Archive
August 2021
Japan Further Expands Virus Emergency Areas as Cases Surge
By Mari Yamaguchi
33 of Japan's 47 prefectures are now under some type of emergency measures.
What Attempts to Measure India’s Caste System Get Wrong
By Shareen Joshi
Modern surveys on caste can feel like inadvertent replications of a colonial mistake.
Under Taliban Rule, What Happens to Afghanistan’s Artifacts?
By Sribala Subramanian
The Taliban are famous for destroying priceless artifacts. With Kabul falling to the Taliban, the fate of the National Museum’s world-class collection now hangs in the balance.
Afghanistan’s Collapse: The View From Taiwan
By Brian Hioe
How are Taiwan’s various political players interpreting the U.S. withdrawal, and the subsequent fall of Kabul?
Tajikistan Won’t Recognize a Taliban-Only Afghan Government
By Catherine Putz
After talks with Pakistan’s foreign minister, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon stressed the need for an inclusive Afghan government, particularly including ethnic Tajiks.
Southeast Asia’s Current Account Balancing Act
By James Guild
While trade is important as countries seek to bounce back from COVID-19, you need to poke a little deeper to get a full picture of the current account.
New Zealand Confronts COVID Delta Wave
By Joshua Mcdonald
After living mostly COVID-free throughout the pandemic, New Zealand has hit its worst point since April 2020.
Panjshir Valley Prepares to Push Back the Taliban
By Joseph Krauss and Rahim Faiez
Western countries are unlikely to back yet another proxy war in Afghanistan.
China’s Wedge Strategy Towards the US-Vietnam Partnership
By Khang Vu
Through a variety of measures, Beijing is seeking to reinforce Vietnam’s neutrality in the competition between the superpowers.
As Rohingya Wait for Justice, Myanmar’s Military Continues to Revel in Impunity
By Wai Wai Nu and Khin Ohmar
Four years on, there is an urgent need for international action to tackle the Myanmar military's culture of impunity.
Between COVID and the Coup, a Humanitarian Emergency Is Underway in Myanmar
By Robert Bociaga
A looming humanitarian disaster proves the West’s unwillingness to counter the junta.
Thailand Legalizes Kratom, Popular Plant-based Painkiller
By Chalida Ekvitthayavechnukul
The plant, native to Southeast Asia, is used as a mild stimulant and painkiller.