Asia

Belgium is ending its ambassador's posting to South Korea, after his wife was seen on video allegedly slapping a clothing store employee. Here, a man walks past the Belgium Embassy in Seoul on Monday.

World News

Belgium Pulls Ambassador From South Korea After His Wife Allegedly Slaps Store Clerk

2:38pm May 31, 2021

by Bill Chappell

The diplomat can't perform his duties in a "serene" way after his wife was accused of assaulting two clothing store workers, Belgium says. The country also waived her diplomatic immunity.

As China's Birth Rate Drops, Couples May Now Have 3 Children

8:26am May 31, 2021

NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to David Rennie of The Economist about China's Communist Party announcing it will ease birth limits to allow couples to have three children. That's up from two.

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Civilians In Myanmar Fight Back Against Authoritative Regime

6:39am May 31, 2021

by Michael Sullivan

The shadow government made up of lawmakers sacked during the military coup created a defense force. But the People's Defense Force isn't considered a legitimate challenge to the military.

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A sandstorm moves the Gobi desert in Mongolia.

Buried Alive In Mongolia's Worst Sandstorms In A Decade

9:13am May 30, 2021

Even the rescue teams could not go forward during one of the fiercest of many sandstorms this spring. Herders have lost their herds — an estimated 1.6 million livestock — and their lives.

A man rides a bicycle on an empty street amid lockdown restrictions due to a surge in COVID-19 cases in Hanoi on May 10. On Saturday, Vietnam's health ministry announced the discovery of a new coronavirus variant in the country.

Vietnam Detects New Highly Transmissible Coronavirus Variant

5:05pm May 29, 2021

by Wynne Davis

Vietnam's health ministry announced the discovery of the new variant on Saturday that has characteristics of two other strains. The country is currently dealing with a recent spike in infections.

Homeland Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has announced a ban on seafood from a from a fleet of Chinese fishing vessels suspected of using forced labor.

The U.S. Has Banned Seafood From A Chinese Company Over Suspicions Of Forced Labor

12:11pm May 29, 2021

by Emine Yücel

The import ban followed a year-long investigation that uncovered what officials called signs of forced labor within the company's fishing fleet, including physical violence and witholding of wages.

As India suffers through a devastating coronavirus surge, children are asking difficult questions.

Health & Safety

Kids In India Are Asking Heartbreaking COVID-19 Questions. Here's How To Answer Them

10:19pm May 28, 2021

by Sushmita Pathak

As the country faces the world's worst coronavirus crisis, children want to know: Will I catch it? Will grandfather die? What's it like to be an orphan?

President Biden directed the intelligence agencies to look for evidence of an accident at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (pictured). Many scientists still think its more likely the virus came form the wild.

Health & Safety

Many Scientists Still Think The Coronavirus Came From Nature

5:09pm May 28, 2021

by Geoff Brumfiel

President Biden told U.S. intelligence agencies to investigate whether the coronavirus spread after a lab leak in China. Scientists welcome the request, but many still think it came from the wild.

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Thousands In India Infected By Rare 'Black Fungus' With 50% Mortality Rate

4:59pm May 28, 2021

by Lauren Frayer

Thousands of Indians recovering from COVID-19 have come down with a rare fungal infection that's killing 50% of its victims. Doctors have had to remove patients' eyes and jawbones to save them.

China Has COVID-19 Well-Contained, But Has Resisted Collaborating To End The Pandemic

4:59pm May 28, 2021

by John Ruwitch

China has had tremendous success containing the spread of COVID-19 while simultaneously being resistant to cooperating and collaborating with international partners to end the pandemic.