Showing 21 - 30 of 283
Food price solutions a priority
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 02/05/2022
» Food prices are on the rise everywhere in the world. In Thailand, prices of limes have been at historical highs for months, now as much as 10 baht each in wet markets. Instant noodle makers want to hike their prices by up to 20% as raw material costs have surged, but Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit insists they can't.
China must rethink Zero Covid
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 25/04/2022
» It finally feels like the world, collectively, is moving in one direction. Toward reopening. Toward the new normal. Hong Kong, after some of the world's strictest quarantine rules kept Covid-19 at bay for almost two years, last Thursday reopened gyms, beauty parlours, theme parks and cinemas for the first time in more than four months.
Can Yoon heal South Korea?
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 21/03/2022
» In the run-up to the South Korean presidential election on March 9, most observers were focusing mainly on regional implications the poll might have and the regional agendas that the new leader of Asia's fourth-largest economy would pursue.
Taiwan feels chill from Ukraine crisis
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 28/02/2022
» Countries across the world are feeling the impact of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine as stock markets tumble and oil prices spike. But Taiwan is feeling a particular chill, amid concerns that it eventually could face a similar fate at the hands of China.
Blind spot in Indo-Pacific vision
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 21/02/2022
» While many people are keeping their eyes on how the Russia-Ukraine standoff could play out, America is making news in Asia as well with the launch of a new Indo-Pacific strategy.
How to get more women working
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 14/02/2022
» Shrinking populations are becoming a major demographic challenge for several countries. East Asia, in particular, has been seeing an alarming fall in fertility rates. The figure in Japan averaged just 1.31 from 2015 to 2020, but Taiwan (1.15) and South Korea (1.11) fared even worse.
Let's all celebrate responsibly
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 31/01/2022
» The Year of the Tiger arrives tomorrow and people, particularly in East and Southeast Asian countries, are ready to celebrate Lunar New Year 2022. For many of us, however, it's going to be another year of quiet celebration under the influence of the coronavirus pandemic.
Chinese policies hold back growth
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 24/01/2022
» When I first heard a Moody's economist discuss the cooling Chinese economy late last year, it caught my interest but not much. As we have been living with a pandemic for two years, an economic slowdown seems unavoidable, even in the country that has been the world's engine of growth for years.
Fragile, uneven recovery
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 24/01/2022
» The world has entered 2022 facing numerous uncertainties. After two years of fighting the coronavirus pandemic, the emergence of the Omicron variant now poses challenges to economies even in countries where vaccination rates are high.
Not so festive, no-travel New Year
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 10/01/2022
» Welcome back to the real world. We may have just finished our countdown to New Year 2022 but it seems the bad dream from 2021 continues to haunt us.