Financial Times (November 24)
“The coronavirus outbreak has exposed Japan’s tardiness on digitization, which posed hurdles as the country tried to adopt online medicine and other digital tools to curb the outbreak.” However, Taro Kono’s “assault on the seal reveals new premier Yoshide Suga’s determination to reform the hidebound state. Hanko seals are universal in Japanese culture…. But they clash with Mr Suga’s move to a digital agency with more government services online.”
Tags: Coronavirus, Determination, Digitization, Hanko, Hidebound, Hurdles, Japan, Kono, Online medicine, Outbreak, Reform, Seal, Suga, Tardiness
New York Times (May 25)
Crown prince Mohammed bin Salman brought new hope that he would drag “his hidebound country into the modern age with a new vision.” Reform, however, is now “in reverse in Saudi Arabia” as the young prince cracks down on those who advocated for women’s right to drive. “It will be impossible for Prince Mohammed to legitimately claim the reformist mantle and achieve his economic goals as long as women are prevented from taking their full and rightful place in Saudi Arabia’s future.
Tags: Drive:, Hidebound, MBS, Modern age, Reform, Saudi Arabia, Vision, Women
