Archive
2020
China’s Digital Silk Road Grows With 5G in the Middle East
By Sophie Zinser
Huawei and other Chinese firms continue to make rapid inroads among Gulf countries – despite the United States’ efforts.
US Sanctions Turkey Over Russian Air Defense System, Raising Questions and Concerns
By Abhijnan Rej
US sanctions on Turkey’s main defense acquisitions agency has raised questions about American nuclear weapons in the country – and whether a similar fate will befall India next year.
Tokyo Games Relay Opens in 100 Days With 10,000 Torchbearers
By Associated Press
Even after a year-long delay, there are questions about the safety of the massive relay effort – not to mention the Olympic Games themselves.
Islamophobia on the Rise in Sri Lanka as Deceased Muslims Forced Into Cremation
By Tasnim Nazeer
Authorities are using COVID-19 to justify forced cremations for Muslims, devastating family members.
Pandemic Border Restrictions Crush Hong Kong’s Economy
By Tej Parikh
Hong Kong's tight restrictions on travel amid COVID-19 are taking a toll on an already-suffering economy.
South Korea Prepares for Its Worst COVID-19 Scenario Yet
By Mitch Shin
Seoul has hesitated to tighten restrictions thus far, even as health authorities predict the number of daily cases might top 1,000.
Checking in on Uzbekistan’s Political Progress in 2020: An Interview With Farkhod Tolipov
By Catherine Putz
"Despite obvious advancement in reforms in various spheres, one direction of reforms remains very slow: it is the sphere of political reforms."
Eliminating Forced Labor in Uzbekistan’s Cotton Sector – A Work Still in Progress
By Umida Niyazova
Uzbekistan has made enormous progress in eliminating forced labor, but has yet to fully eradicate it.
Remote Warfare – And How Video Games Might Help Understand It
By Jacob Parakilas
Future operators may also need to be real-time strategy games adepts.
India’s Out of RCEP: What’s Next for the Country and Free Trade?
By Prachi Priya and Aniruddha Ghosh
India’s foreign trade policy must be aligned to its self-reliance goals. But it also needs to work towards making domestic industries competitive.
The Complexity of Indonesia’s Halal Economy
By James Guild
Calls for an alcohol ban speak to the complexity of balancing economic and religious considerations in Indonesia.
Vietnam Party Conclave Readies Key Personnel Appointments
By Sebastian Strangio
This week's plenum will ponder the key personnel appointments that will be announced at next month's National Congress.