Asia

National

Anna Corbett aims to win the release of her husband Ryan, who's held by the Taliban

6:54am April 04, 2024

NPR's A Martinez speaks with Anna Corbett, the wife of Ryan Corbett, an American who has been held by the Taliban in Afghanistan since August 10, 2022.

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One of Cambodia's last English language newspapers has ceased publication

5:13am April 04, 2024

by Michael Sullivan

The last edition of the Phnom Penh Post was published on Friday. Management blamed soaring costs and the "subsequent economic downturn" that followed the COVID pandemic.

A police officer stands guard near a partially collapsed building a day after a powerful earthquake struck in Hualien City, eastern Taiwan, Thursday, April 4, 2024.

World News

Taiwan emerges remarkably unscathed after massive earthquake

5:00am April 04, 2024

by Emily Feng

The day after what was the worst quake to hit the Asian island in a quarter century, most residents cannot stop talking about how much worse it could have been.

A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck Taiwan off the island's east coast on Wednesday and temporarily disrupted production at semiconductor factories that produce chips major Silicon Valley companies rely on for products and services.

World News

Taiwan earthquake briefly halts chip factories that power the global economy

5:23pm April 03, 2024

by Bobby Allyn

The Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., which makes more than 90% of world's most advanced chips, also halted production, but it plans to resume chipmaking overnight.

World News

Why Tuesday's earthquake in Taiwan was so much less destructive than the one in 1999

4:53pm April 03, 2024

Taiwan was rocked Tuesday by a 7.4 magnitude earthquake that hit off the coast. But the causalities and destruction are minimal compared to a devastating earthquake that the island nation in 1999.

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Reading glasses are easy to come by in Western countries. But getting a pair in the Global South can be a challenge. A new study shows the surprising benefits that a pair of specs can bring.

Health & Safety

Glasses aren't just good for your eyes. They can be a boon to income, too

3:16pm April 03, 2024

by Gabrielle Emanuel

That's the finding of a new study in Bangladesh, which gave reading glasses to hundreds of people and then measured their earnings.

In this image taken from a video footage run by TVBS, a partially collapsed building is seen in Hualien, eastern Taiwan on Wednesday, April 3, 2024.

Taiwan holds steady in massive earthquake; Discontented voters show up in Wisconsin

8:23am April 03, 2024

by Mansee Khurana

Taiwan holds steady after a massive earthquake shakes the region. Biden and Trump won their Wisconsin primaries, but discontented voters made their voices heard.

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A major earthquake rocked Taiwan — the biggest in a quarter of a century

7:18am April 03, 2024

The deadly earthquake struck Taiwan during the morning rush hour on Wednesday — collapsing buildings and triggering tsunami warnings in Japan and the Philippines.

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A powerful earthquake has rocked the island of Taiwan

5:38am April 03, 2024

The earthquake triggered tsunami warnings in neighboring countries from Japan to the Philippines. Numerous aftershocks have hit.

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Biden and China's Xi 'check-in' call is th first contact since November

5:16am April 03, 2024

President Biden was campaigning Tuesday, but made time to call China's leader. It's the first time the two have talked since November, when they met in the San Francisco Bay Area.