Mongolia Pitches Plan to Build New Capital From Scratch (November 4, 2024, The Diplomat) (Subscription required)
After more than a century of existence, the city was toppled by invading forces, but the Mongols never forgot their ancient capital. Now Mongolian leaders say they want to build a new city in the valley close to the ancient ruins and make it their new seat of government.
Efforts to end Kurdish militant conflict in Turkey face Syria test (January 10, 2025, Reuters)
Jailed militant leader signalled readiness to halt conflict. Pro-Kurdish party discussing proposals with other parties. Fall of Assad in Syria transforms the dynamics of any peace process. Harsh government rhetoric fuels skepticism among Kurds. More than 40,000 people have been killed in conflict
People power's unfinished work: Can Bangladesh be an exception? (December 21, 2024, NPR Network)
This past summer, students mobilized against what they viewed as unfair job quotas. After security forces cracked down viciously, their movement morphed into a mass anti-government campaign that culminated in the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. While people power movements upend politics, they often fail to produce lasting democratic change. Bangladesh has a chance to be an exception — but it won't be easy.
Azerbaijan Calls Neighboring Armenia ‘Fascist’ – New War on Horizon? (January 8, 2025, Kyiv Post)
“Since this country has been ruled for almost 30 years by carriers of fascist ideology, they have shaped this country in their own image. Therefore, fascism must be destroyed. It will be destroyed either by the Armenian leadership or by us. We have no other choice…”
A Developed Sri Lanka Is in India’s Interest (December 15, 2024, The Wire)
India extended $1.7 billion of debt repayments which was due from Sri Lanka in a proactive manner without the Sri Lankan government even having to reach out to New Delhi. This prevented Sri Lanka from defaulting once again. The Indian government saved the day for the new National People’s Power (NPP) government which was less than a month-old at the time. This amount is almost as much as what the Modi government has spent on subsidising the Micron project. What is India’s position in Sri Lanka and why is it doing this?
Kyrgyzstan Struggles with Enforcing Western Sanctions on Russia (December 27, 2024, RegTech Times)
Kyrgyzstan is struggling to enforce Western sanctions against Russia. Despite efforts to stop the flow of goods that could support Russia’s defense sector, the country faces major challenges due to business interests, limited government resources, and its close relationship with Russia.
COME ON JAPANESE YEN: What Will it Look Like in 2025, and What Can We Students Do About It? (January 3, 2025, Her Campus)
Japan’s extravagant Christmas celebrations drive short-term spending but promote unsustainable consumerism. While it’s beautiful and so much fun, I think it’s worth asking: Do we need these many items? This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at ICU (Japan) chapter.
Lebanon’s Economy Reels From War: ‘We Are Starting From Zero’ (December 30, 2024, The New York Times) (Subscription required)
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah may be suspended, but the damage is immense. “We came out of this war with nothing,” one man said.
How Asian supervisors are building the future foundations of banking (January 2, 2024, The Banker)
Celebrating Asia’s position as a location for banking innovation has almost become a cliche. The region is known for pioneering the use of mobile QR code payments and has seen the rise of numerous “superapps.” Yet what is often missing from the discussion of Asia’s rise in innovation is how the environment enabled these projects to thrive.
A toddler, a student, a family of nine: who were the victims of Jeju Air flight 7C2216? (January 4, 2024, The Guardian)
As authorities rushed to establish the cause of Sunday’s crash, in which all but two passengers and crew on the Boeing 737-800 died, heartbreaking stories and tributes emerged as grieving families and friends shared the pain of their loss.