Online shopping in Singapore is lacklustre even after Amazon debuted its Prime service in mid-2017. The island’s malls are trying hard to keep it that way.With some of the nation’s biggest mall operators reporting falling rents and rising vacancies, landlords, just like those elsewhere in Asia and the United States (US), are being forced to reposition.

The research arm of Switzerland-based business school International Institute for Management Development (IMD) recently conducted a survey on the talent competitiveness of 66 countries around the world. While countries like Malaysia and Indonesia managed to move up in the IMD World Competitiveness’ World Talent Ranking 2018, several countries in Asia also dropped a few places.

Young people represent the fundamental drivers of economic and social growth and nowhere is this more visible than in Southeast Asia. In a region of more than 630 million people, 60 percent are below the age of 30.However, in an ever-changing global environment, it is vital for the next generation to be prepared for challenges that may or may not be so apparent now.

Earlier in September, Cisco and Oxford Economics analysed 433 occupations across 21 industries.

As a growing number of people become acutely aware of the need to protect the environment, the demand for goods and services that are sensitive to such inclinations will undoubtedly increase. Green bonds, energy efficient buildings, solar parks, and wind farms are just some of the many initiatives that can help attain the goal of a cleaner and more sustainable environment.Green infrastructure investment opportunitiesWhere there is a demand, there is an investment opportunity.

On 9 November, Cambodia celebrated its Independence Day. But while most Cambodians were celebrating their freedom from the control of the French Protectorate of Cambodia, thousands of other unfortunate Cambodians are still working in brick kilns throughout the country. “Freedom” for these people is just an empty promise.A recent Blood Bricks research project has led to a photo exhibition exposing debt-bonded labour in the brick making industry.

China is unleashing stealth drones and pilotless aircraft fitted with AK-47 rifles onto world markets, racing to catch up to United States (US) technology and adding to a fleet that has already seen combat action in the Middle East.Combat drones were among the jet fighters, missiles and other military hardware shown off this week at Airshow China, the country's biggest aerospace industry exhibition.A delta-winged stealth drone received much attention, highlighting China's growing pr

Much has been written about the importance of financial inclusion for rural communities in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam. The benefits are obvious even to armchair economists.

As China and the United States (US) engage in a trade war, the ripples of the battle is felt throughout the world. Both the countries are the two largest economies in the world with a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of almost US$32 trillion, a third of the global GDP.

Last week, Malaysia’s Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng tabled the country’s 2019 Budget. Being the first budget under a new government led by the Alliance of Hope (Pakatan Harapan), there were obviously numerous key points to look out for. One of those key points is the taxing of services imported into the country, which includes online services. The service tax, according to Lim, will be imposed in phases beginning with services imported by businesses in January, next year.