LATEST PULSE

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met on January 12, 2026 in Gujarat to strengthen ties in trade, defense, healthcare, and education.   Their goal is to become less dependent on China and build stronger economic and security links.   Building A Stronger Economic and Trade Partnership India is already Germany’s biggest trading partner in the European Union. Now, both countries are pushing...

The 1MDB scandal, one of the largest financial frauds in modern history, continues to shape political and legal battles around the world. More than $4.5 billion was stolen from Malaysia’s 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) fund through corrupt officials, businessmen, and financial intermediaries like banks.   Global investigations revealed that Goldman Sachs, an American investment bank and financial services company, helped raise $...

The European Union-Mercosur trade deal passed last week is now on hold after the European Parliament sent it to the EU’s top court, a move that could delay the agreement for more than a year and even put its approval at risk.   Mercosur, a South American trade bloc formed in 1991 to promote economic integration, has been negotiating with the EU since the early 2000s, with progress slowed mainly by European concerns over competition f...

ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is entering a decisive phase. As global politics and trade grow more competitive, the bloc is no longer just a neutral meeting space for major powers. Supply chain changes and global trade wars have placed Southeast Asia at the center of global economic planning. So far, the global economic changes have benefited both the region and individual ASEAN economies, as companies diversify production an...

Millions of children across Southeast Asia are living through the worst effects of climate change. Countries like Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia are repeatedly struck by climate-related disasters, severely impacting children's education and well-being.   "They are waking up in evacuation shelters. They're drinking unsafe water. They're watching their parents struggle to rebuild homes and livelihoods that have b...