Life

Putting people at the heart of the story.

Life • STORY OF THE DAY • Mar 18, 2021 • 4 min read

Religion Cover up: Indonesian women pressed to wear Islamic headscarves

By Agnes Anya/AFP • Mar 18, 2021
Schoolgirls, female teachers and other civil servants across Indonesia are often forced or pressured to wear Islamic head coverings, sometimes including Christians and other non-Muslim minorities, said a report published on March 18 by Human Rights Watch

Life • STORY OF THE DAY • Mar 15, 2021 • 3 min read

History [Photos] Archive shots of pre-coup 1960s Rangoon and Mandalay

By Alastair McCready • Mar 15, 2021
The 1962 coup d'etat is Myanmar's nation-defining moment, plunging the country into military rule, the effects of which are unfolding today. Taken in 1960, these striking images show pre-coup Myanmar, back when the country's trajectory could still have been different

Life • STORY OF THE DAY • Mar 15, 2021 • 9 min read

Myanmar coup For Myanmar’s ethnic minorities, restoring democracy is not enough

By Mary Malone • Mar 15, 2021
Myanmar's several major ethnic minority groups have been among those enduring the military's bloody crackdown as they oppose the coup. But for most, their calls go beyond just restoring democracy, as they look for a more inclusive and equitable Myanmar

Life • STORY OF THE DAY • Mar 12, 2021 • 4 min read

Covid-19 Thailand suspends vaccine rollout as Biden eyes Independence Day

By Agence France-Presse • Mar 12, 2021
Just after US President Joe Biden offered hope for Covid-weary Americans, Thailand on Friday March 12 joined several European nations in suspending the AstraZeneca vaccine over blood clot fears.

Life • Mar 10, 2021 • 8 min read
Migrant rights

The photography project empowering Rohingya refugees to tell their stories

Rohingya living in refugee camps in Bangladesh are deprived of basic services, most importantly their right to work and become self-sufficient. But through an ongoing photography and storytelling project, one documentary filmmaker is hoping to change that
By Kiana Duncan • Mar 10, 2021

Life • Mar 08, 2021 • 9 min read
International Women's Day

Condoms, consent, and courage: Teaching sex positivity in Malaysia

Jasmine King is pushing past cultural conservatism to promote sex positivity in Malaysia, opening up conversations about pleasure, health and inclusivity. She has attracted thousands of followers, but also pushback as cultural taboos pose formidable barriers
By Helen Jambunathan • Mar 08, 2021

Life • Mar 08, 2021 • 9 min read
International Women's Day

Investing in Cambodia’s women: Providing opportunities, not charity

While images of poverty-stricken women dominate much of the fundraising materials for charities, SHE Investments Managing Director Celia Boyd argues that more is needed than just the exchange of funds, with women's empowerment the ultimate goal
By Celia Boyd • Mar 08, 2021

Life • Mar 05, 2021 • 15 min read
Child exploitation

This reformed village shows Cambodia’s evolution in child sex exploitation

Once the centre of child sex tourism in Cambodia, today Svay Pak is a drastically changed community due to efforts by authorities and NGOs in recent decades. But the industry, today eradicated from street corners, has adapted to the digital age
By Andrew Haffner and Allegra Mendelson • Mar 05, 2021

Life • Mar 04, 2021 • 14 min read
Myanmar coup

‘He shot straight at me’: Myanmar journalists describe covering the coup

Amidst brutal military crackdowns, journalists across Myanmar are spotlighting events on the ground. Faced with violence and threats of arrest, many tread a fine line – at once offering a global audience updates, while also protecting themselves from military action
By Allegra Mendelson • Mar 04, 2021

Life • Mar 03, 2021 • 9 min read
Language

What’s causing Thailand’s poor English language proficiency?

Despite boasting among the region's highest human development scores, Thailand is among ASEAN's worst for English ability. Language experts and reformers alike believe cultural factors and structural flaws in the education system are holding the kingdom back
By Tara Abhasakun • Mar 03, 2021

Life • Mar 01, 2021 • 10 min read
History

Photography book remembers Cambodian refugee resettlement in Chicago

Photographer Stuart Isett spent three years photographing Chicago's small Cambodian community in the early 90s. Thirty years later, his photos are resurfacing in a new book drawing attention back to a little-remembered generation of Cambodian-Americans in the US
By Kiana Duncan • Mar 01, 2021

Life • Mar 01, 2021 • 15 min read
Identity

An exploration of food and identity among the Cambodian American diaspora

Food is an essential part of life. The food that we eat, the food that we crave, and the food that we choose to put into our bodies play a deep role into our identity and how we see ourselves
By Cambodian American Literary Arts Association • Mar 01, 2021