NEWS

Around Asia Pacific in seven stories…

AEROSPACE

CHINESE INNOVATION SKYROCKETS

THREE DARING CHINESE astronauts are beginning a six-month mission to work on the country’s new space station, as China aims to become a leading cosmic power for the years to come.

Last year, China launched into orbit the first module of its Tiangong space station, meaning “Heavenly Palace”. China plans to add subsequent modules, such as the Mengtian science lab, by the end of this year.

Only the third country in history to have put both astronauts into space and to build a space station, after Russia and the US, China’s ambitions don’t end there. By 2030, it aims to have put its first astronauts on the Moon and to have sent probes to collect samples from Mars and Jupiter.

FOOD & DRINK PLEASE ROMAINE CALM

FAST FOOD COLOSSUS KFC has been forced to swap lettuce for cabbage in its burgers and wraps throughout Australia, as the nation is hit with a dramatic shortage of the salad item.

After flooding in New South Wales and Queensland destroyed large reserves of the required crops, the company announced to customers that it is temporarily using an emergency mixture of lettuce and cabbage.

Shoppers across Australia have recently faced soaring prices for some fresh fruits and vegetables. Like countries around the world, Australia has been hit by food supply chain issues caused by a combination of the war in Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic.

BUSINESS TRAVEL SUSTAINABLE PACIFIC PARADISE

ALTHOUGH STILL A long shot from pre-pandemic levels, international tourism is growing again. The return of global travel signals an opportunity for nations like the Philippines, shut off to international explorers for the past two years, to display the key, futureconscious changes they have made.

As host of the 21st Global Summit of the World Travel and Tourism Council, the Philippines proved it can meet the demands of today’s socially conscious travellers. The vastly popular island nation spent the pandemic-forced downtime reimagining its tourism sector. The Philippines’ white sand beaches, exotic jungles, delicious cuisine and action-packed nightlife offer anything a traveller could want, but now with an environmentally sustainable mindset.

RETAIL PAWS-ITIVITY IN THE WORKPLACE

AMAZON AUSTRALIA IS now permitting its employees to bring their dogs to work at its Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Canberra offices. The global Dogs at Work (DAW) programme currently has 8,000 registered animals. Studies show that being accompanied by dogs in the workplace is shown to greatly reduce stress levels, increase interaction between staff and boost team morale.

Many dog owners feel extremely anxious to leave their pets at home during work hours, so this initiative provides an elegant solution, whilst also providing an unexpected mechanism for connection between staff.

Once registered, DAW dogs will each receive a ‘Woof Pack’ that includes a branded bag, a doggy mat for them to lie down on, a water bowl and a key chain along with treats at reception.

HEALTHCARE

NURSING A HEALTHY FUTURE

ELECTRIC SCOOTERS PROVIDED for nurses are speeding up healthcare in Indian mining hubs. A new state initiative is aiming to improve access to medical care, particularly for communities impacted by treacherous conditions caused by years of mining.

Each morning on the daily commute, health workers must navigate forests and bumpy roads to check on the wellbeing of some of India’s most marginalised people before they head out to work in the fields or mines. But now, to boost access to health services, in the West Singhbhum district, these courageous healthcare heroes will be provided with an electric scooter to make safer and faster door-to-door visits.

AGRICULTURE ALL PAIN NO GRAIN

SRI LANKA IS calling on all its farmers to grow more rice as it faces its most disastrous economic crisis in more than 70 years. The country’s agriculture minister made the appeal as he said the nation’s “food situation is becoming worse”. Sri Lanka is seeking around 100,000 metric tonnes of food in the form of donations or subsidised sales.

It comes as severe shortages of essentials, including food and medication, pushed inflation to a new record high. The government also then raised taxes to help pay for critical purchases, including fuel and food. “We request all farmers to step into their fields in the next five to ten days and cultivate rice,” he added.

TECHNOLOGY QUANTUM LEAP FOR JAPAN

QUANTUM COMPUTING HAS been rapidly gathering pace in Japan and all over Asia, after the University of Tokyo and IBM launched their new ground-breaking quantum computer last year. The computer was the second system of its kind built outside the US by IBM, the latest in a strategic series of key moves in quantum research.

This partnership has led the Quantum Innovation Initiative Consortium alongside heavyweights of Japanese industry like Toyota and Sony, all on board with the view to solving the quantum mystery. Quantum computing can run multiple processes at once by using quantum bits, unlike binary bits which have powered traditional computing.