AFP_36WT3X2 Courtesy:
6 February 2025

Myanmar, four years on

February 1 marks four years of the military coup in Myanmar, which plunged the country into a bloody civil war, still on-going. The crisis is deepening, as the struggle between the Junta forces and a fragmented resistance wages on with no resolution in sight. A stalled mediation by ASEAN, and lack of consensus amongst neighbouring countries on how to help, leaves Myanmar’s future uncertain.

X PRABOWO Courtesy:
30 January 2025

Decisive moment in India-Indonesia ties

India hosted Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on a four-day state visit and as chief guest for its 76th Republic Day. The bilateral is now going beyond civilisational commonalities. Tourism, trade and connectivity are central themes, as is defence and maritime security cooperation with India. A robust India-Indonesia partnership can help both nations achieve shared goals in the Indo-Pacific.

FILE PHOTO: Chinese President Xi Jinping (C), Vice President Wang Qishan, Politburo Standing Committee member Zhao Leji, National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee Chairman Li Zhanshu, Premier Li Keqiang, Politburo Standing Committee member Wang Huning and Vice Premier Han Zheng arrive for the closing session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China March 10, 2021. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins/File photo Courtesy:
16 January 2025

Preparing China’s economy for 2025

Two important conclaves held in December 2024 - a Politbureau meeting and the Central Economic Work Conference – set the tone for China’s economic focus in 2025. The economy needs a resurgence, given the domestic environment of low spending and the external threat of high tariffs – the outcome of swapping development for security. In 2025, China’s mandarins will try and find a balance between the two.

bd energy Courtesy:
9 January 2025

Energy crisis in Bangladesh and way forward

Bangladesh faces an energy crisis due to increasing prices, depleting foreign exchange reserves and political instability. Amit Bhandari, Senior Fellow, Energy, Investment and Connectivity, Gateway House, speaks with Rayhan Rashid on an episode of the South Asia Democratic Forum’s podcast on challenges affecting Bangladesh’s energy sector and potential solutions such as diversification of energy sources, a shift toward low-carbon energy production, and regional integration.

longmen Courtesy:
9 January 2025

India-China: learning from each other

India and China are the world’s most populous countries, with much in common and much divergence. Reform, discipline, long-term thinking and scale brought China to its present near first-world conditions; India is accommodative with its democracy, cultural diversity and all-round religiosity to achieve development, wealth creation, cultural preservation and self-respect. There’s a great deal that the two Asian giants can learn from each other.

Copy-of-KFP-FEATURED-IMAGE-TEMPLATE-72 Courtesy:
2 January 2025

Russia enhances African engagement

Since the Ukraine crisis, Russia has been positioning itself strategically in the African continent, strengthening bilateral ties and addressing regional security issues. It is leveraging economic, energy, agriculture and military ties and investments in order to be seen as serious a counterweight to the U.S. and the European Union’s presence in the continent. 

Graffiti in Tehran: “Antisemitism has no place in the future of Iran.” (Source: X / Jaime Kirzner-Roberts) Courtesy:
2 January 2025

Iran’s Jews in the crosshairs

Iran has the largest Jewish diaspora in the Middle East outside of Israel. Since the 7 October 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas, a proxy of Iran, the Iranian Jews have been publicly denouncing Israel’s actions in Gaza and Lebanon. Is this a sign of a loyal community or one under pressure from Iran’s ruling regime?