LATEST ARTICLES

Rapid transition

Rapid transition

The living is easy in some Asian cities – streamlined, ordered, functional. Others, in their own charming way, can be hell on wheels. Inching traffic in Bangkok and Jakarta can drive the most easy-going commuter stir-crazy; Ho Chi Minh City’s roaring fleets of weaving motor-cycles, Phnom Penh’s potholed and obstacle-strewn pavements – all anathema to …read more

Welcome to the people-smuggler frontline: two runabouts, two hours of fuel and 117km to patrol

Welcome to the people-smuggler frontline: two runabouts, two hours of fuel and 117km to patrol

On the beautiful, scalloped coast of southern Java, a battle is raging between determined people-smugglers and a poorly-resourced local police force. It seems the people-smugglers are mostly winning and the police are frustrated.

Afghan’s arrest could break syndicate of people-smugglers

Afghan's arrest could break syndicate of people-smugglers

A massive people-smuggling syndicate in Indonesia could soon be cracked wide open, after police seized two satellite phones, a laptop and financial records belonging to a teenage people-smuggler arrested in Jakarta.

“We’ll risk death at sea – but not if the door is closed”

Asylum-seekers will continue to flood across the sea on rickety boats unless the Australian government slams the door on them. Afghan asylum-seeker Mohammad Ali told The Australian yesterday that he would happily buy clandestine passages to Australia for himself, his wife and his two young children if he had the money. He said the growing …read more