Human Rights Puts Vietnam's TPP Status at Risk: US
Published on Jan 15, 2016 by Luke Hunt
Vietnam’s status in the Trans-Pacific Partnership could be “in very real jeopardy” if the country abjures its human rights commitments, the U.S. ambassador to Vietnam said Jan. 14.In remarks previewing a state visit by U.S. President Barack Obama, Ambassador Ted Osius said Vietnam’s treatment of labor and other human rights activists could affect who are already divided on the TPP, end up voting on the 12-nation trade pact.Read more Lien Hoang at Bloomberg. .
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Will Thailand's Military Be Held Accountable for Economic Woes?
Published on Dec 22, 2015 by Luke Hunt
Since they took power in a coup last May, Thai generals have been quick to use their country’s courts to hold ousted Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra responsible for losses incurred through her government’s disastrous rice-pledging scheme. By that same standard, they should be held accountable for the country’s economic woes during their rule thus far.Read more from Luke Hunt in The Diplomat. .
Islamic Finance Embraces Fintech, Crowdfunding
It’s like Kickstarter or Lending Club, but with an Islamic twist. Some companies that need financing but don’t want to break the Koran’s rules against loan interest are turning to Kapital Boost, a Singapore-based platform for crowdfunding.Read more from Lien Hoang in BNA..
Vietnam Warns of Coming Economic Bombshell
Published on Aug 24, 2015 by Luke Hunt
Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar are the poorest, least well-run countries within ASEAN. They are also notoriously publicity-shy. Anything negative that needs to be shared is usually served-up amid a flurry of bureaucratic dogma that tends to bury the bad news. The messages are still there, but one needs to pay attention.Read more from Luke Hunt in The Diplomat..
What's Behind Malaysia's Pile of Missing Money?
Published on Jul 22, 2015 by Luke Hunt
The focus of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) financial scandal is constantly shifting. Politicians and civil society groups across Malaysia expect extraordinary allegations of financial irregularities at the fund, established by Prime Minister Najib Razak, to be independently investigated and justice delivered.But increasingly, public anger is being misdirected through the media lens and politicians obsessed with a battle royale between Najib and his nemesis Mahathir Mohamad, whose desire to see Najib ousted and his son Mukhriz promoted within government ranks has been well documented.Read more from Luke Hunt in The Diplomat..
