Golden Connections – Asian Scientist Magazine

Indonesia is navigating a delicate balance between strengthening ties with Beijing and maintaining its non-aligned stance, as evidenced by increased military cooperation with China while emphasizing independence. High-level meetings between Chinese and Indonesian defence officials led to promises of deeper collaboration, despite Jakarta's recent rejection of China's claims in the South China Sea. Experts caution that such agreements could create confusion and stress the importance of avoiding disputed areas to prevent ambiguity. Full Article

Ralph, an entertainment-focused creative agency, appointed Gareth Jones as its global chief growth officer and acting managing director of its New York office. Jones, previously with VML and WundermanThompson, aims to reintroduce longer-form, emotionally connecting content into Ralph's strategy amidst the changing landscape of user preferences and agency practices. With a focus on human instinct and emotional impact, Ralph seeks to create meaningful connections with its audience through unique brand collaborations like the Mrs. Davis...

The sad reality of living an environmentally sensitive life is that it can be just as damaging as being a frequent driver of a large gas-guzzling truck. Author Vince Beiser highlights this in a foreword to a troubling book, acknowledging the environmental impact of seemingly eco-friendly choices like electric cars and renewable energy. Despite good intentions, our daily choices may still contribute to environmental destruction. Full Article

The education sector faces intense competition, with institutions spending billions on student acquisition. With a high customer acquisition cost of US$2000 per student, digital advertising investments are vulnerable to fraud, expected to cost US$100 billion by 2023. Marketers struggle to meet enrollment targets amidst declining numbers and fierce competition, with costly CPC rates and fraudulent clicks eating into budgets and limiting reach to new candidates. Full Article

President Trump expressed interest in renewing diplomacy with North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, citing their previous positive relationship. However, analysts are unsure of Mr. Kim's response, as his nuclear capabilities have grown since their last meeting. South Korean officials fear a potential deal that could accept North Korea as a nuclear power, contrary to previous agreements, while North Korea has strengthened ties with Russia. Full Article

Oscars host Conan O'Brien is unable to return to his home due to devastating wildfires in LA, with organisers aiming to be sensitive to residents' struggles. The fires have impacted many in the community, including nominees for the 97th Academy Awards like Emilia Perez. Despite the challenges, O'Brien is committed to putting on a show that reflects the current situation and unites the global film community on March 2. Full Article