Arms tests vs war drills ad infinitum in Korea

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SEOUL – While real-life carnage unfolds across Ukraine, the phony war continues predictably on, around and above the Korean peninsula. The actions of recent days may hearten jingoes and depress peaceniks on both sides. On December 14, the US announced that a Space Force command unit had stood up inside US forces based in South […]Continue Reading

What next for Russia’s weaponization of energy?

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Not since the 1970s oil crisis has the West seen such a focus on energy security. Suddenly, in 2022, it became a critical part of the battle for Ukraine. Russian attacks on energy facilities have left millions of Ukrainians without power during a freezing winter. Since it couldn’t force a quick, decisive win onto Ukraine, […]Continue Reading

Moscow and Kiev are talking – just not about peace

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At the G20 summit in Bali in November, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky announced a new ten-point plan to end hostilities. He demands nothing less than the withdrawal of Russian troops from all of Ukraine, including Crimea and other areas of the country occupied by the Russians since 2014. And the latest polls show 85% of […]Continue Reading

Japan rate pivot means higher US bond yields

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NEW YORK – The lender of Japan’s December 20 decision to lift the cover on 10-year govt bond yields in order to 0. 5% from 0. 25% appears on the surface like a minor tweak of financial policy. In reality, it’s a hairline split in the biggest dam in world economic markets. Japan may be the world’s number one creditor, […]#@@#@!!Continue Reading

The post-pandemic future of Chinese tourism

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Chinese tourists jump as they frolic in Boracay in Philippines April 8, 2018. REUTERS/Erik De Castro

The Asia-Pacific tourism industry was thriving before the Covid-19 pandemic, driven by strong demand from Chinese tourists with increasing disposable incomes. Pre-pandemic, Chinese tourists’ arrival to the Asia-Pacific region was forecast to increase to 150 million by 2020, with an aggregate expenditure of US$230 billion. But this did not materialize due to pandemic-related travel restrictions that […]Continue Reading

How structural growth and stable funding anchor Indian and Indonesian financiers' resilience

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In: Asia, Finance, South-East Asia

India’ s domestically-driven economy and Indonesia’ h commodity-led exports should provide some strength despite a more difficult operating environment characterised by higher global inflation, rising rates of interest and liquidity tightening. Elaine Koh, senior director for Asia-Pacific non-bank financial institutions from Fitch Ratings talks about the prospects meant for India and Indonesia’ s finance and leasing sector in the current economic environment.Continue Reading