tier-1



STORY OF THE DAY • May 26, 2020 • 3 min read

Covid-19 Singapore warns of worst economic contraction since independence

By Agence France-Presse • May 26, 2020
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

STORY OF THE DAY • May 25, 2020 • 7 min read

Tales of the Pandemic A Cambodian student’s account of the virus emerging in Wuhan

By Soun Phannaroat • May 25, 2020
Like many, Cambodian student Soun Phannaroat didn't think much of December reports of a new virus spreading in Wuhan, the city in which she was studying. But as the weeks ticked on, the gravity of the situation became apparent, and she knew she needed to leave

STORY OF THE DAY • May 25, 2020 • 10 min read

Tales of the Pandemic Humanitarian outreach for migrants on the Thai-Myanmar border

By Wayland Blue • May 25, 2020
Mae Sot, a town on the Thai-Myanmar frontier home to a large Burmese migrant worker and refugee community, was hit hard in February when borders shut and supply routes were interrupted. Wayland Blue of the Shade Tree Foundation was part of an outreach team trying to mitigate these effects through a community outreach programme

STORY OF THE DAY • May 25, 2020 • 2 min read

Migrant workers Filipina domestic worker commits suicide in Lebanon says embassy

By Agence France-Presse • May 25, 2020
A Filipina domestic workers committed suicide after jumping from the roof of a shelter run by her embassy in Lebanon. Already harsh conditions for migrant workers in the Middle East have only been made worse in recent months as the Covid-19 crisis causes currencies to depreciate and wages drop

May 25, 2020 • 3 min read

Human trafficking and UXO victims

This week we turn to the scourge of human trafficking, long an issue in north Vietnam's provinces bordering China. With the economic downturn in recent months, more women are being drawn over the border, lured on false pretences and sold into prostitution or marriage. We also take a look at UXO victims in Laos, among the world's most bombed countries that still today is heavily littered with US devices dropped in the 1970s. What kind of support are the countries thousands of amputees getting?
By Chia Chi Hsu • May 25, 2020

May 22, 2020 • 10 min read
World Turtle Day

Treading on eggshells: Southeast Asia’s turtle conservation fight

As the global pandemic brings a halt to most human activity, many species of turtle are finally finding the breathing room to once again breed and repopulate. But it takes a community to save a turtle, and across Southeast Asia there are several networks fighting for nature's gentle giants
By Lee Ying Shan • May 22, 2020

May 22, 2020 • 9 min read
Conservation

The Galapagos Islands on land: How limestone is essential to life

An essential component for cement, as well as a breeding ground for biodiversity, limestone quite literally serves as the building block for much of life on earth. On this International Day of Biological Diversity, Rimba gives us the run down on this most unsung of all heroes
By Dr Gopalasamy Reuben Clements and Junn Kitt Foon • May 22, 2020

May 21, 2020 • 8 min read
Drug trafficking

As governments turn to the virus, Southeast Asia’s narcotics trade booms

Southeast Asia's booming narcotics industry has only been given a helping hand in recent months as governments turn their attention to combating Covid-19. With prices dropping and potency rising, the drug trade could be set to hit the region harder than ever
By Andrew Haffner • May 21, 2020

May 21, 2020 • 9 min read
Opinion

‘Cambodia’s agricultural sector is in dire need of revitalisation’

With the stalwarts of the Cambodian economy, tourism and garments, set to be decimated by the economic downturn, Prime Minister Hun Sen has called on agriculture to step in and pick up the slack. A badly neglected sector struggling to survive with outdated methods, technology and extreme weather events, how can this be done?
By Nith Kosal • May 21, 2020

May 21, 2020 • 2 min read
Covid-19

Robot dog on virus park patrol in Singapore

A yellow robot dog called Spot, which found fame online for dancing to Mark Ronson's hit song Uptown Funk, has been deployed to patrol a Singapore park and ensure people observe social distancing to stem the spread of Covid-19
By Agence France-Presse • May 21, 2020

May 20, 2020 • 6 min read
Philippines press freedom

Embattled ABS-CBN’s future shrouded in doubt, but newsroom fights on

In the Philippines, the future of ABS-CBN remains uncertain as a decision on whether to allow it to return to air meanders through the nation's political system. But in the newsroom, one of the network's few branches still operating, news chief Ging Reyes says there is a renewed drive and energy
By Alexi Demetriadi • May 20, 2020

May 20, 2020 • 8 min read
Ethical consumerism

Upcycling: Growing sustainability and diversity in Cambodia’s garment sector

Upcycling is a seemingly win-win initiative bringing old adversaries the environment and profitability together. While in its nascent stages in Cambodia, does a circular economy offer potential for the badly hit garment sector to diversify and increase sustainability?
By Tom Starkey • May 20, 2020