Showing 1 - 10 of 16
Financial transformation
Asia focus, Pattama Kuentak, Published on 04/07/2022
» The financial sector is on the cusp of yet another transformation. Customers emerging from Covid-19 are demanding new and better sets of services to meet their new consumption patterns, be it how they shop, eat, work or transfer money. It's a dramatic shift that is compelling banks to transform or risk being left behind.
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.
Combatting illicit trade
Asia focus, Pattama Kuentak, Published on 18/01/2021
» Not only has the Covid-19 pandemic exposed flaws in social and health systems, disrupted supply chains and taken at least 38,000 lives across Southeast Asia, it has also shed light on the growing problem of illicit trade in the region.
China should try a softer tone
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 30/11/2020
» Chinese President Xi Jinping has been outspoken lately, taking advantage of the leadership vacuum in Washington where Donald Trump is still sulking after his election defeat and Joe Biden won't take office for seven more weeks.
Slapped into Silence
Asia focus, Published on 20/07/2020
» Freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly are fundamental human rights. They are crucial in any country that truly values public participation in development and decision-making.
Japan's mission
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 23/12/2019
» Waves of change -- geopolitical, technological and demographic -- have been sweeping across the world, and Japan is among the countries experiencing challenges on all those fronts. Amid a steady but slow economic recovery since he took office in 2012, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has also seen his skills at international diplomacy tested, given his country's close ties with the United States.
Bangladesh charts a cleaner, fairer way forward
Asia focus, Arafat Hosen Khan, Published on 28/10/2019
» Bangladesh is a promising country in terms of the economic progress seen in the past 11 years under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. However, combatting corruption has become a burning issue in every sector.
Indian court case lifts lid on kidnappings for marriage
Asia focus, By Narendra Kaushik in New Delhi, Published on 02/09/2019
» Vinod Kumar Yadav still shudders when he recalls his 48-hour long marriage ordeal in December 2017. His was no match made in heaven. On the contrary, he was kidnapped, beaten up by the bride's family and hired goons and forced to tie the knot at gunpoint.
The angel of Flight CX 613
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 13/05/2019
» It was Monday night on one of the last flights of the day from Hong Kong to Bangkok. The plane was filled with Thai passengers returning home after the long weekend to celebrate the Coronation, along with Hong Kong residents travelling for business or leisure.
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.