UpFront

Kim Jong Un's new year resolution: More food for North Korea

Several months ago, Kim issued a rare warning that the North faced a "tense" food situation, brought about by the coronavirus pandemic and international sanctions against his nuclear weapons program

Our top reads of the week

Storyboard18 - Why is biryani getting branded all over the country?

Biryani brings to the plate value, convenience and a satisfying experience at the same time. Companies have just scratched the surface of marketing the nuances of biryani, which is an emotion in India

The metaverse's dark side: Here come harassment and assaults

The world's largest tech companies are hurtling headlong into creating the metaverse, a virtual reality world where people can have their avatars do everything from play video games and attend gym classes to participate in meetings

Can a tiny territory in the South Pacific power Tesla's ambitions?

Because of its nickel industry, New Caledonia is one of the world's largest carbon emitters per capita and mining, which began soon after New Caledonia was colonised in 1853 is intimately linked to the exploitation of its Indigenous Kanak people

Storyboard18 - 2022 - Definitely, maybe: Crypto craze, creator vs celebrities, and the 'hybrid continuum'

Predictions are a risky business. But we're bravely venturing again to list the many ways things will change in the future. In these articles, we have industry leaders and experts trying to future-gaze and capture the transformative and disruptive ideas and trends that will 'change everything as we know it' (or not). In 2022, definitely, maybe

Storyboard18 - 2022 - Definitely, maybe: From the intense fight for customer wallet share to full-funnel marketing for FMCG

Predictions are a risky business. But we're bravely venturing again to list the many ways things will change in the future. In these articles, we have industry leaders and experts trying to future-gaze and capture the transformative and disruptive ideas and trends that will 'change everything as we know it' (or not). In 2022, definitely, maybe

How discord, born from an obscure game, became a social hub for young people

While adults working from home flocked to Zoom, their children were downloading Discord to socialise with other young people through text and audio and video calls in groups known as servers

Will shortened isolation periods spread the virus?

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended to cut isolation periods for infected people from ten days to five in addition to not recommending rapid testing before people left isolation

Chile rewrites its constitution, confronting climate change head-on

After months of protests over social and environmental grievances, 155 Chileans have been elected to write a new constitution amid what they have declared a "climate and ecological emergency."

In India's water-stressed villages, Modi seeks a tap for every home

India, one of the world's most water-stressed countries, is halfway through an ambitious drive to provide clean tap water by 2024 to all of the roughly 192 million households across its 600,000 villages