Asia

A commercial street frequented by Chinese and Indonesian workers near the entrance of the industrial compound in Weda Bay, North Maluku, Indonesia. (Wufei Yu/Grist)

A new analysis by The Xylom shows for the first time just how much America’s top research institutions have grown to depend on the specialized knowledge of H-1B skilled workers — and how this delicate balance might be disrupted by U.S. President Donald Trump’s crackdown on legal immigration.

“It hardly snowed this year. Almost nothing in the valley,” the 35-year-old says, pulling his woolen cap down against the cold wind. “The trees are flowering, and this is when they need the most care. At this point, it’s not about a good harvest — it’s about keeping them alive.”

For Jingjing Zhang, this work isn’t about money. She’s never chased contingency fees or the kind of fame some crusading lawyers seek. Her rewards are quieter: a nonprofit salary, the trust of community partners, fragile progress. “I believe every case is a step forward,” she said during a recent interview. “Even if we lose, we show people that the law can be a tool for them — that they have rights.”

In Srinagar’s famous Dal Lake area, climate change is changing the lifestyles of subsistence farmers and fishers, causing women who rely on these resources to pick up needlework to generate income.

Since 2024, six large oil spills have polluted India's western coast, affecting millions; yet, no one, including the government, wants to take responsibility for the cleanup.

At the halfway point of the Feed-in Tariff program, Hong Kong’s solar energy production still lags behind most developed countries or regions.

While factors such as loud noise, aging, injuries, and chronic illnesses can cause hearing impairment, a growing number of studies have found an unusual connection between air pollution and hearing loss.

Hyderabad is just one example of a growing global wave of resistance against the perceived twin threats of militarized deforestation and democratic backsliding. Unlike Atlanta, the development process seems to have stalled: the Supreme Court of India has sided with students against the state government, granting a moratorium on forest-clearing.

Comprising a diverse range of backgrounds and ages, the collective fosters a space for voices of Jewish, Muslim, and Christian seed stewards from the Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA) region and beyond to preserve the “genetic legacy” of Iraqi crops.