Showing 1 - 10 of 26
Pakistan and Nepal pursue better understanding
Asia focus, Malika-e-Abida Khattak, Published on 20/06/2022
» Most bilateral relations in South Asia, including those between Nepal and Pakistan, are dominated by India's massive influence in the region. Nepal and Pakistan have a long history of diplomatic and political ties, and India has played an important role in their considerations.
Year of Turbulence
Asia focus, Asia Focus Team, 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.
Transformation to a sustainable water future
Asia focus, Poul Due Jensen, Published on 27/09/2021
» Covid-19 continues to have a profound and indiscriminate effect on all of Asia and the world. Specifically, with safe water access of utmost priority during these challenging times, it has brought global attention to how critical our water systems are to our health and prosperity.
Shaping a green future
Asia focus, Apiradee Treerutkuarkul, Published on 23/11/2020
» Sonika Manandhar remembers riding in her father’s minibus in her hometown of Kathmandu when she was five years old. Thanks to a loan programme from the government, her father was able to buy the bus and earn a living to support his family and send her to school until she earned a computer engineering degree.
We need better leadership
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 19/10/2020
» As the political temperature in Thailand is rising again, with thousands of young people on the streets to voice their displeasure with the government, the country is looking for strong yet sensible leadership. I think all of you agree.
Dream state
Asia focus, Ben Bland, Published on 28/09/2020
» When Indonesian President Joko Widodo decided last year to pursue outlandish plans to build a new capital city in far-flung Kalimantan, advisers shook their heads in despair. But they were not surprised.
Ramayana weaves a trail across South and Southeast Asia
Asia focus, Narendra Kaushik, Published on 10/02/2020
» When Bala Venketeswara Rao Sankuratri, a researcher from Sri Lanka, proposed that about a dozen countries join together to issue a "Ramayana visa" for travellers, he found instant support in a hall packed with devotees of the Sanskrit epic and its regional variants.
Data dilemma
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 02/12/2019
» In the digital world, data is king. Businesses now understand that in order to stay relevant and ahead of competitors, they need data to know more about their customers. The more you know, the more products and services you can sell in a more personalised way, which is what buyers want.
Fight fake news with education
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 14/10/2019
» The fight against fake news is becoming more challenging, but a lot can be done by educating people in how to identify unreliable sources and fact checking. Just creating laws against people who spread such information doesn't fix the problem because they are like the Hydra -- you cut off one head and two more will pop up as the cyber-population grows.
Offline experience still king for retail
Asia focus, Suwatchai Songwanich, Published on 09/09/2019
» Offline retail is making a comeback in China with the rise of brand concept stores. Reimagining bricks and mortar, every part of a concept store tells a story or creates an experience. While e-commerce continues to grow, the store experience is becoming more important than ever as a way to build an emotional connection with consumers.