Can the Easter Island's indigenous Rapa Nui win the fight for independence from Chile to protect their land and culture?

New Zealand's adventure tourism industry has become a magnet for thrill-seekers, but how safe is it?

A Nepalese doctor takes an Indonesian woman under his tutelage and brings the gift of sight to the world's destitute.

From malnutrition to leprosy, people in the poor nation of East Timor suffer some of the worst health problems in South East Asia.

As thousands of Chinese are hunting for their dream homes abroad, we investigate the impact of their shopping spree.

101 East explores why so many young Australians are risking their lives on the brutal front lines of Syria and Iraq.

101 East talks to Cambodia's fallen anti-sex trafficking icon as she fights to restore her reputation and save her NGO.

Can marine scientists in Indonesia save the world's oceans with a 3D map of the most biodiverse region on earth?

Hundreds of Cambodian journalists make a living by uncovering news and then extorting bribes to bury the story.

101 East examines what is driving the high number of fatal road accidents in Laos and Southeast Asia.

One year after Flight MH370 vanished, 101 East investigates one of the world's greatest aviation mysteries.

Deep-sea mining could help fight climate change, but how would it affect the world's biggest ocean? In a 2-part special, 101 East investigates. 101 East investigates how the Pacific Ocean could be the first frontier of deep-sea mining. Published on 20 April 2023. Resource companies and island nations are scouring the Pacific Ocean for vast untapped minerals. Trillions of rocks found on the seabed contain metals that could power electric cars and green energy. The Cook Islands government believes deep-sea mining could contribute to the fight against climate change and end the country’s economic dependence on tourism. But environmentalists say extracting minerals from 5,000 metres (16,400 feet) beneath the ocean’s surface could be catastrophic for fragile marine ecosystems the scientific world knows little about. With deep-sea mining likely to start in 2024, 101 East investigates how it could affect the world’s largest ocean. This documentary was produced in collaboration with SBS Australia and supported by the Sean Dorney Grant for Pacific Journalism through the Walkley Public Fund.

In a 2-part special report, 101 East joins the hunt for thousands of artefacts stolen from across Asia and follows those trying to return them home. 101 East joins the hunt to bring back Asia’s looted artefacts from museums and private collections across Europe, the US and Australia. Since the 19th century, thousands of ancient artefacts have been looted from Asian countries, ending up in Western museums and private collections. Now archaeologists, activists, internet sleuths and lawyers are joining forces to hunt down the priceless stolen artefacts and have them returned home. Investigators from Cambodia and Thailand to the United Kingdom and the United States are searching for evidence to reclaim pieces stolen by one of the world’s most notorious art thieves. They are gathering firsthand testimonies from looters, and using photographic and forensic evidence. In this special report, 101 East follows the hunt for Asia’s stolen artefacts.

In the wake of unprecedented political turbulence, what does Anwar Ibrahim’s long-awaited rise mean for Malaysians? Published on 8 Jun 2023. After decades as an opposition figure, in November 2022 Anwar Ibrahim became Malaysia’s prime minister. His appointment comes after a turbulent election, which saw an unprecedented hung parliament, large gains by a conservative Muslim party and heightened racial tensions. The election exposed Malaysia’s deepening fault lines, notably an electorate polarised between factions that support multiculturalism and religious conservatism. Anwar now faces the uphill task of delivering on long-pledged reforms, while reconciling the nation and maintaining political stability. 101 East joins Anwar Ibrahim as he navigates his first six months in power and examines the challenges that lie ahead for him and Malaysia.

101 East investigates a global network of secret Chinese ‘police outposts’ and allegations Chinese dissidents are being stalked and harassed in Europe. In Europe, a Chinese dissident fears for his safety. He says his life is being destroyed by harassment and threats he believes are linked to a network of unofficial Chinese police outposts – and he says he has evidence to prove it. A human rights group has revealed more than 100 clandestine “service stations” across the globe linked with police in China, which they say are being used to hunt down Chinese citizens living in exile. China denies the claims. 101 East investigates allegations of stalking and intimidation of Chinese dissidents and delves into the secretive world of China’s influence overseas.

As India becomes the world's most populous country, 101 East investigates controversial family planning measures designed to curb population growth. Published on 29 Jun 2023. India has surpassed China as the world’s most populous country. Driven by states like Bihar, the country’s population is forecast to continue growing. With Bihar’s fertility rate much higher than the national average, authorities are using a raft of family planning measures, including incentives for sterilisations, which critics say places the burden unfairly on women. Home to more than 120 million people, competition for jobs is tougher than ever as the state struggles to curb its high unemployment rate. 101 East investigates attempts to control India’s population growth and the challenges of finding work in the world’s most populous country.

In a 2-part special report, 101 East joins the hunt for thousands of artefacts stolen from across Asia and follows those trying to return them home. 101 East joins the hunt to bring back Asia’s looted artefacts from museums and private collections across Europe, the US and Australia. Since the 19th century, thousands of ancient artefacts have been looted from Asian countries, ending up in Western museums and private collections. Now archaeologists, activists, internet sleuths and lawyers are joining forces to hunt down the priceless stolen artefacts and have them returned home. Investigators from Cambodia and Thailand to the United Kingdom and the United States are searching for evidence to reclaim pieces stolen by one of the world’s most notorious art thieves. They are gathering firsthand testimonies from looters, and using photographic and forensic evidence. In this special report, 101 East follows the hunt for Asia’s stolen artefacts.

101 East investigates the supreme leader’s sister, Kim Yo-jong, who some say could be North Korea’s next ruler. Published on Thursday 23 March 2023. Could North Korea’s next ruler be a woman? North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s sister, Kim Yo-jong, has an increasingly prominent role in the communist regime and some observers believe she is his natural successor. The Kim family has transformed the so-called Hermit Kingdom into a dynasty that operates like a royal family. Kim Yo-jung has a tight bond with her brother and has been entrusted with important diplomatic missions. As a nuclear state technically still at war with neighbouring South Korea, North Korea is a crucial player in Asian geopolitics. 101 East investigates North Korea’s most powerful woman.

Tigers and rhinos were almost poached to extinction in Nepal – now their numbers are on the rise. We ask how they did it and at what cost. In the 1960s, Nepal’s one-horned rhino population had plummeted to less than 100, with poachers threatening it with extinction. Yet Nepal’s latest rhino census reveals something remarkable – the number of rhinos has grown to 752. The rise is attributed to one of the world’s toughest anti-poaching approaches, mixed with innovative community-based conservation efforts. And this success is not limited to the rhino – with the Himalayan nation close to tripling its tiger population in 2022. 101 East investigates one of the greatest conservation success stories in Asia and asks if it is sustainable. Published on Thursday 9 March 2023.

Deep sea mining could help fight climate change, but how would it affect the world's biggest ocean? In a 2 part special, 101 East investigates. Minerals deep below the surface could help fight climate change, but how would deep sea mining affect the world's biggest ocean? 101 East investigates how the Pacific Ocean could be the first frontier of deep-sea mining. Published on 20 April 2023. Resource companies and island nations are scouring the Pacific Ocean for vast untapped minerals. Trillions of rocks found on the seabed contain metals that could power electric cars and green energy. The Cook Islands government believes deep-sea mining could contribute to the fight against climate change and end the country’s economic dependence on tourism. But environmentalists say extracting minerals from 5,000 metres (16,400 feet) beneath the ocean’s surface could be catastrophic for fragile marine ecosystems the scientific world knows little about. With deep-sea mining likely to start in 2024, 101 East investigates how it could affect the world’s largest ocean. This documentary was produced in collaboration with SBS Australia and supported by the Sean Dorney Grant for Pacific Journalism through the Walkley Public Fund.

101 East investigates the battle to reign in Australia's addiction to poker machines. Australians are the world’s biggest gamblers, losing $25bn a year. And poker machines are their preferred choice of poison. Despite its relatively small population, the country is home to 20 percent of the world’s “pokies”, as the machines are known locally, with most found in community pubs and clubs. Gambling causes widespread social destruction, but taking on the vested interests behind an industry that generates billions in profits and taxes has proved extremely difficult. Now, after decades of failure, state governments are fighting back. 101 East investigates Australia’s battle against gambling addiction.

Five years after a genocidal crackdown on Myanmar's Rohingya Muslim people, 101 East reveals exclusive secret footage from inside an apartheid state. Published on Thursday 6 April 2023. The plight of Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslim minority has faded from the media spotlight. But some journalists are bravely filming in secret inside what they call an apartheid state and sharing hundreds of hours of exclusive footage with 101 East. The videos tell a grim story. Although the atrocities that triggered a mass exodus in 2017 have subsided, the Rohingya continue to face state-sanctioned discrimination, exploitation and physical abuse. They cannot travel freely, have limited access to education and healthcare, and are victims of corrupt local officials. And a raging civil war has left them caught between deadly rival factions. On 101 East, Myanmar’s Rohingya VJs. Classification: G-CV

101 East travels to Kazakhstan, where Russians opposed to the war in Ukraine are starting new lives. Published on Thursday 13 April 2023. Hundreds of thousands of Russians have fled their homeland since the beginning of the war in Ukraine in February 2022. Afraid they could be sent to fight, some left by car, bicycle, even by foot, crossing into neighbouring Kazakhstan just hours after President Vladimir Putin ordered a military mobilisation. Others decided to flee due to fear they could be punished for speaking out against the war. Kazakhstan has largely welcomed the sudden influx, but for many new arrivals, the future is uncertain. 101 East meets young Russians opposed to the war in Ukraine who are starting new lives in Kazakhstan.

101 East uncovers the vast network trafficking Vietnamese children into modern-day slavery.

101 East visits Indian-administered Kashmir and meets the Kashmiris conquering the slopes of their homeland through a burgeoning ski industry.

101 East meets the residents bearing the brunt of India’s heatwave and the first responders desperately trying to put out the fires.

101 East follows the young Indian tribal athletes racing against the tide for Olympic glory. Ravikiran Siddi learned to run as a young boy on hunting trips with his father in the remote Indian forests of Uttara Kannada. Now he dreams of representing his community internationally on the track. Descended from the African Bantu tribe, Siddi people have lived in India for centuries but have long been discriminated against as outsiders. Now, a sporting initiative is helping tribal communities achieve athletic success and with it, recognition and acceptance. 101 East meets the young athletes racing for a better future.

101 East reports on the people and events shaping the Asia Pacific region.

101 East reports on the people and events shaping the Asia Pacific region.

101 East investigates the deadly price Korean delivery workers are paying for online shopping convenience.

101 East investigates why young Indigenous women are dying of a preventable disease in remote Australian communities.

101 East follows the Chinese mothers fighting to reunite with their children, who were abducted by their fathers. Published on Thursday 26 May 2022. Every year in China, an estimated 80,000 children are kidnapped by one of their parents. Almost three-quarters of the children are under the age of six and in most cases the parent responsible is the father. Mothers are often left behind with little recourse, despite having custody or visitation rights. 101 East follows the Chinese mothers fighting desperate battles to reunite with their children.

From candlelit rituals to magical potions, 101 East goes inside the mystical world of the weizza, Myanmar’s wizards.

101 East reports on the people and events shaping the Asia Pacific region.

On the front line of the battle to save Tasmania's ancient forests, 101 East meets the ordinary citizens risking jail time to make a stand. Published on 8 Sep 2022. What motivates a doctor or an artist to chain themselves to trees and risk jail time? Hundreds of ordinary citizens are volunteering in a battle to protect an ancient rainforest in the Australian state of Tasmania. They are determined to stop the construction of a tailings dam by a Chinese mining company, saying it threatens endangered wildlife and 500-year-old trees. Despite tough new penalties for protesters, they are prepared to break the law for their beliefs. Filming from day one of the protest, 101 East follows the latest fight in the continuing struggle to save Australia’s largest temperate rainforest.

As Singapore steps up its pace of executions, 101 East investigates government claims that the death penalty deters drug trafficking. Singapore is known for having some of the toughest drug laws in the world. The government insists that the death penalty helps keep the country safe. But a spate of executions has caused alarm and triggered unprecedented protests in the city-state. Authorities say the majority of Singapore’s residents support its zero-tolerance policy. But critics maintain that vulnerable people are being killed, leaving families devastated. Should Singapore heed calls to rethink its drug laws? 101 East investigates.

101 East meets the female stunt riders defying gravity and tradition in Indonesia. Published on 23 February 2023. Across Indonesia, death-defying motorbike riders are the star attraction at fun fairs known as “pasar malams”. The performers propel their bikes up the near-vertical walls of the so-called “Devil’s Barrel”, a two-storey high wooden structure. Stunt riding is a male-dominated world in the conservative Muslim-majority country, but now a group of young women are blazing their own trail. 101 East meets the female stunt performers defying tradition – and gravity – in Indonesia.

In a 2-part special series, 101 East follows a female school principal and student who have fled Taliban rule in Afghanistan to start new lives in Canada. Published on Thursday 09 February 2023. After the Afghan capital, Kabul, fell to the Taliban in August 2021, there was a mass exodus as civilians fled their homeland. They are now scattered around the world, from New Zealand to North America. But what are their new lives like in countries and cultures far from home? Filmed over four years, this special 101 East report follows a female school principal and a student on their challenging journey to new lives in Canada.

101 East meets the scientists trying to bring the Tasmanian tiger back to life and asks if it is scientifically possible or just a publicity stunt. Published on 26 January 2023. Australia’s thylacine has been extinct for almost 100 years, but a group of the country’s scientists say they will have it roaming the wilds again in a matter of years. Having received a $15m funding windfall, they are embarking on a project to bring the so-called Tasmanian tiger back to life and are hoping the technology they develop will also help save endangered species from extinction. But many leading scientists dismiss it as fanciful, claiming the money would be better spent elsewhere. 101 East meets the scientists behind the ambitious project to bring thylacine back to life.

In a 2-part special report, 101 East investigates the growing influence of Chinese investors in Afghanistan, in the wake of the Taliban takeover. When the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, most foreigners and multinational companies had already packed up and left Afghanistan. Going against the stream of foreigners fleeing the country was a group looking for “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunities: Chinese entrepreneurs. Despite the ongoing unrest, an economic crisis and United Nations’ concerns over human rights, more Chinese citizens are joining the country’s “gold rush”. Once a small minority, Chinese nationals now make up Afghanistan’s biggest group of expatriates. With exclusive access to leading Chinese investors, 101 East investigates their growing influence across Afghanistan’s business and media sectors.

101 East investigates the rise of female fighters in armed groups across Southeast Asia. Across Southeast Asia, a growing number of women are being recruited by armed groups like ISIL (ISIS). Female fighters were involved in eight of the 11 suicide attacks carried out between May 2018 and May 2021. Helping to recruit and finance fighting cells, women are increasingly at the centre of violent attacks. Counterterrorism experts say it is important to understand how these women come to join violent groups and that women should be involved in the de-radicalisation process.

101 East enters the secretive world of Japanese sumo, where athletes undertake relentless training and eating, and any scandals are quickly covered up.

With water wars predicted to escalate amid worsening climate change, we go undercover in Pakistan, where water thieves are proliferating.

101 East gains rare access inside New Zealand's prisons and criminal underworld to investigate the cost of the country's harsh criminal justice system. Why does New Zealand have one of the highest rates of incarceration in the developed world?

101 East returns to Christchurch to follow the survivors on their journey of recovery from wounds both physical and emotional.

101 East documents the rising deaths as people refuse to back down.

As stories about abusive teachers hit the headlines in Thailand, 101 East meet the students who say they have had enough.

101 East investigates why the relationship between China and Australia has hit rock bottom and meets the individuals paying the price.

101 East meets the virus hunters searching for the roots of a deadly pandemic.

101 East investigates how the COVID-19 pandemic is changing Singapore’s food hawker culture.