Showing 1 - 10 of 30
Year of Turbulence
Asia focus, Published on 27/12/2021
» Pandemic drags on recovery: In the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, many Asian countries had enviable success, avoiding large-scale outbreaks and mass deaths. But the arrival of the more transmissible Delta variant this year and sluggish vaccine rollouts compounded by low availability sent cases surging. Combined with poor monitoring and easy movement among countries, often unofficially, Southeast Asia became a virus hotspot. The ballooning health crisis collided with churning political discontent in the case of Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia. Economically, the new wave of infections, and attendant restrictions imposed to curb the spread, stalled recoveries. After nearly two years of strict border controls, many countries started to loosen up and live with Covid. But the rise of the Omicron variant now threatens to scuttle those tentative reopening plans and usher in a third year of economic anxiety.
The Squid Game K-shock
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 18/10/2021
» When I saw the K-pop sensations BTS taking centre stage at the United Nations headquarters in New York ahead of the General Assembly last month, I was surprised by the cheerful mood of the world-renowned boy band from Asia.
Road to where?
Oped, Postbag, Published on 02/05/2020
» Re: "Cut govt some slack", (PostBag, April 29).
Mass testing best
News, Postbag, Published on 21/03/2020
» The most effective and cheapest way of controlling the Covid-19 pandemic will be to conduct mass testing of the population, as urged by eminent French infectious diseases expert Dr Didier Raoult. He has pointed out that cheaply mass produced testing equipment is already available and is being used effectively in South Korea. Countries, including Thailand, should build up this mass testing capability as fast as it can and test as many people as possible. That way it will be possible to isolate only those who test positive and it also makes it possible to treat those who start showing symptoms early which boosts the chance of a favourable outcome for them. This will be far more effective than locking down entire populations of people who are not infected and causing a massive economic dislocation in the process. In Thailand's case, it may cost US$325 million (10.5 billion baht) to test the entire population, but that would be a drop in the bucket compared to the $8 billion cost of a 5% decline in GDP.
Three investment themes for February
Business, Published on 08/02/2020
» In January, the Thai equity market was buffeted by several negative factors. The spread of the coronavirus drove the SET index sharply lower to finish the month at 1.514.14 points.
Folk in capital struggling to stay afloat
News, Thana Boonlert, Published on 05/01/2020
» The recent global cost of living survey sees Bangkok for the first time among the top 50 most expensive cities in the world due to the baht's appreciation.
Food for thought
Life, Kanokporn Chanasongkram, Published on 29/07/2019
» Som tam is a staple that I eat almost every day, but always skipping the tomato and long bean that end up in the restaurant's bin. The other day, I started drinking soya milk -- it was too sweet. The remaining amount was discarded in the kitchen sink. I often have to throw away rotten carrots and other vegetables as well as unconsumed kub khao in plastic bags. Those ready-to-eat foods became expired items in the fridge.
Return of the malls
Spectrum, Published on 29/10/2017
» The Bangkok retail market appears to be bucking a broader global trend, in which online shopping is threatening the survival of large shopping malls. After two years in which most of the new retail development in the capital consisted of smaller-scale community malls, big shopping centres are scheduled to make a comeback in 2018.
Energy-Heavy set slips as equities surge elsewhere
Business, Published on 05/06/2017
» Recap: Asian and European stocks rallied after a record-breaking run on Wall Street, propelled by American hiring data that bolstered confidence in the global economy. Japan's Nikkei ended Friday above 20,000 for the first time since December 2015. Oil headed for a three-week low, however, capping gains on the energy-heavy Thai stock market.
Oil rout drags down shares ahead of fed talks
Business, Published on 19/09/2016
» Recap: Global stock markets plunged last week as investors cashed out ahead of this week's much-awaited US Federal Reserve meeting. Worries over the oil glut also triggered selling of energy stocks, but the Thai market picked up following a recent steep fall.