The World This Week

The World This Week
The Ninth Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and Elections in East Germany

GP Team
9 September 2024
Photo Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of People's Republic of China

The World This Week #277, Vol. 6 No. 31, 08 September 2024
 

Femy Francis and Samruddi Pathak


China-Africa: The Ninth FOCAC Summit 
Femy Francis

What happened?
On 06 September, the ninth Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) concluded with 53 African countries' heads of state and the African Union’s chairperson attending the summit. The theme for the three-day forum was “Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future.” By the summit's last day, several African Union countries elevated their bilateral relations with China to an “all-weather partnership” and “comprehensive strategic partnership.” The delegation unanimously agreed to a Beijing Declaration, and China signed several economic agreements with the African countries. Chinese President Xi Jinping commemorated the summit by giving a keynote address where he said: “China and Africa's joint pursuit of modernization will set off a wave of modernization in the Global South, and open a new chapter in the drive for a community with a shared future for mankind.” The Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Moussa Faki Mahamat appreciated China’s effort to modernise the Global South and noted that FOCAC has been an instrumental support for Africa. 

The summit’s output included economic support for critical African sectors and a Beijing Declaration outlining China-Africa’s prospects. The highlight was Xi Jinping pledging to support Africa with USD 51 billion. Additionally, 210 billion was pledged through credit lines, and Chinese firms will invest USD 70 billion. He also informed that China will provide Africa with USD 140 million in emergency food aid and initiate 30 infrastructure connectivity projects.  Xi Jinping assured that China would give 60,000 people from Africa training opportunities and provide training for 6,000 military personnel and 1,000 police officials. The Beijing Declaration issued that they want to build high-level China-Africa relations, Synergize BRI and the African Union’s Goal of Agenda 2063, establish a framework for joint action for China-Africa development, joint action to maintain international peace, and further dialogue and cultural exchanges. 

What is the background?
First, a brief background to the FOCAC. It was founded in 2000 when both China and Africa first formalized their relationship. Currently, there are 53 African countries part of FOCAC. The summit is held every three years. It has all African countries as part of the forum except Eswatini, which has diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Over the years, FOCAC has evolved to provide more in areas of cooperation with African countries, and through FOCAC China has been increasing its investments in Africa while pushing for its other flagship project Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). 

Second, the Chinese investments in Africa. China is Africa’s largest trading partner, and over one-fourth of its raw materials are exported to China. Between 2000 to 2022 Africa was given USD 170.08 billion in loans. China has also established an international base in Djibouti. China also believes its annual trade volume can reach USD 300 billion by 2035. China is also the main source of foreign direct investment and has built critical infrastructure and industrial parks that are paramount to providing employment opportunities. China also has the largest refineries in Africa for rare earth materials, giving them access to key resources that are largely untapped. 

Third, Africa’s untapped potential and resources. Africa is the key supplier of 90 per cent of the world’s cobalt and platinum, it also supplies 75 per cent of the world’s coltan that are used to make electronic parts. Africa also has the largest bloc in the UN General Assembly and the numerical power to swing any resolution's result. African Union’s support helps with geopolitical alliances, and the sheer numerical force provides overwhelming support. 

What does it mean? 
First, mutual benefit. The world, looking at the summit, expressed concern regarding the Chinese debt trap and how this economic cooperation can be fatal for Africa. However, while many countries want to invest in Africa, they cannot do so at the level China does. Africa is largely unbreached and has a poor economy, Chinese investments have given African countries the much-needed infrastructure and agricultural support. For China, Africa is a quiescent that gives Beijing the space to explore and exploit what Africa offers. 

Second, China’s sustained efforts to reach out to Africa. The FOCAC summit and the utmost attention given to the African countries is not new to China. For the past 34 years, every Chinese Foreign Minister’s first pit stop has been to Africa. This action is not merely to show historical friendship but also to counter other countries that want to invest in Africa. Like China, other countries like the US, France, Japan, and even India are trying to woo Africa. 

Third, geopolitical alliance. Since China's hefty investment after the current FOCAC summit, Beijing has confirmed an ally in the international arena. Africa’s support gives China an upper hand, and the sheer number of African countries can affect the outcome of resolutions and disagreements in the international world order. The monetary funding to Africa now has sealed its support for China over other actors.  

Fourth, Africa’s dependency on China. The large investments made by China in Africa for critical sectors can lead to increased dependency on one country. This over a period of time can lead to China influencing the domestic and international politics of Africa. Africa needs to focus on dispersing its foreign investments not as an alternative to China, since no other country has the economic capacity to invest like China. But to have multiple players in the region to have regulatory checks on China. 


Elections in Eastern Germany
Samruddi Pathak

What happened?
On 01 September, two out of the 16 states in Germany, Thuringia and Saxony, casted their votes for the Landtag, the state parliament. 

On 02 September, the results were clear. Alternative for Germany (AfD), a far-right wing party, emerged as the largest one in Thuringia winning 32 per cent of the votes. CDU won the highest share of votes in Saxony with 31.9 per cent of the votes while AfD came second to CDU with a close margin, winning 30.6 per cent. Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW), a relatively new party, emerged as the third largest party in both the states. 

Olaf Scholz said, “Our country cannot and must not get used to this. The AfD is damaging Germany. It is weakening the economy, dividing society and ruining our country’s reputation.” Björn Höcke, a prominent leader of AfD in Thuringia, said, “We are the number one people’s party in Thuringia. You don’t want to classify one-third of Thuringian voters as right-wing extremists, do you?” Sahra Wagenknecht, the leader and founder of the BSW party, “We want the war in Ukraine to end and we don’t see that happening with more and more arms deliveries.” Friedrich Merz, a leader of CDU in Thuringia, said, “We will not start any cooperation with the AfD.”

Meanwhile, media houses like Politico and Deutsche Welle have summarised the elections as a big win for AfD and BSW, simultaneously a huge loss for the Social Democratic Party (SDP). 
. 
What is the background?
First, voting trends in Thuringia and Saxony. Saxony is a state in eastern Germany. It is the most populous state of Germany. It suffered a drastic decline in employment rates since the unification. Saxony also had uranium mines, a source of income for the state. However, the mining stopped over environmental concerns after unification. Thuringia is another state in eastern Germany. The state mostly consists of forests. Thus, the state's main income source is forestry and agriculture. Even though it has a manufacturing industry, it is not as prosperous as most states in Germany. It has 44 constituencies, out of which AfD won 29 in the first vote. A report published by the Government of Germany in 2022 suggests that almost 20 per cent of the population in eastern Germany feels that they have been left behind in the economic progress compared to western states. The University of Leipzig carried out a survey in eastern Germany just before the elections and found that more than half the population wanted authoritarian leadership.

Second, electoral history in Thuringia and Saxony.The top three parties in both the states are AfD, CDU and BSW. Most experts perceive BSW as the winner of the elections. Despite being a new party, it managed to procure 15 seats in both states; 15.8 per cent of votes in Thuringia and 11.8 per cent in Saxony. Meanwhile, AfD won 40 seats in Saxony and 32 seats in Thuringia, which was ten more than the last elections in both states which were held in 2019. The CDU won 40 seats in Saxony which is two less than the last elections. 

Third, the rise of the AfD. The emergence of AfD is not a sudden event in Saxony and Thuringia. As the above statistics suggest, AfD had won substantial votes in the 2019 Landtag as well. It suggests the space that the far-right narrative is gaining in the national discourse. However, this is not the case in western Germany. As per the exit polls published ARD, AfD does not pose a challenge to centre-left or centre-right as much as it does in Saxony, Thuringia and Brandenburg. Evaluating the results of Landtag elections, most national media reports have suggested declining hold of left-leaning parties and the ruling coalition of SDP, FPD and the Greens party.

Fourth, campaign issues. AfD is a far-right party which has advocated for the termination of military aid to Ukraine. Meanwhile, BSW also advocates ending aid for Ukraine. Thus, providing German support to Ukraine emerged as a polarising issue among voters. The BSW has campaigned for left-leaning economic policies like wealth redistribution, and at the same time, it proposed right-leaning deportation laws and strict immigration control. The AfD had also taken an extreme right stance on immigration. The sentiment is said to be fuelled by the Solingen stabbing incident that took place in August, for which the Islamic State took the responsibility and Germany’s immigration procedure came under scrutiny by the voters. Similarly, CDU which emerged as the largest party in Saxony will also hold talks with the ruling coalition in Bundestag on controlling immigration. 

What does it mean? 
First, the rise of AfD and BSW. AfD becoming the main opposition party in state parliament will certainly bring a far-right narrative in the national discourse of Germany. Similarly, BSW, which holds conservative views on migration, also has significant representation. This also reflects the declining hold of SDP, FDP and Greens, the ruling parties in Bundestag, on the voters. 

Second, the rise of debate on migration and Islamophobia. The role of liberal deportation laws and Islamophobia in the elections indicates polarisation of voters. The upcoming Landstag elections in Brandenburg on 22 September 2024 will also paint a clearer picture of regional politics in Germany. Brandenburg elections will be important because it consists of Berlin, the capital city.


TWTW Regional Roundups
News from around the world

Rohini Reenum, Padmashree Anandhan, Anu Maria Joseph, Femy Francis, Nuha Amina, Samrudhi Pathak, Sachin Aravind, Sayeka Ghosh, Ayan Datta, Neha Tresa George and Advik S Mohan

CHINA THIS WEEK
China: Leads chip tool purchases surpassing the US, Taiwan and South Korea
On 02 September, Nikkei Asia reported that China purchased more chip tools and equipment in the first half of 2024 than South Korea, Taiwan, and the US. The global semiconductor industry association reported that China, the world’s biggest semiconductor equipment market, spent a record 25 billion USD on chip tools in the first six months of 2024. This comes amidst the Chinese push to localise chip supplies and reduce the risk of Western export restrictions. 

China: Database to protect migrant workers’ children
On 04 September, the South China Morning Post reported that China plans to address the challenges faced by children of migrant workers through a comprehensive nationwide database. The initiative aims to cover “left-behind” children displaced with their parents. The director of the Ministry of Civil Affairs’ Child Welfare Department Guo Yuqiang announced the government’s goal to compile a list of children needing care by 2026, to improve their psychological and physical health by 2035. The database will encompass various aspects of these children’s lives, including residency status, medical insurance, and disabilities. Local authorities are tasked with providing 16 essential services, ranging from infant vaccinations to school enrollment assistance. 

SOUTH  AND SOUTHEAST ASIA THIS WEEK
Thailand: New Prime Minister and cabinet sworn in
On 06 September, the new Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and 35 Cabinet ministers were sworn in by Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn at Bangkok's Dusit Palace. After the oath, the King said: "I want to wish, with gladness, that the Cabinet will have the encouragement and determination to perform your duties as you have sworn for the benefit of the country and people." Paetongtarn aged 38 is the youngest Prime Minister to serve the country. The new government came after a period of political turmoil when the former Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin was dismissed on charges of ethics violation. The cabinet comprises 17 members from Pheu Thai, the ruling party and 19 other positions which were divided among the coalition partners.

Malaysia: Prime Minister meets Russian President on the sidelines of Eastern Economic Forum
On 05 September, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim met Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum. They promised to strengthen their ties and forge closer trade relations. According to Anwar: "Malaysia would benefit if Russia shared its achievements and agreed to “collaborate in all fields of endeavour”. They discussed collaborating in the fields of aerospace, advanced technologies, agriculture and security. He also accepted Putin's invitation to attend the BRICS summit in October in Kazan, Russia. He referred to the move as a "significant step" towards Malaysia's membership in the group.

Bangladesh: Jamaat-e-Islami chief proposes balanced relations with China
On 28 August, the chief of the Bangladesh political party Jamaat-e-Islami, Shafiqur Rahman stated that his party wanted stable ties with China. In an interview, Rahman informed that his party seek “balanced and stable ties” with global powers like China and the US, in an increasingly globalised and interconnected world. He stated that his party was not against India and hoped India to be “a friend and play a responsible role in bilateral ties.” However, he also suggested a policy of non-interference in internal affairs. According to him, the Jamaat wants “an equal and balanced relationship” with all South Asian countries since the balance is crucial to stability.

Sri Lanka: Record revenue of LKR one trillion 
On 06 September, Daily Mirror quoted the Sri Lankan Customs spokesperson on its highest revenue collection. The figure stands at LKR one trillion. Speaking on the matter, Additional Director General Seevali Arukgoda said: “It is a victory to all of us as we have managed to achieve Rs. 1 trillion from the given target within the first eight months of the year, and we believe that we could surpass the next Rs. 533 billion in the remaining four months.” Similar performance was seen in the previous year, when the revenue target of 2023 was LKR 892 billion which rose to LKR 975 billion by the end of the year. 

Sri Lanka: Tariff reduction makes way for stable prices, says Daily Mirror opinion
On 31 August, an article in the Daily Mirror revealed a reduction in inflation during August. It is attributed to the government’s low tariffs on utility and fuel bills, which reduced prices of food and non-food commodities. Additionally, the central bank said it was capable of maintaining inflation levels below 5.0 per cent by the next fiscal year.  It also signalled a monetary relief, given that low prices are kept and no significant events threaten price stability. Inflation on food narrowed to 0.8 per cent in August annually, and inflation on non-food prices fell by 1.8 per cent in August.

Pakistan: Plans to “reset” ties with Bangladesh
On 01 September, The Express Tribune reported on a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and former High Commissioners of Pakistan to Bangladesh and other retired diplomats. They assembled to discuss the political change in Bangladesh and a possible strategy towards the interim government in Dhaka. On the promise of anonymity, a source revealed that the Prime Minister has sought inputs from retired officials on resetting ties with Bangladesh after the conclusion of Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule. During her term, although Bangladesh grew increasingly close to India, Hasina rejected Islamabad’s efforts towards improving ties. Her ouster is seen as a setback for India and a potential opportunity for Pakistan. It has been suggested that Pakistan must have its Bangladesh policy independent of the India-Bangladesh dynamic. In a statement, a retired bureaucrat even suggested that Pakistan should consider appointing a high commissioner who speaks in Bengali. 
 
Pakistan: India’s claims on J&K “misleading” and “dangerously delusional,” comments Foreign Office
On 01 September, Pakistan termed Indian claims on Jammu and Kashmir as “misleading” and “dangerously delusional.” In a statement to the media, the Foreign Office spokesperson of Pakistan responded to Indian Ministry of External Affairs claims regarding Jammu and Kashmir. The spokesperson emphasised that this is an “internationally recognized issue” and the dispute must be resolved in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions and in consultation with the Kashmiri people. The spokesperson stressed that Pakistan is open to engaging in diplomatic dialogue but any hostile action will be responded with “unyielding resolve.” The statement called upon India to stop its “provocative rhetoric” on Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistan: Prime Minister seeks cooperation in AI, IT and agriculture with China
On 02 September, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif told the Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong that Pakistan is working towards enhancing its cooperation with China in strategic areas such as information technology, artificial intelligence and modern agriculture. He said: “The friendship between Pakistan and China has withstood the test of time, with China providing unwavering support to Pakistan during every challenging period.” The Prime Minister appreciated China’s efforts to strengthen its relations with Pakistan and upgrade the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. He added that the friendship between the countries was essential for regional and global peace.

Pakistan: Discussion on bilateral and regional issues with US Ambassador
On 03 September, the US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar discussed bilateral and regional issues in a meeting. The discussions were focused on the “protection of Afghan refugees and asylum seekers, economic cooperation, security and counterterrorism and regional cooperation.” A statement released by the Foreign Office said: “The discussion covered various aspects of Pakistan-US bilateral relations including avenues for enhanced cooperation in diverse fields. They also discussed matters relating to the upcoming session of the UN General Assembly.” This engagement comes against the backdrop of Pakistan’s plan to implement its second round of repatriation of Afghan refugees who do not have sufficient identity proof. Earlier, Islamabad had complained of security concerns arising out of illegal migrants living in Pakistan, especially Afghans and ordered their deportation. However, after the country was criticized by the UN and human rights groups, a year’s extension was granted to all Afghan refugees who held the Afghan Citizenship Card. After the meeting, The US embassy welcomed the decision. 

Pakistan: Foreign Minister visits the UK
On 05 September, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held talks with the UK Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, during his five-day visit to the UK. They discussed opportunities for strengthening cooperation. Dar highlighted their common interests on regional and bilateral cooperation. According to the Foreign Office statement, Dar reasserted his country’s commitment to collaborating with the UK’s climate actions and mobilising other states towards the same. He also appreciated the UK’s duty-free trade for Pakistani exports and spoke about strengthening bilateral ties in the areas of trade, investment and youth opportunities. Dar also attended other meetings with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland where the leaders discussed Pakistan’s commitment to the Commonwealth, existing bilateral relations, and regional issues. 

Pakistan: Increasing domestic borrowing leads to “double-debt trap,” says the Dawn
On 06 September, an article in Dawn discussed the double-debt problem in Pakistan. The article highlighted that due to the rising domestic borrowing and a shortfall in revenue, Pakistan will have to borrow heavily to meet its external and domestic debt-servicing needs. According to data, the country’s total debt rose to PKR 69.604 trillion in July, while it stood at PKR 68.914 in August. This is an increase of PKR 690 billion in one month. Further, its total debt grew from PKR 7.827 trillion to PKR 69.604 trillion in a year. Domestic borrowing has also risen by PKR 537 billion, from PKR 47.160 trillion in June to PKR 47.697 trillion in July. The government has provided an estimate of PKR 9.3 trillion to fund its financing gap for fiscal 2025. Although the interest rates in domestic banks have been reduced to 2.5 per cent, borrowings of more than 40 trillion are enough to devour the tax revenue. Despite the crisis, the government is struggling to meet its external debt repayments and is borrowing from domestic parties. 

MIDDLE-EAST THIS WEEK
 Israel: WHO concludes first round of polio vaccinations in Gaza
On 4 September, according to the Times of Israel, the World Health Organisation (WHO) completed the first out of its two-phase polio vaccination campaign in Gaza, with 200,000 children administered an initial dose. The first phase lasted from 01 to 03 September and focussed on children under ten years. The WHO stated that it was preparing to launch the next phase from 05 to 08 September, with a target of 340,000 children

The UAE: President pardons Bangladeshis convicted for protesting against Hasina
On 03 September, Al Jazeera reported that UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan pardoned 57 Bangladeshi citizens imprisoned for participating in protests in UAE against the Sheikh Hasina government. The Bangladeshis will be released and deported. Previously, a UAE court had convicted them for “crimes of gathering in a public place and protesting against their home government with the intent to incite unrest.” 

THE EUROPE THIS WEEK
France: Financial aid package to ensure economic stability in New Caledonia
On 06 September, RNZ reported on The French government’s financial aid package of USD 144 million for New Caledonia. The main focus of the package is assisting in preventing essential services like electricity operators and social services from collapsing. The new financial aid would allow the necessary services to continue operating, until September. Preliminary French emergency assistance was available with the new aid package, bringing the total to USD 444 million excluding Caledonia's plagued nickel industry. However, the new package will adhere to reforms to be engaged in the most important sectors of New Caledonia, including the ENERCAL power supply company and retirement.

Russia: Putin delivers a speech at the Eastern Economic Forum
On 05 September, RT reported on the keynote address delivered by Putin at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok. He highlighted Russia’s interests in East Asia, cooperation with the Asia-Pacific region and the implications of the Kursk incursion. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Chinese Vice President Han Zheng attended the meeting. In his speech, he highlighted the East Asian countries as a possible means to compensate for the sanctions imposed by the West. He said: “We have defined the development of the Far East as a national priority for the entire 21st century.” He noted that the world economy was facing de-dollarization, citing the BRICS way of using national currencies in transactions. On the Kursk incursion, he pointed out that it depleted Ukraine’s strong military forces in the Donbass, thus favouring Russia.

Hungary: Foreign minister visits Bahrain
On 05 September, Hungary Today reported on the visit of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary Peter Szijjarto to Bahrain. He met the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain Abdullaitf bin Rashid al Zayani to discuss the possibilities for greater cooperation between their countries. Szijjarto stated that both ministers agreed on the peaceful settlement of disputes through dialogue rather than war.  In the joint statement, the ministers agreed on combating terrorism and improving stability in Europe and the Middle East. Szijjarto urged free trade talks and visa agreements to continue, and greater cooperation between the EU and the Gulf. Additionally, negotiations for an investment by the oil company MOL into environmentally friendly oil extraction and potentially building a rubber bitumen plant in Bahrain also took place

France: Edouard Philippe announces presidential candidacy in 2027
On 05 September, Edouard Philippe, former Prime Minister of France and the first prime minister under Emmanuel Macron announced that he would run for President in the 2027 elections. After his resignation in 2020, Philippe founded his party Horizons which has largely supported Macron’s party. His announcement also comes at a time when Macron is struggling to find a head for the government. He also extended his support to any prime minister picked from a political space ranging from the conservative right to social-democracy.

Ukraine: Nine new ministers appointed 
On 05 September, Swissinfo.ch reported on the appointment of new ministers in the Ukrainian parliament. There were nine ministers and two deputy prime ministers as the new appointees. This marks Zelenskyy’s “biggest government shakeup” since 2022. He said that the government needed “new energy” as the autumn was crucial for Ukraine. Andrii Sybiha, an experienced diplomat with a public figure is set to replace Dmytro Kuleba, as the foreign minister. Olha Stefanyshina took up the position of Justice minister along with her role in coordinating Ukraine’s accession to the EU and NATO. In addition, a former deputy head of Zelenskyy’s office, Oleksiy Kuleba was appointed as deputy prime minister. He is in charge of reconstruction, regions and infrastructure and Herman Smetanin is the strategic industries minister. However, Ukraine’s foreign policy was unlikely to alter if Zelenskyy was in power. He is set to visit the US with a “victory plan” to present before President Joe Biden.

THE AMERICAS THIS WEEK
Colombia: President orders investigation into Pegasus purchase
On 05 September, the President of Colombia Gustavo Petro, ordered an investigation into the purchase of Pegasus, a spyware by an Israeli company NSO. He said that the software was bought when Ivan Duque was the President. He added that it was an all-cash deal made in two instalments of USD 5.5 million. Colombia has been facing wiretapping scandals for more than a decade, even leading to the closure of Colombia’s intelligence agency in the past.

Brazil: Apex court bans X
On 05 September, Brazil’s Supreme Court upheld the ban on social media platform X that was imposed on 31 August 2024. The platform failed to appoint a new legal representative before the deadline given by the court.” The Court has instructed Apple and Google to remove X from their app stores while declaring a fine of USD 8,000 on individuals or groups using VPNs to operate X. The feud between Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes and X’s owner Elon Musk began in April 2024 when the Court had asked X to ban certain leaders’ accounts on the allegations of spreading misinformation. In his response, Musk said: “Free speech is the bedrock of democracy and an unelected pseudo-judge in Brazil is destroying it for political purposes

The US: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris make a joint appearance on Labour Day
On 02 September, Kamala Harris gave a speech along with the President of the US, Joe Biden during her Presidential campaign in Pittsburg. The speech was given on Labour Day. This is the first joint appearance both leaders have made since Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race. Both leaders criticised the acquisition of US Steel by Nippon Steel. Biden said that the US Steel should remain American-owned and American-operated. The United Steelworkers Union that represents over a thousand steel company workers opposes the purchase as it violates unions’ rights. They are in negotiation talks with Nippon Steel. Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, also opposes the Nippon Steel deal and promised to block the deal if elected. 


About the Authors
Rohini Reenum is a PhD scholar at NIAS. Anu Maria Joseph and Padmashree Anandhan are Research Associates at NIAS. Femy Francis, Samruddi Pathak, Neha Tresa George, Sayeka Ghosh and Nuha Aamina are Research Assistants at NIAS. Advik S Mohan and Sachin Aravindan are Research Interns at NIAS. Ayan Datta is a postgraduate student at the University of Hyderabad.


PREVIOUS COMMENTS

September 2026 | CWA # 2267

NIAS Global Politics Team

The SCO Summit in Bishkek:
The US-Venezuela Oil Agreement
September 2026 | CWA # 2264

Sreemaya Nair

The SCO Summit in Bishkek:
Four takeaways on rejecting sanctions on Iran, de-dollarisation, and emphasis on territorial integrity
September 2026 | CWA # 2259

Aparna A Nair

The Trial of Joshua Wong:
What are the charges? Why did he plead guilty now?
September 2026 | CWA # 2258

Brighty Ann Sarah

The US-Iran War Week 26:
Renewed Escalation and Diplomatic Deadlock
August 2026 | CWA # 2256

Namrata L Ghanghatkar, Priyanka Makhijani and Urja R Kudalkar

Lake Ontario
SpaceX hits triple digits:
August 2026 | CWA # 2254

Namrata L Ghanghatkar

The US-Canada tariff tensions:
How did the trade deal end up stuck in limbo?
August 2026 | CWA # 2253

Akshath Kaimal

The case against Meta:
A historic settlement, global action against social media platforms and implementation challenges
August 2026 | CWA # 2252

Namrata L Ghanghatkar

The US and North Korea:
A brief history, Trump-Kim Summits and the new gamble
August 2026 | CWA # 2251

Adwaith Sankar

Kim Jong Un:
Internal Consolidation and External Realignment
August 2026 | CWA # 2248

Namrata L Ghanghatkar

Japan's Yasukuni Shrine Controversy:
Why do Japanese leaders continue to visit the shrine? Why do Japan's neighbours object?
August 2026 | CWA # 2245

Arafaath Rahby

Sri Lanka (Apr-Jun 2026):
Resilience, Recovery, and Rising Global Standing
August 2026 | CWA # 2239

Lekshmi MK

The War in Ukraine:
Continuing deep strikes, escalating civilian targeting, and expanding drone warfare
August 2026 | CWA # 2236
CW Newsmakers
Sheikh Hasina, Settler Violence in West Bank, Heat Waves in Northeast Asia...
August 2026 | CWA # 2235

Adwaith Sankar

Southeast Asia (April-June 2026)
Economic headwinds, Internal friction, and Contrasting domestic developments
August 2026 | CWA # 2233

Teshu Singh

East Asia (Apr-Jun 2026):
Strategic Rebalancing, Neo-Militarisation and Increasing Tensions in Taiwan Straits
August 2026 | CWA # 2232

Dattesh D Parulekar 

Latin America (Apr-Jun 2026):
The 'Right' Electoral Tilt, Upswing in Venezuela-India relations, and Argentina's Energy Rise
August 2026 | CWA # 2231

Dhivya KM

China's economy at mid-2026:
Six Takeaways of the World Bank China Economic Update
August 2026 | CWA # 2225

Acsah H

China's C909:
China moves from near-total reliance on foreign jets to domestic dominance. How did it happen? And what does it mean?
August 2026 | CWA # 2224

Global Politics Team

Zelenskyy's US visit
Newsmakers of the week
August 2026 | CWA # 2222

Namrata L Ghanghatkar, Priyanka Makhijani and Urja R Kudalkar

Peru's new President Netanyahu's Washington visit
US Senate bill against Russia | Ukraine and Patriot missiles | China's PLA 99th anniversary
July 2026 | CWA # 2217

Namrata L Ghanghatkar, Priyanka Makhijani, Urja R Kudalkar

The Berlin Pride attack
Zelensky's US Visit I Japan's Earthquake
July 2026 | CWA # 2216

Manikranth Chakravarthula

The Houthis:
Origins, Ethnic makeup, Political structure, Geographical footprint and External support
July 2026 | CWA # 2213

Brighty Ann Sarah

The US-Iran War, Week 22:
End of pause, Return of hostilities and Expanding conflict geography
July 2026 | CWA # 2211

Priyanka Makhijani

AI's Rogue Agent Breach:
Recurring Patterns, Gaps in the AI safety rules and the AI rivalry
July 2026 | CWA # 2210

Adwaith Sankar

ASEAN Regional Forum:
Six Takeaways on Issues, Limitations and Opportunities
July 2026 | CWA # 2206

Akshath Kaimal

The resurgence of Somali piracy:
Sophisticated tactics, Regional instability and an Ineffective international response
July 2026 | CWA # 2203

Brighty Ann Sarah

US-Iran War, Week 21:
Resumption of attacks and the Strait of Hormuz impasse
July 2026 | CWA # 2199

Preetha Renganarayanan

The SDG Annual Report 2026:
Six takeaways on a decade of SDG monitoring, global progress, and key challenges
July 2026 | CWA # 2197

Madhura Meenakshi Tanikella

The US-Iran War, Week 20:
Renewed Strikes, Collapsed MoU and the Blockade of the Strait
July 2026 | CWA # 2196

Mahesh Bhatta

Nepal (Apr-Jun 2026):
New Government, Political Stability and Economic Recovery
July 2026 | CWA # 2195

Radhika M Agarwal

June 2026 | CWA # 2193

Aparna A Nair

Pakistan PMin China:
75th anniversary of diplomatic relations, CPEC expansion and Middle East mediation
July 2026 | CWA # 2190

NIAS Global Politics Team

China-DPRK friendship treaty I The IMF World Economic Outlook
July 2026 | CWA # 2189

Dhivya KM

Five takeaways on Global growth, AI, and Economic resilience
July 2026 | CWA # 2186

Lekshmi MK

NATO Summit 2026:
Four takeaways on Alliance unity, Defence commitments, and Support for Ukraine
July 2026 | CWA # 2184

Deb Dutta

Four takeaways on Forced returns, Collapsing protection, Protracted crises
July 2026 | CWA # 2182

Anu Maria Joseph

Africa This Week
JNIM-FLA coordinated attacks in Mali and the RSF siege in Sudan
July 2026 | CWA # 2181

Padmashree Anandhan

The War in Ukraine:
Deep strikes, NATO diplomacy and the Expanding air warfare
July 2026 | CWA # 2180

Madhura Meenakshi Tanikella

Iran after Ali Khamenei
Institutional resilience, Anti-American sentiment and an Unresolved conflict
July 2026 | CWA # 2178

NIAS Global Politics Team

July 2026 | CWA # 2177

Deb Dutta

Economic Security, Artificial Intelligence and Energy Resilience
July 2026 | CWA # 2171

Radhika M Agarwal

June 2026 | CWA # 2169

Anwesha Ghosh

Afghanistan (Apr-Jun 2026):
Growing External Engagement, Enduring Internal Constraints
June 2026 | CWA # 2167

Lakshmi Venugopal Menon

Fragile De-escalation amid Persistent Volatility
June 2026 | CWA # 2166

Ramya B

Russia (April-June 2026)
Unsuccessful Offensive, Drone Attacks and Economic Challenges
June 2026 | CWA # 2165

Himani Pant

Europe (April-June 2026)
End of the Orban Era, Political Fragmentation, Tightening of Migration Rules and Continuing Economic Slowdown
June 2026 | CWA # 2160

Radhika M Agarwal

The War in Ukraine:
Ukraine's Crimea Campaign, The Belarus Standoff, and Russia's Aerial Bombardment
June 2026 | CWA # 2159

Madhura Meenakshi Tanikella

The US-Iran MoU
Renewed strikes, Persistent disagreements, and a Fragile Agreement
June 2026 | CWA # 2158

Anu Maria Joseph

June 2026 | CWA # 2154

Madhura Meenakshi Tanikella

The G7 Summit 2026
Four Takeaways on Economic security, Critical minerals, and Consensus on Ukraine and Iran
June 2026 | CWA # 2153

Global Politics Team

The US-Iran MoU
The War in Ukraine I Anti-immigrant violence in South Africa I Ultra Orthodox Jews' protests in Israel
June 2026 | CWA # 2150

Madhura Meenakshi Tanikella

The War in Ukraine:
Massive drone attacks, Europe's support for Ukraine, and a Distant ceasefire
June 2026 | CWA # 2149

Brighty Ann Sarah

The US-Iran MoU:
Asymmetric Gains and Implementation Challenges
June 2026 | CWA # 2143

Aishal Hab Yousuf 

Sri Lanka and Press Freedom:
Five Takeaways on Political influence, Legal mechanisms to control, Ethnic sensitivities and History of State intimidation
June 2026 | CWA # 2142

Glynnis Winona B

Bhutan and Press Freedom:
Four takeaways on Regulatory control, Economic fragility, and Social constraints
June 2026 | CWA # 2141

Aishal Hab Yousuf

Maldives and Press Freedom:
Four takeaways on the influence of democracy, legislation, and state funding
June 2026 | CWA # 2140

Nithin V

Pakistan and Press Freedom:
Four takeaways Military influence, cyber laws, political instability, and youth-driven digital journalism
June 2026 | CWA # 2138

Siddhi Halyur

Nepal and Press Freedom:
Three takeaways on Political constraints, Missing legal protection and Funding issues
June 2026 | CWA # 2129

Anu Maria Joseph

Conflicts in Africa This Week:
The Ebola fear in DR Congo and the Elections in Ethiopia amidst conflicts
May 2026 | CWA # 2128

NIAS Global Politics Team

May 2026 | CWA # 2126

Aparna A Nair

The Shenzhou-23 Mission:
China's Space Missions, Technology, and Infrastructure
May 2026 | CWA # 2124

Glynnis Winona B

The Crisis in Cuba:
The US Sanctions, Energy Crisis, and Economic Instability
May 2026 | CWA # 2123

Akshath Kaimal

The Ebola and the DR Congo:
Multiple Outbreaks, Fragile Healthcare System, and Ineffective Global Responses
May 2026 | CWA # 2122

Radhika M Agarwal

The War in Ukraine:
Ballistic missiles, Nuclear drills with Belarus, and the Czech ammunition initiative
May 2026 | CWA # 2120

Brighty Ann Sarah

Conflicts in the Middle East
The US-Iran War Week Thirteen: Escalating Hostilities, Tenuous Ceasefire and Tense Negotiations
May 2026 | CWA # 2119

Anu Maria Joseph

Conflicts in Africa
The Ebola spread in DR Congo, The Faye-Sonko split in Senegal, and the Deepening US military involvement in Nigeria
May 2026 | CWA # 2117

Lekshmi MK

Arctic cooperation, Climate diplomacy, and Trade diversification
May 2026 | CWA # 2116

Yesasvi Koganti

Deepening Energy, AI, Defence, and Maritime Cooperation
May 2026 | CWA # 2115

Aparna A Nair

The Putin-Xi Summit
Trade, Technology, Security, and Pipeline
May 2026 | CWA # 2114

Glynnis Winona B

What makes the UAE a global player?
Explaining the Governance, Economy, People, and Strategic Influence of a Small Middle Eastern State
May 2026 | CWA # 2113

Aishal Hab Yousuf

Sri Lanka and the US-Iran War:
Rising oil imports, Austerity measures and State capacity
May 2026 | CWA # 2111

NIAS Global Politics Team

The Trump-Xi Summit
The Africa Forward Summit 2026 I North Korea's Constitutional Amendment 2026
May 2026 | CWA # 2110

Aishal Hab Yousuf

The Trump-Xi Summit:
Managing Strategic Competition through Trade, Technology, and Diplomacy
May 2026 | CWA # 2105

Rohini Reenum

Four reasons why Tehran insists on including Hezbollah
May 2026 | CWA # 2103

Akshath Kaimal

Complex Geography, Multiple Insurgencies, and an Escalating Humanitarian Crisis
May 2026 | CWA # 2092

NIAS Global Politics Team

The US-Iran War, Week Ten
CW Column on Middle East: Escalating Israeli Aggression in Lebanon I UAE's Covert Manoeuvres
May 2026 | CWA # 2091

Brighty Ann Sarah

Conflicts in the Middle East:
Escalating Israeli Aggression in Lebanon I UAEs Covert Manoeuvres
May 2026 | CWA # 2090

Brighty Ann Sarah

The US-Iran War, Week Ten:
Fraying Ceasefire, Renewed Negotiations and the Risk of a Stalemate
May 2026 | CWA # 2088

Nithin V

King Charles's US Visit:
Emphasis on strong bilateral relations, democratic values and security cooperation
May 2026 | CWA # 2086

Aishal Hab Yousuf

UAE's Exit from OPEC:
Implications for the Middle East and the Energy Market
May 2026 | CWA # 2083

Brighty Ann Sarah

The US-Iran War, Week Nine:
Deadlocked Negotiations, Competing Agendas and Domestic Pressure
May 2026 | CWA # 2082

Akshath Kaimal

Escalating Violence in Mali:
Between Ethnic Insurgencies, Jihadist Attacks, and Military Coups
April 2026 | CWA # 2079

Aishal Hab Yousuf

Japans New Defence Posture:
From Post-War Pacifism to Strategic Recalibration and Autonomy
April 2026 | CWA # 2074

Brighty Ann Sarah

Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire:
Asymmetric Terms, Fragile Truce and Israeli Occupation
April 2026 | CWA # 2073

Akshath Kaimal

The US-Iran War, Week Eight:
A Fragile Ceasefire, Attempts to Control Hormuz and the Stalled Talks in Islamabad
April 2026 | CWA # 2072

Anu Maria Joseph

Three Years of War in Sudan
Prolonged Stalemate, Humanitarian Cost, External Interventions and Regional Fallouts
April 2026 | CWA # 2069

Padmashree Anandhan

The War in Ukraine
Expanding Drone Warfare, Russia's Strategic Patience and Ukraine's Diplomatic Outreach
April 2026 | CWA # 2068

Femy Francis 

China-Japan Tensions
Escalating Defence Posturing and Economic Decoupling
April 2026 | CWA # 2067

Anu Maria Joseph

Conflicts in Africa
Continuing Conflicts in Sudan, South Sudan and DR Congo, Security issues in Nigeria, and Political Instability in Madagascar
April 2026 | CWA # 2066

Akshath Kaimal

The Pakistan-Afghanistan Conflict
Recurrent Clashes, Defiant Taliban, Contesting Narratives and Emerging Chinas Role
April 2026 | CWA # 2065

Lakshmi Venugopal Menon

The Middle East (JanMar 2026):
The US-Iran War, Israel-Hamas Conflict and their interconnected fallouts
April 2026 | CWA # 2064

Anwesha Ghosh

Afghanistan (JanMar 2026):
Gender Repression, Leadership Rifts, Regional Realignments and Clashes with Pakistan
April 2026 | CWA # 2063

Ramya B

Russia (Jan-Mar 2026)
Assertive Military Posture, Attempts for an Economic Turnaround and Search for Partners
April 2026 | CWA # 2062

Himani Pant

Europe (Jan-Mar 2026)
Trade diversification & FTAs, Increased defence spending, Tightening irregular migration and Economic slowdown
April 2026 | CWA # 2061

S Shaji

Africa (Jan-Mar 2026)
Elections, Civil Wars, Militancy and Peace Initiatives
April 2026 | CWA # 2058

Nishchal N Pandey  & Mahesh Raj Bhatta

Nepal (Jan-Mar 2026)
Political Upheaval, Generational Change and Economic Uncertainty
April 2026 | CWA # 2057

Bibhu Prasad Routray

Myanmar (Jan-Mar 2026)
An Illegitimate Regime's Consolidation Game
April 2026 | CWA # 2056

Ashik J Bonofer

Southeast Asia (Jan-Mar 2026)
Deteriorating situation in Myanmar, Philippines as the ASEAN Chair, New government in Thailand, and Economic & Environmental challenges
April 2026 | CWA # 2055

Haans J Freddy

East Asia (Jan-Mar 2026)
Chinas military operations near Taiwan, Japan-China tensions and South Koreas security challenges
April 2026 | CWA # 2054

Amrita Jash

Chinas External Landscape (Jan-Mar 2026):
Regional assertion, Pragmatic recalibration with the West and Avoiding military entanglement in the Middle East
April 2026 | CWA # 2052

Shreya Upadhyay

The United States(Jan-Mar2026)
Tariffs, Ukraine, Iran and Operationalization of Trumps World Order
March 2026 | CWA # 2042

Preetha Renganarayanan

Five Takeaways of the US Annual Threat Assessment (ATA) Report for 2026
March 2026 | CWA # 2039

Femy Francis

Trump-Xi Meeting
Why did Trump reschedule it? What does that mean?
March 2026 | CWA # 2035

Akshath Kaimal

Pakistan-Afghanistan Conflict
Broken ceasefire, Expanding military strikes and Worsening humanitarian situation
March 2026 | CWA # 2033

Mahesh Bhatta

Nepal after elections:
Five major challenges for the new government
March 2026 | CWA # 2024

Lekshmi MK

The UN and the Iran-US War
UNSC Resolution 2817 between Clear and Unified Message and Manifest Injustice
March 2026 | CWA # 2023

Femy Francis

Chinas Two Sessions 2026
New Five-Year Plan, Ethnic Unity Law, and an Enhanced Defence Budget
March 2026 | CWA # 2019

Akshath Kaimal

Rising Violence in Nigeria
Limited State Capacity, Multiple Actors, and a Complex Security Environment
March 2026 | CWA # 2012

Padmashree Anandhan

The War in Ukraine
Long-range strikes, Defence adaptation and the EUs energy dependence
March 2026 | CWA # 2010

Mahesh Bhatta

Nepal Elections 2026
The Rise of the New and the Fall of the Old
March 2026 | CWA # 2009

Sreemaya Nair

Nepal Elections 2026
Rise of a new leadership and Reset in political landscape
March 2026 | CWA # 2004

Akshath Kaimal

The Forgotten South Sudan Conflict
Instability returns, with a fragile peace agreement, uptick in violence and limited international engagement
March 2026 | CWA # 2003

Yesasvi Koganti

PM Modis Visit to Israel
From bilateral ties to a special strategic partnership
March 2026 | CWA # 2001

Preetha Renganarayanan

Six major takeaways on the economy, border and internal security and Iran
February 2026 | CWA # 1998

Anu Maria Joseph

Instability in Sudan
Response to the genocide call and the threats of a regional spillover
February 2026 | CWA # 1986

Preetha Renganarayanan

Focus on Trade, Defense, Energy and Regional Connectivity
February 2026 | CWA # 1985

Abhimanyu Solanki

Basant in Pakistan
The return of Basant, and what it signifies
February 2026 | CWA # 1977

Anu Maria Joseph

Violence in Nigeria
US military deployment amidst worsening insurgency
February 2026 | CWA # 1976

Lekshmi MK

The War in Ukraine
The Geneva Talks and Growing Negotiation Asymmetry
December 2025 | CWA # 1971

Vani Vyshnavi Jupudi

Pakistan Budget 2025-26
Legislating stabilisation under IMF discipline and coalition constraints
December 2025 | CWA # 1970

Aparna A Nair

Pakistan & China
Ten Years of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)
November 2025 | CWA # 1968

Vani Vyshnavi Jupudi

Pakistan and the US
A New opening, or another cycle?
February 2026 | CWA # 1959

Yesasvi Koganti

UK and China
PM Keir Starmers visit and the Recalibration of Economic, Strategic, and Domestic ties
January 2026 | CWA # 1946

Preetha Renganarayanan

The Davos Summit 2026
Five Major Takeaways from The World Economic Forum
December 2025 | CWA # 1931

Padmashree Anandhan

NATO Summit 2025
December 2025 | CWA # 1924

Padmashree Anandhan

NATO Summit 2025
December 2025 | CWA # 1914

Preetha Renganarayanan

November 2025 | CWA # 1841

IPRI Team

October 2025 | CWA # 1828

Brighty Ann Sarah

October 2025 | CWA # 1827

GP Team

September 2025 | CWA # 1819

Ayan Datta

Africa
September 2025 | CWA # 1816

Brighty Ann Sarah

The Middle East
September 2025 | CWA # 1815

Anshuman Behera

South Asia
September 2025 | CWA # 1814

Anshuman Behera

South Asia
September 2025 | CWA # 1812

Kasvi Batra

China, East Asia and Southeast Asia
August 2025 | CWA # 1801

R Preetha

28 August 1963
Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech and the Civil Rights Movement in the US
August 2025 | CWA # 1796

Ditipriya Ghosh

August 2025 | CWA # 1795

Anu Maria Joseph

August 2025 | CWA # 1790

GP Team

The World This Week#323-324
The Trump-Putin meeting & the US-China tariff extension
August 2025 | CWA # 1787

Abhiruchi Chowdhury

What is the background? And what does it mean?
August 2025 | CWA # 1786

Astha Panda

Fewer births, Smaller families and Out-migration
August 2025 | CWA # 1780

Abhiruchi Chowdhury

Trump tariffs:
Weaponization of access to the US economy
August 2025 | CWA # 1779

GP Team

The World This Week#322
US tariffs on India, Brazil and Canada & the EU-US trade deal
August 2025 | CWA # 1778

Lekshmi MK

28 July 1914
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia, starting the First World War
July 2025 | CWA # 1773

Lekshmi MK

July 2025 | CWA # 1772

Kasvi Batra

Another setback for the ruling party
July 2025 | CWA # 1771

Swati Sood

Prioritizing Neighbors
July 2025 | CWA # 1770

Abhiruchi Chowdhury

Pakistan-Afghanistan relations:
Why the focus on terrorism, refugees, and Uzbekistan as the third partner?
July 2025 | CWA # 1769

GP Team

The World This Week#321
Indian PM Modi's visit to the Maldives I Elections to the Upper House in Japan
July 2025 | CWA # 1768

IPRI Team

July 2025 | CWA # 1767

Naomi Miriam Mathew

Minerals, Markets, and Military
July 2025 | CWA # 1765

Kasvi Batra

Balancing Economic Interests, Strategic Tensions and a Soft Power Recalibration
July 2025 | CWA # 1762

Lekshmi MK

What is the phenomenon? What are its effects? And who are more vulnerable?
July 2025 | CWA # 1760

NIAS Global Politics Team

July 2025 | CWA # 1759

Padmashree Anandhan

July 2025 | CWA # 1750

Swati Sood

July 2025 | CWA # 1749

R Preetha

Africa as the Hunger Epicenter
Of the 13 Global Hunger Hotspots, 8 are in Africa: Five reasons why
July 2025 | CWA # 1744

Chittrothu Vaihali

EU-Canada Summit 2025
What is security and defence partnership all about?
July 2025 | CWA # 1743

M Kejia

A Significant Visit for a Road to Strategic Partnership
July 2025 | CWA # 1742

IPRI Team

Conflict Weekly # 287-88
The 12 Day War and the Congo-Rwanda Peace Deal
July 2025 | CWA # 1739

Swati Sood 

Why now, what next?
July 2025 | CWA # 1738

Fleur Elizabeth Philip

Thailand and Cambodia
What was the phone call between PM Shinawatra and President of Senate Hun Sen? What is the border dispute between the two? Why has this become an issue?
June 2025 | CWA # 1735

Padmashree Anandhan

NATO Summit 2025:
Trump making Europe great again
June 2025 | CWA # 1734

GP Team

The World This Week #317
NATO Summit 2025 and Russia-Mali bilateral agreements
June 2025 | CWA # 1733

Ananya Dinesh

What was the recent China-PIC joint statement about? What it says, and what it means?
June 2025 | CWA # 1731

Farhaz Rashid Ahmed

Where does the Black Lives Matter Movement stand today?
June 2025 | CWA # 1728

M Kejia

G7 Summit 2025:
The Focus on the Middle East and Trade negotiations
June 2025 | CWA # 1726

GP Team

The World This Week #316
China-Central Asia Summit in Kazakhstan, and the G7 Summit in Canada
June 2025 | CWA # 1725

Brighty Ann Sarah, R Preetha, Santhiya M, Aparna A Nair & M Kejia

Operation Midnight Hammer: US bombs three nuclear sites in Iran
What were the three Iranian nuclear sites that were targeted? What are the B2 Bombers and Bunker Buster Bombs? What do these attacks mean? What Next?
June 2025 | CWA # 1724

IPRI Team

Conflict Weekly #286
The Spiralling Israel-Iran Crisis, and the Dangerous Hunger Hotspots
June 2025 | CWA # 1722

Rizwana Banu S

Why is Diego Garcia important to the US?
June 2025 | CWA # 1721

Rizwana Banu S and Santhiya M

Who are the Afrikaners?
Why is Trump interested in the Afrikaner question in South Africa?
June 2025 | CWA # 1720

Lekshmi MK

New WMO Report on Arctic Warming
What are the social, economic and environmental implications of Arctic warming
June 2025 | CWA # 1719

J Yamini  

What contributes to the rise of BYD
June 2025 | CWA # 1717

J Yamini

Gender Violence in Pakistan:
What are the larger issues in the Noor Mukadam case?
June 2025 | CWA # 1715

Femy Francis

The US-China:
On Tariffs, Rare Earths and Visas
June 2025 | CWA # 1713

GP Team

The World This Week #315
The UN Ocean Conference in France and the US-China Meeting in London
June 2025 | CWA # 1711

Gauri Gupta

June 2025 | CWA # 1709

IPRI Team

Conflict Weekly #284-285
Cambodia-Thailand Border Tensions, Protests in the US, and the Indigenous Mori question in New Zealand
June 2025 | CWA # 1708

Santhiya M

The RPP and UML showcase their strength in the streets of Kathmandu
June 2025 | CWA # 1706

Merin Treesa Alex

Instability to possible stability
June 2025 | CWA # 1705

GP Team

The World This Week #314
Elections in South Korea and Poland I China and the Pacific Island Countries I Bangladesh Election Announcement 2026
June 2025 | CWA # 1702

Lekshmi MK

June 2025 | CWA # 1701

Santhiya M

June 2025 | CWA # 1700

R Preetha

Ethiopia bans the TPLF
What does the TPLF ban mean for the Pretoria agreement? What next for Ethiopia?
June 2025 | CWA # 1698

Gauri Gupta

June 2025 | CWA # 1694

Aashish Ganeshan

The US:
Harvard vs Trump Administration
June 2025 | CWA # 1693

Fleur Elizabeth Philip

The focus on Politics, Trade and Defence
June 2025 | CWA # 1691

GP Team

The World This Week #313
China-ASEAN-GCC Summit I President Macron's visit to South East Asia I Trump Vs Harvard
May 2025 | CWA # 1690

GP Team

The World This Week #312
Elections in Romania, Portugal & Poland I UK-EU Summit
May 2025 | CWA # 1689

Padmashree Anandhan

Ukraine
May 2025 | CWA # 1688

Ayan Datta

Gaza
May 2025 | CWA # 1685

Aparna A Nair

UK-EU Summit:
First step towards a reset
May 2025 | CWA # 1684

Farhaz Rashid Ahmed

No clear winners, yet
May 2025 | CWA # 1683

Aashish Ganeshan

Elections in Portugal:
The Rise of Chega Party and the Search for Political Stability
May 2025 | CWA # 1680

Padmashree Anandhan

May 2025 | CWA # 1678

Gauri Gupta

China in Latin America
China-CELAC forum: Strengthening ties with Latin America and Caribbean
May 2025 | CWA # 1677

GP Team

The World This Week #310-311
China in Latin America and the Carribbean I Trump's Middle East Visit I Denmark as the new Arctic Chair
May 2025 | CWA # 1675

Lekshmi MK

Turkey:
PKK disbands after 40 years of armed insurgency
May 2025 | CWA # 1674

Anu Maria Joseph

May 2025 | CWA # 1673

Padmashree Anandhan

Ukraine:
The Discussion in Turkiye and the Elusive Ceasefire
May 2025 | CWA # 1671

Abhiruchi Chowdhury

US, Ukraine and Russia:
Air attacks amidst a Minerals deal and Ceasefire Proposals
May 2025 | CWA # 1669

Vani Vyshnavi Jupudi

On Memory, Justice, Diplomacy, Strategy, and Narratives
May 2025 | CWA # 1667

R Preetha and Brighty Ann Sarah

East Asia:
Tough Tariff Negotiations with the US
May 2025 | CWA # 1666

Padmashree Anandhan

The US-Ukraine
The mineral deal with the US
May 2025 | CWA # 1665
Conflict Weekly # 280-81
India-Pakistan De-escalation I Ukraine Discussion in Istanbul I The Battle over Port Sudan I Disbanding of PKK in Turkiye I France-Algeria Diplomatic Tensions
May 2025 | CWA # 1663

R Preetha

Canada Elections 2025:
What do the results convey? What next for Mark Carney?
April 2025 | CWA # 1658

GP Team

April 2025 | CWA # 1657

Abhishiktha S Kumar

Who wants the King to return and who opposes it?
April 2025 | CWA # 1655

IPRI Team

April 2025 | CWA # 1642

Esther Gamako Zugwai

March 2025 | CWA # 1641

Vani Vyshnavi Jupudi

March 2025 | CWA # 1639

Anu Maria Joseph

March 2025 | CWA # 1634

Nuha Aamina

March 2025 | CWA # 1622

GP Team

March 2025 | CWA # 1621

Vaneeta

March 2025 | CWA # 1613

Abhiruchi Chowdhury

March 2025 | CWA # 1609

IPRI Team

January 2025 | CWA # 1594

Ayan Datta

February 2025 | CWA # 1592

South Asia Brief Team

February 2025 | CWA # 1591

GP Team

February 2025 | CWA # 1590

IPRI Team

December 2024 | CWA # 1579

Sayeka Ghosh

January 2025 | CWA # 1573

Vaneeta

January 2025 | CWA # 1570

Vaneeta

January 2025 | CWA # 1565

GP Team

January 2025 | CWA # 1563

IPRI Team

January 2025 | CWA # 1562

Ayan Datta

December 2024 | CWA # 1555

Nupur Priya

November 2024 | CWA # 1544

Ayan Datta

November 2024 | CWA # 1537

Rohini Reenum

October 2024 | CWA # 1522

Advik S Mohan

October 2024 | CWA # 1480

IPRI Team

October 2024 | CWA # 1479

GP Team

September 2024 | CWA # 1476

Advik S Mohan

September 2024 | CWA # 1472

IPRI Team

August 2024 | CWA # 1465

IPRI Team

August 2024 | CWA # 1458

Samruddhi Pathak

August 2024 | CWA # 1457

Padmashree Anandhan

August 2024 | CWA # 1448

IPRI Team

August 2024 | CWA # 1446

IPRI Team

August 2024 | CWA # 1445

Anu Maria Joseph

August 2024 | CWA # 1444

Ayan Datta

August 2024 | CWA # 1442

Vetriselvi Baskaran

August 2024 | CWA # 1437

Prajwal T V

August 2024 | CWA # 1427

Ken B Varghese

July 2024 | CWA # 1416

GP Team

July 2024 | CWA # 1413

Ramya B

July 2024 | CWA # 1404

Vetriselvi Baskaran

July 2024 | CWA # 1392

Ayan Datta

June 2024 | CWA # 1377

GP Team

June 2024 | CWA # 1368

Ayan Datta & Sayeka Ghosh

June 2024 | CWA # 1355

GP Team

June 2024 | CWA # 1349

Padmashree Anandhan

June 2024 | CWA # 1339

LS Hareesh

May 2024 | CWA # 1336

Femy Francis

May 2024 | CWA # 1330

Akhil Ajith

May 2024 | CWA # 1321

Akhil Ajith

May 2024 | CWA # 1320

Femy Francis

May 2024 | CWA # 1318

Akhil Ajith

May 2024 | CWA # 1311

Akhil Ajith

May 2024 | CWA # 1310

Dhriti Mukherjee

May 2024 | CWA # 1308

GP Team

May 2024 | CWA # 1307

IPRI Team

April 2024 | CWA # 1286

Karthik Manoharan

April 2024 | CWA # 1282

Femy Francis

April 2024 | CWA # 1275

Ramya B

April 2024 | CWA # 1273

GP Team

April 2024 | CWA # 1265

Devi Chandana M

March 2024 | CWA # 1251

NIAS Africa Team

Africa This Week
March 2024 | CWA # 1246

Sivasubramanian K

March 2024 | CWA # 1243

GP Team

February 2024 | CWA # 1226

NIAS Africa Team

Africa This Week
January 2024 | CWA # 1211

Bibhu Prasad Routray

January 2024 | CWA # 1199

GP Team

November 2023 | CWA # 1152

GP Team

November 2023 | CWA # 1150

NIAS Africa Team

November 2023 | CWA # 1149

Sneha Surendran

November 2023 | CWA # 1148

GP Team

November 2023 | CWA # 1146

IPRI Team

November 2023 | CWA # 1142

GP Team

November 2023 | CWA # 1140

GP Team

July 2023 | CWA # 1114

Prerana P

June 2023 | CWA # 1113

CR Team

October 2023 | CWA # 1091

Annem Naga Bindhu Madhuri

Issues for Europe
October 2023 | CWA # 1090

Yogeswari S

October 2023 | CWA # 1087

PR Team

October 2023 | CWA # 1083

GP Team

September 2023 | CWA # 1076

IPRI Team

September 2023 | CWA # 1071

Dhriti Mukherjee

August 2023 | CWA # 1070

Ankit Singh

September 2023 | CWA # 1067

PR Team

September 2023 | CWA # 1062

Feben Itty

September 2023 | CWA # 1061

Genesy B

September 2023 | CWA # 1060

Sreeja JS

August 2023 | CWA # 1049

IPRI Team

August 2023 | CWA # 1045

NIAS Africa Team

August 2023 | CWA # 1043

Sneha Surendran

August 2023 | CWA # 1042

Nithyashree RB

August 2023 | CWA # 1038

Anu Maria Joseph

August 2023 | CWA # 1036

NIAS Africa Team

August 2023 | CWA # 1024

NIAS Africa Team

July 2023 | CWA # 1022

Ankita Dutta

July 2023 | CWA # 1019

Sneha Surendran

July 2023 | CWA # 1016

Medini Hegde

July 2023 | CWA # 1015

Ramya Balasubramanian

July 2023 | CWA # 1009

GP Team

July 2023 | CWA # 1008

IPRI Team

June 2023 | CWA # 985

GP Team

June 2023 | CWA # 977

NIAS Africa Team

June 2023 | CWA # 976

Jerry Franklin

June 2023 | CWA # 974

Akshaya S

June 2023 | CWA # 968

Rishika Yadav and Nityashree RB

May 2023 | CWA # 955

Amit Gupta

May 2023 | CWA # 953

GP Team

May 2023 | CWA # 952

Rishika Yadav

April 2023 | CWA # 943

NIAS Africa Team

April 2023 | CWA # 935

GP Team

March 2023 | CWA # 931

Himani Pant

March 2023 | CWA # 929

IPRI Team

March 2023 | CWA # 927

Indrani Talukdar

January 2023 | CWA # 922

Bhoomika Sesharaj

January 2023 | CWA # 921

Abigail Miriam Fernandez

March 2023 | CWA # 919

NIAS Africa Team

January 2023 | CWA # 901

Riya Itisha Ekka

January 2023 | CWA # 900

Apoorva Sudhakar

January 2023 | CWA # 899

Sayani Rana

January 2023 | CWA # 892

IPRI Team

January 2023 | CWA # 891

NIAS Africa Team

December 2022 | CWA # 886

Sethuraman Nadarajan

December 2022 | CWA # 879

Padmashree Anandhan

The Ukraine War
December 2022 | CWA # 872

Sapna Elsa Abraham

November 2022 | CWA # 848

Vignesh Ram

November 2022 | CWA # 838

Rishma Banerjee

Tracing Europe's droughts
November 2022 | CWA # 836

Padmashree Anandhan

November 2022 | CWA # 833

Rishma Banerjee

November 2022 | CWA # 814

IPRI Team

October 2022 | CWA # 809

Padmashree Anandhan

October 2022 | CWA # 808

Devjyoti Saha

October 2022 | CWA # 807

Dr Beena

October 2022 | CWA # 794

GP Team

September 2022 | CWA # 786

GP Team

July 2022 | CWA # 769

NIAS Africa Team

July 2022 | CWA # 762

Padmashree Anandhan

July 2022 | CWA # 760

GP Team

July 2022 | CWA # 759

IPRI Team

July 2022 | CWA # 757

IPRI Team

July 2022 | CWA # 756

NIAS Africa Team

June 2022 | CWA # 751

NIAS Africa Team

June 2022 | CWA # 743

NIAS Africa Team

April 2022 | CWA # 724

IPRI Team

April 2022 | CWA # 723

STIR Team

April 2022 | CWA # 720

GP Team

April 2022 | CWA # 719

IPRI Team

March 2022 | CWA # 707

GP Team

March 2022 | CWA # 706

IPRI Team

March 2022 | CWA # 705

NIAS Africa Team

In Focus: Libya
March 2022 | CWA # 703

IPRI Team

March 2022 | CWA # 701

GP Team

March 2022 | CWA # 697

Avishka Ashok

March 2022 | CWA # 696

Nireekshan Bollimpalli 

March 2022 | CWA # 695

IPRI Team

March 2022 | CWA # 693

PR Team

March 2022 | CWA # 692

GP Team

March 2022 | CWA # 691

IPRI Team

February 2022 | CWA # 689

GP Team

February 2022 | CWA # 688

Padmashree Anandhan

February 2022 | CWA # 685

IPRI Team

February 2022 | CWA # 683
February 2022 | CWA # 682

IPRI Team

February 2022 | CWA # 679

Porkkodi Ganeshpandian and Angkuran Dey

February 2022 | CWA # 678

Ashwin Immanuel Dhanabalan 

February 2022 | CWA # 668

Amit Gupta

January 2022 | CWA # 653

STIR Team

January 2022 | CWA # 645

Ankit Singh

January 2022 | CWA # 640

Ankit Singh

January 2022 | CWA # 639

Abigail Miriam Fernandez

January 2022 | CWA # 638

Sneha M

December 2021 | CWA # 630

GP Team

Europe in 2021
November 2021 | CWA # 613

GP Team

November 2021 | CWA # 610

Abigail Miriam Fernandez

November 2021 | CWA # 602

D. Suba Chandran

October 2021 | CWA # 595

Joeana Cera Matthews 

October 2021 | CWA # 593

Harini Madhusudhan

October 2021 | CWA # 590

Sneha M

October 2021 | CWA # 588

Abigail Miriam Fernandez

TLP is back again
October 2021 | CWA # 586

Apoorva Sudhakar

October 2021 | CWA # 584

Abigail Miriam Fernandez

September 2021 | CWA # 560

Apoorva Sudhakar

September 2021 | CWA # 550

Joeana Cera Matthews 

September 2021 | CWA # 547

Lokendra Sharma

August 2021 | CWA # 539

STIR Team

August 2021 | CWA # 533

Dincy Adlakha

August 2021 | CWA # 532

Sarthak Jain

August 2021 | CWA # 528

STIR Team

Space Tourism
July 2021 | CWA # 512

Mohamad Aseel Ummer

July 2021 | CWA # 503

GP Team

June 2021 | CWA # 498

Gurpreet Singh

May 2021 | CWA # 467

Lokendra Sharma

May 2021 | CWA # 464

GP Team

April 2021 | CWA # 456

GP Team

March 2021 | CWA # 440

IPRI Team

February 2021 | CWA # 436

IPRI Team

February 2021 | CWA # 434

Abigail Miriam Fernandez

February 2021 | CWA # 428

Abigail Miriam Fernandez

February 2021 | CWA # 427

Apoorva Sudhakar

February 2021 | CWA # 424

GP Team

January 2021 | CWA # 415

GP Team

January 2021 | CWA # 411

D Suba Chandran

December 2020 | CWA # 405

Mallika Devi

December 2020 | CWA # 404

Harini Madhusudan

December 2020 | CWA # 403

Kamna Tiwary

December 2020 | CWA # 400

Sourina Bej

November 2020 | CWA # 369

IPRI Team

September 2020 | CWA # 337

Anju Annie Mammen

September 2020 | CWA # 336

Harini Madhusudan

September 2020 | CWA # 335

Sourina Bej

August 2020 | CWA # 320

IPRI Team

June 2020 | CWA # 304

Padmashree A

May 2020 | CWA # 295

GP Team

May 2020 | CWA # 293

Boa Wang

May 2020 | CWA # 288

Adnan Aziz Chowdhury

May 2020 | CWA # 286

Boa Wang

May 2020 | CWA # 283

GP Team

April 2020 | CWA # 277

IPRI Team

April 2020 | CWA # 272

GP Team

April 2020 | CWA # 271

IPRI Team

April 2020 | CWA # 259

GP Team

April 2020 | CWA # 255

GP Team

April 2020 | CWA # 253

IPRI Team

March 2020 | CWA # 250

Rashmi Ramesh

March 2020 | CWA # 240

GP Team

March 2020 | CWA # 239

IPRI Team

February 2020 | CWA # 235

Lakshmi V Menon

February 2020 | CWA # 212

GP Team

January 2020 | CWA # 209

Boa Wang

January 2020 | CWA # 208

Vivek Mishra

December 2019 | CWA # 196

Harini Madhusudan

November 2019 | CWA # 179

Rashmi Ramesh

October 2019 | CWA # 178

Sourina Bej

September 2019 | CWA # 164

GP Team

September 2019 | CWA # 162

Lakshman Chakravarthy N

5G: A Primer
September 2019 | CWA # 161

Rashmi Ramesh

July 2019 | CWA # 147

Vivek Mishra

June 2019 | CWA # 134

Sourina Bej

June 2019 | CWA # 133

Harini Madhusudan

June 2019 | CWA # 126

Jerin George

June 2019 | CWA # 124

GP Team

May 2019 | CWA # 117

Sourina Bej

May 2019 | CWA # 114

GP Team

May 2019 | CWA # 113

GP Team

April 2019 | CWA # 111

GP Team

January 2019 | CWA # 80

Abhishrut Singh

January 2019 | CWA # 78

Kriti

January 2019 | CWA # 77

Komal Tiwary

December 2018 | CWA # 71

Mahesh Bhatta

Nepal
December 2018 | CWA # 70

Nasima Khatoon

The Maldives
December 2018 | CWA # 69

Harini Madhusudan

India
December 2018 | CWA # 68

Sourina Bej

Bangladesh
December 2018 | CWA # 67

Seetha Lakshmi Dinesh Iyer

Afghanistan
September 2018 | CWA # 58

Aparupa Bhattacherjee

August 2018 | CWA # 52

Oishee Majumdar

July 2018 | CWA # 47

Rahul Arockiaraj

July 2018 | CWA # 40

Rahul Arockiaraj

June 2018 | CWA # 26

Siddhatti Mehta

June 2018 | CWA # 21

Harini Madhusudan

May 2018 | CWA # 8

Samreen Wani

May 2018 | CWA # 1

Samreen Wani