In Indonesia, cigarettes, poverty and the invisible malnutrition trap
In many low-income households, cigarettes are not simply a vice, they are a daily expenditure that competes directly with food, especially nutritious food.
The Asian View
Why India must hew the middle ground between US and China
India today is not strong enough to become a pole by itself in the world, but it is big enough not to follow any camp, the writer says.
The freedom to fly solo
Women in Pakistan grow up surrounded by the critical and toxic perspectives of everyone around them, the writer says.
Myanmar recovery: An urgent plea for ASEAN-led global action
ASEAN must step forward to guide the recovery in Myanmar, potentially building on the model of the Tripartite Core Group, involving the military junta, ASEAN Plus (with China and…
Nepal’s migrating doctors
For every 3,000 people, there is just one doctor. The situation is worse in rural areas.
Is the US winning under Donald ‘Tariff’ Trump?
The writer says: "Trump and his vice president's public pronouncements and behaviour with friends and foes alike have brought back the spectre of the "Ugly American" stereotype,…
Kuala Lumpur is drowning, and selfishness to blame
The blatant disregard for regulations has turned our drainage system into a convenient shortcut, at the expense of public safety.
Vietnam deepening friendship, cooperation with China
In recent years, bilateral trade between Vietnam and China has taken significant strides. Vietnam maintains its position as China's largest trading partner in ASEAN and, by 2024,…
What US President Trump’s tariff pause means for Indonesia
As the global system tilts further into protectionist reflexes and retaliatory theatrics, Indonesia must remain sharp-eyed and steady-footed.
China’s bold move to bypass Western tech dominance
Washington's restrictions may have inadvertently accelerated Beijing's investment in alternative technologies that could eventually surpass the very technologies being withheld.