This handout photograph taken and released by the Sri Lanka President's Office on September 23, 2024 shows Sri Lanka's new President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka attending his swearing-in ceremony, in Colombo. - Sri Lanka's first leftist president was sworn in to office on September 23 vowing to restore public faith in politics but said he had no magic solution to the hardships suffered following an unprecedented economic crisis. (Photo by Sri Lanka President's Office / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO/SRI LANKA PRESIDENT'S OFFICE" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS Courtesy:
3 October 2024

Sri Lanka’s new positioning

The new Sri Lankan government led by President Anura Kumar Dissanayake held its first meeting with the International Monetary Fund on October 3, to discuss further debt relief. Dissanayake, who overcame voter apprehension in the country’s presidential elections held two weeks ago, now has a historic opportunity to bring Sri Lanka out of the crisis and enable a compassionate and efficient transformation.

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26 September 2024

Germany sees anxious change

Recent state elections in Brandenburg, Saxony and Thuringia in east Germany saw the far-right Alternative for Democracy (AfD) and the left-wing Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) make significant gains in vote share. With German federal elections just a year away, major parties like the ruling CDU and SPD which have seen voter support erode considerably, will now have to re-strategise to stay relevant in Germany’s transforming political landscape.

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26 September 2024

Unfolding Geopolitics, Episode 13 | Russia’s wartime diplomacy

On-ground realities and political dynamics have shifted in the Russia-Ukraine war, with the latter’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk region, even as there is a push for peace from multiple quarters. Ivan Timofeev, Director General of the Russian International Affairs Council discusses Russia’s perception of the conflict and peace efforts, its expectations from the BRICS Presidency and means of boosting commercial cooperation between India and Russia.

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19 September 2024

Unfolding Geopolitics, Episode 12 | Sri Lanka goes to the polls

The presidential election in Sri Lanka on September 21 is the country's first since its economic crisis of 2022. Dr S D Muni, Professor Emeritus at the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, discusses major issues on the ballot, principal candidates in the race and their policies, long-term social and political trends, and takeaways for the Sri Lankan parliamentary elections due later this year.

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12 September 2024

China-Africa: strategic and strong

The 9th China-Africa Summit, held in Beijing from September 4-6, reflected China’s long-held view that Africa is vital to the world’s future, and therefore to the conduct of Chinese foreign policy. As China expands its strategic footprint on the continent, there is much for India to learn. It must adopt a proactive approach and back its economic and diplomatic initiatives with sustained political will.

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5 September 2024

The pivotal presidential election in Sri Lanka

The economic agenda is the key issue in the Sri Lankan Presidential elections to be held on Sept 21. This island nation is seeking a return to prosperity through relief from onerous debt, reduced corruption, an effective bureaucracy, and constitutional and economic reforms. The five principal players in the race, however, have varied agendas that may not fulfil all of the people’s needs and desires.

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5 September 2024

Ideological differences dominate America’s election

The U.S. presidential election campaign has produced two stunning developments: the attempted assassination of Trump and the withdrawal of Biden, under severe pressure from leaders of the Democratic Party. Putting optics aside, observers should focus on the ideological differences between the two candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, which will be on display on Sept. 10 when they debate the issues.