As the world observed International Anti-Corruption Day on 9th December, it is a good time to do a stocktaking of India’s efforts in tackling the most entrenched and widely visible phenomenon that devalues governance and erodes the average citizen’s trusts in the state. According to Transparency International (TI), India ranks very high (85 out of 180 countries) in the Asian region. […]

The intensifying conflict between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban is a volatile case of souring patron­­–client relationship. The Taliban, once seen as ISI’s proxy for controlling Afghanistan and having given Pakistan great ‘strategic depth’, has now turned into a classic example of a strategic blowback. Border clashes, the recent closure of the Chaman-Spin Boldak crossing for a week, the emerging […]

The Unraveling of a Fragile Multiethnic State Could Lead to More Violence As Russian President Vladimir Putin doubles down on his war in Ukraine, the stability of his regime hangs in the balance. Some observers have predicted that the Russian president could be overthrown; others even hope for a breakup of the country. Which raises the question: Could Russia splinter?

2022 will go down in history as a watershed moment in EU-Russia relations. The invasion of Ukraine was a primary cause, but it may well be that future historians will agree that the breakdown of bilateral ties was long in the making. With Russia intent on rebuilding its territorial empire through brutal, old-fashioned hard power, and the EU offering to spread its […]

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman received Thursday China’s President Xi Jinping in Riyadh during his official visit to the Kingdom, Saudi Press Agency reported. The king welcomed the Chinese leader and his accompanying delegation to his country, while Xi expressed his happiness at visiting the Kingdom. During the meeting, which was held at Al-Yamama Palace in the presence of Crown Prince […]

2022, a turbulent year, is about to turn to its final page. One question is, how does the development of the semiconductor industry, which has become prominent in the global geopolitical game, fare in recent years? What is the situation of China’s semiconductor industry under the measures taken by the United States against it? To answer these questions, it is […]

The US-China Economic and Security Review Commission’s annual report was released on 15 November 2022. One of the key findings of the report was that ‘China’s efforts to secure its interests in the Indian Ocean region have included significant development financing in Sri Lanka,’ a ‘strategically located island near India’. Further assessing that, ‘the turbulence in Sri Lanka that has occurred […]

Acting Defense Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Mawlavi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, met with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai on Tuesday. Mujahid also met with Afghan businessmen based in the UAE, the ministry said in a statement. In his meeting with the Dubai ruler, both sides discussed the […]

Shah Mohammad Mehrabi, a board member of the Swiss-based Afghan Fund is attending a two-day meeting of the Supreme Council of Da Afghanistan Bank (DAB). The meeting got underway on Tuesday and members will discuss a range of issues, including the performance of the central bank, the implementation of planned programs, the economic situation, the implementation of the monetary policy, […]

Afghanistan Food and Drug Administration (AFDA) says they are thinking about establishing a high-tech quality control laboratory in northern Balkh province to test imported medicines and food. Abdul Bari Omar, head of AFDA, said during his visit to Balkh on Wednesday that the importing medicines by unlicensed companies have three days to apply for a license otherwise their companies will […]