Showing 1 - 10 of 11
Asia's century, China's year
Asia focus, Published on 30/12/2019
» Way back when 1999 was winding down, pundits were telling us that the Asian Century was about to dawn. That prediction has not yet been fully realised, but few would disagree that 2019 belonged to China. Over the past 12 months, the top headlines have been about the bruising trade war with America, defiant protests in Hong Kong against Beijing's tightening grip, and the rise of a surveillance state that is herding hundreds of thousands into "re-education" camps on its western fringes. Below, the Asia Focus team looks back on a busy and sometimes troubling 2019.
Even as demand softens, China jet market is crucial
Asia focus, Wanant Kerdchuen, Published on 25/04/2016
» The growing number of Asian business moguls, especially in China, has made the region a promising new frontier for business jet makers. Greater China alone is the third largest market in a forecast by Bombardier, with 876 future deliveries worth US$33 billion, compared with the country's fleet of 300 at the end of last year.
China's futile war on Western values
Asia focus, Minxin Pei, Published on 16/02/2015
» The news from China these days is mostly depressing, owing to the government's escalating crackdown on its critics. But what few observers — particularly economic analysts — seem to understand is that the Chinese leadership's fight against liberalism and "Western values" is directly undermining its efforts to root out official corruption, promote innovation and entrepreneurship, and deepen engagement with the outside world.
Virus losses put at B1.3tn
Business, Published on 31/01/2020
» Economic damage from the coronavirus outbreak is initially estimated at 300 billion yuan (1.3 trillion baht) in a month's time, putting China's annual GDP growth below the 6% baseline this year, says Kasikorn Research Centre (K-Research).
Currencies slump, funds flee emerging markets
Business, Published on 08/09/2018
» Recap: Emerging stock markets, especially those in Asia, experienced heavy fund outflows as concerns mounted over the health of emerging economies in general, and contagion impact from the likes of Argentina and Turkey. The Indonesian rupiah hit a two-decade low and the Indian rupee also lost more ground. US-China trade tensions continue to cast a pall over markets as well.
Restoring respect
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 07/06/2021
» Patama Chantaruck still remembers an unsettling encounter she experienced during her early days of living in the United States 28 years ago.
When confusion goes viral
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 03/02/2020
» Movie lovers like me have been drawn irresistibly to Dark Waters, the 2019 American legal thriller that has won positive reviews from critics and accolades for lead actor Mark Ruffalo.
Guarded hopefulness
Asia focus, Published on 16/11/2015
» John Micklethwait is a newspaper man seized by fear and hope for the future of journalism. To be sure, "newspaper man" is a bit of an anachronistic description for the new editor-in-chief at Bloomberg News, where no ink is spilled on paper. Across 325,000 Bloomberg terminals, headlines splash upon screens in seconds, bumping stale events much faster than one wraps fish with yesterday's page one.
AR and VR: The new productivity tools beyond gaming and marketing
Business, Published on 01/05/2017
» All of the excitement around virtual reality and augmented reality (VR and AR) these days is spurring consumer marketing teams into action to ride the wave of this "next big thing". Virtual reality works by placing high-resolution screens over the user's eyes, occluding their view of their real-world surroundings. The nature of VR necessitates that the experience takes place in a safe, predefined area. To create greater immersion, many VR headsets also support audio. VR is not a mobile technology in the conventional sense: you can't put on a VR headset and walk down the street.
Andaman Appeal
Asia focus, Published on 20/10/2014
» Krabi, a peaceful paradise in southern Thailand, has become an alluring destination for international tourists in recent years due to its distinctive charms and plentiful natural attractions.