GLOBAL DISPATCH – Peace on Paper, War on the Ground

FROM THE EDITOR – This edition of Global Dispatch, dated June 22, 2026, covers the week ending June 22, incorporating the latest developments from the first round of US-Iran nuclear talks in Switzerland, the fragile Lebanon ceasefire that nearly derailed them, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and a series of significant scientific breakthroughs. All…

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TO REDUCE GLOBAL POVERTY, INVESTING IN GIRLS’ EDUCATION IS SMARTEST ECONOMIC STRATEGY

BY SHAN SAEED KUALA LUMPUR, June 14 — During my visit to Indonesia in April 2026, one observation became increasingly clear: the future prosperity of nations will be determined not merely by their natural resources, industrial capacity, or technological prowess, but by how effectively they develop and deploy their human capital—particularly that of women. Across the…

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THE REGIONAL LENS

Sharp perspectives on the issues shaping Southeast Asia BY TENGKU NOOR SHAMSIAH TENGKU ABDULLAH Column No. 5 — 21 April 2026 — TNS News The Strait Opens and Closes Again: ASEAN Braces as the Ceasefire Teeters For 48 hours last Friday, the world dared to believe the worst was over. Iran declared the Strait of…

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ENERGY SECURITY

Malaysia Faces Energy Shock as Hormuz Crisis Threatens 38% of Oil Supply Bank Muamalat economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid warns elevated global oil prices and rising business costs could persist even if a ceasefire holds BY TENGKU NOOR SHAMSIAH TENGKU ABDULLAH KUALA LUMPUR, April 17 – Rising tensions around the Strait of Hormuz are…

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