Showing 11 - 20 of 49
At land or sea, decent work is a right
Oped, Published on 30/04/2022
» On International Workers' Day, which occurs tomorrow, the world commemorates the historic struggle for an eight-hour workday, a critical milestone in the journey towards greater social justice for workers. Here in this part of the world, the Asia-Pacific region has often been a leader in the fight for better working conditions. Indeed, New Zealand workers were among the first in the world to win the aforementioned right in 1840, when carpenter Samuel Parnell successfully negotiated with employers to agree on the principle of "eight hours for work, eight for sleep and the remaining eight for recreation".
Bimstec's time to shine has come
News, Editorial, Published on 03/04/2022
» From the tales of Lord Rama to the wisdom of Lord Buddha, the South Asian and Southeast Asian regions are not only historically intertwined, but also founded on a shared cultural heritage. Perhaps this shared history alone was enough to convince four nations under the Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand Economic Cooperation (Bist-Ec) arrangement to come together to pen the Bangkok Declaration on June 6, 1997, to promote economic development, social progress and regional cooperation.
Unwarranted spill optimism
Oped, Editorial, Published on 28/01/2022
» As efforts to save the seas off Rayong continue following an undersea pipeline leak near Map Ta Phut, public scepticism is growing about the kind of preventive measures and crisis management the company, Star Petroleum Refining Co (SPRC), has in place -- as well as in regard to the response from state authorities.
In Mekong region, drug trade thrives
Oped, Johanna Son, Published on 15/07/2021
» An example of a resilient business model in hard times? Indeed, except that this describes how the synthetic drug industry has been expanding in East and Southeast Asia, home to the Mekong region which is the manufacturing and trafficking hub that supplies illicit drugs that reach not just the wider Asia but the globe.
Shipping is worse than aviation
Oped, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 30/03/2021
» 'We're waiting on food goods like coconut milk and syrups, some spare parts for motors, we've got some fork lift trucks, some Amazon goods on there, all sorts," said Steve Parks of Seaport Freight Services in England, who is awaiting twenty of the 18,300 containers aboard the Ever Given. Which of those things cannot be sourced from somewhere closer than Asia?
Taming the 'black swan' for sustainable recovery
Oped, Don Pramudwinai, Published on 19/02/2021
» The year 2020 was truly a disruptive time in world history. The fast-spreading Covid-19 pandemic managed to halt even the wave of globalisation and compelled governments to go into lockdown. Businesses were forced to close, in some cases leading to furloughs or unemployment, and further widening the existing social inequalities. Everyone came to the realisation that business would never again be the same, and began to accept the concept of a "new normal."
Strengthening Asean-EU partnership a necessity
News, Published on 22/09/2020
» In a world hit by the pandemic and characterised by power politics, the European Union and Asean have a lot in common. Closer cooperation is needed to ensure we can defend the rules-based international system and ensure every human being can enjoy the security and rights we sometimes take for granted.
Baht Better Spent
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 28/08/2020
» On Monday, the Royal Thai Navy defended its controversial purchase of two Chinese submarines at a humungous price tag of B22.5 billion (that's 11-digits, if you're wondering). The purchase incited online backlash for its inopportune timing, given the severe impact of Covid-19 on the economy. Not to mention, speculation of good ole corruption synonymous with a procurement project.
Asia's maritime trade torpedoed
News, Published on 20/03/2020
» The declaration of Coronavirus (Covid-19) as a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation has prompted China to issue a record number of force majeure certificates in an attempt to exempt local exporters from fulfilling contracts with overseas buyers.
Is digging Kra Canal still a pipe dream?
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 28/01/2020
» Whenever the Kra Canal emerges as a news headline, two standard reactions occur. First of all, there is a very strong but familiar exclamation of "again" or aw-eik-leu and a revitalised sense of disbelief that the time has actually come once more for another debate about the great isthmus.