Reverbiage: Stories from NPR tagged 'asia'

New Voices From South Asia Share Hope, Concerns

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 11:23:00 EST

A new generation of Indians and Pakistanis are now dealing with their countries' fragile relationship. Indian writer Sonia Faleiro and Pakistani filmmaker Mehreen Jabbar say they understand why mistrust persists.

Asia Not Immune To Job Cuts

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 06:00:00 EST

Asian exporters have been hit by the global economic slowdown. Now their employees are feeling the pain. Sony announced it is cutting 8,000 jobs from its electronics business, as part of a larger cost cutting plan. Sony's South Korean rival, Samsung also announced major cost cuts Tuesday — though no layoffs. Computer chip makers in Taiwan put workers on unpaid leave, as they struggle with the economic downturn.

Global Crisis, Growing Poverty Threaten Asia

Sun, 07 Dec 2008 09:25:00 EST

Hundreds of millions in the subcontinent and throughout Asia live on less than a $1.25 a day. A U.N. official warns that if economic problems are ignored, the risk of widespread social unrest will increase.

Anthropologist Claude Levi-Strauss Turns 100

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST

This week in Paris, one of the last icons of 20th century French intellectual life turns 100. Claude Levi-Strauss, a painter's son, not only reshaped the nature of how anthropologists do their work: He changed the world's perception of so-called "primitive" tribes in Asia, Africa and America.

Baby Born On Flight From Bangkok to Helsinki

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:43:00 EST

Think about that phrase in the Constitution - about how the President must be a natural-born American. If similar laws apply to the nations of central Asia, we may have to ask if a newborn baby will be entitled to run for president of Kazakhstan. A Swedish woman was on a flight over the Asian country when she gave birth. Two doctors and two nurses were on board the 11-hour flight. The baby's fine, born at 35,000 feet.

Asian Markets Cash In On Obama Win

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:47:00 EST

One of the things investors hate most is uncertainty. And there is a little bit more certainty because the U.S. election has been decided. Stock investors in Asia showed signs of relief. Japan's main index ended the day up more than 4 percent. Hong Kong rallied more than 3 percent. Markets in Australia, South Korea and China also ended the day sharply higher. European stocks are trading lower. Markets in France, Germany and Britain are being dragged down by shares of troubled banks.

'Ghost Train' Retraces Theroux's Past Journeys

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:12:00 EST

More than 30 years after documenting a trip through Europe, the Middle East and Asia in The Great Railway Bazaar, Paul Theroux re-creates the voyage in Ghost Train to the Eastern Star.

Examining Democracy In Southeast Asia

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 08:57:00 EDT

Indonesia is the world's largest Muslim majority country, and it has become Southeast Asia's most vibrant and healthy democracy. That might sound incredible to those who remember Indonesia as a police state run by the dictator Suharto. And despite problems such as terrorist bombings and the tsunami four years ago, Indonesia is clearly at the head of the democratic class.

Global Stocks Decline On Recession Fears

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:00:00 EDT

It has been a bad day for stocks all over the world. Markets lost ground in Asia, Europe and the U.S. Recession fears have spread and investors are pulling their money from stocks at a frightening pace.

As Dow Plummets, Investors Seek The Bottom

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:00:00 EDT

Stocks have sold off sharply in Europe, Asia and the U.S. One analyst says much of the decline stems from a global "deleveraging" that will continue for a while.

Dow Swings Wildly As Financial Leaders Convene

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 11:58:00 EDT

Many investors are fixing their gaze on Washington, D.C., to see whether financial leaders meeting there can do anything to relieve the financial crisis. The Dow industrial average was swinging wildly from the start Friday, trading well below 8,500. European shares prices have also tumbled, as did every stock market in Asia.

Foreign Markets Mixed Over Bailout Package

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 08:21:00 EDT

From Asia to Europe, financial and political leaders showed little enthusiasm for the bailout plan aimed at rescuing the U.S. financial system. Stock markets in China, Hong Kong and Australia ended the day down. In Britain, France and Germany, stock markets began the trading day lower.

Asian Markets Waiting For Next Wall Street Victim

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 07:52:00 EDT

Markets in Asia reacted Thursday to the big drop in U.S. markets Wednesday by selling shares. After a volatile day, Asian stock indexes fell an average of 2 percent, as investors worried about the next domino to fall on Wall Street.

Did Greed Cause Markets To Tumble...

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 13:00:00 EDT

After the huge drop in the U.S. market Monday, markets in Europe and Asia tumbled as well. A former analyst for Merrill Lynch breaks down what he sees as a culture of greed on Wall Street. Then, Slate.com's Jim Ledbetter discusses why he thinks the government should have bailed out Lehman Brothers.

Asian Markets React To Wall Street's Carnage

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 06:00:00 EDT

Stock markets in Asia took a big hit Tuesday after Wall Street's 504-point drop on Monday. Most Asian markets were closed Monday for a holiday, so Tuesday was the first time investors reacted to the news of Lehman Brothers' bankruptcy and Merrill Lynch being bought by Bank of America.

Food Program Gets Rare Access In North Korea

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 10:41:00 EDT

North Korea recently allowed foreigners to visit parts of the country that aren't usually seen. Tony Banbury, the World Food Program's regional director for Asia, is there now and has visited several locations close to the border with China.

Russia Under Pressure, Has Little World Support

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:53:00 EDT

Russia is facing international isolation over this month's attacks in Georgia, and the country failed to enlist the support it wanted from China and a group of former Soviet republics in central Asia. Moscow has accused NATO of "battleship diplomacy."

Debut Fiction From Asia Hits Mark

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 16:29:00 EDT

Tan Twan Eng's debut novel is The Gift of Rain which is set in his home country Malaysia. Mosquito by Roma Tearne is set in Sri Lanka during the ongoing civil war.

Flesh-Eating Fish Perform 'Pedicures'

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 09:04:00 EDT

A salon in Alexandria, Va., is treating customers to a beauty fad previously popular only in Asia: the fish pedicure. For $45, tiny silvery carp will suck the dry skin off your feet. The result: smooth loveliness, according to a growing customer base.

Chinese Tourists Flock To U.S.

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 13:00:00 EDT

Tour groups from the People's Republic of China travel all over Asia and Europe. Thanks to loosened visa restrictions, Chinese leisure tourists are now streaming into the U.S. too. The first big group tours arrived in Los Angeles recently.

World Food Program Expands N. Korea Operations

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 06:00:00 EDT

The World Food Program announced a major expansion of its operations in North Korea on Monday. A U.S. ship carrying 37,000 tons of wheat arrived there Sunday. North Korea is letting the WFP expand its staff there sixfold — a rare opening of the communist nation to foreign observers. Co-host Renee Montagne talks with Anthony Banbury, the World Food Program's regional director for Asia about the developments.

Thousands Protest in Paris Against Iran

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 16:00:00 EDT

An Iranian opposition group holds a mass rally in Paris on Saturday to demonstrate against the Islamist government in Tehran. Thousands of Iranian exiles turned out along with supporters from Europe, Asia and North America.

Violence, Intimidation Plague Zimbabwe Election

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 10:44:00 EDT

Zimbabwe's longtime President Robert Mugabe was the only candidate in Friday's widely discredited runoff, which was condemned as a sham by African and other world leaders. Lord Mark Malloch-Brown, England's Minister for Africa, Asia, and the U.S. talks about the aftermath of the disputed contest.

Stocks Plunge in U.S., Asia, Europe

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 06:00:00 EDT

Hosts Ari Shapiro and Renee Montagne have this morning's business news.

Quake Coverage: Is China's Grip on Media Looser...

Fri, 16 May 2008 06:00:00 EDT

Host Renee Montagne talks to author Alexandra Harney about how the Chinese media are covering this week's earthquake in Southwestern China. Harney has written about Asia for more than a decade and was the South China correspondent for the Financial Times.