2490 results found
Lebanon and Turkey have begun to crack down on undocumented Syrian refugees, detaining thousands and deporting hundreds to Syria.
Lebanon, the smallest nation in continental Asia, is also one of the most populous. A relatively stable, secure and democratic state, its geographical location and the growing regional crisis are leading to pressing internal and external threats that Beirut must face. This issue brief examines these contemporary threats to Lebanese security: the Syrian Civil War, the rise of the Islamic State, domestic terrorism and sectarianism, and the nation's
While the coronavirus lockdown has certainly exacerbated the economic collapse and the protests that engulfed the country in October caused panic —
Three quick lessons can be drawn from the recent coup attempt in Bangladesh. These are growing unrest among political and military circles against the Awami League government for its policies towards India and fundamentalism;
India is the world’s largest rice exporter, making it a significant player in the global rice market. A global rice shortage is anticipated amid rising geopolitical tensions and commodity prices. To safeguard domestic consumers from exorbitant price shocks, India has banned the export of non-basmati white rice since July 2023. This paper examines the ban's implications, especially regarding welfare redistribution among basmati and non-basmati f
The lockdown is a tough examination that the nation must pass. Depending on how people behave and how the virus spreads, governments would decide thei
The revival of the multi-modal connectivity web in today’s context — with the Bay of Bengal central to it — holds rich promises for all South an
It is in India's interest to ensure that there is a friendly government in Dhaka which is not swayed by fundamentalist interests. It had to be more subtle where friendship with India is seen as beneficial by the average person in Bangladesh. For this India needs to take bigger steps like a deal on the Teesta waters and Land Border Agreement.
Inclusive, thoughtful, and collective approaches can bolster secure, affordable, accessible and sustainable city transport systems for all
After having made a Lebanon out of Iraq, the US, duly assisted by France and other West European powers, has embarked on a policy, which is likely to make an Iraq out of the Lebanon.
The recent US-Taliban moves offer a ray of hope for the Obama administration to achieve a much needed breakthrough before the President begins his re-election campaign.
In 2021, India’s imperatives include uplifting the lives of marginalised populations, creating mechanisms for people’s participation in civic affa
Several of India’s current laws ostensibly help women succeed in the workplace, but actually have the opposite effect of impeding growth and equalit
Women have particular reproductive, safety, and biological needs that urban designing must cater to in order to make the entire cityscape more accessi
Iran’s rising engagement with Afghanistan marks a subtle shift in its policy, moving from conflict to cooperation
At the current rate of urbanisation, India would have taken two and a half centuries to urbanise to the current US levels, as against two centuries fo
Living conditions in fast-growing rural areas across India are deteriorating due not only to the impact of urbanisation but the lack of capacity of the local governments to manage such transitions. This brief makes the case for changing the administration status of such areas from “rural” to “urban”, establishing urban governance mechanisms therein, and making them resilient. For identification of such areas, the state government’s opin
Amid the ongoing fundamental changes in the international order, such as the growing bipolar competition between the US and China and the promotion of multipolarity, middle powers may take more ownership of conflict points such as Afghanistan. To comprehend this possibility, it is important to trace the evolution of middle powers in the Persian Gulf. This paper looks at the complexities of the Gulf middle power states, with Afghanistan as the the
India and Bangladesh’s relationship has been growing steadily over the past few years, especially since Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina came to power in January 2009. In 2019, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the relationship as being in its “golden era (Sonali Adhyay).” Indeed, Bangladesh is at the centre of India’s flagship ‘Neighbourhood First’ and ‘Act East’ policies, and has been crucial in ensuring peace
Though the Mitali Express provides better connectivity between Bangladesh and India, its true potential can only be reached if it is expanded to other
There is a strong case to be made for leveraging mobile banking systems in order to increase the quotient of financial inclusion in the country.
Analysts attribute the fall of Kabul to the Taliban in August 2021 to various factors. These include geopolitical shifts, and the Taliban’s tactics of warfare. However, fewer attempts have been made to understand the Taliban’s victory through internal mobilisation. This brief attempts to fill the gap, and examines the role of identity, grievance, and greed in the Taliban’s mobilisation and its contribution to a successful insurgency. It out
Emphasising that majority of Taliban cadre can be won over for establishing peace in their war-torn country, Afghan government spokespersons said the peace initiative would become successful once ordinary Afghans realise that international forces are not going to remain in the country indefinitely.
Developing the Mongla port offers Bangladesh a strategic advantage to traverse the geopolitical power play unfolding in the region
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bangladesh after the land boundary settlement is a step with far-reaching strategic implications. The two countries can now take their bilateral ties to a much higher level.
Modi's visit to Dhaka is likely to focus on greater economic cooperation and engagement. Some of the major highlights of the visit will be on rail, road and water connectivity as well as coastal shipping services.
Sheikh Hasina and Narendra Modi, 50 years after 1971, preside over a continuity of circumstances which defined the links Indira Gandhi and Sheikh Muji
Today, India is poised at the moment and GDP that China was in in 2007. Does it have the same gumption?
While India was part of the Moscow Format talks, it’s also a member of the new Middle East Quad.
The bulk of the new banking consumers are digital natives and don’t think of branches as an interface for financial transactions
Bangladesh has seen massive demonstrations in favour of the Rohingya refugees, particularly from Islamist parties and organisations whose sympathy is driven by religious affiliation.
Myanmar's unsettled scores on the border front once again took an ugly turn when its border guards police exchanged crossfire with its Bangladesh counterpart for three days from 28 May. A Bangladesh border guard personnel was said to be killed.
The budget has made some enhanced provisions for the physical and social infrastructure of cities. These will directly contribute to the expansion and
States must be incensitived to heed Central directives on urban planning for proper urban development
Although the Budget pushes for urban planning, will the architecture of Indian federalism continue to limit its execution?
Under the Interim Budget, the Financial Minister has outlined a few schemes for urban development, but a more comprehensive budget would be required f
