The World This Week

CWA # 617
The World This Week
Strategic oil reserves' release, and another migrant crisis across the English Channel

GP Team
28 November 2021
Photo Source: BBC/PA Media

The World This Week #147, Vol. 3, No. 48

Ashwin Immanuel Dhanabalan and Padmashree Anandhan

From the US to China: Releasing the strategic oil reserves
What happened? 
On 23 November, the US President announced the release of 50 million barrels of oil from the "Strategic Petroleum Reserve" to counter the rising oil prices. India announced to release 5 million barrels of crude oil from its reserves with China, Japan, South Korea and the UK. The US would release 32 million barrels as an exchange over the months, which would eventually return to the reserves. While only 18 million barrels will be sold, this sale was approved by Congress in 2018 under the Bipartisan Budget Act. 

On 24 November, China stated that it would release strategic crude oil depending on its actual needs. This would be the second time in two months that China has released its strategic reserves. The UK Government had authorised the release of 1.5 million barrels of strategic reserves to ease pressure on oil prices and mentioned that they would work closely with the US to support the global economy during the pandemic. The OPEC+ coalition, led by Saudi Arabia and Russia, are considering pausing their effort of increased production of "400,000 barrels a day until they hit pre-pandemic levels of production". 

What is the background?
First, the strategic oil reserves, and their release in the recent decades. The idea of strategic oil reserves was introduced after 1973 when the OPEC countries had imposed an embargo concerning the US's support of Israel. The US strategically released oil "For Operational sale" for the first time in 1991 during Operation Desert Storm. The second time was in 2005 during Hurricane Katrina and the last time was in 2011 due to the civil war in Libya. 

Second, the 2011 and the 2021 releases. The difference between the two periods is how the US releases oil without an immediate emergency. In 2011 there was an urgent need for countries to step in as Libya was not supplying oil to Europe, its predominant importer of crude oil. So, the US and other countries compensated by releasing their strategic oil reserves to meet the demands. In 2011, the Obama administration's oil reserve release was managed by the International Energy Agency (IEA). While now, it is spearheaded by Biden, who has been coordinating with other countries to reduce the global prices of oil.

Third, the OPEC response. Biden had approached the OPEC countries to rapidly increase their production to bridge the gap in supply and demand. But, the OPEC countries declined, as they were already on a plan to increase production by 400,000 barrels per day till they reached pre-pandemic levels of production. Another reason was the pandemic and the disruptions faced by the OPEC countries in 2020, which led to them downsizing their oil production as the demand fell to an all-time low. 
Besides, the 23 nation OPEC+ coalition has planned to meet on 1 and 2 December to decide if they would have to pause their increase in production in January 2022 to tackle the sudden release of strategic oil reserves. 

What does it mean?
First, volatile oil prices, as there has been a rapid rise and fall in the price of oil before and after the announcement. Second, the importance of strategic oil reserves during emergencies will be rethought as a medium to counter oil politics globally. Third, the world will reconsider its global shift to cleaner renewable energy sources with the surging demand and not enough time to meet those requirements. Fourth, the upcoming OPEC meeting would be a game-changer as it would either make or break the oil prices.

Europe: France-UK tensions over a migrant disaster across the English Channel
What happened?
On 24 November, an inflatable yacht capsized on the beach of Calais in northern France; 27 people drowned while they were attempting to cross the English Channel to enter the UK. The Prime Minister of the UK Boris Johnson said: "We've had difficulties persuading some of our partners - particularly the French - to do things in a way in which we think the situation deserves. This is a problem we have to fix together." In response, French President Emmanuel Macron said: "France will not let the Channel become a Graveyard." He mentioned that France expects the UK to cooperate fully and abstains from instrumentalizing a tragic situation for political purposes. 

On 26 November, a diplomatic rift developed between Johnson and Macron after France denied the Calais meeting with the Home Secretary Priti Patel. Macron blamed Johnson for "not being serious" and asking France to take back migrants.

On 27 November, a Kurdish woman from northern Iraq was identified as the first victim of the mass drowning. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said: "the Agency was deeply shocked and saddened by the unprecedented tragedy that unfolded in the English Channel. In the absence of safer alternatives, people will continue to resort to such perilous journeys, and their desperation and vulnerabilities will continue to be preyed upon and exploited by ruthless smugglers."

What is the background?
First, increase in the number of crossings. The number of migrants went from 1,835 to 26,560 in the last three years, with a majority of the crossings taking place in 2021. The French government is blamed for evacuating the migrants from the camps in the name of relocating them to shelters, thereby invoking many to move into the UK through the Channel.

Second, the UK as an attractive option for migrants. The origins of these migrants are from Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Albania, and other North African countries. According to the survey taken by the researchers from International Health Journal from 402 migrants in Calais Jungle camp, only 12 per cent wanted to remain in France, and the other 82 per cent opted to go to the UK. Apart from seeking better living conditions or escaping the hostile situation, there are more significant reasons for the migrants to migrate to the UK. The first influencing factor is the treatment and recognition. The UK's approval of refugee status is much more flexible and beneficial in the long term. Upon crossing the Channel, the migrants can enter the UK and claim asylum, post which they have to prove the condition of non-return. At that point, they will be granted refugee status that lasts for five years, and later this becomes the base for them to settle in the UK. The second factor is connecting back with their families, thereby reestablishing ties with their culture, traditional practices, and languages.

Third, the inability of France and the UK to find an answer. Regarding the state response, both the UK and French leaders have not come forward to take in the migrants. The leaders continue to debate and clash over who will host the migrants and push them back to their homelands. While France has been a regular defaulter in allowing the migrants to flee, the UK has deployed patrol ships to send back the migrant vessels before they reach the shores. Additionally, the tensions have brimmed with France not agreeing to meet with the UK Home Secretary to resolve the situation. These actions do not reflect the responsibility of the state nor its leaders' will to resolve the issue.

What does this mean?
First, the EU negligence. With the rapid increase in migration, the absence of the involvement of regional heads to address the situation in France showcases how serious they are about the looming humanitarian crisis in the region. Second, the will of the migrants. The risks taken by the migrants to move into the UK shows the intensity and willingness of the migrants to endanger their lives and find a place for a peaceful living.

Also, in the news...
By Sukanya Bali & Avishka Ashok
East and Southeast Asia This Week
China: Resumes trade ties with Myanmar
On 26 November, China resumed trade with Myanmar after being closed for four months. The border port of Wanding in China's Yunnan province was closed due to the pandemic. CCTV reported: "Measures have been taken to reduce human-to-human contact and crowd-gathering as trade resumes, to stop the potential spread of the coronavirus." This will allow the export of rice, beans, and maize to Beijing. 

China: Downgrades its diplomatic mission in Lithuania 
On 26 November, Beijing downgraded its diplomatic mission in Lithuania to the Office of the Chargé d'Affaires, after the latter allowed Taiwan to open a de facto embassy. Foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said: "China's move is a legitimate countermeasure against Lithuania for undermining China's sovereignty, and the responsibility lies with Lithuania… The Chinese people cannot be bullied, and China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity brook no infringement." On 25 November, the Chinese embassy made a statement saying, "due to technical reasons, consular services will be suspended from 25 November", stopping the issue of visas in Lithuania. 

Japan: Agreement with Vietnam to promote free and open Indo-Pacific 
On 25 November, Japan's Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son agreed to promote cooperation and a "free and open Indo-Pacific." Kyodo News reported, according to the Japanese ministry: "Hayashi and Son also affirmed that the two nations will continue to collaborate to maintain the 'high standards' set in the 11-member Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade pact, of which both Japan and Vietnam are members."

Australia: AUKUS signed a nuclear submarine deal 
On 22 November, Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton and diplomats from the US and the UK signed an agreement, which allowed the exchange of sensitive "naval nuclear propulsion information" between nations. This deal will provide Australia with eight state-of-the-art nuclear submarines capable of long-range missions. Additionally, it will also allow sharing cyber, artificial intelligence, quantum, and unspecified undersea capabilities. The US President Joe Biden said: "The agreement will permit cooperation, which will further improve our mutual defense posture." Beijing has described the agreement as, "extremely irresponsible" threat to the region's stability.

Myanmar: Military leader shunned from the ASEM meeting 
On 25 November, Myanmar's military leader was shunned from a two-day Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) hosted by Cambodia. This is the third such international summit in two months that excluded Myanmar's military junta. Irrawaddy reported: ASEAN said, "the junta was told it could only send a 'nonpolitical representative' to the meeting." Kyodo News reported the regime informed Cambodia of its non-participation. Earlier this week, the Myanmar regime was sidelined at the ASEAN China special summit.

South Asia This Week
India: Condemns China, Pakistan for raising bilateral issues at SCO
On 25 November, at the 20th SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting, India's External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, criticized China and Pakistan for raising bilateral issues. Kazakhstan virtually hosted the meeting. Jaishankar criticized "Pakistan and China and called for reform in the multilateral institutions including in the World Health Organisation (WHO)." He said: "It is unfortunate to note that there have been repeated attempts to deliberately bring bilateral issues into SCO. This violates the well-established principles and norms of the SCO Charter. Such acts are counterproductive to the spirit of consensus and cooperation that define this organization and should be condemned."

Afghanistan: Islamic Emirate and the US set to meet in Doha
On 28 November, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and the US delegates meet in Doha. The delegation, led by acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.  Deputy Spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, Ahmadullah Wasiq, said that the delegation would exchange views on several issues in a two-day meeting. Pakistan praised the efforts, and its foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said: "Afghanistan must not be abandoned. The humanitarian crisis and economic collapse in Afghanistan will have enormous consequences for the rest of the world." He further added, "The international community must, therefore, remain positively engaged to avert the crisis."  

Sri Lanka: Chinese firm to construct the Eastern Container Terminal
On 25 November, the Sri Lankan government announced, a Chinese firm had signed the contract to develop Colombo Port's eastern container terminal. The Cabinet has approved the proposal made by the ports and shipping ministry. According to the Cabinet release, "The China Harbour Engineering Company has clinched the contract to develop Colombo Port's eastern container terminal (ECT) in stages." This comes after Sri Lanka scrapped a tripartite deal with India and Japan to build the deep-sea container port.

Central Asia, Middle East, and Africa This Week
Armenia and Azerbaijan: Russian President Putin holds meeting in Sochi to address rising tensions on the border
On 26 November, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev and the Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Sochi. The meeting marked one year of signing the ceasefire that brought an end to the violence in Nagorno-Karabakh. Putin addressed the recent flare-up in violence along the borders and pushed the leaders to resolve the continuing issues of conflict between the two countries. He said: "We were part of a united state for centuries, we have deep historical links. We should aim to rebuild them and nurture them in the future. The more contacts, including direct ones, the better." Pashinyan and Aliyev also consented to delimiting the borders and living peacefully with each other.

Turkey:  President and UAE Crown Prince sign accords on financial cooperation
On 24 November, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and the UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan met in Ankara and signed an agreement on energy and technology investments. The meeting is the first in years after the relations between the two countries soured due to the currency crisis in Turkey. The new agreements showcase the willingness of the countries to work towards a beneficial economic partnership. Sheikh Mohammed said: "I look forward to exploring new cooperation opportunities to benefit our two nations and advance our mutual development goals." The two countries agreed to invest in Turkish technology firms, tech-oriented funds, port cooperation, energy infrastructure and logistics cooperation.

Morocco: Defence Minister signs agreement with Israel on military cooperation
On 24 November, Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz and the Moroccon Defence Minister signed an agreement to work together on security cooperation, intelligence sharing and the sale of military equipment. The agreement comes after the normalizing of relations with Israel post the Abraham Accords. Gantz said: "the agreement was very significant and will allow us to exchange ideas, enter joint projects and enable Israeli military exports here."

Iran: IAEA meets with Nuclear Chief to announce the continuation of talks
On 23 November, the IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi held a meeting with Iranian Nuclear Chief Mohammad Eslami and agreed to continue the Vienna talks to restore the JCPOA nuclear deal. Grossi revealed that the Agency would work along with Iran to find common grounds for constructive developments. Meanwhile, on 27 November, the US government threatened to confront Iran about violating the terms of the nuclear deal if it refused to cooperate with the IAEA.

Libya: Election commission rejects Gaddafi's son as the presidential candidate
On 23 November, the Libyan election commissioner rejected the candidacy of Saif al-Islam due to his participation in war crimes during the revolution that toppled Gaddafi. Saif, the son of Muammar Gaddafi, is one of the 25 candidates out of 95 deemed ineligible by the election body. The continuing disagreements over the legal basis of the vote and the lack of clarity over the eligibility of candidates are a few issues that threaten to derail the election process in the country. Another influential candidate Khalifa Haftar also faces the charges of being disqualified from the presidential race due to his US nationality and conviction in war crimes during the 2019-20 civil war. However, Haftar has denied both charges. 

Europe and the Americas This Week
Ukraine: President raises concern over probable coup attempt
On 26 November, the Secretary-General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg issued a warning to Russia and cautioned the country against using force in Ukraine. The statement explained that NATO would take action in the eventuality of Russia using force against Ukraine but did not specify what these actions would be. The Ukrainian President has raised the alarm over audio recordings that suggest that Russian forces would create a coup and overthrow the current government in the first week of December. The Russian government spokesperson responded to the accusations and said that they would not get involved in its politics. However, the build-up of troops at the border continues to concern the Ukrainian government.

Belarus: President Lukashenko visits migrants and encourages them to go West
On 26 November, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko visited a migrant's centre on the Belarus-Poland border and announced that they had a right to move to the European Union. The statement was broadcast by the state media in a video where Lukashenko is seen visiting the centre and meeting with migrants. He further said that the Belarusian government would not prevent them from crossing over to the EU and urged Germany to accept them. He said: "If anybody wants to go West— that is your right. We will not try to catch you, beat you, and hold you behind barbed wire. We will work with you to achieve your dream."

Sweden: First female Prime Minister resigns hours after the appointment
On 23 November, Sweden elected its first female Prime Minister, Magdalena Andersson. However, the coalition partner quit the government, and Andersson's budget failed to receive adequate votes to pass. The Parliament has instead voted for the budget presented by the opposition, which aligns more with the anti-immigrant far-right sentiments. The developments resulted in Andersson resigning hours after she was elected as the Prime Minister. She said: "There is a constitutional practice that a coalition government should resign when one party quits. I don't want to lead a government whose legitimacy will be questioned."

France: Bilateral treaty with Italy
On 26 November, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and French President Emmanuel Macron signed a treaty to deepen bilateral relations and enhance coordination within Europe. The treaty was signed in Rome at Quirinale Palace when German Chancellor Angela Merkel moved out of her German and European politics position. Draghi said: "The treaty marks an historic moment in relations between our two countries. France and Italy are further consolidating our diplomatic, commercial, political and cultural ties." The treaty has been signed to strengthen relations between the two countries as they prepare to face a more individualistic regime in Germany after Merkel's term ends.

Peru: Opposition moves to impeach President Castillo
On 24 November, the opposition initiated a motion to impeach President Pedro Castillo. The opposition impeached him on the grounds of moral inability to govern and received votes from 28 legislators. The President will be impeached if the motion receives 52 more votes from the 130-member body and finally 87 votes to remove him from his position. President Castillo has rejected the impeachment and said: "I am not worried about the political noise because the people have chosen me, not the mafias or the corrupt. I'm calm."

Haiti: Prime Minister appoints new Cabinet
On 23 November, Prime Minister Ariel Henry appointed his new Cabinet four months after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise. The new government is faced with numerous challenges such as the rising gang violence in the country, rampant kidnappings, fuel shortages caused by gangs blocking distribution terminals and more. The Prime Minister said that the new Cabinet was sworn in at a difficult time but would do its best to serve the public. He said: "We are doing the maximum with the funds that we have available to restore the authority of the state and put away the ones that need to be put away. One of the main responsibilities of this government is to create a safe and stable environment."

The US: Congressional delegation visits Taiwan for the third time this year
On 24 November, a group of congressional lawmakers reached Taiwan to meet with President Tsai Ing-wen and the military authorities. The visit marks the second such visit in the month of November and comes soon after President Biden's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The Chinese media contested the visit and accused the US of not keeping its word of not encouraging the secessionist sentiments in Taiwan. The Chinese authorities also called on the delegation to cancel the trip to the Island.

The US: Government joins hand with six countries to sanction Myanmar
On 26 November, the US and six other countries issued a joint statement and urged the international community to call off all assistance to Myanmar. The US, the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway and South Korea expressed concerns over the reports of human rights violations in the country. The statement comes at a time when the opposition rapidly acquires more ammunition to resist the military coup and the government brought in by the coup. The statement read: "We are concerned about allegations of weapons stockpiling and attacks by the military, including shelling and airstrikes, use of heavy weapons, and the deployment of thousands of troops accompanying what security forces assert are counter-terrorism operations, which are disproportionately impacting civilians."

About the Authors
Ashwin Immanuel Dhanabalan is a Research Intern at the School of Conflict and Peace Studies at the National Institute of Advanced Studies. Padmashree Anandhan and Avishka Ashok are Research Associates at NIAS. Sukanya Bali is a Doctoral candidate at OP Jindal Global University.
 


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April 2026 | CWA # 2065

Lakshmi Venugopal Menon

The US-Iran War, Israel-Hamas Conflict and their interconnected fallouts
April 2026 | CWA # 2064

Anwesha Ghosh

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
The World This Quarter
April 2026 | CWA # 2059

Adarsh Vijay

April 2026 | CWA # 2058

Nishchal N Pandey  & Mahesh Raj Bhatta

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

Bibhu Prasad Routray

Myanmar (Jan-Mar 2026)
An Illegitimate Regime's Consolidation Game
The World This Quarter
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
The World This Quarter
April 2026 | CWA # 2054

Amrita Jash

Regional assertion, Pragmatic recalibration with the West and Avoiding military entanglement in the Middle East
The World This Quarter
April 2026 | CWA # 2053

Anand V

The "Two Sessions," Recalibrated growth targets, Technology prioritization, and Military purges
The World This Quarter
April 2026 | CWA # 2052

Shreya Upadhyay

Conflict Weekly
April 2026 | CWA # 2050

IPRI Team

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
Global Politics Early Bird
March 2026 | CWA # 2033

Mahesh Bhatta

Nepal after elections:
Five major challenges for the new government
March 2026 | CWA # 2023

Femy Francis

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
The World This Week
March 2026 | CWA # 2017

Global Politics Team

March 2026 | CWA # 2011

Tanvi Thara Harendra Jha

Resetting Economic, Strategic and Cultural Ties
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

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

Yesasvi Koganti

From bilateral ties to a special strategic partnership
March 2026 | CWA # 2002

Femy Francis

Reducing trade deficit and recalibrating economic cooperation with Beijing
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
March 2026 | CWA # 1991

Global Politics Team

PR Commentary
February 2026 | CWA # 1986

Preetha Renganarayanan

Focus on Trade, Defense, Energy and Regional Connectivity
PR Commentary
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
Pakistan in 2025
December 2025 | CWA # 1971

Vani Vyshnavi Jupudi

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

Aparna A Nair

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

Vani Vyshnavi Jupudi

Pakistan and the US
A New opening, or another cycle?
PR Explainer
November 2025 | CWA # 1967

R Preetha

Risks, Reforms and Trajectories
November 2025 | CWA # 1966

Lekshmi MK

Five Questions on Challenges, Capacity and Policies
The World This Week
February 2026 | CWA # 1962

Global Politics Team

Regional Roundups: From East Asia to the Americas
Early Bird
February 2026 | CWA # 1961

Lekshmi MK

What does it mean for domestic politics and regional stability?
The World This Week
February 2026 | CWA # 1955

Global Politics Team

Regional Roundups: From East Asia to the Americas
TWTW Note
January 2026 | CWA # 1947

Brighty Ann Sarah

TWTW Note
January 2026 | CWA # 1946

Preetha Renganarayanan

The Davos Summit 2026
Five Major Takeaways from The World Economic Forum
The World This Week
January 2026 | CWA # 1945

Global Politics Team

Conflict Weekly Note
January 2026 | CWA # 1943

Anu Maria Joseph

CW Note
January 2026 | CWA # 1942

Lekshmi MK

CW Note
January 2026 | CWA # 1941

Brighty Ann Sarah

Conflict Weekly
January 2026 | CWA # 1940

IPRI Team

TWTW Note
January 2026 | CWA # 1939

Lekshmi MK

CW Note
January 2026 | CWA # 1937

Anu Maria Joseph

State of Global Politics 2025
December 2025 | CWA # 1931

Padmashree Anandhan

NATO Summit 2025
State of Global Politics 2025
December 2025 | CWA # 1930

Aparna A Nair

State of Global Politics 2025
December 2025 | CWA # 1924

Padmashree Anandhan

NATO Summit 2025
State of Global Politics 2025
December 2025 | CWA # 1914

Preetha Renganarayanan

State of Global Politics 2025
December 2025 | CWA # 1913

Rohini Reenum

State of Global Politics 2025
December 2025 | CWA # 1912

Lekshmi MK

State of Global Politics 2025
December 2025 | CWA # 1911

Swati Sood

State of Global Politics 2025
December 2025 | CWA # 1905

Femy Francis

State of Peace and Conflict 2025
December 2025 | CWA # 1902

Brighty Ann Sarah

State of Peace and Conflict 2025
December 2025 | CWA # 1893

Lekshmi MK

State of Peace and Conflict 2025
December 2025 | CWA # 1889

Femy Francis

State of Peace and Conflict 2025
December 2025 | CWA # 1881

Sunidhi Sampige

China Reader
December 2025 | CWA # 1864

Femy Francis

Ten Takeaways of a SCMP Interview with a former PLA Colonel
TWTW Note
December 2025 | CWA # 1861

Femy Francis

China Reader
CW Column: The Conflicts in The Middle East
November 2025 | CWA # 1859

Brighty Ann Sarah

CW Column: The War in Ukraine
November 2025 | CWA # 1858

Padmashree Anandhan

This Week in History
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
The World This Week
August 2025 | CWA # 1790

GP Team

The World This Week#323-324
The Trump-Putin meeting & the US-China tariff extension
TWTW note
August 2025 | CWA # 1780

Abhiruchi Chowdhury

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

GP Team

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

Lekshmi MK

28 July 1914
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia, starting the First World War
Global Politics Explainer
July 2025 | CWA # 1770

Abhiruchi Chowdhury

Pakistan-Afghanistan relations:
Why the focus on terrorism, refugees, and Uzbekistan as the third partner?
The World This Week
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
Global Politics Explainer
July 2025 | CWA # 1762

Lekshmi MK

Ocean Darkening: 
What is the phenomenon? What are its effects? And who are more vulnerable?
Global Politics Explainer
July 2025 | CWA # 1749

R Preetha

Africa as the Hunger Epicenter
Of the 13 Global Hunger Hotspots, 8 are in Africa: Five reasons why
The World This Week
July 2025 | CWA # 1748

GP Team

The World This Week #318
PM Modi’s Visit to Trinidad and Tobago & Ghana, One big beautiful bill, and Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting
Global Politics Explainer
July 2025 | CWA # 1744

Chittrothu Vaihali

EU-Canada Summit 2025
What is security and defence partnership all about?
Conflict Weekly
July 2025 | CWA # 1742

IPRI Team

Conflict Weekly # 287-88
The 12 Day War and the Congo-Rwanda Peace Deal
Global Politics Explainer
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?
TWTW Note
June 2025 | CWA # 1735

Padmashree Anandhan

NATO Summit 2025:
Trump making Europe great again
The World This Week
June 2025 | CWA # 1734

GP Team

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

Ananya Dinesh

China and the Pacific Islands 
What was the recent China-PIC joint statement about? What it says, and what it means?
TWTW Note
June 2025 | CWA # 1728

M Kejia

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

GP Team

The World This Week #316
China-Central Asia Summit in Kazakhstan, and the G7 Summit in Canada
Global Politics Explainer
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?
Conflict Weekly
June 2025 | CWA # 1724

IPRI Team

Conflict Weekly #286
The Spiralling Israel-Iran Crisis, and the Dangerous Hunger Hotspots
Global Politics Explainer
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?
Global Politics Explainer
June 2025 | CWA # 1720

Lekshmi MK

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

J Yamini  

China’s EV Surge
What contributes to the rise of BYD
Global Politics Explainer
June 2025 | CWA # 1717

J Yamini

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

Femy Francis

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

GP Team

The World This Week #315
The UN Ocean Conference in France and the US-China Meeting in London
CW Note
June 2025 | CWA # 1712

R Preetha

The World This Week
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
Global Politics Explainer
June 2025 | CWA # 1703

M Kejia 

Sagarmatha Sambaad in Nepal
Kathmandu’s Global Agenda for the Himalayas
Global Politics Explainer
June 2025 | CWA # 1700

R Preetha

Ethiopia bans the TPLF
What does the TPLF ban mean for the Pretoria agreement? What next for Ethiopia?
TWTW Note
June 2025 | CWA # 1694

Aashish Ganeshan

The US:
Harvard vs Trump Administration
The World This Week
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
The World This Week
May 2025 | CWA # 1690

GP Team

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

Padmashree Anandhan

Ukraine
Continuing Russia’s Aerial Attacks, despite exchange of prisoners
CW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1688

Ayan Datta

Gaza
The Humanitarian Crisis and Israel’s Renewed Offensive
TWTW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1685

Aparna A Nair

UK-EU Summit:
First step towards a reset
TWTW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1683

Aashish Ganeshan

Elections in Portugal:
The Rise of Chega Party and the Search for Political Stability
TWTW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1679

Aashish Ganeshan

US in the Middle Easr
Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE
TWTW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1678

Gauri Gupta

China in Latin America
China-CELAC forum: Strengthening ties with Latin America and Caribbean
The World This Week
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
CW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1675

Lekshmi MK

Turkey:
PKK disbands after 40 years of armed insurgency
CW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1673

Padmashree Anandhan

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

Abhiruchi Chowdhury

US, Ukraine and Russia:
Air attacks amidst a Minerals deal and Ceasefire Proposals
Global Politics Early Bird
May 2025 | CWA # 1670

Fleur Elizabeth Philip

Singapore Elections in 2025:
People’s Action Party (PAP) Wins, Again
TWTW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1667

R Preetha and Brighty Ann Sarah

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

Padmashree Anandhan

The US-Ukraine
The mineral deal with the US
Conflict Weekly
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
Global Politics Early Bird
May 2025 | CWA # 1663

R Preetha

Canada Elections 2025:
What do the results convey? What next for Mark Carney?
Conflict Weekly 250th Issue
October 2024 | CWA # 1480

IPRI Team

This Week in History
July 2024 | CWA # 1413

Ramya B

Global Politics Early Bird
May 2024 | CWA # 1336

Femy Francis

This Week in History
April 2024 | CWA # 1275

Ramya B

NIAS Global Politics Database
March 2024 | CWA # 1251

NIAS Africa Team

Africa This Week
This Week in History
March 2024 | CWA # 1246

Sivasubramanian K

NIAS Global Politics Database
February 2024 | CWA # 1226

NIAS Africa Team

Africa This Week
The World This Week
November 2023 | CWA # 1148

GP Team

The War in Ukraine
October 2023 | CWA # 1091

Annem Naga Bindhu Madhuri

Issues for Europe
NIAS Pakistan Weekly
October 2023 | CWA # 1087

PR Team

The World This Week
October 2023 | CWA # 1083

GP Team

Conflict Weekly
August 2023 | CWA # 1049

IPRI Team

IPRI Quarterly Forecasts I Triggers, Trends, and Trajectories
July 2023 | CWA # 1012

Bibhu Prasad Routray

Myanmar continues to burn
The World This Week
July 2023 | CWA # 1009

GP Team

2022: The World This Year
December 2022 | CWA # 879

Padmashree Anandhan

The Ukraine War
2022: The World This Year
December 2022 | CWA # 872

Sapna Elsa Abraham

Europe: Heatwaves, Wildfires, Droughts, and Ice Melt in Alps
November 2022 | CWA # 838

Rishma Banerjee

Tracing Europe's droughts
NIAS Africa Weekly
March 2022 | CWA # 705

NIAS Africa Team

In Focus: Libya
The World This Week: 150th Issue
December 2021 | CWA # 630

GP Team

Europe in 2021
Pakistan Reader
October 2021 | CWA # 588

Abigail Miriam Fernandez

TLP is back again
NIAS Fortnightly on Science, Technology & International Relations
August 2021 | CWA # 528

STIR Team

Space Tourism
GLOBAL PROTEST MOVEMENTS
September 2020 | CWA # 337

Anju Annie Mammen

The FATF Meeting, February 2020
February 2020 | CWA # 235

Lakshmi V Menon

Science, Technology and International Relations
September 2019 | CWA # 162

Lakshman Chakravarthy N

5G: A Primer
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 71

Mahesh Bhatta

Nepal
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 70

Nasima Khatoon

The Maldives
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 69

Harini Madhusudan

India
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 68

Sourina Bej

Bangladesh
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 67

Seetha Lakshmi Dinesh Iyer

Afghanistan
United States
July 2018 | CWA # 47

Rahul Arockiaraj

East Asia
June 2018 | CWA # 26

Siddhatti Mehta