Insights

Digital transformation can drive green and inclusive growth across Asia, tackling challenges like the digital divide, energy poverty, and sustainable development. This book explores the transformative impact of digital tools on sectors such as energy, agriculture, transport, and finance. It provides policy recommendations for harnessing digitalization for sustainable development, ensuring inclusive access and building digital capacity for marginalized groups. The book is a valuable resource for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners in Asia and the Pacific.
Financial services
Beyond Boundaries: Navigating the Digital Landscape for a Green and Inclusive Future
Developing countries in Asia and the Pacific can build safe and effective AI policies by taking four key steps. Firstly, they should adopt risk-based approaches to regulation, ensuring that the level of regulatory intervention corresponds to the level of risk posed by AI systems. Secondly, inclusive policymaking should be prioritized, involving government, industry, academia, and civil society in the development of AI policies. Thirdly, strategic frameworks should be established to define a clear vision for AI and outline measures to mitigate risks. Lastly, data governance should be strengthened to manage data collection, storage, and usage effectively.
Four Ways Developing Countries Can Build Safe, Effective AI Policies
Mexican think tanks face a challenging political context marked by post-truth, populism, and polarization, which hampers their influence and the use of evidence-based policymaking. Distrust from government actors, funding instability, and reduced civic space contribute to their growing fragility. Despite these obstacles, 83% of think tanks foresee continued political challenges, with funding often reliant on single donors or international agencies. Nonetheless, think tanks remain resilient and actively engage in policy-making through both formal and informal channels, striving to impact decisions even as their research agendas increasingly depend on donor priorities.
Africa, Latin America | Health
Mexico | Between fragility and adaptability
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is considering its obligations and the legal responsibilities of states concerning climate change. The court's advisory opinions, although not binding, can play a crucial role in preventive diplomacy and peace. The ICJ faces a choice between a narrow and reactive approach to climate change or a broader perspective that recognizes states' obligations to steward the environment for present and future generations. Clarifying these responsibilities under international human rights law would represent a significant step forward. The ICJ should consider the findings of scientific bodies such as the IPCC and IPBES and address root causes of climate change, including issues like inequality and the disproportionate impacts on small island states. A preventive approach can foster peace with nature and set an example for other courts to promote environmental justice and peace.
On climate change, the international court of justice faces a pivotal choice
Menopause can occur earlier than expected, affecting around half the world's population. Many women feel uninformed about the menopause and are unprepared for its effects. Menopause marks the end of a woman's reproductive years when the ovaries stop releasing eggs and hormone levels decline. Perimenopause, the period leading up to menopause, is characterized by fluctuating hormones and irregular menstrual cycles. Symptoms of menopause can vary widely and include hot flushes, mood swings, and fatigue. Lifestyle changes and hormone replacement therapy can help manage symptoms. Weight gain is a common concern during menopause.
Five things young women need to know about the menopause
France's shortest-lived government has fallen in a vote of no confidence triggered by a budget dispute. The far-right Rassemblement National (RN) and leftwing populists La France Insoumise led the vote, causing the resignation of Prime Minister Michel Barnier. The situation is concerning as France faces economic difficulties, and government instability and institutional paralysis will worsen the problem. The crisis stems from France's politicians' competitive and majoritarian instincts. They collaborated to prevent the RN from winning an outright majority in the National Assembly but failed to find common ground for governing. This led to a budget controversy, resulting in the fall of the government.
France | Financial services
Why did the French government fall and what happens next?
Access to AI skilling is not equitably distributed, which exacerbates the global talent scarcity challenge. The demand for AI skills has grown significantly, but older workers, women, and people with disabilities face barriers in accessing AI training and technology. However, there are some positive trends, such as the closing gender gap in AI skills and the optimism among people with disabilities towards AI. To drive equity in AI adoption, organizations should provide rapid skilling opportunities, critically evaluate the possibilities and limitations of AI, address bias, and ensure inclusive decision-making processes.
Education
Equitable AI skilling can help solve talent scarcity – this is what leaders can do
China's green 'overcapacity' in sectors such as solar power, electric vehicles, and lithium batteries could present an opportunity for the global energy transition, particularly in the Global South, despite concerns of job losses and unfair trade due to lower-priced exports. China dominates the production of lithium-ion batteries and solar panels, and with increasing global demand for low-carbon technology, there is potential for cooperation between China and Africa to expand markets for Chinese new energy goods. Some countries in the Global South, such as Pakistan, are already importing large amounts of green energy technology from China.
What China’s green ‘overcapacity’ could mean for the Global South
Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a promising tool to enhance cybersecurity and privacy measures. This study analyzes over 9,350 publications and identifies 14 key themes in AI-driven cybersecurity. The results show that AI applications are concentrated around intrusion detection, malware classification, privacy preservation, IoT security, UAV systems, and DDoS mitigation. The study also highlights emerging fields such as adversarial machine learning, blockchain, and deep learning. Challenges such as computational resource demands, adversarial vulnerabilities, and ethical concerns persist. The study emphasizes the need for more research in trustworthy AI, standardizing AI-driven methods, and legislation for robust privacy protection.
Financial services
Advancing cybersecurity and privacy with artificial intelligence: current trends and future research directions
Hello Kitty, the iconic Japanese character, recently turned 50 and shows no signs of slowing down. Valued at around $4 billion per year, Hello Kitty has become a global merchandise empire with over 50,000 different items sold across 130 countries. Her simplicity, recognizable design, and association with the concept of "kawaii" or cuteness have contributed to her longevity. Additionally, collaborations with big brands and the upcoming release of a live-action movie are further expanding the Hello Kitty brand. Despite these ventures, Hello Kitty now accounts for only 30% of Sanrio's business worldwide, signaling a diversification away from the character.
Japan
Hello Kitty at 50: a Japanese success story of simplicity and cuteness
Retirement fosters greater kindness in people, according to new research. A study analyzed a large dataset covering 22 European countries and found that once people retire, they tend to engage in more prosocial activities, such as volunteering, regardless of their age. Additionally, retirees not only give more of their time but also give more money, suggesting that retirement brings about a genuine increase in prosocial behavior. The study highlights the importance of considering the societal impact of retirement reforms, as extending working life may come at the cost of lost prosocial contributions.
Does retirement make us kinder?
Lebanon Works is a collaborative initiative launched in 2022 to address the challenges faced by Lebanon, including unemployment, disrupted education, and the urgent need for basic necessities. It has been refocused in recent months to prioritize immediate relief and support due to escalating crises. The platform serves as a hub that connects resources with needs, aiming to empower communities to rebuild and thrive. Private sector companies involved in Lebanon Works have adapted to the current challenges by reprioritizing their resources and providing support to their employees and families. Education is a core focus area for Lebanon Works.
Lebanon
Lebanon Works: A launch pad for relief and revitalization
Artificial intelligence (AI) may seem like an overnight success, but it has actually been a century in the making. Early attempts to create AI focused on expert systems, but they often produced inaccurate results. It wasn't until recently, with the use of neural networks and context-based translation, that AI translation has improved. The government's long-standing commitment to funding AI research has played a significant role in its progress. In addition, intuition and taking smart risks, such as creating large datasets for training algorithms, have also driven advancements in AI. However, not all ventures into AI have been successful.
Overnight Success? AI Has Been a Century in the Making.
Urban areas in the U.S. and Canadian Pacific Northwest face not only the risks of active tectonic hazards like volcanoes and earthquakes but also the increasing threats of climate change. Municipal governments lack the expertise and resources to adequately respond to these compounding disasters. Volcanologists, who specialize in assessing local risks, can provide valuable insights and strategies for urban climate resilience. Their approach of customizing forecasts and producing hazard maps specific to a geographic area could be applied to urban climate risk mapping. Furthermore, the border-agnostic approach of volcano observatories offers a model for preparing and responding to climate threats experienced across jurisdictions.
Financial services
How Volcanologists Can Improve Urban Climate Resilience
Ghana is making progress in digital transformation and aims to build an equitable data ecosystem for AI development. Experts highlighted the need for open datasets, standards for private datasets, tracing and incentivizing data contributors, incorporating data training in education, and citizen-centered AI governance regimes. Collaboration between the government, community, and private sector is crucial in driving innovation and investment in data systems.
Ghana
Building an equitable data ecosystem for AI development in Ghana
The number of adult children living with their parents is increasing, leading to new tensions and challenges in family dynamics. This trend, known as "boomeranging," is driven by factors such as rising housing costs and delayed financial independence. This article presents the findings of a study that explores the complexities of adult children who rely on ongoing support from their parents. The study identifies four recurring sources of tension: interference, imposed routines, feelings of being trapped, and a parental "knows best" attitude. To navigate these tensions, the article suggests four practical strategies: disengagement, conditional acceptance, normalisation through humor, and reciprocal reinvention. These strategies can help establish boundaries while maintaining family bonds and reducing friction. Overall, while multigenerational living arrangements can strain relationships, they also provide opportunities to redefine traditional roles.
Boomeranging: why some adults stay closely tied to their parents’ home — and how to keep the peace
The Russian rouble has experienced a sharp decline, reaching its lowest level against the US dollar since the start of the war in Ukraine. The rouble's volatility is part of a larger economic crisis in Russia, which began with the exodus of capital following the introduction of western sanctions in 2022. Falling energy prices and tighter sanctions have further contributed to the decline in Russia's export revenue and the devaluation of the rouble. The recent imposition of new US sanctions has worsened the situation. A weaker rouble will discourage investment and lead to capital outflow, putting pressure on the central bank's reserves. It will also increase the cost of importing goods and potentially drive inflation. Failure to take decisive action could further weaken the rouble and erode confidence in the currency.
Russian Federation, Ukraine | Financial services
Russian rouble collapse exposes deep problems in the country’s economy
Closing the AI equity gap is crucial for sustainable development. Trust and safety measures in AI must prioritize empowering local AI ecosystems to ensure robust safety measures. Reimagining trust and safety is essential, shifting from reactive to proactive and adaptive measures. Trust and safety decisions can limit the participation of certain regions or user profiles in the digital economy, leading to unintended exclusion. Redressal mechanisms that are contextual and localized should be considered, including using local data and languages. Disparities exist in the power and agency to challenge these decisions, with companies in developed countries dominating. Access to data for AI models depends on technology access and accelerates content creation.
Financial services
Closing the AI equity gap: Trust and safety for sustainable development
EU commitments have limited the ability of national governments to pursue their own political goals, leading to a decline in political discourse and the rise of the populist right. This limitation extends to areas such as economic policy, foreign policy, agriculture, and food security. As a result, political discussions often focus on issues that are less constrained by fiscal or international pressures, such as taxes, personal security, individual rights, ethical choices, and immigration. These divisive issues, while important, can contribute to a toxic political climate and detract from economic priorities. The restriction of political discourse creates an environment that is favorable for the populist right, which is nationalistic and resistant to change.
Financial services
European integration and the debasement of national political discourse
The cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah holds important lessons for resolving the conflict in Gaza. These lessons include the importance of coupling diplomacy with military power and intelligence, seizing opportunities for negotiation, and having clear and achievable political objectives. Israel's use of force weakened Hezbollah and created an opening for mediation. Negotiations with Hezbollah were successful because Israel had clear objectives and effective enforcement mechanisms. However, in Gaza, Israel needs to ensure its military achievements translate into a sustainable political outcome and avoid creating a vacuum or indefinite occupation.
Israel
How to End the War In Gaza

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