election rally Courtesy: Al Jazeera English/Flickr
29 November 2013

Indian state elections: winds of change?

In India, there are some powerful forces now in play in the election-bound states – and the 2014 general elections. Manjeet Kripalani, who toured the states during the polls, blogs about the increasing focus on issues such as job creation, sanitation, nutritious food, and technological innovation, among the electorate

Eu iran Courtesy: European External Action Service
26 November 2013

Iran-P5+1 interim accord: An assessment

On November 24, the P5+1 and Iran reached a consensus on the interim agreement regarding Tehran’s long-disputed nuclear program. How comprehensive is this agreement, and what are its potential upshots for U.S., and West Asia – especially Israel and Saudi Arabia? More importantly, can India play a positive role?

pacific alliance Courtesy: European Southern Observatory
26 November 2013

The Pacific Alliance: ASEAN’s Bridge to South America

Recent developments indicate that Pacific Alliance member states have their gaze firmly set upon Asian-Pacific and ASEAN economies. Can a Pacific Alliance deal with China or ASEAN serve as a powerful incentive to force the ratification of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) through the U.S. Senate?

czech republic Courtesy: Bentley Smith/Flickr
25 November 2013

Landmark election for the Czech Republic

The recent elections in the Czech Republic resulted in no party winning a majority. However, two newly-formed parties have been elected to the lower house. As the parties try to form coalitions, Ambassador Jaromir Novotný blogs about the voting pattern and the significance of this election for the country