Showing 21 - 30 of 198
Shifting the centre
Asia focus, Ismira Lutfia Tisnadibrata, Published on 02/09/2019
» After months of hype about a proposal to move Indonesia's capital, President Joko Widodo has confirmed the choice of a site in East Kalimantan, 1,900 kilometres northeast of overcrowded and rapidly sinking Jakarta.
War on waste heats up in China
Asia focus, Suwatchai Songwanich, Published on 02/09/2019
» China, the world's largest producer of waste, is developing carrot-and-stick policies supported by technological innovations to address the environmental and human costs of its trash. This is no mean feat considering its volume of municipal solid waste is expected to be twice that of the United States by 2030.
Yangon gets smarter
Asia focus, Larry Jagan, Published on 20/05/2019
» Yangon is introducing smart meters to control the electricity supply, monitor usage and bill customers in a single automated system. If a pilot project is successful, the potential for further development could be huge, says the entrepreneur spearheading the technology.
Joko gets building again
Asia focus, Ismira Lutfia Tisnadibrata, Published on 03/06/2019
» With his victory in the April polls confirmed by the elections commission on May 21, Indonesian President Joko Widodo is preparing to press ahead with an ambitious infrastructure drive in his second term, starting with 415 trillion rupiah (US$28.8 billion) allocated in the 2019 state budget.
Youth movement in George Town
Asia focus, Published on 03/06/2019
» The faded white walls and wooden door of Fong Lai Kheng's hair salon in the heart of George Town stand out on a street lined with souvenir shops, cafes and colourful murals.
Indonesia cleans up its mounting plastic waste
Asia focus, Ismira Lutfia Tisnadibrata, Published on 01/04/2019
» Having earned notoriety as one of the top marine polluters in the world from plastic waste, Indonesia is taking action, although the government and the private sector may not see eye to eye on how to tackle the problem.
Cautious neighbours
Asia focus, Larry Jagan, Published on 01/04/2019
» "Good relations with China are essential," Thaung Tun, Myanmar's economic tsar, told Asia Focus recently. That relationship is the key to Myanmar's development and security, he added. "But that relationship won't supersede or override Myanmar's own national interests, though Beijing's position will always be of utmost importance."
Indonesia ready to regulate motorcycle taxi fares
Asia focus, Ismira Lutfia Tisnadibrata, Published on 28/01/2019
» Reports of a government plan to regulate the fares of app-based motorcycle taxis have given some hope to Fariz, a driver who switched to an app-based service from a regular one six months ago.
Myanmar steps up financial reforms
Asia focus, Larry Jagan, Published on 24/12/2018
» The government of Myanmar is finally putting its long-anticipated plans for economic liberalisation into overdrive. In the past few weeks it has announced numerous reforms -- including insurance liberalisation and further easing of restrictions on foreign banks, the establishment of a credit rating bureau and the formation of a "project bank" to encourage investment, especially from abroad.
Palu struggles back to life after deadly quake
Asia focus, Ismira Lutfia Tisnadibrata, Published on 15/10/2018
» It was just over two weeks ago that a 7.4 magnitude earthquake jolted the seaside town of Palu on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi as residents were preparing to stage a festival.