Exploring US-China Rivalry in the Indo-Pacific
By Uditha Devapriya In his lecture on US-China rivalry and its implications for the Indo-Pacific, organised by the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies (RCSS), Professor Neil DeVotta began with an exposition on The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers, Paul Kennedy’s superb work on the trajectory of empires, the reasons for their rise and their later decline. DeVotta
‘Brain Rot’ From Social Media May Be More Than Slang
By Courtney Wise Greetings, MindSite News Readers. In today’s newsletter, researchers look at the impact of consuming too many short-form videos like TikToks and Instagram reels, so in case you’ve ever asked yourself, Is brain rot real?, they’re getting closer to an answer. In other news, Australia’s youth social media ban takes effect. How music therapy in
Australia’s Youth Social Media Ban Causes Anxiety Before Holidays
By Courtney Wise For today’s tweens and teens, it’s almost the worst thing that could happen, and at the worst time: Australia has implemented a youth ban on social media, just before the start of a 6-week holiday. This week, more than 1 million Australians under 16 lost their accounts on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, mere days
Beijing blocks stablecoins to keep money under state control
By Monique Taylor China’s decision to suspend the rollout of stablecoins in Hong Kong has exposed the limits of its financial experimentation under the ‘one country two systems’ framework. The intervention illustrates a core principle of China’s political economy that monetary and payments innovation must remain under the close supervision of central authorities. Stablecoins are
Africa’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Revolution: African Development Bank report projects $1 trillion in additional Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2035 with use of AI to enhance productivity
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, December 13, 2025/ — The African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) has released a report establishing a strategic roadmap for unlocking the economic and social potential of artificial intelligence (AI) across Africa. Developed under the G20 Digital Transformation Working Group, Africa’s AI Productivity Gain: Pathways to Labour Efficiency, Economic Growth and Inclusive Transformation gives an overview
