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Conflict Weekly
Another school shooting in the US, and EU-UK tussle over Northern Ireland protocol
IPRI Team
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Conflict Weekly #125, 25 May 2022, Vol.3, No.8
An initiative by NIAS-IPRI and KAS-India Office
The US: Another school attack kills 19 children
In the news
On 24 May, in the US (in Uvalde, Texas), a teenager gunman killed eighteen children in an elementary school. He had earlier purchased two semi-automatic AR-15 rifles in a local gun store.
On 24 May, the US President, in his address on the issue, said: "…tonight, I ask the nation to pray for them, to give the parents and siblings the strength in the darkness they feel right now. As a nation, we have to ask: When in God's name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby? When in God's name will we do what we all know in our gut needs to be done? It's been…10 years since I stood up at a high school in Connecticut - a grade school in Connecticut, where another gunman massacred 26 people, including 20 first graders, at Sandy Hook Elementary School."
On 25 May, a story in the Economist said: "By one estimate, Americans own 400m guns. If they were evenly distributed, each family of five would have six. In 2020 more than 45,000 people in America died from firearm-related injuries. Guns now kill more young people than cars do."
Issues at large
First, the recurring and increasing gun attacks in US schools. Between a similar attack at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut in 2012 (20 children killed along with six members of the school staff) and the latest attack in Uvalde, Texas, there has been a series of attacks in the US schools. In 2018, in Parkland, an attack in a High School witnessed the killing of 17 students and a staff. While Sandy Hook (2012), Parkland (2018) and Uvalde (2022) witnessed more than 15 getting killed, there have been other attacks with smaller casualties. According to a Wall Street Journal report, "there has been a school shooting every year during the past 40 years, except for 2020, when most schools didn't meet in person because of the pandemic."
Second, the bleeding hearts, prayers and amnesia. While the attacks invoke immediate condemnation across the US society and call for prayers, there has been little action to prevent violent actions in the schools. The schools are left to deal with the issue with mock drills and be prepared for an attack like the one that had happened in Uvalde.
Third, access to guns in the US. In Uvalde, the killer could purchase two semi-automatic AR rifles in a local gun store should highlight the easy access. Data would also reveal the number of weapons, including high powered guns available in the US.
Fourth, the missing consensus on gun control. The US Congress has been discussing gun control for a long time, without any consensus. There is a huge divide between the two parties – the republicans and the democrats on the nature and extent of gun control. While those who argue for tighter gun control focus on the devastation it causes, those who are apprehensive hide under the constitutional right to own a gun in the US.
In perspective
First, the question, why only in the US, there are mass shootings in the schools, and not in other countries – developed or developing? The arguments about the mental health of the perpetrators, violence in schools, broken families, and the right to self-protection cut across many countries, but the mass shootings seem to be US specific. Why? There a specific problem that the US has to address.
Second, the rise of lone gunmen. Whether it is hate crime or shootings in the schools, one could see a trend in the rise of lone and disturbed gunmen. In retrospect, one could analyse their views, and how their action could be prevented; however, these gunmen could not be pre-empted.
Third, the government action or inaction in the US. Nikolas Kristoff in an analysis in the New York Times, after the recent attack, wrote: "… we're tired of commemorating gun violence in America only with thoughts and prayers. We didn't respond to Russia's invasion of Ukraine simply with thoughts and prayers, or to the 9/11 attacks only with moments of silence, or to Pearl Harbor just with lowered flags and memorial services." He is right.
Northern Ireland Protocol: The EU-UK tussle revives, the US delegation calls for calm
In the news
On 24 May, a nine-member US Congressional delegation visiting London told the UK government a unilateral action on the Northern Ireland (NI) protocol "will not work." Democratic congressman Dan Kildee urged the UK foreign secretary Liz Truss to have face-to-face negotiations with Brussels.
On 23 May the delegation met the Irish premier Micheál Martin in Dublin and is due to visit Northern Ireland. Premier Martin reiterated: there was "a deep well of support" for a "joint, pragmatic solution" to concerns over the protocol. Joining him, the Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte also said: the EU had "shown maximum flexibility" in negotiations.
A nine-member team led by Congressman Richard Neal is visiting to discuss the post-Brexit trading arrangements between the US and the UK. As one of President Biden's closest allies Congressman is also seeking to calm tensions between the UK and the EU over the Northern Ireland protocol that has revived ever since Secretary Truss has called for fresh legislative measures. On 22 May, speaking in Kerry Congressman Neal said the US would be "unwavering" in its support of the Good Friday Agreement.
Issues at large
First, BREXIT pangs to the Northern Ireland protocol. Avoiding a hard border with Ireland, the Northern Ireland protocol signed by the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson with the EU as part of the BREXIT withdrawal agreement in 2020 had till now kept NI aligned with the EU single market. However, the post-BREXIT realities were: new systems of checks on the Irish Sea border, custom charges on goods inflow from Great Britain to NI, and increased cost of living owing to the NI protocol. The realities further worsen as the protocol now threatens to derail the power-sharing government in NI. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has refused to appoint new ministers until the checks on the Irish Sea border on goods are scrapped. DUP had held that such checks undermine Northern Ireland's place in the UK as they increase costs for consumers, complicate business, and create special divisions of power.
Second, the UK's attempts to revise NI protocol. Faced with a political block in NI and tough negotiations with the EU, Secretary Liz Truss has said a new law would be introduced to change the post-Brexit trade deal for Northern Ireland should negotiations with the EU fail. On 17 May, the UK said, it will have to take unilateral action to override part of the Northern Ireland Brexit protocol unless the EU shows the "requisite flexibility." In the past, the Johnson government has attempted to revise the NI protocol with the Internal Market bill. But it only toughened its negotiations with the EU.
Third, conflict of interest with the EU. In response to Secretary Truss, the EU said it would "need to respond with all measures at its disposal" if the UK went ahead with the legislation. Talks on customs and checks have been ongoing between the UK and the EU since March 2021 with Former foreign secretary David Frost. After Frost quit in December threatening to invoke Article 16, the negotiations are now handled by Liz Truss. But the narrative remained the same. The EU ambassador to the UK, João Vale de Almeida said: "using legislation to override an international treaty. I feel myself back in the fall of 2020, with the internal markets bill." "We can't renegotiate the protocol: the ink on the signatures is hardly dry."
Fourth, the US backdoor diplomacy. As DUP continues to block a new power-sharing executive at Stormont, it has put the spirit of Belfast or the Good Friday Agreement in line where a devolved power-sharing arrangement has sustained peace among factions within NI. This has presented the US with a scope to take on the burden of keeping a peace agreement together as its visiting delegation takes a staunch position on the Belfast agreement. The delegation is now engaged in a diplomatic negotiation to iron out a trade deal, reiterating the need for the agreement has put its stakes on the UK government.
In perspective
First, a fading possibility of the EU and UK walking away with a trade deal. The EU Brexit chief Maroš Šefčovič issued a blunt statement that the protocol is the "cornerstone" for a wider withdrawal agreement. If the UK disapplies the protocol, the EU could impose limited sanctions on emblematic British goods such as Scottish salmon and whisky or suspension off the entire trade deal.
Second, a US-EU alliance on trade deals and negotiation rules. A US statement on the Good Friday Agreement along with attempts to draw up a trade deal possibly shows early signs of a UK's isolation. As both the US and EU statements align, it seemingly sets the terms ruling out renegotiation of the NI protocol and further complicates the bargaining position on the trade deals.
Also from around the World
By Avishka Ashok, Vijay Anand Panigrahi, Ashwin Dhanabalan, Rishma Banerjee, Apoorva Sudhakar and Padmashree Anandhan
East and Southeast Asia
China: President Xi meets UN Human Rights Chief and discusses China's progress
On 25 May, President Xi Jinping held a virtual meeting with United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet and defended China's progress on human rights within the country. The six–day visit by the UN Human Rights Chief aims to investigate the Xinjiang region which has been accused of discriminating against the Muslim minority community in the region. Xi said: "Human rights issues should also not be politicised, instrumentalised, or treated with double standards. China has a human rights development path that suits its national conditions." Xi also explained that there was no ideal country that could teach others about human rights. The US State Department spokesperson Ned Price referred to the visit and called it a mistake and expressed its scepticism regarding unfiltered access to the region. He also highlighted the most recent media reports that publicised leaked photos and documents from the public security bureaus in two counties in the region. China's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin condemned the criticism issued by the US and the UK over the visit. He accused the West of sabotaging China's relations with foreign countries by spreading lies about the Human Rights Chief's visit.
China: Peking University students protests against harsh restrictions
On 18 May, the Asahi Shimbun reported that students at Peking University initiated a peaceful protest against the administration's harsh COVID-19 restrictions which sought to implement further separation by erecting a sheet-metal wall on campus. The students were already disgruntled with the existing measures such as prohibiting the students from ordering food, having visitors and daily testing. The University administration later backed out from the plan of erecting the sheet-metal in the campus and pacified the upset students with other concessions.
Japan: QUAD leaders to meet in Tokyo over the Taiwan issue, South China Sea and the Indo-Pacific
On 24 May, the leaders of the Quad group of countries met in Tokyo and discussed their goal of countering China in the Indo-Pacific region. On 23 May, the US President Joe Biden warned China against beefing up its military presence in the region and around Taiwan. He also pledged to intervene militarily in case of an invasion and expressed his hope in the grouping. He said: "The Quad is showing the world that cooperation among democracies can get big things done." Japan has also officially cautioned China against unilaterally changing the status quo in the region, especially with respect to the Senkaku or Diaoyu islands. The grouping is also expected to release a joint statement on the war in Ukraine.
Taiwan: China conducts military exercises around Taiwan as a warning to the US
On 25 May, the Chinese People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theatre Command spokesperson Shi Yi stated that it recently conducted an exercise around Taiwan as a "solemn warning" against its "collusion" with the US. Earlier, US President Joe Biden enraged China by appearing to foreshadow a shift in the US policy of "strategic ambiguity" on Taiwan by declaring the US would intervene militarily if China attacked the island. However, he later stated that US policy had not changed. Yi said: "It is hypocritical and futile for the United States to say one thing and do another on the Taiwan issue." While the US maintains a "one China" policy, recognising only Beijing, it has pledged under the Taiwan Relations Act to "to help provide Taiwan the means to defend itself."
Cambodia: Increasing cyberattacks against the private sector
On 23 May, Phnom Penh's ministry of post and telecommunications released a statement concerning the rise of cyber attacks against the private sector. The ministry called for greater vigilance against the attacks as there was an increase in business email compromise (BEC) scams. Hackers target entities by hacking their servers, as they study the company's business practices and finally send emails that appear like legitimate invoices. This type of crime in the US is called "theft by swindle." The ministry issued an advisory to companies, asking them to verify names and email addresses and immediately inform banks if they were scammed.
Singapore: Police seize 18 kilograms of heroin at checkpoint
On 20 May, Singapore's police seized a Malaysian registered car with nearly 18 kilograms of heroin. The seizure led to the arrest of three Malaysian suspects in multiple locations across Singapore. This is reportedly the most significant drug bust by the authorities since 2001. The car was crossing the Woodland Checkpoint and undergoing a routine check when authorities found bundles wrapped up in the car boot. The immigration and checkpoints authority (ICA) and central narcotics bureau (CNB) stated that apart from 17,704 kilograms of heroin, two grams of ecstasy tablets, and 261 grams of ice worth up to SGD, 1,295,000 was found.
Indonesia: Jakarta lifts ban on palm oil exports
On 19 May, Indonesia announced to lift its palm oil export ban from 23 May. This comes as Indonesia faced protests from small-scale farmers who called on the government to reverse its policies. Defending the ban, president Joko Widodo said the suspension had improved the supply and prices of cooking oil. Oil palm farmers association also thanked Widodo and pledged to ensure a continuous domestic supply of cooking oil.
Myanmar: Armed forces call on the NUG for weapon and cash supplies
On 24 May, armed resistance groups in Myanmar called on the National Unity Government (NUG) to supply them with arms and money. This comes as the resistance forces have been fighting against the military regime for over a year. A few groups were innovative in using local resources to generate funds and use them to equip themselves. While other groups have continued using hunting rifles called the Tumi against the well-equipped military regime. The head of the Khin-U people's defense force said: "The NUG's Ministry of Defense should provide support to local resistance groups. If not, their long-term mission will remain difficult to achieve."
Myanmar: QUAD leaders call for a restoration of democracy
On 24 May, the leaders of QUAD expressed their concerns over the deteriorating situation in Myanmar. They urged for a quick implementation of the five-point consensus program by the ASEAN. The leaders further called for the restoration of democracy, an end to the violence in Myanmar and the release of political detainees and other prisoners imprisoned by the regime. The QUAD leaders also reaffirmed their support for an ASEAN-led effort to find a solution to the crisis in Myanmar through constructive dialogue among all parties.
South Asia
Malaysia: Steady growth in the Islamic Banking sector helps lead the Southeast Asian region
On 25 May, S&P Global Ratings projected that Malaysia's steady growth in the Islamic banking sector would help maintain its leading position in Southeast Asia. The Islamic banking sector in Malaysia could constitute up to 45 per cent of the total commercial banks by 2026 if it continues the trend of its positive profit rebound of last year. The Ukraine-Russia conflict has caused energy and commodity prices to soar. Its effects are felt by some smaller banks, but its impact to show on the Islamic banking sector should take time. In Southeast Asia, Malaysia alone holds up to 85 per cent of the Islamic banks' assets, followed by Indonesia with 15 per cent.
India: Drops nine places to 56 in WEF's global travel and tourism development index
On 24 May, India was ranked 54 in the global travel and tourism development index devised by the World Economic Forum (WEF). WEF's biennial travel and tourism study ranked Japan at the top, while India dropped nine places from 46 in 2019. The study that assesses 117 economies also showed an unbalanced recovery trend to the Covid-induced challenges that directly affected the tourism sector. In the post-pandemic world, vaccination status and status of open travel determine the international tourism sector in many countries. In the top five, Japan is followed by the US, Spain, France, and Germany.
Pakistan: Gunmen kill a station house officer in Peshawar
On 19 May, a station house officer was killed by on the Northern Bypass. The police claimed that the Shahpur police station's SHO was targeted after being chased by two attackers in a car. The police while speaking to Dawn stated that the condition of anonymity that the incident appeared to be linked with the attack on Intelligence Bureau officials in Sarki area of Peshawar city.
Central Asia, Middle East and Africa
Iran: Senior Revolutionary Guard official killed by gunshots
On 22 May, a senior officer of Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Hassan Sayyad Khodaei was killed by five gunshots, in Tehran. Gunmen opened fire against Khodaei, in front of his house near Mojahedin-e-Islam Street, and killed him in his car. The IRGC identified him as a colonel, who was a member of the Quds Force, looking into IRGC's foreign operations. While Iran has ascribed "elements linked to the global arrogance" for the assassination, IRGC said that it has launched an investigation to identify who the attackers are. This is the most high-profile killing in Iran since nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was murdered in November 2020.
Turkey: Five soldiers die in clash against PKK in Turkey-Iraq border
On 25 May, Turkey's defence ministry reported that five Turkish soldiers fighting Kurdish fighters in northern Iraq have been killed and two more were wounded during clashes. The clash, that took place along the Turkey-Iraq border was between Turkish soldiers and fighters from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Ankara designates the PKK as a terrorist organization and clashes between the two have been taking place from 1984, and is a conflict that has killed around 40,000 people.
Middle East: Sandstorms wreak havoc
Severe sandstorms were reported in the Middle East, in Iraq, Syria, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Iran. In Iraq, bright orange skies covered vast areas in the region and required over 1000 people to be hospitalized due to respiratory issues. The health ministry is also stockpiling canisters of oxygen in hard-hit areas. In Syria, medical departments were alerted as the sandstorm hit the eastern part of the country. Kuwait too faced a similar issue, and all flights at the Kuwait International Airport were suspended because of the dust. Saudi Arabia too reported heavy sandstorms, which reduced the visibility significantly. 1285 patients flooded emergency rooms across the country, complaining that they could not breathe. Flights were canceled in Iran too, and the blame for the sandstorms there has been put on climate change, drought, and mismanagement of water resources.
Burkina Faso: 11 soldiers killed in attack on an army base
On 19 May, the armed forces communications unit said 11 soldiers were killed and 20 injured in an attack on a base in Madjoari in the east. The unit's statement said shrapnel and projectiles were used in the attack; further, the statement said 15 militants attempting to escape were killed by the military air support and called on all units to be combat-ready to tackle enemies.
Ethiopia: TPLF to release prisoners on amnesty
On 20 May, the Tigray People's Liberation Front said 4,208 prisoners, including 401 women, would be released on amnesty. The prisoner's centre's coordinator said most prisoners had previously been captured outside Tigray "and others joined the fight in a forced conscription." The coordinator said priority would be given to prisoners with illnesses, disabilities and women who delivered babies in detention. The development came after military commanders from the federal government and Tigray held talks.
Africa: Emergency assistance by the US to Africa for food security
On 19 May, BBC reported that US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken had announced that the US would provide USD 215 million in emergency aid to ten African countries to tackle food insecurity. The beneficiary countries are Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Kenya, Cameroon, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Uganda, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Mauritania. Blinken announced the aid when he met several African foreign ministers in New York during a global food security meet.
Africa: Journalists condemn using Black people's images to cover monkeypox in UK and US
On 21 May, the Foreign Press Association, Africa (FPAA) criticised media outlets for using Black people's images to report monkeypox cases in the US and UK. The FPAA said: "We condemn the perpetuation of this negative stereotype that assigns calamity to the African race and privilege or immunity to other races." The FPAA termed the action insensitive and called for the updating of their image policy. The FPAA said while the world is tackling racism and racial stereotypes, media should assist in propagating positive images and narratives.
Democratic Republic of the Congo: The UN condemns the attack by M23 on its troops
On 23 May, the UN condemned attacks on its peacekeepers by M23 and called for ceasing hostilities. On 22 May, violence erupted in North Kivu's Rutshuru territory forcings thousands to flee to Uganda. Meanwhile, the M23 spokesperson accused the UN mission of shelling their position. The spokesperson also accused the UN mission of assisting another militia.
Rwanda: First batch of refugees to arrive from the UK
On 19 May, the deputy government spokesperson of Rwanda, Alain Mukurarinda said that they were expecting the first group of 50 asylum seekers from the UK to reach the country by the end of May. This is in the context of the controversial immigration deal signed between Rwanda and the UK, back in April. As per the agreement, the UK will be sending people who enter the country illegally to Rwanda, and as a result, Rwanda will receive USD 158 million. This scheme has drawn widespread controversy and has been condemned by the UNHCR as an "egregious breach of international law."
South Africa: Racial flare-up reported in country's top university
On 17 May, a white student was filmed urinating on a black student's books and laptop at Stellenbosch University, one of the top educational institutes in South Africa. The perpetrator did this after barging into the first-year black students' room in the hall of residence. This racial flare-up has been criticized heavily, and the undergraduate student responsible for the act has been suspended with immediate effect. On 18 May, protests were held on the campus. Many former students have said that Stellenbosch has an inherent problem with elitism and racism.
Europe and the Americas
Hungary: Viktor Orban prolongs the state of emergency in Budapest
On 24 May, prime minister Viktor Orban announced the extension of the state of emergency in Hungary due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Orban extended the constitutional amendment giving him the emergency powers, which would have expired by the end of May. The "State of Danger" was already implemented on the accounts of the COVID-19 pandemic. He said that he would protect Hungary and Hungarian families from physical security and financial threats due to the war in Ukraine by any means necessary. Being an ally of president Putin, Orban stated that it would be best for Hungary to take a neutral stance in the war. Many human rights activists opposed Orban's decision to impose the state of emergency as it would reduce the parliament's power and eventually become a new normal.
Ukraine: UNCHR report increase of refugees to 100 million
On 23 May, the UNHCR reported that in a 'staggering milestone', the number of global refugees had crossed the red line of 100 million. The high commissioner for refugees, Filippo Grandi said: "This must serve as a wake-up call to resolve and prevent destructive conflicts, end persecution and address the underlying causes that force innocent people to flee their homes." The agency also said that out of this 10 million, 6.5 million were people from Ukraine, who have been forced to leave the country since February, with the majority of them entering Poland.
Poland: Lukashenko accuse over seizing pre-world War two territories from Ukraine
On 23 May, president of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko expressed concern over what he described as Western attempts to "dismember" Ukraine, referring to NATO. He further accused Poland of intending to seize the Western part of the country in a virtual meeting with president of Russia Vladimir Putin. Lukashenko stated: "What worries us is that they are ready, the Poles and NATO, to come out, to help take western Ukraine like it was before 1939." Referring to the non-aggression pact of 1939 when Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union carved Poland up between them. The majority of Moscow's acquired land is either in Belarus or Ukraine. Kaliningrad, once German East Prussia, became a Russian exclave.
The UK and Lithuania: Sign defence and security collaboration
On 23 May, the UK and Lithuania signed a joint declaration to boost defence and security cooperation amid the fear of invasion by Russia. The Baltic countries fear that president Vladimir Putin would not stop with just Ukraine but rather might hope to redraw the map of Europe. Countries like Lithuania, which is a NATO member, fear that the Russian aggression would turn toward it next. The declaration would be a defence collaboration among both nations and also would increase its resistance to threats from Russia and China. They strongly stand up against the Russian invasion and support Ukraine amid the war. Both countries avidly support and voice out freedom, sovereignty and democracy.
Slovakia: Slana River contaminated by nearby iron ore mine kills numerous fauna
On 20 May, polluted water from an iron ore mine in eastern Slovakia has coloured the Slana River orange, killing fish and animals. The river flows into Hungary and is considered a fast-developing ecological disaster. Rudne Bane mining company stated that the water streaming into the river was underground water emerging from a flooded iron ore pocket mined until 2008. However, the Slovak Environment ministry said that despite the river's red-orange color, examinations at the closest point to the Hungarian border revealed that levels of potentially toxic contaminants did not exceed acceptable levels.
Argentina: Landmark judgement holds the state responsible for a century-old massacre
On 21 May, Argentina was held responsible for the brutal treatment and killing of more than 400 indigenous people of the Qom and Moqoit communities almost a century ago. The two communities have been protesting in Argentina's northern Chaco region against their inhumane and unfair living conditions of being underfed, paid in vouchers, and not given the liberty to move. In response to this protest, the authorities massacred them in 1924, but no responsibility was ever acknowledged. The court found the state guilty as the people suffered mass trauma and a near-permanent loss of culture. Although there were no financial reparations, the verdict mandated the massacre to be added to the school syllabus along with a continued forensic effort to find the victims.
Latin America: Contemporary challenges offer an opportunity for improved regional integration.
On 24 May, the business leaders, governments, international organizations, civil society, and notable scholars discussed the Latin American prospect at the Annual World Economic Forum meeting held in Davos. External factors like Covid and the Russia-Ukraine conflict have caused the regional economies to face inflationary problems and financial pressures. The region faces food security threats due to the increase in prices of energy and agricultural products as trade and production are also affected due to the war. Covid poses a constant threat to human security as well despite vaccinations. Hence, the summit leaders view this as an opportunity to promote cooperation and regional integration to tackle these challenges. Renewable sources, digitalization to attract capital flows, and boosting entrepreneurship and trade were some ideas considered during the summit.
The US: Report on fall of Afghan government discusses role Afghan soldiers fleeing the field
On 23 May, Dawn reported on report by the office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction which revealed that Afghan soldiers started crossing into Pakistan weeks before Kabul fell to the Taliban in August 2021. The UN refugee agency UNHCR reported early this year that more than 300,000 Afghans had fled to Pakistan between August 2021 and January 2022. But it did not say how many of those were from the military.
The US: Pentagon investigation finds New York Times accusation of military cover-up false
On 18 May, a US military investigation into an airstrike in Syria in 2019 revealed their report. The probe was launched because a New York Times report accused the military of covering up an attack on an Islamic state position on 18 March 2019. However, the investigator, General Michael Garret, rejected the claims, saying the civilian casualty that resulted from the attack were because the commander had relied on inaccurate data. He expressed his discontent about how there had been a delay in reporting the civilian casualty.
The US: Another active hurricane season ahead
On 25 May, NOAA, the weather department of the US, predicted another heavier than usual hurricane season ahead. The change in the weather pattern is believed to be caused by La Nina, due to which at least one major hurricane (category three or higher) is 70 per cent likely to hit the US coastline. La Nina is a natural phenomenon that reduces wind shear in the atmosphere leading to the development of tropical storms and hurricanes. Warmer sea surface temperatures, weaker tropical Atlantic trade winds, and changed west African monsoon are other factors that might cause this rise in the number of hurricanes in the region.
About the authors
D Suba Chandran is a Dean and Professor at the School of Conflict and Security Studies, NIAS. Sourina Bej is a doctoral candidate and KAS-EIZ scholarship fellow at the University of Bonn. Padmashree Anandhan, Avishka Ashok, Ashwin Dhanabalan, Apoorva Sudhakar, Abigail Fernandez are Project Associates at the School of Conflict and Security Studies, NIAS. Rishma Banerjee is a Research Assistant at the School of Conflict and Security Studies, NIAS. Arshiya Banu is a postgraduate scholar at Women's Christian College, Chennai. Vijay Anand Panigrahi are postgraduate scholars at Pondicherry University, Pondicherry.
Conflict Weekly Cover Story, 25 May 2022
Sri Lanka’s Economic Crisis: Structural issues and impacts
Chrishari de Alwis Gunasekare
Click here to the read
Conflict Weekly Exclusive, 25 May 2022
Report Review
Amnesty International Report on death sentences and executions: Five takeaways
On 24 May, Amnesty International released its annual report on the death penalty and executions by countries. It provides a detailed report on the death sentences, executions, and violations of international law practised by countries across the globe and analyses the trend of increase amongst certain states. As per the Amnesty report: “Amnesty International’s monitoring of the global use of the death penalty in 2021 revealed an increase by 20% in recorded executions and 39% in known death sentences compared to 2020. Eighteen countries executed a total of at least 579 people, and 56 countries sentenced a total of at least 2,052 people to death. However, the 2021 global executions figure was the second-lowest recorded by Amnesty International since at least 2010, in line with the historical trend towards global abolition.”
Five key takeaways
First, the highest record in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. As per the report, out of 11 countries, China topped the executions chart for 2021, followed by Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iraq, Yemen and North Korea. The number of executions and death sentences is expected to be ranging in thousands as the actual count was covered up by China. In the case of Iran, due to increased drug-related offences, and nebulous charges targeting the ethnic minorities were observed to have increased by 28 per cent from 2020, which is the highest of all since 2017. Apart from Iraq where the per cent of executions fell by 62 per cent, the remaining Middle-east states have increased three to four times.
Second, targeted executions. The death sentences and executions were found to be declared on those who engaged in anti-government protests. To maintain power and support, political opponents, minorities, and ethnic groups were also the targets of the governments.
Third, reasons behind increased executions. One, to suppress the protestor groups and minorities leading to disregard of international human rights and protecting the state. Two, skipping of arbitral proceedings and direct sentencing without the choice to appeal. Such direct sentencing was declared under ambiguous reasons, “enmity against god,” political repression, terrorism, conspiracy to carry out violence, and participation in anti-government protests.
Fourth, violations of international law. Certain category of crimes does not qualify for a death sentence under the international norm. Such crimes include the execution of people below the age of 18, unfair judicial practises, confessions through torture, sentences by military courts to civilians, unintentional killing and others such as treason, crimes against the state, espionage and Blasphemy. However, Iran, China, Myanmar, Egypt, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, where the per cent was recorded high, had violated the international standards in giving the death penalty.
Fifth, abolitionist vs retentionist. The report found that close to two-thirds of countries (144) across the globe had removed the death penalty from its legal practice, and only 55 countries remain to practise the execution. Amnesty also reported on parties who do not provide death sentences for any form of crime. The list contained all European countries except Belarus, which still opts for the death penalty for ordinary crimes. Apart from this Central Asia region, South Africa and small island countries had also opted for similar practice. A key development is Sierra Leone, Kazakhstan and Virginia opting to eliminate the death penalty. While the retentionist countries continue to keep the death sentencing and execution as part of law till now against the international standards. It includes South Asia and East Asia, a majority of Middle East states, and in north Africa. Although the US is currently under a temporary pause on federal executions, it is still considered a retentionist for having the death penalty and execution part of its laws.
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South Asia This Week (3-10 Feb 2024)
NIAS Africa Team
Africa This Week (3-10 Feb 2024)
IPRI Team
Protests in Senegal
Jerry Franklin A
Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON): Five Questions
Padmashree Anandhan, Femy Francis, Rohini Reenum, Akriti Sharma, Akhil Ajith, Shamini Velayutham and Anu Maria Joseph
Expert Interview: Russia in the International Order
Bibhu Prasad Routray
Myanmar: Ethnic Armed Organizations, China’s Mediation and Continuing Fighting
Narmatha S and Anu Maria Jospeh
Ethiopia-Somalia tensions over Somaliland | Explained
CEAP Team
Taiwan elections
GP Team
Taiwan Election 2024
Femy Francis
Taiwan Election 2024: The return of DPP
IPRI Team
The War in Ukraine and Gaza
CEAP Team
NIAS- CEAP- China Reader | Daily Briefs
Padmashree Anandhan
The War in Ukraine: Drones, missiles and counterattacks
Anu Maria Joseph
Ethiopia and Sudan: Governance in deadlock
Hoimi Mukherjee | Hoimi Mukherjee is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Political Science in Bankura Zilla Saradamani Mahila Mahavidyapith.
Chile in 2023: Crises of Constitutionality
Richa Chandola | Richa Chandola is an independent scholar.
Peru in 2023: Political Tensions, Civil Unrest, and Governance Issues
Aprajita Kashyap | Aprajita Kashyap is a faculty of Latin American Studies, School of International Studies at the Jawaharlal Nehru University New Delhi.
Haiti in 2023: The Humanitarian Crisis
Shreya Pandey | Shreya Pandey is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Political Science, Xavier’s College, Ranchi. Her research interests include EU-India relations, and current trends in international relations.
Russian Invasion on Ukraine: An assessment of its impact upon unity, economy and enlargement of the EU
Binod Khanal | Binod Khanal is a Doctoral candidate at the Centre for European Studies, School of International Studies, JNU, New Delhi.
The Baltic: Energy, Russia, NATO and China
Rishika Yadav | Rishika Yadav is a Research Assistant at NIAS.
Finland in 2023: Challenges at Russia's border
Padmashree Anandhan | Padmashree Anandhan is a Research Associate at the School of Conflict and Security Studies, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangaluru.
Germany in 2023: Defence, Economy and Energy Triangle
Anu Maria Joseph | Anu Maria Joseph is a Research Assistant at NIAS.
Ethiopia and Sudan in 2023: Governance in deadlock
Nuha Aamina | Nuha Aamina is an undergraduate student at the Department of International Relations, Peace and Public Policy, St Joseph's University.
Thailand: Economic stability despite political instability
Alka Bala | Alka Bala is an undergraduate student at the Department of International Relations, Peace and Public Policy, St Joseph's University.
Myanmar in 2023: Extended Emergency, Political Instability and State-led violence
Sayani Rana | Sayani Rana is an undergraduate student at the Department of International Relations, Peace, and Public Policy, St Joseph's University, Bangalore.
Australia in 2023: Challenges of Economy, Employment and Immigration
Ashok Alex Luke | Ashok Alex Luke is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Political Science at CMS College, Kottayam.
China and South Asia in 2023: Advantage Beijing?
Annem Naga Bindhu Madhuri | Annem Naga Bindhu Madhuri is a postgraduate student at the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies at the University of Madras, Chennai.
China and East Asia
Femy Francis | Femy Francis is a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies.
China in 2023: Cracks in the Great Wall
Amit Gupta | Dr Amit Gupta is an international security and economics analyst based in the USA
The US: The Year of Living Dangerously?
Kuri Sravan Kumar | Kuri Sravan Kumar is a PhD scholar at the Department of East Asian Studies, University of Delhi.
North Korea in 2023: Military buildups and Close Connections with Russia
Yogeshwari S | Yogeswari S is a postgraduate student at the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies at the University of Madras, Chennai.
South Korea in 2023: Addressing Climate Change and the Global Supply Chains
Abhishek Ranjan | Abhishek Ranjan is a PhD student at the Korean Studies, Centre for East Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
East Asia in 2023: Big Power Politics and New Defence Strategies
IPRI Team
Special Edition: Conflicts in 2023
NIAS Africa Team
NIAS Africa Weekly #92&93 | COP 28 and Africa
Nithyashree RB
COP28 and Africa: Priorities and Initiatives
NIAS Africa Team
NIAS Africa Weekly #91 | Failed coup in Sierra Leone
Anu Maria Joseph
Sierra Leone: A failed coup
GP Team
Henry Kissinger: A profile
NIAS Africa Team
NIAS Africa Weekly #90 | Floods in East Africa
Jerry Franklin A
Floods in East Africa
NIAS Africa Team
NIAS Africa Weekly #89 | Africa’s debate on colonial reparations
Sneha Surendran
Africa’s debate on colonial reparations
NIAS Africa Team
NIAS Africa Weekly #87&88 | Elusive Ceasefires in Sudan
Anu Maria Joseph
Sudan’s ceasefires remain elusive: Four reasons why
GP Team
UK’s AI Summit
Femy Francis
Ten years of BRI: Xi and the Beijing Summit
Femy Francis
The return of the South China Sea
Femy Francis
BRICS Summit poised as the Champion of Global South
Femy Francis
Japan-Australia's Reciprocal Access Agreement
CR Team | Avishka Ashok
China: Palestine Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ visit emphasizes hope for statehood
NIAS Africa Team
NIAS Africa Weekly #85&86 | Niger-France ties and Liberia elections
Nithyashree RB
Liberia elections: Explained
Jerry Franklin
France's increasing unpopularity in Niger
PR Team
The Snow Leopards of Pakistan
Padmashree Anandhan
Poland elections 2023: Reasons behind the shift
Padmashree Anandhan
Ukraine: The failure of the Black Sea Grain Initiative
Annem Naga Bindhu Madhuri
Issues for Europe
Yogeswari S | CSIS
Poland’s engagement
Prof Joyati Bhattacharya
G20 Summit: India the Global Host
Anu Maria Joseph
Africa in the Indian Ocean region: Explained
Dhriti Mukherjee
Pakistan grapples with soaring electricity bills and free riders
Shamini Velayutham
Pakistan: Recent spike in Polio cases
Dhriti Mukherjee
Pakistan’s power predicament: Soaring bills and public discontent
Ankit Singh
Pakistan’s Economy: Three questions
Sneha Surendran
From Cargo to Canvas: The vibrant world of Pakistani Truck Art
Anu Maria Joseph
Taiwan in Africa: The Last Ally and the Lost Allies
Feben Itty | CSIS
NATO’s Challenge
Genesy B | abcnews
Russia’s Endgame
Sreeja JS
Ukraine’s Strategies and Endgame
NIAS Africa Team
Africa Weekly #79 | Africa Climate Summit
Sneha Surendran
Africa Climate Summit: Rising new leadership in climate action
Nithyashree RB
Coup in Gabon: Three questions
NIAS Africa Team
Africa Weekly #78 | Coup in Gabon
Sneha Surendran
Wildfires in Europe: Another year of devastation
Rishika Yadav
Floods in Europe: Impacts, and issues
Padmashree Anandhan
Return of the Heatwaves
Jerry Franklin A
A profile on Ethiopia's Oromo ethnic group
Sneha Surendran
A profile on Ethiopia’s Somali ethnic group
Nithyashree RB
A profile on Ethiopia’s Afar ethnic group
Anu Maria Joseph
Ethiopia’s Amhara problem
Jerry Franklin A
ECOWAS and Niger remain at an impasse, causing a prolonged standoff
Lakshmi Parimala H
Mural, Movie and the Map: Akhand Bharat mural and Adipurush
Rishika Yadav
The High Seas Treaty
Indrani Talukdar
Ukraine War and the International Order
Jerry Franklin A
Coup in Niger: Manifold national, regional and international stances
Sneha Surendran
Senegal's political crisis: Four questions
NIAS Africa Team
Africa Weekly #73&74 | Coup in Niger and Senegal’s political crisis
Himani Pant
Germany-Russia Relations: What Next?
D. Suba Chandran
Que Sara Sara: Pakistan, Two Months After 09 May
Sneha Surendran
Pakistan’s e-Sport Industry: A Profile
Ramya Balasubramanian
Russia and Europe: Understanding Moscow’s strategies
Bibhu Prasad Routray
Return of Violence in Manipur
Nithyashree RB
The UN in Africa: MINUSMA has failed. So did Mali
Bibhu Prasad Routray
Myanmar continues to burn
Anu Maria Joseph
The Wagner Group in Africa: Fallouts of the failed revolt in Russia
NIAS Africa Team
Africa Weekly #69-71 | The Wagner Group in Africa
Lakshmi Parimala
Hybrid Warfare in Ukraine
Padmashree Anandhan
Rise and fall of the Wagner Revolt: Four Takeaways
Sneha Surendran
The Wagner Revolt: A profile of Yevgeny Prigozhin
Padmashree Anandhan
The War in Ukraine: Four Issues to watch in 2023
Rishika Yadav, Sneha Surendran, Sandra D Costa, Ryan Marcus, Prerana P and Nithyashree RB
Global Gender Gap Report 2023: Regional Takeaways
Harini Madhusudan, Rishika Yada, Sneha Surendran, Prerana P, Sreeja JS and Padmashree Anandhan
Russia: Anatomy of Wagner Revolt, and its Fallouts
Anu Maria Joseph
Resurging insurgency in Uganda and insecurity in East Africa
Jerry Franklin
Eritrea: Back to the IGAD after 16 years
Bibhu Prasad Routray
India: Violence continues in Manipur
Jerry Franklin
Tunisia: A Political Profile
Jerry Franklin
Cameroon’s Anglophone Crisis: Reasons for its continuation
Anu Maria Joseph
Ceasefires in Sudan: An uneasy trajectory
Rishika Yadav, Sreeja JS, Nithyashree RB, and Melvin George | Rishika Yadav is a Research Assistant in NIAS Europe Studies at NIAS. Nithyashree RB, Sreeja JS, and Melvin George are Research Interns in NIAS Europe Studies at NIAS.
The Battle for Bakhmut: Significance, Objectives, Course, and What Next
Nithyashree RB
Poland approves Russian Influence Law: Three Implications
Rishika Yadav | Research Assistant, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Indian Institute of Science Campus, Bangalore
Serbia: Mass shootings, protests and instability
Rishika Yadav and Nityashree RB | Research Assistant and Research Intern, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Indian Institute of Science Campus, Bangalore
Turkey’s Elections: Unravelling the Political Spectacle of 2023
Padmashree Anandhan | Research Associate National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore
Belgorod drone attacks: Who, What and Why?
NIAS Africa Team
In Focus | Japan in Africa
Devjyoti Saha
Japan in Africa: Renewed Efforts to Revitalise Relations
Indrani Talukdar
Russia's Position in the Arctic: New challenges
Lakshmi Parimala H
Bhutan's Gross National Happiness
Amit Gupta
The Trump Phenomenon: Why it Won’t Go
Rishika Yadav
Turkey’s Election: Issues, Actors and Outcomes
IPRI Team
The Armenia-Azerbaijan Stalemate
NIAS Africa Team
Droughts in East Africa: A climate disaster
NIAS Africa Team
Sudan: Intensifying political rivalry and expanding violence
NIAS Africa Team
Expanding Russia-South Africa relations
Padmashree Anandhan
Pentagon document leak: Russia-Ukraine Conflict From a Tactical Lens
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Tunisia: The question of undocumented migrants
Indrani Talukdar
Belarus’s endgame in Russia-Ukraine Conflict
Padmashree Anandhan
Russia: Drone attacks escalate the Ukraine war
Padmashree Anandhan
The UK: Conservative party put to test as worker strikes continue
Bhoomika Sesharaj
PR Explains: Pakistan’s power outage
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Pakistan’s Blue Helmets: A long-standing contribution
D Suba Chandran
Karachi: The race and new alignments for the Mayor
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Macron’s visit to Africa: Three Takeaways
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Nigeria elections: Ruling party wins; What is ahead?
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | M23 atrocities in DRC and upcoming Nigeria elections
NIAS Africa Team
Africa in 2023: Elections and conflicts
IPRI Team
The continuing crisis in Israel
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Chinese Foreign Minister's visit to Africa
IPRI Team
Protests in Spain, Sweden and Israel
Avishka Ashok
China: A complicated economic recovery
Padmashree Anandhan
Europe: An impending energy crisis and its economic fallouts
Ankit Singh
Defence: Towards a new cold war
Riya Itisha Ekka
Brazil: Managing Bolsonaro’s legacy
Apoorva Sudhakar
Africa: Despite the elections, democratic backslide will continue
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Pakistan in 2023: Between elections, economic turmoil and climate crisis
Sethuraman Nadarajan
Sri Lanka in 2023: A troubling economy and an unstable polity
Avishka Ashok
Chinese Foreign Minister's visit to Africa
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Bamako’s pardon of Ivorian soldiers
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | The relapse of ANC
Allen Joe Mathew, Sayani Rana, Joel Jacob
Newsmakers: From Putin to Rushdie
Sethuraman Nadarajan
Rest in Peace; Queen Elizabeth. Mikhail Gorbachev, Pelé...
Ankit Singh
Global economy in 2022: The year of cooling down
Bhoomika Sesharaj
Digital world: Elon Musk and the Twitter Chaos
Madhura Mahesh
The FTX Collapse: Depleting cryptocurrencies
Harini Madhusudan
The Space race: Scaling new technological feats
Avishka Ashok
G20: More challenges
Akriti Sharma
COP27: Hits and Misses
Padmashree Anandhan
The Ukraine War
Poulomi Mondal
French Exit from Mali: More questions than answers
Mohaimeen Khan
Yemen, Syria, and Sudan: Continuing humanitarian crises
Padmashree Anandhan
NATO and the Madrid Summit: Expanding defence frontiers
Padmashree Anandhan
Elections in France, Sweden, and Italy: The rise of the right
Janardhan G
North Korea: Missile Tests Galore
Avishka Ashok
The Taiwan Strait: Political and military assertions
Anu Maria Joseph
Ethiopia: Uncertainties despite ceasefire
Apoorva Sudhakar
Tunisia: The end of the Jasmine Revolution
Rashmi BR
Iraq: Deadlock and breakthrough
Kaviyadharshini A
Iran: Anti-government protests
Chrishari de Alwis Gunasekare
Sri Lanka: Political and Economic Crises
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
Myanmar: The coup and after
NIAS Africa Team
The US-Africa Leaders Summit
IPRI Team
Workers strike in the UK
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | End of Operation Barkhane
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | The ceasefire in Ethiopia
IPRI Team
Drone attacks in Russia
Vignesh Ram | Assistant Professor | Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal
Malaysia’s recent Elections: More questions than answers
Vignesh Ram
Anwar Ibrahim: Malaysia's new Prime Minister
Harini Madhusudan, Rishma Banerjee, Padmashree Anandhan, Ashwin Immanuel Dhanabalan, and Avishka Ashok
What next for Russia, Ukraine, Europe, South Asia & India, and China
Padmashree Anandhan and Rishma Banerjee
UNGA 77: Who said what from Europe?
Rashmi BR and Akriti Sharma
COP27: Ten key takeaways
Rashmi Ramesh
Ice Melt in Alps in Europe: Three impacts
Rishma Banerjee
Tracing Europe's droughts
Padmashree Anandhan
Major causes behind Europe’s continuing heatwaves
Emmanuel Selva Royan
100 days of the Ukraine war: US Responses in the war
Padmashree Anandhan
100 days of the Ukraine war: What next for Europe?
Ashwin Immanuel Dhanabalan
100 days of the Ukraine war: More loss than gain for Russia
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Challenges to peace in Eastern Congo
Avishka Ashok | Research Associate | National Institute of Advanced Studies
20th Party Congress of the Communist Party of China: Major takaways
Angelin Archana | Assistant Professor, Women’s Christian College, Chennai
China's response to the Ukraine crisis: Shaped by its relationship with Russia and EU under the US Shadow
Shreya Upadhyay | Assistant Professor, Christ (Deemed to be University), Bangalore
Transatlantic Ties in the Wake of Ukraine-Russia War
Uma Purushothaman | Assistant Professor, Central University of Kerala, Kerala
Ukraine and beyond: The US Strategies towards Russia
Debangana Chatterjee | Assistant Professor, JAIN (Deemed-to-be University), Bangalore
Lessons from Ukraine War: Effectiveness of Sanctions
Himani Pant | Research Fellow, ICWA, Delhi
Ukraine and beyond: What next for Russia and Europe?
Sethuraman Nadarajan
Israel-Lebanon Maritime Border Deal
Avishka Ashok
G20 Summit: Four takeaways from Bali
NIAS Africa Team
China-Africa relations: Looking back and looking ahead
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Chad's political crisis
Sourina Bej
Elections in Sweden
Padmashree Anandhan
Italy's far-right wins 2022 elections
Padmashree Anandhan
Putin’s address in the Valdai Discussion: Six takeaways
Devjyoti Saha
Solomon Islands’ China card: Three reasons why
NIAS Africa Team
Floods in West Africa: Nigeria and beyond
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Famine in Somalia
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Kenya Elections 2022
IPRI Team
Protests in Iran
IPRI Team
Clashes between Armenia-Azerbaijan
Padmashree Anandhan
Queen Elizabeth: End of an era
Padmashree Anandhan
Russia and Eastern Economic Forum 2022: A sturdy Far East
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | The reinvention of Al Shabab
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Lavrov's visit to Africa
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Macron's visit to Africa
GP Team
Floods and Emergency in Pakistan
IPRI Team
Six months of War in Ukraine
GP Team
Regional round-ups
Padmashree Anandhan
Who will be the next UK prime minister: Liss Truss v. Rishi Sunak
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Tunisia's political crisis
NIAS Africa Team
Tunisia’s political crisis: Five questions
NIAS Africa Team
Tribal conflict in Blue Nile: Causes and Implications
STIR Team
Geopolitics of Semiconductors
Padmashree Anandhan
France: Uber files leak, and Macron’s trouble
Emmanuel Selva Royan
Italy: Three factors about its current political instability
NIAS Africa Team
Sudan-Ethiopia border tensions and a profile of Blaise Compaoré
NIAS Africa Team
Africa’s continuing migration problem: Three issues
STIR Team
China in Space: Shenzhou-13 and Tiangong
NIAS Africa Team
Africa’s displacement crises: Three key drivers
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Into the Sixth Decade of African Unity
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Communal Tensions in Ethiopia
Padmashree Anandhan
What does Macron's victory mean for France and the EU
Rishma Banerjee
The rise of Marine Le Pen
Sourina Bej
Four challenges ahead for President Macron
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Mali ends defence ties with France
GP Team
New US assistance for Ukraine
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | UK-Rwanda asylum deal
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Africa, Russia, and the War in Ukraine
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Political Crisis in Tunisia
GP Team
Russia's gas ultimatum to Europe
IPRI Team
30 days of War in Ukraine
NIAS Africa Team
60 years of Algerian independence
IPRI Team
Sri Lanka’s worsening economic crisis
NIAS Africa Team
In Focus: Libya
IPRI Team
The end of Denmark’s Inuit experiment
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Europe and Africa: Will AU and EU be equal partners?
Anu Maria Joseph
Europe and Africa: Will AU and EU be equal partners?
Ashwin Immanuel Dhanabalan
Lecture report: Ukraine, Russia and Europe
Joeana Cera Matthews
Into History: Northern Ireland and Bloody Sunday, 50 years later
Nireekshan Bollimpalli
Africa’s slow COVID vaccination continues. Four reasons why
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS: Conflict over the Nile Dam
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS: Instability in Burkina Faso
Padmashree Anandhan
Munich Security Report: Six takeaways
Joeana Cera Matthews
Europe and Africa: An elusive search for an equal partnership
Ashwin Immanuel Dhanabalan
Femicides in Europe: The case of France
Padmashree Anandhan
Post Brexit: Three challenges in Northern Ireland
Porkkodi Ganeshpandian and Angkuran Dey
The return of the Left
Ashwin Immanuel Dhanabalan
Lithuania and China: Vilnius has become Beijing’s Achilles heel. Four reasons why
Mohamad Aseel Ummer
Africa: The anti-France sentiments in Mali and beyond
Shalini Balaiah
The Middle East in 2021: Never-ending wars and conflicts
Angelin Archana
Russia in 2021: Expanding boundaries
Prakash Panneerselvam
East Asia in 2021: New era of hegemonic competition
Apoorva Sudhakar
Coup in Burkina Faso: Five things to know
Joeana Cera Matthews
In Europe, abortion rights are "a privilege." Four reasons why
Padmashree Anandhan
Mapping COVID-19 protests in Europe: Who and Why
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Pakistan, US and Russia: Putin Online, Biden Offline
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
The unrest in Kazakhstan: Look beyond the trigger
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Deepening Pakistan-Russia ties
D. Suba Chandran
Justice Ayesha: Breaking the Legal Ceiling
Ankit Singh
Pakistan's Judiciary in 2021
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Same Page Story: Civil-Military Relations in 2021
D. Suba Chandran
Pakistan's Foreign Policy in 2021
Ankit Singh
Pakistan’s economy in 2021: Major highlights
Ankit Singh
Pakistan and the Asian Development Bank
Apoorva Sudhakar
The PDM is back, again
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Qureshi’s visit to Brussels: Three takeaways
GP Team
The Complete Compendium for 2021
GP Team
The Americas in 2021
GP Team
Europe in 2021
GP Team
Middle East and Africa in 2021
GP Team
South Asia in 2021
Apoorva Sudhakar
Protests in Gwadar: Four major highlights
Ankit Singh
Mini budget, IMF and a contemporary puzzle.
Ankit Singh
Pappu Sain bids adieu to the world
Apoorva Sudhakar
Smog, pollution and more: Deteriorating air quality in Pakistan
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
PTI’s secret dealing with the TTP and TLP
Vaishnavi Iyer
France, Algeria, and the politics over an apology
Joeana Cera Matthews
NATO-Russia relationship: Looking beyond the suspensions and expulsions
D. Suba Chandran
PTI’s TLP flip-flop and a secret deal
Apoorva Sudhakar
The increasing curbs on digital media freedom in Pakistan
Padmashree Anandhan
Facebook's Metaverse: Why it matters to Europe
Joeana Cera Matthews
Poland, EU and PolExit. It is complicated, for three reasons
Harini Madhusudhan
Europe's Energy Crisis and Gazprom
D. Suba Chandran
TLP: The government caves in again
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
TLP is back again
Apoorva Sudhakar | Project Associate, School of Conflict and Security Studies, NIAS
Pakistan’s transgender community: The long road ahead
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Since January 2021: Why the US President has not called Pakistan’s Prime Minister so far?
Apoorva Sudhakar
No honour in honour killing
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
The Military Reshuffle: A strategic or routine decision?
D. Suba Chandran
Dr AQ Khan: Between a national hero and a nuclear proliferator
Apoorva Sudhakar
Rising child abuse in Pakistan: Five reasons why
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Hazara Persecution in Pakistan: No end in sight
D. Suba Chandran
Protests in Gwadar: Who and Why
Chetna Vinay Bhora
Europe's Energy Crisis: It could get worse. Five reasons why
STIR Team
Cover Story: War against Malaria
Aswathy Koonampilly
Japan: New Prime Minister, Old party
GP Team
Europe's Energy Crisis
STIR Team
The Science and Politics of Materials
Sourina Bej
France: Paris Terror Trial
Harini Madhusudan
Belarus: Weaponization of the Migrant Crisis
Juan Mary Joseph
Attacks on Chinese Investments in Pakistan: Who, Where And Why?
Joeana Cera Matthews
Haiti: Two months after the assassination, the storm is still brewing
Joeana Cera Matthews
From Crimea to Navalny: Putin's calibrated Europe strategy
Joeana Cera Matthews
Nord Stream-2: Why is the region unhappy about the pipeline?
Lokendra Sharma
Two months of Cuban protests: Is the ‘revolution’ ending?
GP Team
The New Afghanistan
STIR Team
Climate Change and Energy Options
Apoorva Sudhakar
Digital Pakistan: Idea, Potential and Challenges
Anu Maria Joseph
South Africa: What is behind the pro-Zuma protests?
Dincy Adlakha
China and Russia in Myanmar: The interests that bind
Sarthak Jain
Nord Stream 2 is Russia’s geopolitical victory
Jeshil J Samuel
REvil is dead. Long live REvil
STIR Team
Space Tourism
Keerthana Rajesh Nambiar
The EU Summit 2021: Five Takeaways
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Impending famine in Tigray, should make Ethiopia everyone's problem
Anu Maria Joseph
Too late and too little is Ethiopia's international problem
Sankalp Gurjar
Africa's Ethiopia Problem
Apoorva Sudhakar
Ethiopia's Tigray problem is Tigray's Ethiopia problem
Lokendra Sharma
The future of nuclear energy looks bleak
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Five reasons why Afghanistan is closer to a civil war
Mohamad Aseel Ummer
Migration in Africa: Origin, Drivers and Destinations
Dincy Adlakha
The new three-child policy is two decades too late
Dincy Adlakha
Loud Echoes of the National Security Law in China
Joeana Cera Matthews
Farfetched goals on pandemic recovery, climate action and economic revival
STIR Team
Rare Earths and the Global Resource Race
SDP Scholar
The Rise and Reign of Ransomware
Gurpreet Singh
India and the geopolitics of supply chains
Chetna Vinay Bhora
Spain, Morocco and the rise of rightwing politics in Europe over immigration
Vibha Venugopal
The return of Taliban will be bad news for women
Udbhav Krishna P
Revisiting the recent violence: Three takeaways
Joeana Cera Matthews
For the Economist, Taiwan is the most dangerous place. The argument is complicated
Apoorva Sudhakar
15 of the 23 global hunger hotspots are in Africa. Three reasons why
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
The US decision to withdraw is a call made too early. Three reasons why
Lokendra Sharma
Learning from Cuba's vaccine development efforts
V S Ramamurthy and Dinesh K Srivastava
An energy mix of renewables and nuclear is the most viable option
Lokendra Sharma
Deadly second wave spirals into a humanitarian disaster
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
The US-Taliban Deal: One Year Later
Akriti Sharma
The Quad Plus and the search beyond the four countries
Apoorva Sudhakar
India's Endgames, Roles and Limitations in Quad
Sukanya Bali
Tracing the Quad's evolution in the last two decades
Apoorva Sudhakar
Ethiopia: Five fallouts of the military offensive in Tigray
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Afghanistan: The recent surge in targeted killing vs the troops withdrawal
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
In Honduras, a move towards a permanent ban on abortion laws
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
Civilian protests vs military: Three factors will decide the outcome in Myanmar
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Trump’s Climate Change legacy: Disruption and Denial
Apoorva Sudhakar
Trump’s Iran legacy: Maximum pressure, minimum results
N Manoharan and Drorima Chatterjee
Five ways India can detangle the fishermen issue with Sri Lanka
IPRI Team
Coup in Myanmar and Protests in Russia
D Suba Chandran
The PDM differences, Gwadar fencing, and Lakhvi's arrest
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Nagorno-Karabakh: Rekindled fighting, Causalities and a Ceasefire
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
Thailand: For the pro-democracy protests, it is a long march ahead
Harini Madhusudan
Brexit: A year of the UK-EU transition talks and finally, a Deal
Apoorva Sudhakar
Ethiopia: The conflict in Tigray and the regional fallouts
Aparaajita Pandey
The Americas: Top Five Developments
Teiborlang T Kharsyntiew
Europe: Top five developments
Sandip Kumar Mishra
East Asia: Top Five developments in 2020
Harini Madhusudan
Outer Space in 2020: Missions, Privatization, and the Artemis Accords
Sukanya Bali
5G, Huawei and TikTok: Four trends in 2020
Sumedha Chatterjee
COVID-19: How the world fought in 2020
Harini Madhusudan
The Vaccine Rush: Expectations vs Realities
Harini Madhusudan
Open Skies Treaty: The US should not have withdrawn, for five reasons
Savithri Sellapperumage
Kamala Harris makes history
Mallika Devi
China is against the Quad. Five reasons why
Srikumar Pullat
Space of Tomorrow: The Need for Space Security
Tamanna Khosla
Japan: New Prime Minister, Old Challenges
Vaishali Handique
Not just regime change: Women and protest movements in Sudan
Sneha Tadkal
Technology in contemporary global protest movements
Chavindi Weerawansha
Students as agents of change: Protest movements in Zimbabwe
Anju Annie Mammen
“Unveiling”: Women and protest movements in the Middle East
Harini Madhusudan
‘The Revolution of Our Times’: Protests in Hong Kong
Samreen Wani
Lebanon: Can Macron's visit prevent the unravelling?
Harini Madhusudan
The Legacy of Shinzo Abe. It is Complicated.
Boa Wang
Two Sessions in Beijing
Boa Wang
How China fought the COVID-19
N. Manoharan
Is COVID-19 a Bio-weapon from China?
Prof PM Soundar Rajan
Is there an overlap of 5G Networks and COVID hotspots?
Rashmi Ramesh
Will COVID-19 provide a new agenda to the NAM?
Harini Madhusudan
Iran's New Military Satellite: Does it violate the UNSC 2231?
Jenice Jean Goveas
Epidemics through History
Sanduni Atapattu
Preventing hatred and suspicion would be a bigger struggle
Chavindi Weerawansha
A majority in the minority community suffers, for the action of a few
Chrishari de Alwis Gunasekare
The Cardinal sermons for peace, with a message to forgive
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
Who and Why of the Perpetrators
Natasha Fernando
In retrospect, where did we go wrong?
Ruwanthi Jayasekara
Build the power of Co-existence, Trust, Gender and Awareness
N Manoharan
New ethnic faultlines at macro and micro levels
Asanga Abeyagoonasekera
A year has gone, but the pain has not vanished
Jenice Jean Goveas
In India, the glass is half full for the women
Fatemah Ghafori
In Afghanistan, there is no going back for the women
Lakshmi V Menon
The decline in terrorism in Pakistan in 2019
Rashmi Ramesh
The EU and the Arctic: The interest is not mutual. Why?
Rashmi Ramesh
Iceland, Denmark and Norway: Small is Big in the Arctic
Harini Madhusudan
The Non-Arctic powers: Interests of Japan and South Korea
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
Malaysia: New PM, Old Challenges
Lakshmi V Menon
Pakistan to remain “Grey”; North Korea and Iran in “Black”
Rashmi Ramesh
Trump's India Visit: Optics, Substance and Rhetoric
Kabi Adhikari
The controversial MCC Nepal Compact
Malini Sethuraman
ISIS post Baghdadi: Will there be another Caliphate in 2020?
Aarathi Srinivasan
Climate Change: The Economy of the Indian Ocean Region in 2020
Prathiksha Ravi
Israel and the Middle East: The New Alliance Plans in 2020
Padmini Anilkumar
Middle East: The Return of Russia in 2020
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Sudan and Algeria: Road to Democracy in 2020
Lakshmi V Menon
Syria: ISIS Decline, US Retreat and the Return of Russia in 2020
Harini Madhusudan
The US-China Trade Dispute: Towards further disruptions in 2020
Parikshith Pradeep
The US under Donald Trump: The Fall of an Empire in 2020
Vivek Mishra
After Soleimani assassination: Options for the US
Sukanya Bali
Iran, Iraq and the US: Who wants what?
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
Old problems to persist with no solutions in the near term
Aashiyana Adhikari
Indian and Chinese investments in Nepal: Managing asymmetry
Shailesh Nayak | Director, National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS)
Blue Economy and India: An Introduction
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
North Africa in 2019: A year of protests, with some positive results
Sukanya Bali
Hong Kong in 2019: China's New Achilles Heel
Harini Madhusudan
The US-China Trade Dispute in 2019: Towards a thaw in 2020?
Parikshith Pradeep
The US in 2019: Trump rollsout a template for a global American retreat
Rashmi Ramesh
The Arctic Littorals: Iceland and Greenland
Harini Madhusudan
The Polar Silk Route: China's ambitious search in the Arctic
GP Team
Syria: Who wants what?
Harini Madhusudan
Violence in Hong Kong: Will the protests end?
Rashmi Ramesh
Is Catalonia Spain’s Hong Kong?
D. Suba Chandran
Why an Arctic foray is essential for India
Parikshith Pradeep
Russia's Polar Military Edge
Nidhi Dalal
Protests rock Chile, Bolivia and Haiti
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
Will prosecuting Suu Kyi resolve the Rohingya problem?
Lakshman Chakravarthy N & Rashmi Ramesh
Climate Change: Four Actors, No Action
Sukanya Bali
Brexit: Preparing for the Worst Case
Lakshman Chakravarthy N
5G: A Primer
Rashmi Ramesh
From Okjökull to OK: Death of a Glacier in Iceland
Sukanya Bali
Challenges before Boris Johnson
Parikshith Pradeep
The Hong Kong Protests: Who wants what
Harini Madhusudan
The Hong Kong Protests: Re-defining mass mobilization
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
ASEAN Outlook on the Indo Pacific: Worth all the Hype?
Mahesh Bhatta
Monsoons first, Floods next and the Blame Games follow
Titsala Sangtam
Counting Citizens: Manipur charts its own NRC
Vivek Mishra
Can Hedging be India’s Strategy?
Lakshmi V Menon
Amidst the US-Iran standoff, Saudi Arabia should be cautious
Seetha Lakshmi Dinesh Iyer
For Russia, it was big power projection
Harini Madhusudan
For China, it was trade and a temporary truce
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
For Japan, it was commerce and climate change
Sourina Bej
For the US, it was trade, tariff and talks
Titsala Sangtam
Iran, US and the Nuclear deal: Europe in the middle?
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
Modi's Colombo Visit: Four issues to watch
Raakhavee Ramesh
Higher than the Himalayas: Pakistan and China
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Across the Himalayas: Nepal and China
Mahath Mangal
The Russian Resurgence: Is the US supremacy waning?
Mahath Mangal
San Francisco wants to ban, Kashgar wants to expand
Jerin George
Espionage or Investigative Journalism?
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
The Huawei Controversy: Five things you need to know
Mahath Mangal
Why the world needs to look at Yemen
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
The Central Asia Connector
Harini Madhusudan
An Under-represented East Asia
Seetha Lakshmi Dinesh Iyer
Africa Embraces the Belt and Road
Sourina Bej
It’s Europe vs EU on China
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Sudan: Between Democracy and another military rule
Seetha Lakshmi Dinesh Iyer
Responses and Inspiring Lessons
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
Thailand: Between Elections and Instability
Sourina Bej
Two Sessions in 2019: Four Takeaways
Lakshmi V Menon
The End of ISIS Caliphate?
Harini Madhusudan
For China, its a sigh of relief
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
For Vietnam, its a big deal
Seetha Lakshmi Dinesh Iyer
For Japan, No Deal is Good Deal
Sourina Bej
For South Korea, a costly disappointment
Harini Madhusudan
No deal is better, but isn't it bad?
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
The Other Conflict in Rakhine State
Seetha Lakshmi Dinesh Iyer
Yemen: Will Sa'nna fall?
Harini Madhusudan
Sinicizing the Minorities
GP Team
US, South Korea and Thailand
Lakshmi V Menon
The Qatar Blockade: Eighteen Months Later
GP Team
Yemen, Venezuela and US-China
Sourina Bej
Maghreb: What makes al Shahab Resilient?
Harini Madhusudan
US-China Trade War: No Clear Winners
Abhishrut Singh
Trump’s Shutdown: Five Things to Know
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
Myanmar: Will 2019 be better for the Rohingya?
D. Suba Chandran
Bangladesh: The Burden of Electoral History
Seetha Lakshmi Dinesh Iyer
US and China: Between Confrontation and Competition
Mahesh Bhatta | Centre for South Asian Studies, Kathmandu
Nepal
Nasima Khatoon | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS
The Maldives
Harini Madhusudan | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS
India
Sourina Bej | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS
Bangladesh
Seetha Lakshmi Dinesh Iyer | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS
Afghanistan
Harini Madhusudan
China and Japan: Renewing relations at the right time
Sourina Bej
The INF Treaty: US withdraws to balance China?
Harini Madhusudan
The Khashoggi Killing: Unanswered Questions
Lakshmi V Menon
US and Israel: Trump's Deal of the Century
Nasima Khatoon
The New Maldives: Advantage India?
Harini Madhusudhan
To NAFTA or Not: Trump, Mexico and Canada
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
Malaysia’s China Moment: The Mahathir Gamble
Sourina Bej
BIMSTEC: A Bay of Good Hope?
Young Scholars Debate
India, Imran Khan and Indo-Pak Relations
Siddhatti Mehta
Does Brexit mean Brexit?
Oishee Majumdar
Factsheet: China’s Investments in Africa
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
The 8888 Uprising: Thirty Years Later
Harini Madhusudhan
The Tariff War: 'Stick of Hegemony' vs Vital Interests
Druta Bhatt
FactSheet: Shangri La Dialogue 2018
Rahul Arockiaraj
Immigrants as the “Other”: The Social and Economic Factors in the US
Divyabharathi E
Is Trump-Putin Summit a setback for the US?
Apoorva Sudhakar
India and Bangladesh: The Long Haul
Divyabharathi E
Quad as an alternative to the BRI: Three Main Challenges
Oishee Majumdar
FactSheet: India-Bangladesh Relations
D. Suba Chandran
Trump meets Putin; will it cost NATO?
Sourina Bej
Trump and the NATO: One Block, Different Views
Gayan Gowramma KC
Now, the United States withdraws from the UNHRC
Siddhatti Mehta
Will China be able to sustain its Dominance?
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
Myanmar: Why won't they do anything for the Rohingya?
Harini Madhusudan
The Idea of an US Space Force: Strategic Calculations
Apoorva Sudhakar
Afghan Peace: Reality or Illusion?
Hely Desai
Looking beyond Trump: Is the US declining?
Manushi Kapadia
Is China using its soft power to become superpower?
Lakshmi. V. Menon
Middle East: Has Russia chosen Israel over Iran?
Miti Shah
G7: Why Trump wants Russia in?
Hely Desai
FactSheet: G7 Summit
Siddhatti Mehta
The Panmunjom Declaration: “Tip of the Iceberg”
Druta Bhatt
Iran N-Deal and the Trans-Atlantic Divide
Manushi Kapadia
US and China: Towards a Trade War
Miti Shah
Palestine: US triggers new tensions
Divyabharathi E
The "Indo-Pacific Command": What's in the name?
Harini Madhusudan
Trump’s Tariff Strategy: Targetting Adversaries and Allies
Hely Desai
Trump-Kim Summit: Three Likely Outcomes
Apoorva Sudhakar
The Lebanon Pawn: Will it change after elections?
Lakshmi V Menon
Israel, the Game Changer?
Samreen Wani
Deciphering Turkey's External Push
Divyabharathi E
China and Russia: The New Alignments
Ann Maria Shibu
Can India afford to lose Maldives to China?
Dhruv Ashok
Why Maldives is important to China?
Lakshmi V Menon
ISIS and the Yazidi victims: Why the World should stand up?
Harini Madhusudan
US- China Tariff Face-off : Five questions
Jamyang Dolma
Why is Free Tibet important for India
Divyabharathi E
Arctic: The Strategic Significance
Lakshmi V Menon
Do we need the Quad?
Samreen Wani
Why Trump’s Iran exit is a big mistake?
Jamyang Dolma
Inter Korean Summit: Will it work?
Dhruv Ashok
The Fishermen Issue between India and Sri Lanka
Apoorva Sudhakar
Bangladesh's Economy: Decoding a Success Story
Ann Maria Shibu
Why India should not pull out of the Indus water treaty?
Divyabharathi E