Showing 1 - 10 of 91
The new Covid challenge
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 11/07/2022
» As many Thais return to the office, entertainment venues reopen and wearing face masks is no longer mandatory in outdoor public places, new daily coronavirus cases have begun to climb lately, notably among school students.
Waiting for China
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 23/05/2022
» Since China began to open up and reform its economy in 1978, growth has averaged almost 10% a year, and more than 800 million people have been lifted out of poverty. There have also been significant improvements in access to health, education and other services, with the mainland now an upper-middle-income country.
Time to move on from Zero Covid
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 23/05/2022
» It's finally time for Shanghai residents to breathe easier and feel a greater sense of freedom. After nearly two months of lockdown, the commercial hub of 25 million started to allow more people to go out to buy groceries for the first time last Thursday after a fifth straight day of no new Covid-19 infections outside quarantine areas.
We need new weapons against packaging waste
Asia focus, Simon Baldwin, Published on 16/05/2022
» Last month, researchers found microplastics -- small, microscopic pieces of plastic fragments -- within human lungs for the first time. This comes on the heels of news that microplastics were found in human blood, which may travel around the body and enter organs.
China must rethink Zero Covid
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 25/04/2022
» It finally feels like the world, collectively, is moving in one direction. Toward reopening. Toward the new normal. Hong Kong, after some of the world's strictest quarantine rules kept Covid-19 at bay for almost two years, last Thursday reopened gyms, beauty parlours, theme parks and cinemas for the first time in more than four months.
Will China's 'common prosperity' survive Putin's war?
Asia focus, George Magnus, Published on 18/04/2022
» Last month, as Russian forces shelled Ukrainian cities and Covid-19 infections soared, Communist Party of China (CPC) leaders gathered for their most important annual political meetings: the National People's Congress and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
How to free the money the world needs
Asia focus, Jayati Ghosh, Published on 14/03/2022
» The main factor limiting the global recovery is not the much-discussed increase in inflation in advanced economies, but rather the massive inequalities between most rich countries and the rest of the world, with the exception of China.
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.
Advocate for change
Asia focus, W Audi Pattrapatumthong, Published on 07/03/2022
» Contrary to what others might perceive, Bryan Choong considers himself an introvert who enjoys most activities alone. During the lockdown, for example, he took up cycling and explored Singapore even more.
Wasted Year
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 21/02/2022
» Once perceived as Asia's final frontier, Myanmar has been tested severely by dual shocks -- a surge in Covid-19 cases in 2021 and the military coup that has brought its economy close to a standstill and left its people suffering from ongoing violence.