By Niu Yuhan* LONDON | 10 December 2024 (IDN) — Workers have planted the final 100 metres of trees along the southern edge of the Taklamakan Desert, completing a 3,046-kilometre “green belt” encircling China’s largest desert, according to Xinhua. The Taklamakan Desert, covering an area of 337,600 square kilometres—roughly the size of Finland—is the second-largest […]
Two Words Stick as Nepal PM Goes to China for Connectivity Assistance
By Kalinga Seneviratne Bangkok | 7 December 2024 (IDN) — Breaking with tradition, Nepal’s recently re-elected Prime Minister Sharma Oli, a Communist politician, visited China from 2 to 5 December in a bid to add new momentum to growing trends in the landlocked Himalayan nation to diversify its connectivity to the outside world via railways […]
Sustainable Transport Key to Achieving Asia-Pacific Region’s Development Ambitions
By Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana* BANGKOK, Thailand | 26 November 2024 (IDN) — Across the Asia-Pacific region, especially in urban centres, electric cars and buses are increasingly replacing gasoline-powered ones as a means of transportation. Aided by the ubiquity of smart devices, smart mobility and other transport innovations are significantly reshaping everyday life through ride-sharing apps, […]
South Korea: Best Off Balancing Deterrence and Diplomacy with The North
By Rachel Minyong Lee* WASHINGTON. D:C. | 17 November 2024 (IDN) — Unification is a perennial topic of interest among Korea watchers, but it has been particularly popular — and confusing — in recent months, with North and South Korea each sending diametrically opposed signals. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol delivered a rare speech dedicated to unification […]
Sri Lanka: Daunting Foreign Policy Options for a New Administration — Part 3
Former Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations, and more recently, Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Read Part 2 here: https://indepthnews.net/sri-lanka-daunting-foreign-policy-options-for-a-new-administration-part-2/ COLOMBO, Sri Lanka | 9 November 2024 (IDN) — In the nineteenth century, the GREAT GAME was played by two global powers among the soaring peaks and stunning valleys […]
An Asian Perspective of the Trump Victory at the US Presidential Election
From the Asia Society in New York NEW YORK | 8 November 2024 (IDN) — Asia Society Policy Institute experts comment on the news that Donald Trump has won the 2024 U.S. election and what it means for Asia. Daniel Russel – Vice President, International Security and Diplomacy The uncertainty of the election now gives […]
Sri Lanka: Daunting Foreign Policy Options for a New Administration — Part 2
By Dr Palitha Kohona Former Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations, and more recently, Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Read Part 1 here: https://indepthnews.net/sri-lanka-daunting-foreign-policy-options-for-a-new-administration-part-1/ COLOMBO, Sri Lanka | 7 November 2024 (IDN) — The almost imperceptible emergence of China as a global economic and military giant with critical interests […]
Women Micro Entrepreneurs with Gender Sensitive Financial Services
By Darshni Nagaria, Sara Niner and Elena Mayer-Bestin* BANGKOK | 7 November 2024 (IDN) — The financing needs of entrepreneurs varies depending on business size, reason for starting a business and opportunities for enterprise growth. Typically, necessity-driven entrepreneurs start a business venture to support themselves and their families’ livelihoods when there is a lack of […]
Strengthening Tsunami Preparedness in a Changing Climate
By Sanjay Srivastava, Temily Baker and Nawarat Perawattanasakul* BANGKOK, Thailand | 4 November 2024 (IDN) — This year’s World Tsunami Awareness Day (5 November) presents a moment of reflection 20 years on from the catastrophic Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004. The tsunami resulted in 225,000 fatalities across 14 countries and emphasized the urgent need for […]
India-China Historic Agreement Brings Hope for Global Harmony
By Bhikkhu Sanghasena* LEH, Ladakh, India | 4 November 2024 (IDN) — It is with immense joy and relief that we welcome the long-anticipated news: the two great nations of Asia—India and China—have finally reached an agreement on military disengagement along their disputed border. This significant announcement brings hope to all those who have been […]