The recently concluded “Two Sessions” – an annual gathering of China’s top political bodies – highlighted the country’s challenge of balancing slowing economic growth with ambitious technological progress. A key takeaway from the Two Sessions is Beijing’s commitment to integrating private tech firms into national policy decisions on innovation. LeadingContinue Reading
On the day he returned to the U.S. presidency, Donald Trump issued an executive order freezing foreign aid for 90 days. Among the many projects impacted was a $500 million grant that was intended to develop critical infrastructure in Nepal. This funding, provided through the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), aContinue Reading
As a country with pronounced political polarization, Thailand is used to divisive debates in which the arguments on both sides have merit. But when it comes to the ruling Pheu Thai Party’s economic stimulus program of handing out 10,000 baht ($298) to all Thais aged 16 and older, the debateContinue Reading
At first glance, the gemstone market in Peshawar, locally known as Namak Mandi –meaning “Salt Market” in Urdu – appears unremarkable and unappealing. The narrow lanes, crumbling shopfronts, and the stench of open sewage create an image of neglect and decay, concealing the vibrant trade that thrives within. However, thisContinue Reading
Over the past eight years, Uzbekistan and Pakistan have taken several steps to strengthen their bilateral ties, elevating their cooperation into a strategic partnership. A key milestone in this process was the signing of the Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership in 2021, followed by a series of diplomatic, defense, andContinue Reading
Myanmar’s economy is set to shrink by 2 percent this financial year, due to the effects of intensifying conflict and economic mismanagement by the military junta, according to the latest Myanmar economic outlook from the research group BMI. BMI, a unit of Fitch Solutions, cited the World Bank’s recent projectionContinue Reading
On March 3, the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) announced, together with U.S. President Donald Trump, its decision to invest massively in the United States. Per TSMC CEO C.C. Wei, this investment will direct $100 billion to the construction of three new fabrication facilities featuring the company’s most advanced process nodes,Continue Reading
Although Uzbekistan has effectively eliminated large-scale state-imposed forced labor in the cotton harvest, ongoing government influence over certain aspects of the country’s agricultural industry continues to generate exploitative conditions for farmers and pickers alike, the Uzbek Forum for Human Rights argued in a new report. The report, covering the 2024Continue Reading
Uzbekistan hopes to finalize its accession to the World Trade Organization in 2026, bringing to a close a 31-year effort that envisions an open, competitive, and resilient economy. Following the WTO’s General Council meeting on February 18-19, Uzbekistan’s chief WTO negotiator Azizbek Urunov said that the WTO’s director general hadContinue Reading
The Diplomat author Mercy Kuo regularly engages subject-matter experts, policy practitioners, and strategic thinkers across the globe for their diverse insights into U.S. Asia policy. This conversation with Rodney Faraon – partner and chief creative officer at Crumpton Global LLC, a corporate advisory firm in metro Washington, D.C. – isContinue Reading
