WORLD
A vote amid hopelessness as everything, including the Army, weakens in Pakistan
Pakistanis needed hope that their country will not forever be living off handouts from the IMF. The formidable economic and climatic challenges were hardly discussed at any great length during a campaign that was lacklustre because voters could see that the current elections are neither free, fair or outcome oriented
BUSINESS
Global South has a rare chance to influence COP28 outcome
For the first time since the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference began 28 years ago, G77 will meet at the level of heads of state or government on December 2 as part of an ongoing Conference of the Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, better known worldwide as COP28
BUSINESS
Ahead of COP28, climate seems conducive to collaborative efforts
Host UAE is pulling out all stops to make the summit on global warming a success, and is aided by implicit and explicit support from New Delhi to the Vatican
TRENDS
Amidst the criticism, India aspires for a more decisive role in world affairs
Although India’s abstention in the UNGA resolution is not as significant as it is made out to be, India now wants a position at par with the powerful nations of the world. It has underlined why a permanent seat on the Security Council is a must
BUSINESS
Putin did India a favour by skipping G20 Summit
If Putin had attended the New Delhi G20 Summit last month, the atmosphere would have been so vitiated that there would probably have been no consensus document at the end of the leaders’ gathering
BUSINESS
The rising risk of India’s waning influence in the neighbourhood
The agreements which Prachanda signed in Beijing after meeting Premier Li Qiang do not constitute any threat to Indian interests in the short run. But New Delhi has to be watchful. India's biggest concern in its neighbourhood, though, should be Bangladesh, where a general election is due in January 2024
BUSINESS
The genesis of Canada’s troubled relations with India
Until it introduced a merit-based Comprehensive Ranking System in 2015 for screening potential immigrants, anyone who had a sob story to tell at a border post that they were being tortured by the state or by armed militias could get asylum in Canada. Scrutiny was poor and political interference by lobbies to let in relatives of relatives was high
TRENDS
Prigozhin is gone. Putin may target his sympathisers
Prigozhin has sympathisers in the top echelons of the Russian Army and the security establishment. There will be some bloodletting as Putin weeds them out
BUSINESS
Proxy war in South China Sea a reaction to Taiwan VP’s US stop-over plans
China does not want officials or political leaders in the US to meet Lai or any other important Taiwanese politicians during what Beijing calls “sneaky visits by independence separatists” from its renegade province
WORLD
China’s foreign affairs is in turmoil. And, there’re some bizarre developments
It is a cause for worry at a time when China and the United States of America are attempting to reset their troubled relations, and when China’s increased activism over the situation in Ukraine in recent weeks can impact the world
BUSINESS
Modi’s France visit to deepen India’s ties with Europe
Prime minister Narendra Modi’s ongoing visit to France is part of a larger plan to shift Europe from the edges of India’s foreign policy to a key priority, with the war in Ukraine showing no signs of being contained
BUSINESS
Wagner Mutiny: Did Prigozhin walk into a trap set up by Putin?
Those in the West who insist that Putin was caught off guard by the uprising ignore the entire sequence of events on the Bakhmut front since May. When the rebellion broke out, Putin was fully prepared for it.
BUSINESS
India’s UNSC permanent seat bid in the slow lane
Security Council reform will take a back seat for at least a year and a half. India is, therefore, prudent to look for new ways to continue its prominence in the UN — that includes the International Yoga Day event led by PM Modi
WORLD
Reconciliation in the Arab world promises peace and economic revival
A new outpouring of nationalism along with a new openness to multipolarity stretching from Oman to Egypt and from Turkey to Somalia requires India to be nimble in its approaches to the region
BUSINESS
Army set to manoeuvre a process of generational change in Pakistan politics
The Army’s best bet is to groom Bilawal Bhutto and Maryam Nawaz Sharif for positions of power once the dust settles on developments in the months since Imran’s loss of prime ministerial office
BUSINESS
As COP presidency eludes Indians, allies needed to advance climate change goals
Declarations by the President-designate of COP28 in the last four months have also shown that the interests of India and other developing countries are better safeguarded by making common cause with those like Al Jaber
BUSINESS
Schism in Pakistan Army a fresh source of trouble for India
Because Faiz has a following in the Army ranks, Munir has been viewing the former’s activities with great consternation. The Chief is unable to maintain the disciplined, monolithic atmosphere within the Pakistan Army any longer.
BUSINESS
What next for India-Israel ties after the recent visit of Knesset Speaker
Israel has two choices in its dealings with India – one is to deepen its appeal to the Indian masses while a more difficult one requires weathering the challenges cast on the bilateral engagement by the increasingly unfavourable domestic and international situations
BUSINESS
Iran-Saudi Arabia détente & Nowruz: New beginnings in the Middle East
The reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia is not a one-off event in the current Arab calendar. Indications are that the détente in the Gulf is set to gather pace in this auspicious month
BUSINESS
Call the bluff of those blocking consensus at pre-Summit G20 meetings
With three developing countries constituting the troika for the first time, the West fears that the Leaders’ Declaration may not be to the liking of G7 countries. They are, therefore, scapegoating Russia, China and the Ukraine war and masking their real objective of preventing a New Delhi Declaration heavily favouring the Global South
BUSINESS
Russia-Ukraine War: Expect a new phase of instability in Pakistan & Afghanistan
For India’s volatile neighbourhood, the first anniversary of the Ukraine war may mean a new chapter of violence in Afghanistan and further destabilisation of Pakistan
BUSINESS
Balloons, strategic spying and hot air
China has eyes in the sky, state-of-the-art satellites, just like the ones the US owns, to spy on any rival. Why would they then use balloons, which they cannot even control from home, across continents?
BUSINESS
India, Cuba bonds to deepen as the two nations steer G20 & G77+China
Cuba has assumed the presidency of G77 for the first time. Havana is certain to seek New Delhi’s guidance for itself: therefore, the possibility of a quid pro quo exists on their respective back channels regarding the SCO and the G77, calling for greater engagement between Cuba and India this year
TRENDS
Adopt US TSA’s tough stance to deal with unruly air passengers
Paltry fines and placing offenders on no-fly lists for 30 days are symptomatic of a soft state malaise. India needs to review its laws and procedures amidst the ongoing uproar after the mid-air urination incidents
