As a summit for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) wrapped up in Bangkok, citizens have high expectations for more sustainable cooperation in the region. The primary agenda of the...

Although China is a major crude oil producer, steadily increasing demand has made the country the world’s largest oil importer as of 2017. Nearly half of those imports come from countries on the coastline of the Persian Gulf...

Historically, hotspots for ocean-based piracy have centered on areas such as Somalia or the waters around Indonesia, but these locations have become much safer in recent years. The waters around...

The lack of exchange between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Moon Jae-in during the 2019 G20 summit in Osaka seemed representative of the unraveling bilateral trade relations...

The African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) entered into force on May 30, 2019, for the 24 countries that had deposited their instruments of ratification. The AfCFTA will be the world’s largest free trade area since the formation of...

On July 15, 2019, China’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) released GDP growth data of 6.2% year on year for the second quarter of 2019, down from 6.4% for the first quarter. China has not posted growth data that low since...

The rise of blockchain technology is altering the ways of service exchange and asset trading. Blockchain technology is the fundamental technology that supports the operation of cryptocurrencies, but the potential of this new technology may be far greater than first perceived...

The city of Chennai in the southeastern Indian state of Tamil Nadu is facing a severe water crisis that has been growing steadily more severe for years. The city of over 10 million inhabitants follows...

A peaceful democratic transition was anticipated during the reportedly calm presidential election campaign in Mauritania. The results of the election on June 22, 2019, however, caused vocal resistance from...

Matteo Salvini, Italy’s Minister of the Interior and Deputy Prime Minister, is well-known for his rigorous anti-immigration views. With several islands and a long coastline fencing Europe in the South, Italy is an often-sought destination for boats and ships carrying refugees from Africa. Hence, it comes as no surprise that...