Asia
Wall Street Journal reporter sentenced to 16-year prison term in Russia
Evan Gershkovich, a US reporter for The Wall Street Journal, was sentenced in Moscow court on July 19 to 16 years in prison on espionage charges. The Wall Street Journal and the US government have called this a “sham trial” and vehemently deny the charges. The World’s Daniel Ofman reports on the plight of Gershkovich and other Americans detained in Russia on baseless charges.
Lacquerware artisans are still displaced by earthquake in Japan
Thousands of people are still displaced following an earthquake in Ishikawa prefecture in Japan on Jan. 1. The epicenter of the quake was on the Noto Peninsula, an area known for its deep traditions, including a distinct style of lacquered tableware and teaware made in the town of Wajima. The earthquake triggered a fire in Wajima, and lacquerware craftspeople lost workshops full of specialized tools. Hannah Kirshner caught up with some of these artisans in Yamanaka Onsen, at the southwest corner of Ishikawa, where some have relocated, to see how the move might redefine this centuries-old craft.
Out of Eden Walk: Walking Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor
Afghanistan’s wild and mountainous Wakhan Corridor is an isolated region, home to the rare snow leopard and to a human culture that has gone unchanged for centuries. People still get their flour for baking from water-powered grist mills. Host Marco Werman speaks with National Geographic Explorer Paul Salopek about his trek through this rugged alpine wilderness.
Taiwan’s new president is facing a political minefield
China is holding military drills around the island of Taiwan this week, just following the inauguration of a new president who advocates for a more robust defense against China. Meanwhile, the political parties in Taiwan are sharply divided, leading to legislative gridlock. From Taipei, Ashish Valentine reports that tens of thousands of people are hitting the streets in a series of protests.
A North Korean refugee offers a different view of his home country from the other side of the DMZ
Each year, thousands of tourists visit the demilitarized zone that separates North and South Korea. Now a North Korean defector is guiding tourists and offering his view of what it is actually like to grow up on the other side.
The largest election in the world begins in India
Voting begins on Friday in India in what’s being called the largest-election ever in recorded history. Almost 1 billion people are eligible to vote in the election, which will happen over the next six weeks. President Narendra Modi is likely to be reelected for a rare, third term, despite concerns about the growing Hindu nationalist movement he represents, and high unemployment. The World’s Carolyn Beeler spoke with journalist Sushmita Pathak, who talked to voters at the polls in the city of Jaipur.