VERY soon after 2019 began, the country has been engrossed in new political developments: the resignation of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the meeting of the Prime Minister with the Johor Ruler, the debate on where to draw the line between freedom of speech and insults to the powers that be, new corruption cases ... And so on.

This is the last day of a landmark year, both nationally with the collapse of the old regime, and globally with the crumbling of the post-1945 world liberal order.

The arrest of a top Huawei executive may spark a conflict that could cripple America’s rivals and unleash chaos in the world order.

The Digital Age is now upon us, for better or worse. There is a need for a national digital economy and society policy to realise the promises while minimising the pitfalls.

Malaysia punched above its weight at last week’s Asean Summit, where key decisions on the RCEP trade deal were postponed because many issues were unresolved.

MANY governments are working on national policies on the digital economy. They correctly believe that the forces of computerisation, robotics and artificial intelligence are fast changing production and consumption systems.

NEW alarm over climate change and a looming financial crisis were two themes hitting the headlines recently.

SEVERAL events this month will put the spotlight on economic issues in Malaysia and globally.

TODAY marks another milestone in the escalating global trade war that threatens to shake the foundations of the world trading system and cause economic uncertainty at a time of financial fragility. It’s an altogether bad development that adds more gloom to global economic prospects.

THE financial crisis affecting developing countries arrived in full-scale fashion in our region last week when the Indonesian economy experienced shocks reminiscent of the Asian crisis 20 years ago.

IT’S a few days more to National Day. It’s a good time to remember that nothing is more precious than our independence, where we have the right and means to determine our own economic and social policies.

In deciding whether to go ahead with the agreement, the govt must weigh benefits of increased market access with loss of freedom to make and implement policies.