Aviation/All

February 22, 2012

Aviation/All

Airlines face East-West fight

The launch of low-cost Air Asia cleared the way for a new style of airline business in the region. Subsequent growth in passenger numbers and expansion of land-based infrastructure are now facing headwinds in the shape of taxes and restrictions in the United States and Europe that could lead to an expensive East-West face off.

- Michael Mackey (Nov 16, '11)

Tequila taste buds in Asia

Twenty years ago, tequila was a drink that at best helped make margaritas and invariably resulted in bad heads and stomachs, but it has been moving steadily up-market. Now the top brands are finding a warm welcome in trendy parts of Asia, not least Shanghai.

- Ian Williams (Sep 01, '11)

'Star schools' distort Taipei property market

Changes to Taiwan's education laws have led thousands of ambitious parents to buy housing near Taipei's most prestigious schools. When compulsory education is extended to 12 years in 2014, having a home address in a "star school" catchment area will be more important than a student's exam results.

- Jens Kastner (Aug 08, '11)

Staff of life, bread of death

The global food system is straining under the intense pressure of rising demand, rising energy prices, growing water shortages and the onset of climate chaos. This, experts tell us, is only the beginning. The price of bread is forecast to nearly double in the next 20 years, bringing more Arab-style protests, and heightened conflict and imperialist intervention.

- Christian Parenti (Jul 22, '11)

Japan-South Korea ties hit turbulence

Japan has banned diplomats from using South Korea's Korean Air after the airline directed the maiden flight of an Airbus A380 service over disputed islands called Takeshima by Japanese and Dokdo by Koreans. The flare-up of the long-simmering East Asian island feud impacts on the nations' united front against North Korea's military ambitions and benefits China's muscle-flexing in the Pacific.

- Kosuke Takahashi (Jul 15, '11)

Nasair link reverses flight from Pakistan

Nasair, a fast-growing Saudi Arabian low-cost airline, has started flights to Pakistan, reversing a trend of international carriers to flee the strife-hit country. That means cheaper travel for pilgrims to Mecca and a further threat to heavily indebted Pakistan International Airlines.

- Syed Fazl-e-Haider (Jun 21, '11)

Taiwan food scare 'dates back decades'

A food-additives scare has forced Taiwanese products off shelves in neighboring countries after investigators discovered that stuff used to make food more attractive has been added in excessive amounts for more than 20 years. The future health of untold numbers of children have been put at risk.

- Jens Kastner (Jun 06, '11)

San Miguel loses fizz

Famed beer maker San Miguel Corp, the top Philippines food and drink company, is moving away from its core business into power generation, mining and other unfamiliar sectors. That is leaving a sour taste for investors, who are dumping the stock.

- Joel D Adriano (Jun 01, '11)

Fly China, risk included

The expansion of China's aviation sector, spurred by a growing middle class eager to travel within and outside the country, offers irresistible opportunities for Western companies such as Airbus, Bombardier and Embraer - even at the risk of their hard-won technologies being turned against them and in some cases possibly put to military uses.

- Benjamin A Shobert (Apr 28, '11)

Rebuilding trust key for Japan

A crucial part of any recovery preparation for Japan includes questions on how to raise money and ensure it is properly invested. Reconstruction of trust in both government and nuclear power is an essential part of the process.

- Haruko Satoh (Mar 23, '11)

China's new brew

Coffee is firmly taking its place among the popular drinks of a modernized China, with United States-based Starbucks facing increasing competition from fashionable cappuccino and latte outlets and beans from southwestern Yunnan province making the grade among quality-oriented bean buyers.

- Daniel Allen (Mar 10, '11)

Fear death by eating

Nearly 70% of all Chinese do not believe the food they consume is safe, little surprise given the continual reports of deaths from food poisoning and adulteration despite government efforts to improve matters. Organic farming is a growing trend, but not strong enough yet to persuade the public that farmers have morals.

- Mitch Moxley (Mar 10, '11)

Chinese learn to live with rising food costs

Rising food prices are of growing concern to China's central government, with Premier Wen Jiabao this weekend acknowledging the risk they bring of social unrest. Yet a fatalistic acceptance appears more the norm among the capital's shopkeepers.

- Mitch Moxley (Feb 28, '11)

India-Indonesia links deepen

GVK Power, with a US$4 billion deal to build airports in Bali and Java, and International Coal Ventures are among Indian companies leading a drive to double already fast-growing bilateral trade between India and Indonesia within five years.

- Robert M Cutler (Jan 27, '11)

Food costs serve up trouble

Rising populations, growing middle-classes in developing countries, and climate change are adding to pressure on food supplies, while speculators are betting on the situation worsening. Food prices have already sparked riots in Algeria and mass protests - and government overthrow - in Tunisia. Global stability is under threat.

- Michael T Klare (Jan 24, '11)

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Airlines face East-West fight

Tequila taste buds in Asia

'Star schools' distort Taipei property market

Staff of life, bread of death

Japan-South Korea ties hit turbulence

Nasair link reverses flight from Pakistan

Taiwan food scare 'dates back decades'

San Miguel loses fizz

Fly China, risk included

Rebuilding trust key for Japan

China's new brew

Fear death by eating

Chinese learn to live with rising food costs

India-Indonesia links deepen

Food costs serve up trouble

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