Sri Lanka's Political Implosion

Published on Aug 27, 2022 by Luke Hunt

A podcast with Ganeshan Wignaraja. Sri Lanka has been imperiled by a collapsing economy amid allegations of gross corruption by the Rajapaksa family which had ruled the island-nation for 17 years.Ganeshan Wignaraja is an internationally known development economist. He is a non-resident senior fellow at the Institute of South Asian Studies at the National University of Singapore and a senior research associate at ODI Global in London.He spoke with Luke Hunt in Colombo about the plight of his country. Listen here..

Sri Lanka's New President

Published on Jul 24, 2022 by Luke Hunt

Producers David Brown and Luke Hunt ventured into Sri Lankan politics for Voice of America as a government was ousted and Ranil Wickremesinghe emerged as President promising to form an all-party government capable of securing a multibillion-dollar IMF bailout. But so far, his appointments have angered protesters. Luke Hunt reports from Colombo..

Asia's Wealth Gap

Published on Dec 23, 2019 by Luke Hunt

Wealth gaps in Southeast Asia, and beyond, are ever expanding and issues which are arising are predictable. But as usual it's about too little for too few and too much for the handful who see themselves as elite. Cambodia’s Christmas carol: A Tale of Three Scrooges.

China’s Defense Posturing Shields Its Economic Distress

Published on Feb 28, 2016 by Luke Hunt

China is facing an uphill battle on two fronts. At home, government prestige is waning as the economy falters with Chinese people sending their money abroad as the stock market stumbles amid a slowing economy and a deteriorating currency.And as the bad economic news continues to drip out of China so do the dispatches about its military maneuvers in the South China Sea, known as the East Sea in Hanoi and the West Philippine Sea in Manila, where world patience with Beijing over this issue is again wearing thin.Read more from Luke Hunt in The Diplomat.

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. .

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

Published on Dec 22, 2015 by Luke Hunt

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..

One In All In, AIIB Gains Momentum

Published on Mar 28, 2015 by Luke Hunt

Plans for a China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) have proved divisive. As a potential competitor to the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) it has not been welcomed by the United States, which still dominates both institutions.Read more from Luke Hunt in The Diplomat..