Expert reaction: Sri Lanka Easter Sunday bombings

At least 290 people were killed in eight coordinated bombings on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday. The attacks represent the worst violence the South Asian country has seen since the end of its civil war. Here's what three NZ-based Sri Lanka experts had to say about the developing situation.

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Six years on from Rana Plaza, what has the fashion industry learned? 

April 24 marks the sixth anniversary of the Rana Plaza tragedy in Dhaka, Bangladesh. More than 1,130 garment workers were killed when the eight-storey building collapsed. For many, the tragedy served as a wake-up call to the human cost of fast fashion - but experts say there is still work to be done.

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10 things to know about Japan's new emperor Naruhito 

On April 30, Japan’s Emperor Akihito will officially retire, becoming the first Japanese monarch to abdicate in more than 200 years. The following day his eldest son, Crown Prince Naruhito, will ascend the throne, signalling the start of the new Reiwa era. Here are 10 things to know about the soon-to-be emperor.

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Got a story idea you want to cover in Asia? We're on the lookout for compelling proposals for stories that can help further New Zealanders' knowledge and understanding of Asia.

The Asia Media Centre is now welcoming applications for the Asia New Zealand Foundation's media travel grants programme. The deadline for the first of three funding rounds in 2019 is Monday 6 May at 5.30pm.

The travel grants offer New Zealand journalists the opportunity to travel independently to Asia to research and prepare stories. The grants cover most work-related costs, including return economy fares, insurance, daily allowances and visa and airport taxes.

FIND OUT MORE HERE

What has media in New Zealand been reporting about Asia? Here's a roundup of stories from the past week. 

• Trips to Korea up for grabs for the grandchildren of Korean war vets 
  STUFF
    
• Alibaba officials are flying to New Zealand to explore creating a logistics hub in regional NZ
  NZ HERALD 
    
• Meet the New Zealander who discovered a passion for gardening in Tokyo 
  1 NEWS
   
• Huawei piles pressure on Govt with ads and sponsorship, security experts say 
  STUFF 
   
• Military tech in sights with foreign investor plans
  NEWSROOM
   
• Tuku Iho Living Legacy exhibition taking Māori culture to the world 
  ROTORUA DAILY POST 

What has media in Asia been reporting about New Zealand? Here’s a roundup of news and views from the region.

• Cultural differences between Kiwi son-in-law and Chinese mother-in-law amuse thousands of viewers in China 
  SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST | HONG KONG
   
• First Filipino to become member of Parliament in New Zealand
  SUN STAR MANILA | PHILIPPINES 
    
• Feature: Belt and Road Initiative revitalizes New Zealand's small town
  XINHUA | CHINA
   
• Vishnu Manchu in New Zealand to scout locations for 'Kannappa'
  TIMES OF INDIA 

• New Zealand group to perform war dance for Taiwan Flora Expo finale
  TAIWAN NEWS 

World: Strong Asia presence on Time's Most Influential List

Chinese President Xi Jinping, Pakistani PM Imran Khan, and Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad all feature on Time Magazine's '100 Most Influential People' list, alongside Filipino journalist Maria Ressa and K-pop boy band BTS. 

China: Leica under fire for 'Tiananmen Square' advert

Camera maker Leica is at the centre of a PR storm over a promotional video which depicts the events at Tiananmen Square in 1989. The word "Leica" has reportedly been blocked from Chinese social media as a result.

Malaysia: No love for black metal on Easter Sunday 

Black metal fans in Kuala Lumpur were left seething after the Council of Churches of Malaysia blocked a gig that was set to take place on Easter Sunday. The group opposed the band's allegedly anti-Christian, pro-satanic lyrics.