Accessibility links
Asia Asia

Asia

Business

Amid Anxiety Surrounding Boeing's 737 Max Jets, One Airline Wants To Cancel Its Order

The airline Garuda Indonesia wants to cancel its order of 49 Boeing 737 Max 8 planes, but contracts make it expensive to do so.

Amid Anxiety Surrounding Boeing's 737 Max Jets, One Airline Wants To Cancel Its Order

Listen · 3:42
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/708405597/708405598" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
China's Global Construction Boom Puts Spotlight On Questionable Labor Practices

A Chinese site engineer is seen during construction of an extension of the Southern Expressway in Sri Lanka, in November. The project is part of Beijing's massive Belt and Road Initiative. Paula Bronstein/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Paula Bronstein/Getty Images

World

China's Global Construction Boom Puts Spotlight On Questionable Labor Practices

Chinese companies are recruiting workers from home and subjecting them to harsh treatment abroad. In one case, laborers brought to the U.S. were forced to work 14-hour days without pay.

National Security

Reports Say U.S. Sees A National Security Threat In Chinese Company Owning Grindr

NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Chris Calabrese of the Center for Democracy and Technology about reports that the U.S. sees a national security threat in a Chinese company owning the dating app Grindr.

Reports Say U.S. Sees A National Security Threat In Chinese Company Owning Grindr

Listen · 4:23
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/708170897/708170898" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Emergency Exits Were Locked In Building Where 25 People Died From Fire, Officials Say

At least 25 people died in a fire at a high-rise office building in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday — and officials say the building didn't have the right safety protocols in place. Mahmud Hossain Opu/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Mahmud Hossain Opu/AP

Emergency Exits Were Locked In Building Where 25 People Died From Fire, Officials Say

"This wasn't an accident; it's murder," Public Works and Housing Minister SM Rezaul Karim told reporters, blaming negligence for Thursday's deadly fire.

Preliminary Thai Election Results Are In, But Concerns About Accuracy Persist

Members of Thailand's Palang Pracharath Party wave from a truck featuring posters of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha, in Bangkok on Wednesday. The party took the lead in Thailand's first election since the army took power five years ago after a preliminary count by the election commission. Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images

Preliminary Thai Election Results Are In, But Concerns About Accuracy Persist

Initial numbers show the pro-military party winning the most votes. Official results won't come before May, and it's not yet clear which party will have the seats required to form a government.

High-Rise Fire Kills At Least 6, Creates Panic In Bangladesh Capital

Bangladeshi firefighters work to extinguish a blaze in an office building in Dhaka Thursday. The large and deadly fire — the latest in a string of such disasters in the city — forced people to try to climb down to safety. Munir Uz Zaman/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Munir Uz Zaman/AFP/Getty Images

High-Rise Fire Kills At Least 6, Creates Panic In Bangladesh Capital

At least one person was seen falling from the building, as a large crowd on the street watched people try to climb down using ropes or cables.

U.S. Negotiators Are In Beijing For Another Round Of Trade Talks

Steve Inskeep talks to Kevin Rudd, head of the Asia Society Policy Institute and former Australian prime minister, about U.S.-China talks. The U.S. first imposed tariffs in January 2018.

U.S. Negotiators Are In Beijing For Another Round Of Trade Talks

Listen · 3:29
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/706777752/707509499" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Business

Boeing Details 737 Max Software Fixes

Boeing invited members of the media, airlines, regulators and pilots to Washington state in a bid to assure them that the 737 Max is safe to fly. The aircraft were grounded after two deadly crashes.

Boeing Details 737 Max Software Fixes

Listen · 3:11
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/707509443/707509444" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
For Family Of A Lion Air Crash Victim, 'The Happiness Is Gone'

On the day of the Lion Air crash, Verian Utama (left) was traveling on the flight with a former pro rider named Andrea Manfredi (right), a friend who also perished. Courtesy of Verian Utama's family hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy of Verian Utama's family

Business

For Family Of A Lion Air Crash Victim, 'The Happiness Is Gone'

When a 737 Max crashed off the coast of Java last October, all 189 people on board were killed. Dozens of suits have been filed against Boeing, the plane's manufacturer, by relatives of the victims.

For Family Of A Lion Air Crash Victim, 'The Happiness Is Gone'

Listen · 4:23
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/707509415/707509416" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Technology

Thailand Moves Forward With Chinese Tech Company Huawei To Build 5G Network

The Chinese company Huawei is now building and testing Thailand's first 5G network. Thai authorities say they could not say no to Huawei's bargain prices, despite pressure from the U.S.

Thailand Moves Forward With Chinese Tech Company Huawei To Build 5G Network

Listen · 4:15
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/707358090/707358091" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
India Claims Successful Test Of Anti-Satellite Weapon

Experts believe the target of Wednesday's anti-satellite test was India's Microsat-R, which is shown here launching in January. Arun Sankar/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Arun Sankar/AFP/Getty Images

India Claims Successful Test Of Anti-Satellite Weapon

New Delhi says it destroyed one of its own satellites in orbit, making India only the fourth country to test such a weapon.

India Claims Successful Test Of Anti-Satellite Weapon

Listen · 2:35
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/707177688/707358219" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
China Will Prosecute Former Interpol Leader On Bribery Charges

Meng Hongwei was the president of Interpol when he was reported missing while on a trip to China last fall. He's now facing prosecution on bribery charges, China's Communist Party says. Wong Maye-E/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Wong Maye-E/AP

China Will Prosecute Former Interpol Leader On Bribery Charges

Meng Hongwei's case drew international headlines last fall after one of the world's top law enforcement officials suddenly lost contact with his family during a trip from France to China.