Europe’s Vaccination Debacle
A storm is raging over the European Union’s (EU) failure to have ordered more of the approved COVID-19 vaccines ahead of time.
The Fight For Women’s Rights Beyond #MeToo
For most people, the #MeToo movement has become synonymous with campaigns against sexual harassment.
Philippines: Roll-Out Of Covid-19 Vaccines
The breakthrough in the development and availability of COVID-19 vaccines is a leap forward in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. This positive development brings hope to the world.
Can Malaysia’s Micro-Businesses Go Cashless?
Even as the digitalisation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) gathers more momentum, Malaysia should not neglect its smaller SMEs (i.e., more than five but less than 25 employees) and micro-businesses (i.e., five or less employees). With the reimposition of the movement control order (MCO) 2.0 in the ASEAN member state, assistance for smaller businesses and micros by now should include more help to digitalise, specifically to adopt e-payment or cashless payment met
Why Biden Should Abandon Trade War With China
When President-elect Joe Biden is inaugurated next week, he will quickly move to transform most dimensions of United States (US) policy. A glaring exception is China.
The BRICs At 20
This November will mark the 20th anniversary of the BRIC acronym that I coined to capture the economic potential of Brazil, Russia, India, and China.
Can Renewable Energy Save Indonesia’s Economy?
The World Health Organization (WHO) revealed that COVID-19 cases in Indonesia are the highest in Southeast Asia. Indonesia has recorded over 800,000 cases to date and the numbers seem to be increasing by the day.Due to the pandemic, Indonesia’s economic growth contracted at -3.49 percent by the third quarter of 2020; and there has been slowing growth in all sectors.
Can America Lead Again?
United States (US) President-elect Joe Biden’s impending inauguration has raised hopes that his administration will “make America lead again.” If the US is to transform its rivalry with China into constructive competition, this is the right approach.
Donald Trump’s Costly Legacy
We can finally state with confidence that United States (US) President Donald Trump will leave the White House, however reluctantly, on 20 January. As his four years in office come to an end, it is not too soon to raise the question of how he will be viewed.History will judge Trump to have been a consequential US president, in that he left America and the world much changed. He will also be seen as one of the worst, if not the worst ever.True, Trump did accomplish some useful things.
Preventing “Trump 2024”
In his victory speech in November, United States (US) President-elect Joe Biden promised to reach across the aisle, work with Republicans, and unite the country.
Amend Philippine Constitution Now, Later Or Never?
The Philippine 1987 Constitution thus far has many provisions with strong restrictions on the flow of foreign capital in some areas of economic activities and these include: (a) the first provision concerning the prohibition to foreigners to own land; (b) the exclusion of foreigners from the exploitation of the country’s natural resources; and (c) the limitation placed on foreign capital in the public utility sector. Under the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines, these limitations a
Beginning Of The End As Malaysia’s FDI Dries Up?
There’s been much hype and agitation and, by extension, circulation of kopitiam (coffee shop) talk about reports of Malaysia falling behind its regional counterparts and peers in terms of foreign direction investment (FDI) which include losing out on key strategic investments so that the country now (yet again) is supposed to be down on that path towards becoming a failed state (which we’ve heard many times before). Such a grim outlook could be justified on the basis that according t