Showing 1 - 10 of 18
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.
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.
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.
Speaking up about forced labour
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 20/12/2021
» In a move that could further sour relations between the world's two largest economies, the US Congress last week agreed on legislation aimed at punishing China for the alleged oppression of Uighur Muslims.
US and China should continue talks
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 20/09/2021
» The United States last Wednesday took a major step in challenging China's massive influence in Asia by announcing a plan to help Australia acquire nuclear-powered submarines that could eventually make their way into contested waters claimed by Beijing.
This is no time for instability
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 23/08/2021
» Politics dominated last week's developments in the region. Malaysia, once a bastion of stability in Southeast Asia, now has its fourth prime minister in less than 40 months after Muhyiddin Yassin stepped down last Monday.
Live with Covid, be extra cautious
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 12/07/2021
» As the global death toll caused by the protracted Covid pandemic topped four million last Thursday, Japan formally decided to put Tokyo under a state of emergency through Aug 22. And Olympic organisers bowed to the inevitable, saying the Tokyo Games would be closed to spectators.
Hopeful talk from superpowers
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 14/06/2021
» While the economy looks gloomy at home, I've been cheered up by the broader trend reported last week by the World Bank.
Light behind the Covid cloud
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 03/05/2021
» Even as several countries, notably India and Southeast Asian nations, are struggling to contain a new Covid-19 wave, Asia appears on course for an economic revival on the back of a healthy global recovery and early progress on vaccines.