For women in Pakistan, just staying alive can be a struggle
The writer laments, "For women in this country, the challenges are that much harder and life that much coarser."
The Asian View
Korean learning boom falters
Continued government support, particularly for the woefully underpaid instructors, is necessary for Korean language education to remain vital and relevant, says the writer.
Curing the Philippines’ cancer of corruption
Educator Feliece Yeban posted on social media last week: “The ‘cancer cells’ are the officials, government employees, contractors, and power brokers who have fed on public…
Safety for the vulnerable must not be sacrificed to populist politics
"Beyond political gimmicks, we require state institutions that uphold democracy, justice, good governance, and the rule of law," says the writer.
The Malala paradox
In Pakistan, national identity is often defined in contrast to the West. When a girl from Swat became a fixture in Western media, her success was misread as defection, a signal…
Sukarno, Soeharto and authoritarian failures in Indonesia
Centralisation, which is prone to authoritarianism, may serve as an emergency structure in moments of collapse, but it cannot drive innovation, productivity, or global…
Nepotism and cronyism
People’s trust in PM Karki is eroding fast due to many visible and hidden scandals.
Philippine politics in the grip of families—and vice versa
The writer laments: "But, unless we learn to honor these boundaries—between family and politics, faith and power, public duty and private interest—we will continue to see…
What awaits Awami League after the Hasina verdict?
The deeper question now is whether Awami League survives as a party, or only as a memory of fear and loyalty, says the writer.
Dhaka’s earthquake danger ignored for too long
The fate of a megacity like Dhaka facing a potential major earthquake depends on its level of preparation, scientific insight, and coordinated action, says the writer. Without…