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Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Expands Membership and Agenda, Emphasizing Regional Stability and Development

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Expands Membership and Agenda, Emphasizing Regional Stability and Development

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) has expanded its membership from six to ten states over 25 years, demonstrating its capacity to reach agreements across diverse issues. The organization now includes India and Pakistan as permanent members since 2017, and Iran joined in 2023. With 15 dialogue partners, the SCO's membership now covers over 40% of the world's population and approximately a quarter of global GDP. The SCO aims to strengthen mutual trust, friendship, and good-neighborliness, promoting peace, security, and stability in the region. Recent developments include the approval of a statute for a Universal Centre for Countering Challenges and Threats, the creation of an executive committee for an Anti-Drug Centre, and the extension of a cooperation plan on international information security for 2026–2028. The organization also adopted a development plan for ports and logistics centers through 2030 and a 'Green Technology Corridor' program. A memorandum of cooperation in artificial intelligenc...

Leaders of countries already hit hard by climate change tell UN summit that urgent action is needed

Leaders of countries already hit hard by climate change tell UN summit that urgent action is needed

Small island leaders are calling for urgent climate action at the United Nations talks in Turkey

India's Indo-Pacific Strategy Emphasizes Engagement and Partnerships Amidst Geopolitical Rivalries

India's Indo-Pacific Strategy Emphasizes Engagement and Partnerships Amidst Geopolitical Rivalries

India's Indo-Pacific strategy is centered on expanding national engagement and strengthening strategic partnerships with like-minded states to foster a free, open, and inclusive region. This strategy aims to balance the geopolitical rivalry between the U.S. and China through initiatives such as Act East, SAGAR, the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, and MAHASAGAR. India is also deepening ties with countries like Indonesia, Australia, and Pacific partners. The strategy acknowledges significant maritime security challenges, including traditional military threats, territorial disputes, and non-traditional issues like piracy and drug trafficking. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has articulated that India views the Indo-Pacific not as an exclusive club or a strategy directed against any specific country, but rather as a region promoting a democratic and rules-based international order.

Publication of air crash probes falls short, safety advocates say

Publication of air crash probes falls short, safety advocates say

By Allison Lampert MONTREAL, Nov 12 (Reuters) - National agencies around the world have not published enough air accident reports to generate recommendations that could improve safety for the flying public, advocates said on the sidelines of an industry conference on Thursday.

India and Indonesia Call for Concerted International Efforts to Combat Terrorism

India and Indonesia Call for Concerted International Efforts to Combat Terrorism

India and Indonesia have emphasized the critical need for bilateral cooperation in preventing and countering terrorism. This call came during the 7th meeting of the India-Indonesia Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism, held in New Delhi. The meeting was co-chaired by Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan, Additional Secretary (Counter Terrorism) in the External Affairs Ministry, and Dionnisius Elvan Swasono, Deputy for International Cooperation, National Counter Terrorism Agency of Indonesia. Both nations strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, advocating for decisive and concerted international efforts to combat it comprehensively and sustainably. Discussions covered the domestic, regional, and global terrorism landscape, threat assessments, including cross-border terrorism, and emerging challenges such as radicalization, violent extremism, terror financing, and the use of emerging technologies by terrorists.

New Research Explores 'Quiet Geopolitics' in Green Transition Partnerships

New Research Explores 'Quiet Geopolitics' in Green Transition Partnerships

New research is focusing on 'quiet geopolitics,' examining how countries like Denmark and Sweden engage in expert-driven collaborations to advance the green transition amidst global geopolitical pressures. This approach contrasts with 'loud geopolitics,' which is characterized by conflict and receives significant media attention, such as trade wars or disrupted oil supplies. The project, led by Jacob Hasselbalch at CBS, investigates international partnerships where technical expertise and diplomatic efforts are used to create favorable conditions for green technologies and industries. One key area of study is the collaboration between Denmark and Brazil on wind energy and electricity grids, focusing on technical issues like auction design, market regulation, and integrating large amounts of wind energy. Similarly, researchers from Lund University are studying a partnership between Sweden and India concerning industrial transition and fossil-free steel. These initiatives aim to support the green transition ...

Trump is taking Elon Musk on his Asia trip, but he plans to avoid talking about Nvidia scandal

Trump is taking Elon Musk on his Asia trip, but he plans to avoid talking about Nvidia scandal

President Donald Trump plans to take the world’s wealthiest man, Elon Musk, with him next week when he travels to the Philippines and China

International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) Established in Hong Kong to Resolve State and Private Entity Disputes

International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) Established in Hong Kong to Resolve State and Private Entity Disputes

The International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) was established in Hong Kong in 2025, marking the world's first intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to mediation. Its primary function is to offer mediation services for resolving disputes between states, as well as between states and private entities. Hong Kong is positioned as a key platform for diplomatic engagement, particularly in relation to the Belt and Road Initiative. According to analysts at the Institute for Strategic Studies, Research and Analysis (ISSRA), IOMed provides a structured, non-adversarial venue for resolving commercial or contract disputes before they escalate into diplomatic crises. Pakistan and Cambodia have already become full contracting states, while Thailand and Sri Lanka have endorsed its founding framework. The organization aims to offer a tailored alternative to traditional, often expensive, Western legal tribunals for developing and emerging economies in Asia.

Pakistan's Tariff Regime Reassessed, Challenging Claims of Highest Tariffs

Pakistan's Tariff Regime Reassessed, Challenging Claims of Highest Tariffs

Pakistan's Tariff Regime Reassessed, Challenging Claims of Highest Tariffs

UNESCO Emphasizes Scientific Trust and International Cooperation at Chief Science Advisors Roundtable

UNESCO Emphasizes Scientific Trust and International Cooperation at Chief Science Advisors Roundtable

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recently hosted the 4th Chief Science Advisors Roundtable (CSAR) at its headquarters in Paris. The event, organized in partnership with UNESCO and the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation of South Africa, with support from the Government of India, convened chief science advisors, representatives of scientific advisory mechanisms, and international organizations from various countries. The primary objectives of the meeting were to facilitate the translation of scientific knowledge into public policy, strengthen trust in scientific advising, and foster international cooperation. Key discussions revolved around ensuring diverse knowledge sources and societal groups are represented in scientific advising, guaranteeing transparency in evaluating scientific evidence, and addressing the opportunities and risks presented by artificial intelligence. The meeting, held under the theme 'Trusted Advice in a World of Plural Knowledg...

At COP31, Turkey pushes zero-waste plan to curb climate change

At COP31, Turkey pushes zero-waste plan to curb climate change

As world leaders arrive at United Nations climate talks in the Turkish resort town of Antalya, calling for urgent climate action, co-host Turkey also wants to halve the amount of global waste in the next decade

From ink to sacred text, Malaysia's Quran makers blend craft and faith

From ink to sacred text, Malaysia's Quran makers blend craft and faith

At Malaysia’s Nasyrul Quran complex, traditional Islamic calligraphy meets modern printing technology to produce copies of the Quran