Showing 1 - 10 of 35
Can Yoon heal South Korea?
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 21/03/2022
» In the run-up to the South Korean presidential election on March 9, most observers were focusing mainly on regional implications the poll might have and the regional agendas that the new leader of Asia's fourth-largest economy would pursue.
Moving to Nusantara
Asia focus, Ismira Lutfia Tisnadibrata, Published on 31/01/2022
» With the recent passage of the state capital bill into law, Indonesian President Joko Widodo is a step closer to cementing his ultimate infrastructure legacy.
'Out with man haters', cry Korean anti-feminists
Asia focus, Choe Sang-Hun of the New York Times, Published on 17/01/2022
» SEOUL: They have shown up whenever women rallied against sexual violence and gender bias in South Korea. Dozens of young men, mostly dressed in black, taunted the protesters, squealing and chanting, "Thud! Thud!" to imitate the noise they said the "ugly feminist pigs" made when they walked.
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.
Value of border closures is falling as costs rise
Asia focus, Jayant Menon, Published on 25/10/2021
» The only countries in Southeast Asia that have started opening their international borders to non-essential travel in a significant way are Singapore and Thailand, although Cambodia may soon do so too. Singapore has opened up to more than 10 countries with low coronavirus infection and high vaccination rates, most of which have reciprocated. But the share of the population that is fully vaccinated in Singapore and Cambodia is around 80%, while Thailand's rate is just above one-third.
Sport and sexism in Japan
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 22/02/2021
» Congratulations to Seiko Hashimoto, Japan's former Olympics minister, who has taken the helm of the troubled Tokyo Games, after her predecessor quit amid an uproar over his sexist remarks.
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
Vote vs Virus
Asia focus, Larry Jagan, Published on 05/10/2020
» Myanmar's national elections are set to go ahead in just over four weeks even though the country is reeling from a second wave of Covid-19 that shows no signs of abating any time soon.
Shinzo Abe will be missed
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 07/09/2020
» Last Wednesday, India banned 118 Chinese mobile applications from its huge domestic market, including the popular video game PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, which has over 50 million players in India. Others, including Baidu, Alipay and some versions of the messaging app WeChat, are operated by Chinese internet giants like Tencent and Ant Financial.
Pandemic of abuse
Asia focus, Patpon Sabpaitoon, Published on 27/07/2020
» Stay-at-home and lockdown measures have helped to contain the greatest public-health threat the world has seen in decades. But as Covid-19 receded in many countries, a new public-health crisis was emerging behind closed doors, with increased domestic violence against women and children.