Topic
Society
Without Money For A Funeral, an Indonesian Father Buried His Stillborn Baby in a Freezer Box
By Aisyah Llewellyn
The viral news story provided a stark illustration of the gap between the rhetoric of Indonesian politicians and the realities faced by many ordinary people.
Netherlands Announces Return of Cultural Objects to Indonesia
By Sebastian Strangio
The repatriation will include the “Lombok treasure,” a collection of 335 gold and silver items plundered by Dutch troops from the Indonesian island in 1894.
How Organ Donation Become Politicized in Hong Kong
By T-Fai Yeung
As a deeply personal choice takes on political overtones, the truth behind Hong Kong’s low organ donor registration rate becomes harder to find.
New Uzbekistan, New Universities, New Problems
By Niginakhon Saida
Reforms in tertiary education have made university degrees more attainable in Uzbekistan, but less valued.
We Know Microfinance Harms Cambodia’s Poor. What Can Be Done About It?
By David Hutt
Much ink has been spilled identifying the many problems with the sector, but much less so about possible ways forward.
George Black on the Toxic Afterlife of the US War in Vietnam
By Sebastian Strangio
The veteran writer talks about the "small group of thoughtful, committed citizens” that helped publicize the horrific legacies of the war – and foster reconciliation between two former enemies.
Cancel Culture Hits Central Asia’s Concert Scene
By Colleen Wood
How should we interpret the recent cancellations of a number of planned concerts by Russian performers in the region?
Preventing a Humanitarian Catastrophe in Taiwan
By Eric James
A cross-strait conflict would involve tremendous human suffering – and major difficulties in providing humanitarian aid.
Indonesia’s Mandalika Project Reveals the Dark Side of AIIB Lending
By Wawa Wang
The Chinese-led bank’s governance model emphasizes rapid and flexible infrastructure financing, making it easier for clients to dodge higher rule-based standards.
From Cambodia’s Killing Fields to the US Secret Service
By Luke Hunt
A conversation with author Leth Oun.
Australia Works to Combat Modern Slavery
By Grant Wyeth
Modern slavery ranges from debt bondage and forced child labor to sexual exploitation.
The Political Ideology Behind Anti-Conversion Laws in India
By Rashad Khan
As Congress vows to amend the controversial law in Karnataka, a look at the motivations underpinning such legislation.