Insights

India aims to expand its space program to enhance national security, economic growth, and global stature, seeking strategic autonomy in civilian space activities and technological sovereignty in the military realm. The rivalry with China accelerates India’s pursuit of sovereign capabilities in space. Despite improved investment and regulation, India’s space economy remains underdeveloped. The US is India’s key strategic partner in space for trade, security, and intelligence, while collaboration with European actors is increasing to attract investment, close technology gaps, and diversify partnerships. India's Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission and upcoming crewed missions underscore its ambitions as a rising space power amid shifting global space dynamics.
Bangladesh, Bolivia, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, United Kingdom | Education
India’s Space Policy
On January 27, 2026, the EU and India established a free trade area impacting 2 billion people, signaling a significant economic partnership. Beyond trade, their relationship encompasses strategic and defense cooperation, research, and innovation exchange, reflecting shared democratic values rooted in post-World War II peace projects. Both prioritize improving domestic socio-economic and environmental conditions over imperial ambitions. Their collaboration aims to coordinate strategies on global powers, reform multilateral institutions, and foster peace, positioning this alliance as a multidimensional partnership critical in an increasingly fragmented world.
Latin America
[The Mother of All Deals: Beyond Trade] - Two Political Projects with Converging Values?
Between 2025 and early 2026, global trade and financial systems experienced unprecedented economic statecraft that accelerated fragmentation, threatening core principles like payment system interoperability and fiscal policy independence. New quantitative analysis quantifies the economic drag from current policies and potential worst-case scenarios. These shifts pose significant risks and opportunities for emerging and developing economies, exemplified by a case study on major African economies. The findings underscore the urgent need to maintain foundational elements of the global financial system to support sustained economic growth and prosperity.
Barbados, Bulgaria, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Hungary, Indonesia, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Madagascar, Malta, Namibia, Paraguay, Poland, Russian Federation, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Zambia, Zimbabwe | Health, ICT, Financial services
Deepening Divides: The Cost of a More Fragmented Financial System
Asia and the Pacific face significant climate challenges intertwined with development needs and fiscal constraints. Addressing climate change here is crucial for fiscal sustainability, affecting public revenues, expenditures, and debt. Effective climate action requires integrating fiscal policies that build resilience, manage risks, and reduce emissions. Key approaches include environmental taxes, emissions trading systems, climate budgeting, and innovative climate finance. Case studies from the region highlight practical policy tools to align public finance with climate goals, supporting sustainable growth and fiscal resilience amid escalating climate vulnerability.
Accelerating Climate Action in Asia and the Pacific: Fiscal Policy Solutions
Over 90% of people in Asia and the Pacific are exposed to hazardous air pollution, highlighting the urgent need for regional cooperation and integrated policies. A multisector approach that includes clean energy transitions, strong environmental governance, and sustainable urban development can reduce premature deaths and yield health benefits that outweigh costs by 32 to 1. These strategies support both improved public health and enhanced economic productivity while promoting sustainable development in the region.
Bangladesh | Health
Breathing Health into Solutions for Air Pollution: Actions for the Health Sector
Urbanization in China is characterized by a dual core-periphery pattern, with growth expanding from coastal and central metropolitan areas to inland and peripheral regions. Significant productivity and population increases in city clusters underscore the need to rethink urban planning, land allocation, and public service delivery. Enhancing transport and digital infrastructure, reforming administrative systems, and revitalizing rural development within metropolitan areas are key strategies to better align resources with population dynamics and support sustained urban and economic expansion.
Latin America
Urbanization in the People’s Republic of China: A Dual Core-Periphery Pattern and Ongoing Reform
Stefano Puntoni highlights major AI advancements over the past year, including improved model capabilities and the rise of AI agents. Increased enterprise investment in AI reflects its growing importance. Regulatory issues are emerging alongside these developments. AI's expanding role is significantly influencing business strategies, consumer experiences, and broader societal dynamics.
Education
How Artificial Intelligence Is Reshaping Business and Society
Police leaders are set to review anti-racism guidance following the murder of Henry Nowak, who was fatally stabbed and subsequently mishandled by officers despite his pleas for help. The killer falsely claimed racial abuse to the police, fueling community tensions and protests. The existing guidance, established in 2025 to address racial disparities and improve trust, has been criticized for creating confusion and potentially detracting from core investigative skills. Authorities acknowledge the language needs clarifying, emphasizing a return to prioritizing effective policing fundamentals while still addressing racial inequalities. This case highlights the challenges in balancing anti-racism commitments with essential law enforcement duties.
Police to review anti‑racism guidance after Henry Nowak murder – why they’re right to do so
National security encompasses the protection of a nation's fundamental interests—including integrity, independence, and prosperity—through coordinated state action spanning military, diplomatic, law enforcement, economic, and other resources. It is a continuous, complex function requiring upstream prevention and integration across sectors, distinguishing it from related fields like national defense or foreign affairs. Despite its centrality to public policies, national security often lacks prominence in public discourse except after crises. Enhancing public understanding and political prioritization is crucial for more effective state action, reflecting a global trend to anchor national security at the highest levels of decision-making.
Financial services
[National Security: The Reality Test] - The Keystone of Public Policy
Armenia's parliamentary elections on 7 June will be pivotal in determining its future peace with Azerbaijan and potential European integration. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan seeks to make peace irreversible, moving Armenia away from Russian influence and addressing internal opposition from pro-Russian forces and the Armenian Church. The recent defeat of Armenian forces by Azerbaijan and Russia’s declining role as a peacekeeper have created opportunities for renewed talks, supported by Turkey and Azerbaijan. Russia's ambivalent stance and strained relations with Armenia contrast with Pashinyan’s push toward democracy and Western alignment, signaling a critical juncture for Armenia’s geopolitical orientation.
Armenia
Will Armenia choose a European future on 7 June?
The European Commission unveiled the European Technological Sovereignty Package to boost Europe’s capabilities in semiconductors, AI, cloud computing, and open source technologies. Key initiatives include the Chips Act 2.0, the Cloud and AI Development Act, an Open Source Strategy, and a Strategic Roadmap for Digitalisation and AI in Energy. These measures aim to reduce Europe’s reliance on external technology providers, enhance digital autonomy, and support sustainable development, positioning Europe as a leading AI continent with stronger control over critical digital infrastructure.
ICT
Commission proposes tech sovereignty package to strengthen Europe’s digital autonomy and resilience
Methane emissions remain globally unchecked despite their critical role in accelerating climate change, as methane has 80 times the warming potential of CO2 over 20 years. Current policies show a significant implementation gap; fewer than one-third of over 100 identified methane regulations are mandatory. While some progress exists, exemplified by Japan’s robust policies leading to a 40% reduction since 1990, sectors like agriculture, responsible for 40% of emissions, are largely neglected. Fossil fuel methane is somewhat regulated, but coal methane and agricultural methane receive insufficient attention and enforcement. Addressing methane emissions urgently, including dietary shifts and stronger regulations, is essential to avoid dangerous climate feedback loops and improve energy efficiency and security.
How methane policy will make or break the climate crisis
Psychologists and social scientists are facing challenges as large language models (LLMs) increasingly infiltrate surveys and research, with estimates suggesting up to 45% of participant responses may be AI-generated or AI-assisted. This threatens the validity of data on human behavior and thought. Additionally, AI-driven analysis risks flooding academic journals with superficial or spurious studies. Social sciences are particularly vulnerable due to their reliance on survey data and secondary data analysis. However, AI also offers the potential to enhance research rigor by quickly analyzing complex data sets, checking robustness of findings, and identifying methodological errors, potentially leading to more reliable social-science outcomes.
Education
Will AI ruin the social sciences — or revolutionize them?
Marketing to teens using advanced technologies like AI and augmented reality presents both opportunities and ethical challenges. Personalized marketing can boost sales and foster long-term loyalty, but it risks exploiting vulnerable youth, harming their self-esteem, as seen with a beauty retailer’s app engaging young girls late at night. Experts advise implementing proactive monitoring to identify such issues early, establishing ethical guardrails, and responding swiftly and transparently when harm is detected. Companies should balance business goals with responsibility, using technology to create empowering, positive campaigns that protect and respect vulnerable audiences.
When Marketing to Teens, Using High-Tech Tools Brings Promise—and Peril
Uzbekistan is modernizing its power sector to meet rising energy demand while emphasizing gender inclusion. Electricity needs are projected to double by 2035, prompting reforms under the Power Sector Master Plan. Despite policies promoting women’s participation, only 11.4% of energy sector workers are women, with limited leadership roles. Social stereotypes hinder women's involvement, though efforts like the Ministry of Energy’s Gender Strategy 2025–2029 aim to create equal opportunities and safe workplaces. Increasing women's representation, especially in renewables where they form 32% of the workforce, is seen as crucial for sustainable energy development. Continued investment in education, mentorship, and inclusive policies will support a diverse, resilient energy sector in Uzbekistan.
Egypt, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Zimbabwe
Beyond the Grid: Transforming Uzbekistan’s Energy Sector Through Inclusion
Zombie firms in Asia and the Pacific, which operate despite losing money, trap capital and hinder economic growth by absorbing credit meant for more productive companies and softening competition. Weak insolvency systems allow these firms to persist, reducing overall productivity. Insolvency reforms that speed up business closures and reorganizations improve capital allocation by restricting credit to unproductive firms and enabling credit-constrained, productive firms to invest more. This can boost total factor productivity by about 3.5% over five years. Effective reform requires not only legal changes but also capable institutions and proper implementation. Strengthening insolvency frameworks is essential for enhancing productivity and sustaining long-term economic growth in the region.
Financial services
Clearing the Zombies: How Insolvency Reform Can Lift Productivity in Asia and the Pacific
AI has dramatically accelerated product design, enabling rapid prototyping and broader participation in creation. However, consumer confidence in AI-enhanced experiences remains low, with many feeling that these experiences lack genuine understanding and emotional resonance. True user experience (UX) extends beyond interfaces to deeply grasp users' context, emotions, and stories. AI can aid by generating prototypes and analyzing data but cannot replace empathetic insight or the nuanced understanding of real user struggles. Faster creation risks producing generic, shallow designs, making UX's role crucial in preserving brand identity and ensuring meaningful, trusted user experiences.
Education
Is AI Killing User Experience?
Racially minoritised communities face poorer mental health outcomes, including higher detention rates and less access to culturally responsive services. Despite advances in diversifying research and decolonising knowledge production, psychological research often perpetuates eurocentric and clinical biases, disregarding lived experience as valid knowledge. Traditional research hierarchies prioritize quantitative methods and erase marginalized voices from defining distress or setting agendas. Initiatives like Beyond Academia aim to center lived experience and challenge dominant frameworks by valuing community-rooted knowledge and co-production. To improve mental health research’s relevance and impact, psychology must share power with minoritised communities, embracing diverse perspectives as rigorous evidence.
Why researchers may be getting mental health inequalities wrong
Finland leads Europe in digitalisation, with advanced online public services established since 1995. However, around 40-45% of Finns over 65 lack sufficient digital skills for independent use, causing many older adults to struggle with accessing essential services like banking and healthcare. The rapid shift to digital platforms reduces in-person contact, creating difficulties and fears around online fraud and isolation. Despite high national digital infrastructure, basic digital skills among older age groups remain low, and government support for digital inclusivity is insufficient, leaving many reliant on family or local help. The mismatch between digital policies and older people's realities highlights ongoing digital exclusion challenges.
Africa | Financial services, ICT, Education
Finland is Europe’s most digitalised country – but older people are still left behind
Building sustainable AI products requires more than just leveraging shared foundation models; true competitive advantage stems from architecting a data flywheel where user interactions continuously improve the AI in real time. Proprietary data alone is insufficient as models evolve rapidly. The most durable edge comes from reinforcement learning with verifiable rewards, enabling AI systems to self-improve without human feedback—exemplified by AI coding tools. Product development should embrace natural language experience (NLX) and focus on designs that improve alongside advancing models. For investors and builders, defensibility lies in loop design and dynamic data feedback, not current model performance.
Education
Building AI Products That Last: Lessons From SXSW

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