The Fight Against “The Beast”: New Research Offers Hope in Motor Neurone Disease Battle For Mike O’Hehir, a former marathon runner and Sydney father, initial symptoms of motor neurone disease (MND) – sudden weakness, muscle cramps, and twitches in his arms – were initially dismissed as complications from an old surfing injury. This misdiagnosis highlights … Read more
The Rising Tide of Corporate Accountability: Modern Slavery in Global Supply Chains For too long, the term “modern slavery” conjured images of historical perbudakan – outright ownership of people. Today, the reality is far more insidious: a lack of genuine choice for workers, driven by threats, coercion, deception, or crippling debt. This evolving understanding is … Read more
The Rise of Citizen Wayfinding: How Singapore’s “Guerrilla Wayfinder” Signals a Global Trend For Vareck Ng, a 23-year-old musician and self-described transit enthusiast in Singapore, a simple walk isn’t just about reaching a destination. It’s about observing how people navigate, identifying points of confusion, and, trying to fix them. Since 2020, Ng has been quietly … Read more
Jakarta’s Endurance: Navigating Megacity Challenges and the Future of Urban Life Jakarta, recently surpassed as the world’s most populous urban agglomeration by Tokyo, continues to grapple with the pressures of rapid growth. While the Indonesian government pushes forward with the relocation of the capital to Nusantara, the ‘Big Durian’ remains a powerful draw for millions … Read more
The Future is Nano: How a Global Chemistry Series Signals a Revolution in Science A recent gathering in Zurich, bringing together luminaries like Nobel laureate Moungi Bawendi, wasn’t just a celebration of the American Chemical Society’s 150th anniversary. It was a powerful signal – a glimpse into the future of chemistry and materials science. This … Read more
A Sunday cleanup in Jakarta’s Lapangan Banteng park reveals a growing movement to address Indonesia’s mounting waste crisis, but also highlights the limitations of relying solely on cleanup efforts. The Last Line of Defense Volunteers with Trash Hero Jakarta, a network originating in Switzerland in 2013 and now operating in 15 countries, gather weekly to … Read more
Mongolia’s Flu Season: A Glimpse into the Future of Respiratory Illness Recent reports from Mongolia indicate a concerning trend: influenza seasons are lengthening and intensifying. Over the past three years, the duration has doubled, with case numbers increasing by 50-100%. This isn’t an isolated incident. Globally, we’re seeing shifts in respiratory virus patterns, and Mongolia’s … Read more
From Daily Pills to Twice-Yearly Injections: The Future of HIV Prevention For decades, living with HIV meant a lifetime commitment to daily medication. Now, thanks to breakthroughs spearheaded by Czech scientist Antonín Holý and continued by his protégé, Tomáš Cihlář, that paradigm is shifting. The recent approval of lenacapavir, an injectable HIV prevention drug administered … Read more
A wave of intimidation targeting activists and social media influencers in Indonesia is raising concerns about a decline in freedom of expression, particularly in the wake of criticism surrounding the government’s response to devastating floods and landslides in Sumatra. Rising Concerns Over Intimidation Over the past week, several individuals vocal about the government’s handling of … Read more
Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto’s free nutritious meal program is facing increasing scrutiny over its substantial cost and implementation challenges. The program, launched on January 6 of last year to combat stunting, currently represents 8.7 percent of the total state budget – Rp 335 trillion – for the current year. Rapid Expansion and Rising Costs … Read more