Recent political and economic upheavals have profoundly changed the world order. The relevance of veteran post-war institutions such as the UN are being questioned. New alliances are emerging as countries, especially those in the global south, are working towards securing their own interests.

In this episode, Taimur Baig, Managing Director and Chief Economist at DBS Bank; foreign policy analyst C. Raja Mohan; Managing Director of the Asia Society Policy Institute Rorry Daniels; Director of Education at the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies in Sri Lanka Bhagya Senaratne; and Director of South Asia Initiatives at the Asia Society Policy Institute Farwa Amer discuss these global challenges and Asia’s position in the changing state of affairs.

This is a challenging time for the social sector, which is reeling from global funding cuts. Organisations working in healthcare are particularly affected. In this episode, Vikram Patel, Paul Farmer Professor and Chair of the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School; Dr. Balakrishna Korgaonkar, Associate Director at The Global Development Incubator and Diwakar Mittal, Senior Director of Corporate Affairs at Novo Nordisk, discuss how we can build affordable healthcare systems that serve those who need it the most and the role that technology will play in this endeavour.

Can creative industries drive economic growth in South Asia? With automation threatening traditional employment sectors, this episode investigates the untapped potential of culture as an economic driver. From film and music to fashion and crafts, we explore how cultural industries can generate sustainable jobs, foster entrepreneurship, and even serve as a tool for soft diplomacy in the region. Featuring voices from the creative economy and cultural leaders, this discussion makes the case for a stronger cultural investment strategy.