News

Indonesia

Jakarta air quality improved, better than London and Amsterdam

“Jakarta’s Air Quality Index (AQI) is around 60 ppm, at the level “medium”. According to data from AirVisual, at 9 am Jakarta’s air pollution levels were lower than European cities such as London, Amsterdam, Zagreb, and Poznan.”

Laos

Chinese engineering firm fully resumes construction of China-Laos railway

“The Laos-China Railway Co, Ltd. (LCRC), a joint venture based in the Laos capital Vientiane in charge of the railway, said on Saturday (April 25) that the China Railway Group Limited (CREC) has resumed construction at all its work sites along the China-Laos Railway.”

Malaysia

Roll out 3 mega projects to spur post-COVID-19 economy, govt urged

"Tan Sri Mohd Sheriff Mohd Kassim said the three multi-billion ringgit projects -- the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR) and National Fiberisation and Connectivity Plan (NFCP) -- could spur the sleeping economy and repair the economic damage left behind by the pandemic."

Philippines

These photos of Metro Manila's skyline show how air quality has improved since lockdown

“Surrounded by clear skies and visible from across the sea and beneath the shadow of a mountain range, it's Metro Manila as people have not seen it before.”

I’ve been collecting these photos of cities in the time of the coronavirus. These are a like a sneak preview of a better world, if we choose it.

Thailand

City Hall defends tree-cutting drive

“City Hall has defended its controversial weeks-long tree cutting on some Bangkok streets, claiming it is doing so to save people from falling branches.”

It’s a fine line between being an arborist and being a logger.

Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City to hold design contest for $64mn opera house

“Ho Chi Minh City will organize a contest to select an architectural design for a 1,700-seat symphony, opera and ballet theater worth over VND1.5 trillion (US$64 million) in the Thu Thiem New Urban Area in District 2.”

This proposed opera house would be next to the new Thu Thiem 2 Bridge, opposite the District 1 city centre. No pretty pictures to show you yet, but the idea is to have an iconic building next to the new bridge, like the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. The idea is also Vietnam’s first attempt at the Guggenheim effect (or Bilbao effect).

Delayed runway repairs at Vietnam's two largest airports proposed for June

“The Ministry of Transport has proposed runway maintenance at the airports of Tan Son Nhat and Noi Bai to commence in June with state-funding.”

I mentioned in the first newsletter that I hoped that Vietnam would take this opportunity to fix the runways at HAN and SGN, so good to see this is happening.

Hà Nội gets nod to implement two urban metro lines

“The Hà Nội Party Committee has approved a plan to build two new metro lines. They are Line No 3 from Hà Nội Railway Station to Hoàng Mai District and Line No 5 from Văn Cao to Hòa Lạc.”