FROM A BYSTANDER
Aung San Suu Kyi at ICJ / Nobel peace laureate will defend genocide
The Myanmar military and the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi are literally between a rock and a hard place. Two cases of violation of the Genocide Convention filed against Myanmar have shaken its leaders.
Hongkongers’ search for an identity
Protests and demonstrations are not new in Hong Kong. Even before returning to Chinese control in 1997, Hongkongers had demonstrated on different demands. When Chief Executive Carrie Lam wanted to push an extradition bill—that would allow both Hong Kong residents and visitors to be sent to China for trial—through the Legislative Council in March, it immediately triggered criticism and protests, particularly from the millennials of Hong Kong, demanding immediate withdrawal of the law. It is not surprising that the current protests that began in June continues with violent weekend street battles with the police.
Recounting the Brexit drama in five acts
It’s been more than three years that the Brexit drama is being enacted in Britain—dividing the country, its political parties and the parliament.
Will the US-Iran relations ever normalise?
It is amazing that the United States and Iran have maintained an extremely bellicose relation for the past four decades, much to the anxiety of nations of the Middle East. It all began when the Islamic Republic of Iran was proclaimed under Imam Ayatollah Ruhollah
G7 Summit: Semblance of unity
The two-day 45th G7 Summit concluded recently at the French resort in Biarritz. What was unusual this time was the fact that the summit ended without issuing a final communique, essentially because there was hardly any consensus on any of the major issues
Hong Kong Protest / Beijing’s Catch-22
It’s been just 22 years since Hong Kong reverted to Chinese sovereignty in 1997, after 156 years of British colonial rule. Recent events in Hong Kong suggest that the long British rule has left considerable English influence on the ethnic Chinese of the region. Though the older English-speaking generation is on the wane, the young English-speaking millennials seem to be spearheading a political movement for democracy and social justice.
Will the Rohingyas ever return to Myanmar?
Since the massive exodus of Rohingyas from Rakhine to Bangladesh in 2017, a lot has been written and said about the plight of these unfortunate people. After nearly two years, it appears that the outraged world community has forgotten about this persecuted ethnic minority.
Dawn of the second phase of Arab Spring
The second phase of Arab Spring has dawned on the Arab world. It is not a surprise that people in Algeria and Sudan have risen to demand changes in the leadership in their countries, while Libya is also locked in serious conflict over who should rule the country.
UK General Election 2017: A neck-and-neck race
Over the past couple of years British political landscape has undergone dramatic changes. When David Cameron won a Conservative
Will Hassan Rouhani get a second term?
Itr is a crucial time for the political future of theocratic (Shia) Iran. Around 55 million voters are scheduled to go to polls on May 19,
France rejects ultra-nationalism
The rise of ultra-nationalist populist parties in Europe has been a threat to European unity. The French presidential election came at a
Trump's eventful first 100 days in office
In January this year Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States.
A new beginning for France?
The first round of the French presidential election was on April 23, 2017. This time the opinion polls were right and the results came out as predicted.
Nuclear brinkmanship over the Korean Peninsula
Possibility of war in the Korean Peninsula has always been a source of deep concern. The peninsula came to be divided along the 38th
PM's visit to India: Modi failed to walk the extra mile
Bangladesh-India relations are not only multifaceted but also very complex. Currently, political understanding between Prime Minister...
Erdogan's bid to become the new Ataturk of Turkey
Turkey will hold a referendum on April 16 for a new Constitution, which if passed will fundamentally change the political character of the government.
The saffron wave returns
The Indian Election Commission on March 11, 2017 announced the results of five State Assembly elections.
Interesting race for the Elysée Palace
France goes to polls to elect a new president on April 23, 2017, at a time when the electorate is deeply worried about the political direction of the country.