Headlines

Falling in love with the Maldives

The Maldives is a long way away and, for some, it may seem out of reach. But, even so, one Belgian found her way there and then fell in love with the place. So much so, in fact, that she made it her home. Isabelle Gobert (pictured) works as Cluster Assistant Director of

As the yen sinks, Asia’s monetary anchor subtly shifts to yuan

In mid-June, Indonesian Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa spent two days in Beijing and flew home with more than pleasantries. China’s finance ministry and the People’s Bank of China pledged to fast-track approval of Indonesia’s debut panda bond, a renminbi-denominated

Asia

Africa: The Ocean Is Not Fragmented. Power Is.

[African Arguments] On 16-18 June in Mombasa, the Our Ocean Conference met on African soil for the first time, and over 100 governments, businesses and civil society organisations announced 320 new commitments valued at $6.4 billion to advance ocean conservation, sustainable

Why the US economy stays strong despite Trump’s shockwaves

The US economy is continuing to grow faster and generate more new jobs than Europe. Annual national income growth over the past five years has averaged 3.3% in the US against 2.6% in the EU. In the first quarter of 2026, the EU’s GDP was just 0.7% higher than a year before,

Asia

Taliban’s ethnic chauvinism an increasingly dangerous divide

The Taliban’s demotion of Haji Jumma Khan Fateh from deputy governor of Zabul province may have looked like a routine reshuffling. But it fits a disturbing pattern that runs through the movement’s entire governing structure: Non-Pashtun commanders are useful until their

Asia

Understanding Bavaria's Indigeneity

When I tell people that I am a proud Boarisch-Schwob—Bavarian-Swabian—Indigenous person, I am often met with disbelief. I am white. I am European. I come from Bavaria, one of Europe's wealthiest regions. For some people, those facts settle the question before I have explained

Indonesia’s telling empty chair on the South China Sea

The most significant development at this week’s Conference Commemorating the Tenth Anniversary of the South China Sea Arbitration Award in Jakarta was not what was discussed. It was who failed to appear. Every Indonesian government representative scheduled to participate

Asia

New Zealand, Fiji renew five-year partnership

WELLINGTON, July 16 - New Zealand and Fiji signed a renewed five-year Duavata Partnership on Thursday, setting out cooperation priorities for 2026 to 2030 across trade, security, democracy, social development and climate resilience, New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters

Asia

US bid for Libya reunification a gamble, analysts say

US envoy Massad Boulos has spent the past year shuttling between Libya's rival leaders to bridge their political divide. Authorities in Tripoli and the UN mission in Libya, which has spent months leading political talks to resolve the divide, did not respond to AFP requests for

Saving Gaza's past, one artefact at a time

Armed with paintbrushes and wearing surgical gloves, volunteers inside a large tent in Gaza delicately brushed dust from a stone mosaic before placing it into storage, part of an effort to preserve cultural heritage hit by war. "Several mosaic artworks have been lost or