Weblog of Amity Institute of International Studies, Amity University, Noida
VIJIGISHU '24
Sunday, 9 March 2025
Saturday, 11 January 2025
Monday, 6 January 2025
INR | WEST ASIA: Weekly Updates
India’s Growing Strategic Ties with West Asia
India’s shift from the “Look West” policy under Dr. Manmohan Singh to PM Modi’s “Link and ACT West” strategy has deepened ties with GCC nations, balancing energy security, defence cooperation, and relations with Iran, Israel, and Palestine.
PM Modi’s 2024 visit to Kuwait elevated relations to a strategic partnership, diversifying cooperation to defence, technology, healthcare, and energy while signing multiple MoUs, including counterterrorism commitments.
GCC nations, including Kuwait, contribute significantly to India’s energy needs (35% of oil, 70% of gas imports) and economic engagement, with bilateral trade with Kuwait alone reaching $10.75 billion in 2023-24.
India’s defence agreements with GCC countries mark a shift beyond traditional oil and trade relations, as GCC nations increasingly look towards Asia for strategic partnerships, fostering mutual growth and regional stability.
Read Ahead At:
Renewed Threat of ISIS and Global Lone-Wolf Attacks
A truck attack in New Orleans killed 15 and injured 30, followed by a Cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas. The attacker, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, an IS-inspired former military serviceman, was killed, and investigations revealed possible links between the two incidents.
Despite losing its Caliphate, IS continues to inspire global terror through propaganda, urging attacks during western celebrations. Similar tactics led to lone-wolf attacks worldwide in 2014-15, targeting cities from Orlando to Istanbul.
The group has shifted operations to Afghanistan and Africa while attempting to rebuild in Syria, looting weapons and exploiting conflicts. Kurdish fighters warn of IS preparing for a comeback amid Syria’s ongoing turmoil.
The U.S. must counter radicalisation within its borders and prevent IS from regaining a foothold in West Asia. A dual approach of military force and ideological countermeasures is essential to combat the evolving threat.
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Israel’s Stern Warning to Houthis Amid Escalating West Asia Conflict
Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon issued a strong warning at the UN, cautioning Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels against missile attacks on Israel, threatening severe retaliation akin to actions against Hamas and Hezbollah.
Despite the warning, Houthis launched missiles targeting Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport and a power station, intercepted by Israel’s defense systems. Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree vowed continued attacks in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
In response, Israel conducted airstrikes on Houthi infrastructure in Yemen, with Defense Minister Israel Katz pledging to target Houthi leaders and escalate military action if the attacks persist.
The conflict raises fears of broader regional instability and humanitarian crises, with international observers, including the UN, expressing concerns over the escalating violence and its implications for West Asia.
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UAE taxes, laws and charges coming into effect from January 2025
The UAE will implement new legislation aimed at addressing health care inequalities and enhancing environmental protection.
The government plans to rethink its tax strategies, suggesting possible changes to existing tax policies.
The forthcoming laws are expected to significantly affect the daily lives of both UAE citizens and residents.
The new measures underscore a commitment to improving healthcare access and promoting sustainability within the UAE.
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Syria FM in Saudi Arabia on maiden trip as new rulers reset regional ties
Syria's new Foreign Minister, Asaad al-Shaibani, made his inaugural overseas trip to Saudi Arabia, marking a significant diplomatic step after the ousting of Bashar al-Assad.
Al-Shaibani expressed hopes to establish a "new, bright page" in Syrian-Saudi relations, emphasizing the historical ties between the two nation.
The Syrian delegation included key officials, such as the Defence Minister and the Head of General Intelligence, highlighting the visit's importance for diplomatic and strategic collaboration.
Saudi officials indicated a commitment to support Syria’s political transition and discussed potential investments, reflecting Riyadh's interest in strengthening ties as Iran's influence wanes in the region.
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Benign food prices help Turkey’s disinflation path
Turkey's December inflation rate was reported at 1.0%, lower than expected, with annual inflation decreasing to 44.4% from 47.1% the previous month.
The food sector significantly contributed to the lower inflation, with unprocessed food inflation moderating, leading to a drop in fresh fruit and vegetable prices.
Core inflation showed improvement, with the monthly rate at 1.1%, the lowest since mid-2021, suggesting a positive underlying trend in inflation management.
Despite potential temporary increases in inflation due to government adjustments, disinflation is expected to continue, with forecasts indicating inflation may drop below 30% by the end of 2025.
Read Ahead At:
https://think.ing.com/snaps/turkey-disinflation-continues-with-benign-food-prices/
Deepanshi Pathak (BA IR, 3rd year) (Region Head)
Angel Chindalia (MA IR 2nd year)
Published by: Varsha Das (BA IR 3rd year)
Monday, 23 December 2024
INR | APAC : Weekly Updates
Australia strikes US$118 million policing deal with China-friendly Solomon Islands
Australia is confirmed to help boost the police force of Solomons Island with an infrastructure package, multi-year funding, and training for the Pacific nation with close ties with China.
It represents a new foundation for Australia’s security partnership with the Solomon Islands, according to Prime Minister Antonio Albanese.
The Solomons police announced on the same day that it had received a modest donation from China as well, a sign of the competition Australia faces from Beijing.
Read ahead:
Australia announces $118 million deal to enhance policing in the Solomon Islands
An ethnic group claims to have captured a regional army headquarters
The latest in the long series of regional talks held in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, it has made no headway in restoring peace to the war-torn Southeast Asian nation.
Myanmar has been wracked by violence ever since its army overthrew the elected government in the year 2021. They violently repressed the pro-democracy protests, lasting to the arms resistance movement.
The military government has used harsh tactics to suppress its opponents, including air strikes, but the war has only become fiercer, especially in the past year.
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Pakistan Denounces US Sanctions on Its Missile Programmes
Pakistan denounces the US sanctions on the country's missile program as “discriminatory” that puts the region's peace and security at risk.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry said in a statement that the sanctions “have dangerous implications for strategic stability of our region and beyond.”
It also accused the U.S. of “double standards” for waiving licensing requirements for advanced military technology to other countries.
Read ahead:
Pakistan denounces US sanctions on its missile program as ‘discriminatory’ | CNN
US arms manufacturers could help boost Vietnam's military capabilities, said US ambassador
US manufacturers could help build up Vietnam’s armed forces by working with Vietnamese counterparts
The US Ambassador Mark Knapper said, “Our goal is to ensure that vietnam has what it needs to defend its interests”.
Vietnam has been trying to increase its domestic arms manufacturing instead of being dependent on Russia for weapon imports.
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102 Rohingya refugees were rescued by the Sri Lankan navy
A Sri Lankan navy spokesperson said that more than 100 people believed to be Rohingya refugees were spotted by a fisherman on the Sri Lankan northern coast.
The refugees include 25 children and 30 women. Later they were escorted to the eastern coast where they were given medical care, food, and water.
The navy has not yet confirmed if the refugees are Rohingya because of the communication difficulties but the group is believed to be from Myanmar according to the navy.
Read ahead:
Sri Lanka's navy rescues 102 Rohingya refugees found adrift aboard a fishing trawler | AP News
China criticizes Phillippine’s plan to deploy mid range missiles
The Philippines has announced their plans to acquire midrange missile systems to strengthen its territorial defence amidst tensions with China in the South China Sea.
China has marked this move as "extremely irresponsible," claiming it could provoke geopolitical confrontations and an arms race.
The United States has reaffirmed their commitment to mutual defence and advocated for the typhoon as a necessary defence against China’s growing military presence.
Read Ahead: https://apnews.com/article/china-philippines-deploy-missile-system-95a5d4b923b262f400c540e1b6926b0e
Violence in Manipur leads to widespread displacement
Ethnic violence in Manipur has led to a humanitarian crisis, causing thousands of people to be displaced from their homes due to ongoing standoff.
The violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities, is causing concerns over the region's stability and human rights violations.
The Indian government has been criticized for its slow response, with calls for immediate action to restore peace and provide assistance to the displaced populations.
Read Ahead: https://apnews.com/article/india-manipur-ethnic-violence-displacement-9153549db3852e7f34a3ef70b7bdb349
India marks tsunami anniversary with reflection on earthquake’s impact
On the anniversary of the 2004 tsunami, India mourns the devastating loss of life, with thousands of families still in pain of their lost loved ones in Tamil Nadu.
The scars left by the tsunami and the earthquake remain, as survivors are still facing the harsh reality of rebuilding their lives in the aftermath of the tragedy.
For many, the trauma of that day is still raw, and the anniversary serves as a painful reminder of the immense cost of human lives due to natural disasters.
Read Ahead: https://apnews.com/article/india-tsunami-anniversary-earthquake-tamil-nadu-9b0f71ec5cb2135747f349208bf5beb2
Japan’s former Emperor Akihito marks his 91st birthday
Japan’s beloved former Emperor Akihito marked his 91st birthday on Monday, as he continues to pursue his lifetime research into goby fish, care for his wife and pray for peace.
Akihito, who abdicated in 2019 and handed over the Chrysanthemum throne to his son, Emperor Naruhito, now holds the title of Emperor Emeritus.
Pakistani Taliban claims responsibility for a deadly military checkpoint attack in the northwest
The Pakistani Taliban on Saturday claimed responsibility for a deadly military checkpoint attack in the country’s northwest.
The militant group said it killed 35 soldiers and injured 15 others in an early morning raid. It also claimed seizing equipment including a night vision device and weapons.
It’s Pakistan Taliban’s latest assault on troops in the restive province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which borders Afghanistan. They made the claims in one of their WhatsApp chat groups.
Read ahead: https://apnews.com/article/pakistan-taliban-checkpoint-attack-waziristan-fff19247b8a3f72b10b12554527ea039
Drafted by:
Daney Antonio Martin (B.A. I.R., 2nd Year) (Region Head)
Gouri Kapoor (BA IR, 1st Year)
Published by:
Varsha Das (B.A. I.R., 3rd Year)
Monday, 16 December 2024
INR | APAC : Weekly Updates
Secretary-General of ASEAN to Conduct Working Visit to Malaysia Ahead of 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship
At the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, conducted a Working Visit to Malaysia, on 2-4 December 2024, to discuss preparations for Malaysia’s Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2025.
During the visit, Dr. Kao paid a courtesy call on YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia, to discuss key priorities and deliverables under Malaysia’s Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2025 under the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability.”
Read ahead at: https://asean.org/secretary-general-of-asean-to-conduct-working-visit-to-malaysia-ahead-of-2025-asean-chairmanship/
Is Indonesian ‘kingmaker’ Joko Widodo planning a political comeback?
According to analyst Kevin O’Rourke, the regional elections showed that Widodo “still exerts considerable clout in politics, through his ability to sway public sentiment”.
“A host of candidates visited him and most of those whom he endorsed ultimately won their races,” he wrote in last week’s edition of Reformasi Weekly, a newsletter about policy and politics in Indonesia.
Widodo’s role in the regional elections has sparked discussions about whether he was aiming to use his standing to assume a leadership position in a political party or even form a new party of his own.
Singapore, Vietnam eye undersea cable link as US flags risks of choosing Chinese contractors
Singaporean asset manager Keppel and Vietnamese conglomerate Sovico Group are discussing plans for new undersea fibre-optic cables that would boost the region’s data centre industry, people familiar with the discussions said.
Southeast Asian countries, a major junction for cables connecting Asia to Europe, are seeking to expand their networks to meet booming demand for AI services and data centres. Vietnam alone plans to have 10 new submarine cables by 2030.
A US Navy ship will make its first port call in 8 years in Cambodia, a close ally of China
A U.S. Navy warship will make a port call next week in Cambodia, China's close ally in Southeast Asia, the first such visit in eight years, according to a Cambodian statement on Friday.
Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defense said USS Savannah will dock at the port of Sihanoukville on the Gulf of Thailand on Dec. 16-20. Savannah, classed as a Littoral Combat Ship, carries a crew of 103, the ministry said.
The visit was scheduled after a U.S. request for a port call, it added, and would “strengthen and expand the bonds of friendship as well as promote bilateral cooperation" between the two nations.
Read ahead at:https://www.independent.co.uk/news/cambodia-ap-china-us-navy-phnom-penh-b2664014.html
Southeast Asia's carbon market could reach $3 trillion by 2050, says ASEAN report
Southeast Asia's carbon market potential remains largely untapped. A recent report highlights that over the past 15 years, carbon credits provided by the ASEAN region have accounted for only 7% of the global carbon market.
However, the region's overall carbon market could potentially reach a cumulative value of up to $3 trillion by 2050, creating 13.7 million new jobs and reducing 1.1 billion tons of carbon emissions annually.
Read ahead at: https://www.reccessary.com/en/news/asean-market/southeast-asia-s-carbon-market-potential-up-to-3-trillion
South Korea court begins Yoon's impeachment trial process
South Korea's constitutional court has begun trial proceedings for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was suspended for declaring martial law and plunging his country into political turmoil.
MPs voted to impeach Yoon last Saturday, after his actions sparked widespread protests calling for him to step down.
The court now has six months to decide whether to remove Yoon or reinstate him.
Yoon's ruling People Power Party (PPP) has been grappling with the fallout ever since, with its leader announcing his resignation on Monday.
Read ahead at: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2pl4edk13o
Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with Ambassador of India to ASEAN
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today met with Ambassador of India to ASEAN, Jayant N. Khobragade, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat.
Both sides exchanged views, among others, on ways to enhance the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Reads ahead at:https://asean.org/secretary-general-of-asean-meets-with-ambassador-of-india-to-asean-2/
Taiwan Military Spotted Chinese Ships Near Its Waters
Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) vessels and Coast Guard vessels have been identified by Taiwan's army force entering the Taiwanese area on December 9th.
The movement happened after the Chinese authorities raised opposition towards the visits of the Taiwan president to Hawaii and the US territory of Guam, referring to him as a “separatist”.
Taiwan's defense ministry has stated that they will keep a close watch on PLA's movements and will be on high alert throughout
Read Ahead at:
China begins military movements around Taiwan as the island braces for potential drills | CNN
A Suicide Bombing Killed the Refugee Minister of the Taliban
A deadly explosion on December 11 killed the Taliban refugee minister with six others while he was leaving his ministry office, said the interior ministry resources.
Haqqani was declared a global terrorist by the United States in the year 2012. In the year 2015, Pakistan also banned the Haqqani network as part of its National Action Plan.
Later the Islamic State group (IS) took responsibility for the deadly attack. Amaq an IS militant waited outside the ministry and detonated the bomb as he walked inside the building.
Read ahead at:
Khalil Haqqani: Taliban minister killed in bombing in Kabul
Critically Endangered Fresh Water Fish Was Seen In Cambodia
The Mekong giant catfish is one of the six critically endangered catfish. It was captured and released on the shores of Cambodia, reviving hopes for the species' survival.
They are now only found in the Southeast Asian Mekong River. These underwater giants can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh up to 299kg.
In the recent decade, the species population has been reduced by 80% due to overfishing and dams that block the migratory path. Very few of the million fishermen get to see this rare species, so finding six of these giants in five days was completely unexpected.
Read ahead at:
Drafted by:
Daney Antonio Martin (B.A. I.R., 2nd Year) (Region Head)
Gouri (BA IR, 1st Year)
Nripan Babu (BA IR, 1st Year)
Published by:
Varsha Das (B.A. I.R., 3rd Year)
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