Nareerat Wiriyapong
Acting Asia Focus Editor
Acting Asia Focus Editor
Time to move on from Zero Covid
It's finally time for Shanghai residents to breathe easier and feel a greater sense of freedom. After nearly two months of lockdown, the commercial hub of 25 million started to allow more people to go out to buy groceries for the first time last Thursday after a fifth straight day of no new Covid-19 infections outside quarantine areas.
Politics and peril for Asian women
The political landscape in Asia has been very dynamic lately, but it is a disappointment to me personally that events have not been kind to women.
The case for a four-day work week
Having a work-life balance is a growing priority for many workers. It has come into even sharper focus as employees learn how to live with the pressure brought by the protracted coronavirus pandemic.
Don't leave small businesses behind
The time has finally come again for the tourism industry. As many countries start learning to live with Covid-19, travel restrictions are being eased and people are hitting the road after staying put for more than two years.
Safe, healthy travel a priority
The hearts of all Thais are blessed and looking forward to Wednesday when the five-day Songkran holiday begins. It will be the first time in three years for us to celebrate the traditional New Year known for joyous water splashing at the hottest time of the year.
World mustn't forget Myanmar
With all eyes focusing on the Russia-Ukraine war, Southeast Asia and the world should not forget about what has been going on in Myanmar. The military shows no signs of stopping its brutal campaign of violence against the people, who continue to fight for the democracy that was stolen from them 14 months ago.
Climate action urgency growing
Summertime has arrived in this part of the world, with temperatures rising considerably although we are not yet in April, normally the hottest month in Thailand.
Taiwan feels chill from Ukraine crisis
Countries across the world are feeling the impact of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine as stock markets tumble and oil prices spike. But Taiwan is feeling a particular chill, amid concerns that it eventually could face a similar fate at the hands of China.
Hun Sen's diplomatic test in Myanmar
As chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) for 2022, Cambodia seems keen to lead the 10-member bloc to help tackle the ongoing political and humanitarian crisis in Myanmar.
Coming to grips with Omicron
The world was shaken again last week as the latest coronavirus variant emerged. First detected in South Africa a week earlier, Omicron is now a "variant of concern" -- the most serious category used by the World Health Organization, which said it poses a "very high" risk to public health.
