Thailand to ban imports of high-tech trash, plastic waste
Southeast Asia nations fear they are the new dumping ground for the world’s trash after China banned the entry of several types of waste as part of a campaign against foreign garbage.
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia spans more than 600 million people across diverse nations, cultures, and ecosystems. This archive gathers milestones and solutions stories from the region — covering health, environment, governance, and more. Follow the progress happening across countries like Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and beyond.
Indonesia raises minimum age for brides to end child marriage
Indonesia’s parliament has revised the country’s marriage law to lift the minimum age at which women can marry by three years to 19, a move welcomed by campaigners as a step toward curbing child marriage.
Singapore abolishes school exam rankings, says learning is not competition
The Ministry of Education (MOE) said on Friday (Sept 28) that the change is to allow each student to focus on his or her learning progress and discourage them from being overly concerned about comparisons.
Australia to build world’s largest solar farm
The project, known as Sun Cable, will introduce a 10 GW array of solar panels across 37,000 acres and send much of its output to Singapore.
Malaysia will decriminalize drug possession for personal use
A representative from the Malaysian government said that decriminalization is a step toward a rational drug policy that puts science and public health before punishment and incarceration.
Bali bans single-use plastics
Bali Governor Wayan Koster announced that the Indonesian province of Bali is officially banning single-use plastics. The country produces 3.2 million tons of plastic annually.
Indonesia completes and begins operating its first-ever utility wind farm
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo inaugurated the 247-acre Sidrap Wind Farm in Sindereng Rappang Regency, South Sulawesi, in July 2018. It immediately became the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia and among the first major non-hydro renewable energy projects in the world’s fourth most populous nation. The farm produces 75 MW of electricity and can power up to 70,000 households.
Myanmar and U.N. announce deal for safe return of Rohingya
United Nations says staff will visit Rakhine state in first step towards repatriation of 700,000 refugees camped in Bangladesh
Singapore to introduce carbon tax in 2019
Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat said the tax would be levied on all facilities producing 25,000 tonnes or more of greenhouse gas emissions a year.
Myanmar LGBT festival goes public for first time
The widening acceptance boosted numbers with some 6,000 people coming along on the first day alone, compared with 2-3,000 over the whole festival in previous years.