Archive: May 2020



STORY OF THE DAY • May 30, 2020 • 8 min read

Tourism As marine tourism takes a dive in Bali, marine life thrives

By Minka Curr • May 30, 2020
With the complete shutdown of the global travel industry in recent months, few places have felt the effect of that harder than the tourist-reliant island of Bali. But as its marine-focused economy suffers badly with no end in sight, its marine life is thriving

STORY OF THE DAY • May 30, 2020 • 4 min read

Covid-19 Lockdown antics of Singapore’s otters sparks backlash

By Catherine Lai/Agence France-Presse • May 30, 2020
Singapore's otters, long adored by the city-state's nature lovers, are popping up in unexpected places during the coronavirus lockdown, but their antics have angered some and even sparked calls for a cull

May 28, 2020 • 12 min read
UXO victims

In Laos, survivors of US bombs rebuild their lives – and limbs

A nine-year US campaign from 1964-73 made Laos the most bombed nation on earth, contaminating millions of hectares of land with explosives. Five decades on, thousands of UXO victims, some recent and some from decades past, work to piece their lives together
By Michael Hart • May 28, 2020

May 28, 2020 • 2 min read
Covid-19

Thailand enters global race for vaccine with trials on monkeys

Thailand has joined the global race to find a vaccine for Covid-19 as it has begun conducting tests on macaque monkeys this weekend, the National Primate Research Center of Thailand has announced
By Dene-Hern Chen and Anusak Konglang/AFP • May 28, 2020

May 27, 2020 • 9 min read
Green cities

How did lockdown impact air quality in your Southeast Asian city?

While the global pandemic has been devastating for economies and lives across the world, it has been undeniably good for the environment. As cities across Southeast Asia have shut down, air quality has steadily and uniformly improved – that is in all but one city
By Lee Ying Shan and Alexi Demetriadi • May 27, 2020

May 27, 2020 • 6 min read
Green cities

The curious case of Jakarta: Lockdown, less traffic, but worse air quality

Lockdowns brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic have had clear positive effects on pollutions levels across Southeast Asia’s major cities. But one city, notorious for its pollution, bucks that trend. Why has Jakarta’s air quality worsened during the lockdown months?
By Alexi Demetriadi • May 27, 2020

May 26, 2020 • 7 min read
Migrant rights

Taipei station becomes protest focal point, sparking migrant rights debate

A recent proposed ban on gatherings in Taipei Main Station has sparked anger in Taiwan, with the terminal's main hall holding a rich history of hosting protests and gatherings, as well as serving as a community space for many Southeast Asian migrant workers in the city
By Ying-Yu Alicia Chen • May 26, 2020

May 26, 2020 • 9 min read
Human trafficking

Cracks widen during virus for Vietnam’s most vulnerable – trafficked women

In northern Vietnam, hundreds of thousands of workers cross the Chinese border each year in search of work, among them women lured on false pretences and trafficked into marriage or sex work. As Vietnam's economy has slowed in recent months, these women are more vulnerable than ever
By Ashley Lampard • May 26, 2020

May 26, 2020 • 3 min read
Covid-19

Singapore warns of worst economic contraction since independence

With Singapore's key export sector hamstrung by the ongoing global economic downturn, it's predicted that the city-state's economy could shrink by as much as 7% this year – its worst performance for over five decades
By Agence France-Presse • May 26, 2020