Showing 1 - 10 of 10
Europe must build its own cloud
News, Robin Berjon, Published on 08/11/2025
» We tend to take for granted the infrastructure on which our economies and societies run -- until something goes wrong. Just ask residents of Spain and Portugal, who were suddenly faced with a total blackout last April, when a series of cascading voltage surges shut down their electricity grids. Both Spain and Portugal are now pursuing massive investments in strengthening their grids' resilience. But citizens should not have to wait until after a disaster strikes for their leaders to commit to investing in critical infrastructure, which nowadays includes cloud services.
War weary and wary
Life, Robin Westley Martin, Published on 21/02/2024
» For over two years, world news was dominated by disclosures and information about Covid, and the measures we needed to undertake to keep ourselves safe from infection. But that all changed on Feb 24, 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine and set about an egregious war against a non-aggressive country.
Swiss fondue-making robot out to cause a stir in Paris
Business, Robin Millard of AFP, Published on 25/02/2022
» SIERRE: Switzerland's national dish is fondue, a simmering pot of heartwarming melted cheese -- that can now be prepared, stirred up and served by a robot, thanks to some high-tech wizardry.
Media literacy helps dispel fake news
Oped, Peifen Hsieh & Robin Ramcharan, Published on 04/11/2021
» To fight fake news and other forms of disinformation, the best arsenal is education on media and information literacy (MIL). Unlike legality, MIL relies directly on users' awareness. While other solutions are not without interest, their shortcomings become apparent quickly.
'Infodemic' infects Southeast Asia
Oped, James Gomez & Robin Ramcharan, Published on 25/08/2021
» Covid-19 and its subsequent "infodemic" of false or misleading information has impacted access to accurate public health information in Southeast Asia. A suite of existing legislation and recent emergency measures have been used by governments to silence their critics rather than repress the infodemic and have served to block accurate pandemic information. Compounding matters is the weak adherence to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), indicators that aim at fostering more open societies through greater access to information online.
Govt hate speech spikes in SE Asia
Oped, James Gomez & Robin Ramcharan, Published on 16/10/2020
» Hate speech against youths by government officials, military and the police in the media and over social media is on the rise as students lead protests calling for a change in government and demanding political reforms in Belarus, Thailand and Hong Kong. In Thailand, the two state of emergency decrees, the first, used since March 2020 for the management of the Covid-19 pandemic, the most recent to maintain public order in the Bangkok Metropolitan Area, both shield the Thai government from criticism.
New hate speech rules threaten Asian democracy
Oped, James Gomez & Robin Ramcharan, Published on 18/07/2020
» Southeast Asia is experiencing new forms of hate speech that are increasingly played out over social media and a wide range of increasingly accessible digital platforms. Updated measures to tackle new forms of hate must move away from outdated policies focused on narrow definitions of hate speech.
Cambodia bolsters tourism sector with tax incentives, emphasises human resource development moving forward
Jay Cohen & Robin Spiess, Published on 08/07/2020
» The landscapes, world heritage sites, and hospitality of Cambodia have drawn increasing numbers of visitors in recent years, and at the beginning of 2020 the country was primed to see the continued growth of its tourism sector well into the new decade. Early projections estimated that Cambodia would welcome greater numbers of tourists despite the worldwide economic slowdown, and projected tourism rates were in keeping with the Tourism Ministry’s lofty goal of attracting 11 million tourists annually by 2025.
Covid crisis stifles political criticism in SE Asia
Oped, James Gomez & Robin Ramcharan, Published on 27/05/2020
» Covid-19 has spurred the use of fake news laws to censor political criticism in Southeast Asia.
Coronavirus and democracy in Southeast Asia
Oped, James Gomez & Robin Ramcharan, Published on 01/04/2020
» In Southeast Asia, as the health crisis escalates and countries go into different variations of a lockdown, it is affording regimes with authoritarian tendencies the opportunity to suppress political expression, enforce strict obedience and consolidate their rule. Unless this is called out and actions taken to address these measures, a post-Covid-19 Southeast Asia will put democracy on the backfoot in the region.