Showing 1 - 10 of 39
Stumbling but hopeful
Asia focus, Pattama Kuentak, Published on 07/03/2022
» Domestic travellers have been the lifeline for tourism-reliant countries, especially in Southeast Asia, for the past two pandemic-battered years. But even as countries start scrapping restrictions to welcome international visitors back, some pandemic uncertainties persist and now a crisis in Ukraine threatens the global economic recovery as a whole.
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.
Thai at heart
Asia focus, Pattama Kuentak, Published on 15/11/2021
» Born and bred in the city-state, Raymond Han is 100% Singaporean. But his bond to Thailand goes deep, spanning almost two decades. It has led him to where he is now as a top executive of Patra Porcelain, which has been making some of the country's best-known products since 1982.
Postpartum care booms in China
Asia focus, Thaweelap Rittapirom, Published on 24/05/2021
» Postpartum recovery centres -- facilities designed to provide professional care for mothers and their newborn babies -- are booming in China, with numbers soaring from 550 in 2013 to 4,800 this year.
Vietnam reimagines tourism
Asia focus, Pattama Kuentak, Published on 10/05/2021
» Rich in history, vibrant in culture and cuisine, with striking landscapes from mountains in the North to beaches along the coast, Vietnam has become one of the favourite destinations in Southeast Asia.
Innovation race
Asia focus, Apiradee Treerutkuarkul, Published on 05/04/2021
» Asia's middle-income countries have undergone significant economic transformation and enjoyed dramatic growth in the past decade. Yet, many still lack the ability to create innovation essential for driving productivity, economic development and sustainability, all of which are critical for their future prosperity.
All hail Asean's warrior princess
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 08/03/2021
» I couldn't believe that I hadn't been to the cinema for nearly a year. Blame Covid-19 for putting movie theatres off-limits, leaving us no choice but to entertain ourselves at home. It's no substitute for the pleasure of the big silver screen, but for the sake of my health, I had no choice.
Erasing the stain of racism
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 15/02/2021
» When Rawiri Waititi got up to ask a question in the New Zealand parliament last Tuesday, he didn't get far. Speaker Trevor Mallard warned the Maori MP that (male) members could only do so if they were wearing a necktie.
The UK-Asean connection
Asia focus, Ong Bo Yang, Published on 26/10/2020
» The United Kingdom has maintained strong and warm ties with Asean ever since the regional bloc was formed in 1967. This longstanding economic partnership has allowed bilateral trade in goods and services to reach approximately £42 billion today.
Check in and check up
Asia focus, Ismira Lutfia Tisnadibrata, Published on 12/10/2020
» The hospitality sector in Jakarta may get some respite from disastrous business conditions from an Indonesian government pledge to turn selected lower-priced hotels into isolation centres for Covid-19 patients who are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms.