Ukraine: warring parties still far from the negotiating table
The series of victorious Ukrainian counter-attacks since September has been matched by massive Russian missile strikes on Ukrainian electricity and heating installations, aimed at demoralising Ukraine by targeting the civilian population going into the winter. Peace negotiations seem to be a long way off, with each side betting its strategy will bring the other to heel.
Can Rishi Sunak end the political turmoil plaguing the UK to address the economic issues facing the country?
Rishi Sunak has become the UK’s third prime minister in eight weeks, capping off several months of political turmoil marked by party infighting, political scandals and a drop in public trust.
Consequential US midterm elections highlight pandemic fallout and partisan rancor
Since the storming of the United States (US) Capitol on 6 January 2021, right-wing extremists have doubled down on election conspiracies and violent rhetoric against election workers. These actors see the 8 November 2022 midterm elections as a testbed.
Qatar will host the World Cup, but football should not be the main concern
Actions by the Qatari government to improve its reputation and geopolitical standing along with credible accusations of human rights abuses mark the first time the World Cup will be held in the Middle East.
A women-led protest movement has paralyzed Iran: What more can it do?
Protests led by female university students and professionals have succeeded in tapping into a broad swath of anti-government sentiment in Iran even as the regime’s crackdown intensifies.
Geopolitics and football: How Qatar benefits from hosting the World Cup
Qatar’s economic and strategic partnerships have benefited greatly from its successful host bid for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Despite these successes, the greatest obstacles remain ahead, and Qatar will need to carefully manage its geopolitical situation after the fans leave.
Intense Atlantic hurricane season portends increasingly frequent major storms
Category 4 Hurricanes Fiona and Ian caused islandwide power failures in Puerto Rico and Cuba, and high death toll in the US state of Florida, requiring major reconstruction efforts at increasing costs.
Escalating tensions on Azerbaijan-Armenia border as Russia absents itself from conflict mediation
After an unabated string of battlefield victories since 2020, Azerbaijan will continue putting pressure on Armenia to make concessions while Russia is distracted by the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Catastrophic floods and landslides hit Pakistan
The recent floods and landslides in Pakistan, which have been the worst in over a decade, highlight the urgent need for bolstering the country’s emergency response and implementing climate change mitigation measures.
Brazilian presidential election marked by polarisation and looming threat to democracy
As voting day draws near, fears of violence and anti-democratic initiatives stand out amid a polarised race to Palácio do Planalto.
