Showing 1 - 7 of 7
Year of Turbulence
Asia focus, Asia Focus Team, Published on 27/12/2021
» Pandemic drags on recovery: In the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, many Asian countries had enviable success, avoiding large-scale outbreaks and mass deaths. But the arrival of the more transmissible Delta variant this year and sluggish vaccine rollouts compounded by low availability sent cases surging. Combined with poor monitoring and easy movement among countries, often unofficially, Southeast Asia became a virus hotspot. The ballooning health crisis collided with churning political discontent in the case of Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia. Economically, the new wave of infections, and attendant restrictions imposed to curb the spread, stalled recoveries. After nearly two years of strict border controls, many countries started to loosen up and live with Covid. But the rise of the Omicron variant now threatens to scuttle those tentative reopening plans and usher in a third year of economic anxiety.
Raising the stakes with lab-grown meat
Asia focus, Suwatchai Songwanich, Published on 21/12/2020
» Singapore recently became the first government to approve the use of lab-grown meat as an ingredient in food. Many have seen the move as a bellwether for the development of a global synthetic meat market -- an innovative sector which in the long term could significantly reduce our reliance on the slaughter of animals for food while significantly reducing carbon emissions.
Long road to recovery for Indonesia
Asia focus, Ismira Lutfia Tisnadibrata, Published on 27/07/2020
» The days leading up to the Eid al-Adha festival, which this year will fall on July 31, are usually the busiest days of the year for Bintang Sapi Madani, a cow breeder in Bogor on the outskirts of Jakarta.
Asia's century, China's year
Asia focus, Asia Focus team, Published on 30/12/2019
» Way back when 1999 was winding down, pundits were telling us that the Asian Century was about to dawn. That prediction has not yet been fully realised, but few would disagree that 2019 belonged to China. Over the past 12 months, the top headlines have been about the bruising trade war with America, defiant protests in Hong Kong against Beijing's tightening grip, and the rise of a surveillance state that is herding hundreds of thousands into "re-education" camps on its western fringes. Below, the Asia Focus team looks back on a busy and sometimes troubling 2019.
Uttar Pradesh tanneries feeling unwelcome, ready to move
Asia focus, Narendra Kaushik, Published on 25/02/2019
» Firoz Alam is feeling victimised these days. The owner of a small tannery in Kanpur, he and dozens of others have been forced to close because of concerns that their operations are polluting the Ganges River in Uttar Pradesh.
Sporting chance for change
Asia focus, Ismira Lutfia Tisnadibrata, Published on 27/08/2018
» As the Asian Games wind down this week, residents of Jakarta and Palembang -- the two co-hosting cities -- are wondering what will become of their cities after all the hype and massive revamping and construction of infrastructure leading up to the event is over.
Paws up: Indonesia tackles the dog meat trade
Asia focus, Ismira Lutfia Tisnadibrata, Published on 20/08/2018
» Fien Harini still remembers when Ireng, her mongrel pet dog, disappeared and never returned home.