International

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is an ambitious effort to improve regional cooperation and connectivity on a trans-continental scale. The initiative aims to strengthen infrastructure, trade, and investment links between China and some 65 other countries that account collectively for over 30 percent of global GDP, 62 percent of population, and 75 percent of known … Read more

Trade war is a situation where countries restrict each other’s trade by imposing tariff or quota on imports.  US has started imposing tariffs on as much as 25 percent on $34 billion in Chinese imports.  China responded with retaliatory tariffs of 25% on US goods worth an equivalent $34 billion, including soybean, automobiles, and marine … Read more

There was the political crisis as two centre of power confronted to usurped the top most position. The leader of Venezuela’s National Assembly, Juan Guaido has declared himself as president of Venezuela on January 23, challenging the power of current President Nicolas Maduro, who was recently sworn in as president of Venezuela for a second … Read more

The Syrian civil war is an ongoing war between multiple parties taking place in Syria since the past eight years. The unrest started in the wake of the 2011 Arab Spring protests that had originated in Tunisia. People in Syria protested against the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad who suppressed all dissent with violent … Read more

The Golan Heights, a rocky plateau in south-western Syria, has a political and strategic significance which belies its size. Israel unilaterally annexed the Golan Heights in 1981. The move was not recognised internationally, although the US Trump Administration did so unilaterally in March 2019.There are more than 30 Jewish settlements on the heights, with an … Read more

It was set up after the fall of the Berlin wall to promote private and entrepreneurial initiative in emerging Europe.   HQ – London.    EBRD is owned by 66 countries and two EU institutions i.e EU & EIB.   US is the biggest shareholder.   Besides Europe, member countries of the EBRD are also from other continents – … Read more

It was set up with the objective of strengthening regional cooperation and sustainable development within the Indian Ocean Region. The association comprises 22 Member States and 7 Dialogue Partners.  India, Australia, Iran, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, South Africa, Mozambique, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Bangladesh, Singapore, Maldives, Mauritius, Madagascar, UAE, Yemen, Seychelles, Somalia, Comoros and Oman are … Read more

It is a multilateral financial institution which brings countries together to address the daunting infrastructure needs across Asia. It is headquartered at Beijing.    The membership in AIIB is open to members of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development or the Asian Development Bank.  It has authorized capital of US 100 billion dollars and subscribed … Read more

Assumption Island, a single coral island, belongs to the Outer Islands District of Seychelles.With only a small village on the sheltered western side and a 1,210-m concrete airfield running from there to the southeastern coast, the island’s few inhabitants, mostly farmers and fishermen, have to go to Victoria (the capital) for government services. The island’s … Read more

The Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) was signed in 1975 as an initiative of UN- Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).  It is previously named the Bangkok Agreement.  There are 6-member states to APTA – Bangladesh, China, India, South Korea, Laos and Sri Lanka.  Mongolia is soon to become the 7th member … Read more