It has been more than a year since Indonesia and Vietnam concluded an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) agreement, yet the cartographic details of that deal remain unavailable to the public, and there has seemingly been little progress towards ratification of the agreement by the Indonesian parliament. … [Read more...]
China and Russia Keep Their Distance From Iran During Crisis
When Russia enlisted the aid of China, North Korea and Iran in its war against Ukraine, some American and British officials began talking about a new “axis.” It appeared that the four countries were united by anger, authoritarianism and animus against the United States and its allies. But Iran’s … [Read more...]
Saudi Arabia’s Investments in Tajikistan’s Education: Cultural Diplomacy and Soft Power Recalibration
This report examines Saudi Arabia’s recent $20 million investment in Tajikistan’s education infrastructure, which is part of a larger development program totalling $325 million. Using cultural diplomacy and soft power, such as schools and financial aid, Saudi Arabia seeks to strengthen … [Read more...]
Russia Futures
For decades, Western experts have viewed Russia as a declining power citing a lack of population growth, technology innovation, and a falling GDP for its decline. While it is unlikely to return to its former status, Russia is gaining higher favorability among China, India, and various states across … [Read more...]
China’s Accelerating Efforts to Internationalize the Renminbi
In recent weeks, a cluster of news reports and commentary has drawn attention to China’s accelerating efforts to internationalize the renminbi (RMB). At the Lujiazui Forum in Shanghai, The New York Times reported that People’s Bank of China governor Pan Gongsheng delivered a pointed critique of … [Read more...]
China: We can’t afford for Russia to lose Ukraine war
China cannot afford for Russia to lose the war in Ukraine, Beijing’s foreign minister has said, in unguarded comments to European officials... read more... … [Read more...]
BRICS to Babel in Brazil
Between 6-7 July the 17th annual BRICS summit will take place in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro. It will meet as an expanded bloc comprising of many new member nations. The annual gathering is an occasion for the member nations to take stock of the increasingly complex global order marked by … [Read more...]
Beyond the Smile: Unlocking Emotion with AI-Powered Facial Recognition
The human face is a profound window to the soul, but interpreting its subtle shifts, microexpressions, and fleeting emotions has always been a complex challenge, even for the most seasoned professionals. This is changing. Artificial intelligence is now transforming how we understand human emotion, … [Read more...]
Italy bets on mines for raw materials security
Italy’s national push to reduce dependency on foreign critical raw materials—particularly from China—has taken shape with a new subsoil exploration plan. The programme marks a strategic move for industrial sovereignty but risks delays unless Italy overcomes regulatory, training, and infrastructure … [Read more...]
Smart Weapons, Dumb Assumptions: Western Strategic Delusions Meet Industrial Reality in Ukraine
For all the vast commentary in the Western media on the Russia-Ukraine war, a persistent fact remains: beyond the immediate theatre of conflict, few observers possess a clear or consistent grasp of events on the ground. The fog of war—historically the product of battlefield confusion—has thickened … [Read more...]