Showing 1 - 10 of 14
More young people in Myanmar taking up arms
Asia focus, Than Lwin Aye, Published on 28/02/2022
» Young people in Mon State who not long ago were actively engaged in campaigning for elections in Myanmar have shifted from protesting in the streets against the military to taking up arms to defend their rights and freedoms.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Our disappearing rights
Asia focus, Patpon Sabpaitoon, Published on 15/06/2020
» It's been over a week since the disappearance of Wanchalearm Satsaksit, an exiled Thai activist living in Cambodia, touched off a heated debate in Thai social media and beyond.
Why the US and China see negotiations differently
Asia focus, Shang-Jin Wei in Canberra, Published on 27/05/2019
» Trade negotiations between the United States and China broke down earlier this month because the US government said the Chinese were "walking back" their agreement on matters that had previously been addressed. US negotiators and President Donald Trump were furious, and on May 10 Mr Trump more than doubled US tariffs on US$200 billion worth of imports from China.
Smartphone supremacy
Asia focus, Narendra Kaushik, Published on 22/04/2019
» Up until three years ago, Gaurav Singh Chauhan used to sell 15 or 20 Micromax mobile phones in a day. Now he considers himself lucky if he can sell one unit a month of the Indian-made handsets.
Saved by the scooter
Asia focus, Published on 01/04/2019
» The sight of former transport minister Chadchart Sittipunt gliding in on an electric scooter to cast his vote at a school in Ekamai district of Bangkok recently reminded me of a conversation I had with Zachary Wang, the co-founder of Neuron Mobility.
Little progress in war on graft
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 11/03/2019
» Corruption is rarely out of the news in Southeast Asia, but the last three weeks have been busier than usual. In Vietnam, two former information ministers were arrested on suspicion of mismanaging public investment. The prosecution order issued on Feb 23 for Nguyen Bac Son and Truong Minh Tuan accuses them of "violations of regulations on management and use of public investment capital that cause serious consequences". The news cast a shadow over Hanoi's preparations fo the Trump-Kim nuclear summit.