Showing 1 - 10 of 15
A year like no other
Asia focus, Published on 28/12/2020
» In a world under siege from a relentless virus, Asia's resilience was tested to the utmost. Asia Focus staff look back at key events
Covid report card
Asia focus, Pattama Kuentak and Ismira Lutfia Tisnadibrata, Published on 04/05/2020
» Covid-19 has put countries around the world to an unprecedented test. As the outbreak that began in China enters its sixth month, many governments are still racing against time to curb the health and socio-economic impacts of the pandemic.
Asia's century, China's year
Asia focus, Asia Focus team, 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.
Jokowi's new team
Asia focus, Ismira Lutfia Tisnadibrata, Published on 04/11/2019
» President Joko Widodo embarked on his second term with an inaugural speech that offered Indonesians a dream that their country would become one of the world's top five economies by 2045. The lineup of his new cabinet speaks volumes about his sharpened focus on spurring business and economic growth.
Asia's student-debt time bomb
Asia focus, M Niaz Asadullah and Theresa Chan, Published on 12/08/2019
» One of the most pressing issues facing the year-old government of Malaysia, led by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, is the severely strained balance sheet it inherited. And part of its fiscal weakness is rooted in the 39 billion ringgit (US$9.5 billion) in outstanding debt owed to the National Higher Education Fund Corp (PTPTN).
Facing down China
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 01/04/2019
» Repression at home, assertiveness in disputed territory on its doorstep, and expansion of soft power, economic and technological influence worldwide have all become hallmarks of confident China in the 21st century.
Challenging times for Asean
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 25/02/2019
» These are challenging times for Southeast Asian countries. On the economic front, China's slowdown is becoming more pronounced, which could have dire consequences since it is Asean's largest export market and a major source of foreign direct investment (FDI) to the region.
Year of turbulence
Asia focus, Asia Focus Team, Published on 31/12/2018
» Two unpredictable men with weird haircuts and access to nuclear weapons had a friendly chat in Singapore -- and that was just one of the many noteworthy stories of 2018. Elsewhere in Asia, we witnessed some surprising political developments (Malaysia) and not-so-surprising ones (Cambodia), along with what seemed to be a disturbingly high number of natural disasters. Many see the latter as a manifestation of the growing impact of climate change, and it's a debate that is bound to intensify in the year ahead. Below, Asia Focus looks back on the eventful year now ending.
Youth movement
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 24/12/2018
» There's true passion in every word when Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman talks about his belief in the power of youth. As the youngest cabinet minister in Asia at just 26 years of age, he is living proof.
The next 140 years
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 08/10/2018
» After expanding aggressively in Southeast Asia, mostly in the capital-intensive power business, Bangkok-based B.Grimm Group is preparing to take the next steps to transform itself into "a real international company".