Jokowi’s oligarchs and Anakut
Rarely does the average citizen become concerned with the passage of an economic stimulus law, not least the finer details of a 1,000-page piece of legislation. But in Indonesia, riots erupted last week as parliament pushed through the Omnibus Bill on Job Creation, a law that many feel benefits political and economic elites. Contributor Stania Puspa unravels the controversial bill. We also publish the second episode of Anakut: The Podcast About Cambodia’s Future. This week Meng and Andrew enter the booth to discuss women’s issues in the Kingdom with two esteemed guests
Anakut episode two: Women in the Kingdom
The Globe’s first-ever podcast is on a roll! Hit the link to read the synopsis of our second episode, in which we sit down to speak with Chak Sopheap, head of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, and Ham Pidor, a youth influencer with a growing audience.
New ideas meet rich heritage on Bangkok’s Charoenkrung Road
Bangkok’s bustle and flow leaves no street untouched, and the historic Charoenkrung Road is no exception. What happens when old meets new on these quintessential blocks of old Thailand? Globe reporter Wanpen Pajai took her camera and her notebook to chat with locals and find the answer.
Jokowi and the oligarchs: Indonesia’s elite set to win from Omnibus Bill
Maintaining state power can be a balancing act in the sprawling archipelago of Indonesia, but President Joko Widodo may have given up the game with his government’s massive Omnibus Bill and its favours to industry. Contributor Stania Puspa shares the view from Jakarta.
Vietnam’s long and winding road to plastic waste reduction
A booming economy has given rise to fast-tracked consumption in Vietnam, and with it mounting waste. The country’s leaders have introduced legislation to curb its plastic habit, but some observers warn it still has the potential to become the world’s garbage dump.
‘One of Cambodia’s few success stories’: Saving the Siamese croc from extinction
The Siamese crocodile, once thought extinct, has seen a small but encouraging resurgence in Cambodia with around 300 now thought to live in the wild. After a discovery of 15 hatchlings last month, Globe reporter Alexi Demetriadi talked to those trying to save the species.
The age of government (dis)information in Thailand
When social media giant Twitter blocked nearly 1,000 accounts last week linked to the Royal Thai Army for spreading disinformation, few familiar with how the government of Prayut Chan-o-Cha operates would have been surprised.
What’s in a name? How Indonesian Buddhism gained its second ‘D’
Buddhists make up a small fraction of the population in the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, but a look back at the faith’s origins and evolution in Indonesia reveal a rich and intricate history intertwined with colonialism and nationalism.