Opinion
Governments across Europe and North America have showed an almost callous disregard for the health of their citizens and the world, says PN Balji.
Despite a shared rival in China, the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia have separate issues of sovereignty and territorial rights that make the issue deadlocked.
When fate intervened, one writer found himself travelling between four locations at different stages of the fight against the coronavirus. What he saw ranged from annoyance to denial to shock and acceptance.
this week in asia
Newsletter
The Covid-19 outbreak will foist profound changes on the world’s future development in terms of economics, society, diplomacy and geopolitics.
In the capitals of what used to be called ‘the free world’, advocacy of democratic freedom seems to have taken a back seat to competition for strategic primacy.
this week in asia
Newsletter
The Covid-19 pandemic is occurring at a time when global organisations, including the WHO, are weakened, making it imperative for world powers to step up.
Malaysia needs a new narrative, of equality, justice and pursuing fair distribution and broad participation, especially on pro-Malay policies. PH now has the time and impetus to thrash this out.
Moscow’s refusal to abide with Opec’s proposal to cut oil production and Riyadh’s decision to discount prices caused a rout in oil prices that will hit producers everywhere.
With 60 to 70 groups still active in New Zealand and far-right extremism growing worldwide, the risk of hate crimes occurring remains.
Politicising an outbreak is irresponsible. Viruses have no passports and those who want to travel will find a way, says Swee Kheng Khor.
Measures taken to stem the outbreak’s spread, though effective in the short term, may lead to disastrous consequences, say Xun Wu and Donald Low.
The government’s careful attitude towards cannabis is not wrong. But it should be flexible to consider if marijuana can meet the medical needs of Indonesians.
China’s latest ban will wipe out wet markets, but they are just the tip of the iceberg. To avoid simply driving the problem underground, a whole-of-society approach is needed, for years to come.
Now that there are two confirmed cases, Indonesia needs to ensure its agencies are on the same page, follow WHO recommendations and improve transparency to prevent the epidemic from escalating.
With stark underrepresentation of Asian-Australians in politics, the country is increasingly beset by myopic and polarised debates about race.
China and US should join hands to lead the campaign against the looming Covid-19 pandemic.
Nearly two decades after the September 11 terror attacks, many will struggle to see the Taliban as an ally against Islamic State. Can it really change, or is this just a Trojan Horse?
The success of the East Coast Rail Link will boost investments along its corridor, spurring foreign direct investments.
Interim Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad currently has no cabinet but Malaysia’s health system is resilient enough to excel despite the upheaval.