| By Abby Chen | What defines the future of “emotional-value” products? How have traditional marketing strategies evolved in our digital age? The brand Pop Mart provides a case study.
Asia China Energy EU Europe Infrastructure Trade USA
October 30, 2025
Afghanistan’s Lithium and China’s EV Ambitions
| By Barry Yao | As China seeks expanded and stable lithium supply sources, its EV companies don’t have to look far to find a potential new trading partner: Afghanistan.
Asia EU Europe India Infrastructure Iran Russia
October 17, 2025
Developments and Challenges of the INSTC
| By Olivia Ernst | Expansion of the INSTC holds promise for Eurasian Economic Integration. However, infrastructure and financial challenges in Russia and Iran challenge the corridor’s completion.
Asia Indonesia
October 9, 2025
Indonesia’s Mass Protests: Why They Started, Whether They’ll End
| By Caroline Gross | Protests erupt in Indonesia as lavish government salaries and spending collide with rising unemployment and inequality, fueling reform demands to end corruption.
Asia China Commerce Defense Japan Security South Korea
September 26, 2025
Navigating Diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific: Japan’s Security Strategy
| By Caroline Gross and Eliana Pisons | Captain Yusuke Saito shares Japan’s strategy for peace, highlighting multilateralism, maritime law, and the strength of the US-Japan alliance in a shifting world.
Energy EU Europe LNG Russia
September 25, 2025
How the EU Plans to Rapidly Phase Out Russian Gas
| By Olivia Ernst | The EU is rapidly accelerating its Russian gas phase-out through supply diversification, but disengagement brings environmental challenges and investor risks.
Asia India Russia Tariffs USA
September 3, 2025
Trump’s Tariffs and India’s Geostrategic Dilemma
| By Olivia Ernst | With US tariffs mounting and Russia offering cheap oil, India faces a challenging decision, balancing trade relations and energy security.
Africa China EU USA USAID
August 26, 2025
How Developing Nations Have Been Navigating Funding Gaps Post-USAID
| By Olivia Ernst | Developing nations struggle to finance budget gaps following the dismantling of USAID. China has stepped in to help, but the future of its support remains uncertain.
CMMC Cybersecurity Europe NATO Russia USA
August 5, 2025
NATO’s 5% Spending Target and the Future of the Allied Defense Industry
| By Olivia Ernst | NATO’s 5% pledge seeks to expand the Allied defense industry. However, past failures to increase military spending and other limitations raise doubts about whether NATO can achieve this goal.
Asia Business Commerce Finance Japan Supply Chain Trade
July 21, 2025
Strategic Long-Term Investment in Japanese Trading Houses
| By Eliana Pisons | Warren Buffett’s investment strategy highlights the long-term value of Japan’s diversified trading houses like Mitsubishi and Itochu, amid rising global uncertainty.