion industry has faced criticism for its impact on the environment. Meet the Indonesian innovators who are using natural materials and traditional techniques to help save the planet.

In Yiwu, China, the Muslim Hui people expand trade with Arab countries using their Arabic language skills. They are becoming an essential presence as China shifts away from US trade and diversifies.

South Korea is facing a growing gender divide, fueled by a stark wage gap and cases of discrimination. This has sparked a movement of women opting out of marriage. We explore the social impact.

In Cambodia, the purge of intellectuals under Pol Pot and years of war caused traditional Khmer dishes to vanish from home kitchens. Today, chefs are working to bring them back.

In India, looking for a marriage partner has long been a family affair, but with more women taking an active role in society, the method and priorities of the search are starting to change.

For just two months every year, more than 1,000 men brave the dangers of the dense forest in order to hunt for wild honey, providing them the chance for an income where few other options exist.

Mongolia's capital Ulaanbaatar suffers from severe air pollution. New designs use sunlight to ensure warm, smoke-free homes. We explore the technology and its challenges.

In the Philippines, where natural disasters and poverty are a continuing issue, people depend on their barangays for help and assistance. Barangays are the smallest administrative units in the country, carrying out various services, from health and welfare to disaster management. In Manila's Chinatown, community ties are especially close due to a history of persecution of people of Chinese descent under Spanish rule. We focus on one barangay's community bonding in the lead-up to Christmas.

For just US$9 a night, young people stay in a "Job-hunting Hotel" in Shanghai while seeking post-graduation employment, even as the stagnating economy causes the number of available positions to drop.

Spurred by a series of deadly accidents during the zero-COVID policy, young people in China have begun to express their political objections with blank white paper, symbolizing the people's inability to criticize the government. The gesture spread across China, with protestors holding large gatherings speaking out against the government in over 20 cities nationwide. This episode shares the voices of young protestors who took part in the demonstration in Shanghai.

For the sake of their families, Nepalese men are working for the Russian military. Wages 10 times higher than in Nepal are promised, but as many go missing, their families await word on their fate.

The exile of President Marcos Sr. was hailed as a victory for democracy in the Philippines, but with the election of his son 36 years later, shifting views affect how history may be perceived.

In China's rapidly growing food delivery industry, deaf workers who call themselves "voiceless knights" use apps and other tools to perform work, gaining new independence within society.

A new high-speed rail line has sparked a massive rise in tourism to Laos's historic capital Luang Prabang. It's had a major effect on traditional local life in this World Heritage town.

Mongolia's capital Ulaanbaatar is home to the country's only art school that accepts students with disabilities. Currently, 13 of its 50 students have intellectual or physical disabilities. One graduate is now a professional artist who has enjoyed success in the US and Japan. Accessibility remains a challenge in Mongolia, and there are few educational and employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Many live isolated from society. By teaching students of all abilities side by side, the school has become a source of hope for many students and their families. As the school approaches its 30th anniversary, meet the students chasing their artistic dreams, and the principal and teachers who guide them.