As the world enters the second year of the coronavirus pandemic, vaccination has moved front and centre in policymakers’ responses. But while vaccines offer the surest way out of the crisis, countries are approaching them in different ways. Some are racing to vaccinate their populations, while others await longer-term efficacy data before beginning.
It is often in times of hardships, crisis, and difficulties, that one learns who one’s real friends are. Tough times have a way of revealing who you can count on for support.
As part of on-going efforts and measures to combat corruption, it’s vital that Malaysia’s anti-corruption laws are constantly updated, improved and reformed – over time.
Vaccinating the world against COVID-19 is one of mankind’s most critical non-wartime efforts ever. Many countries have developed ambitious, politically sensitive, and carefully sequenced vaccination plans, but executing them successfully will be a challenge. To succeed, policymakers should build three realistic assumptions into their vaccination planning for 2021 and beyond. First, delays are inevitable.
China is a tough country to comprehend – even for most Chinese. But much of what makes China enigmatic – its long history, vast and varied territory, huge and diverse population, complex politics, and massive, dynamic economy – also makes understanding the country important. For better or worse, what happens in China affects everyone. Western observers tend to struggle the most in deciphering China.
On 20 February 2021, Philippines’ Foreign Affairs Secretary, Teodoro Locsin Jr.
Recognising that “no one is safe until everyone is safe,” the G7 recently announced additional steps to facilitate globally more “affordable and equitable access to vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics” to combat COVID-19. But translating stated intent into effective action will require both bold political leadership at home and support for developing countries that goes well beyond financial aid. Getting it right won’t be easy, but the effort is essential if rich countri
All over the world, democracy is in retreat. In 2020, the Democracy Index, published by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) since 2006, fell to its lowest-ever global level.
On 8 February, Elon Musk’s electric-car firm Tesla announced that it had invested US$1.5 billion of its cash reserves in Bitcoin back in January. The news helped to boost the cryptocurrency’s already skyrocketing price by a further 10 percent, to a record high of more than US$44,000. But, especially in Bitcoin’s case, what goes up can just as easily come crashing down. Bitcoin was invented in 2008 and began trading in 2009.
The bilateral relations between the United States (US) and the Philippines are currently at a critical juncture. This is because of the latest tirades of President Rodrigo Duterte telling the Americans that the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the US and the Philippines is a “shared responsibility,” therefore, the US must pay or kiss it goodbye.
Joe Biden's inauguration on 20 January, signifies that the United States (US) now has a different direction for policy as during the Trump administration.
United States (US) President Joe Biden’s new administration has begun to show its hand regarding its policy toward China.
