Asia

ABC provided a transcript of the debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. I have some thoughts on the Middle East dimension: On Gaza, Harris said, “Well, let’s understand how we got here. On Oct. 7, Hamas, a terrorist organization, slaughtered 1,200 Israelis. Many of them young people who were simply attending a concert. Women […]

Afghanistan

Afghanistan Slides Into ‘Ever More Hellish Conditions’ After New ‘Morality’ Law Enacted

Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty

By Abubakar Siddique and RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi ( RFE/RL ) – The Taliban has attempted to police the public appearances and behavior of millions of Afghans, especially women, since seizing power in 2021. But the enforcement of the extremist group’s rules governing morality, including its strict Islamic dress code and gender segregation in society, was sporadic […]

Africa

China’s Interests in Africa are being Shaped by the Race for Renewable Energy

The Conversation

By Lauren Johnston, University of Sydney | – (The Conversation) – China-Africa relations have deepened over the past two decades, characterised by increased economic cooperation, investment and infrastructure development. China is now Africa’s largest trading partner, with partnerships focused on building roads, railways and energy projects. As the ninth Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) kicks […]

Featured

India outstrips Japan in Solar Energy

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – The energy consultancy Ember reports that the growth in solar production in India was 5.9% in 2023, which outstripped the growth in solar in Japan last year. Japan is the fourth-largest economy in the world, and India is the fifth. India was the world’s fastest-growing economy last year at 7.8%, […]

Afghanistan

Afghanistan: The Taliban’s ‘Vice and Virtue’ Laws Reimpose the Harsh Repression of Women

The Conversation

By Kambaiz Rafi, Durham University | – (The Conversation) – Until the collapse of Afghanistan’s US-backed government in August 2021, few knew clearly what the Taliban wanted once they had returned to power. Some western officials and observers hoped for a big change from the regime, which had governed the Taliban’s Islamic Emirate in the […]

Bangladesh

Hope on the Horizon? What Bangladesh’s Regime Change could mean for Rohingya Refugees

The Conversation

By Sarah Nandi, McGill University | – Bangladesh is experiencing a seismic shift after 18 years of Awami League rule ended abruptly due to intensive student protests. This upheaval, and the crackdowns that resulted in the deaths of more than 300 protesters, forced Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to flee the country and ushered in an […]

Afghanistan

3 Years after the Taliban’s Return, Afghanistan is a broken country facing problems of Terrorism Again

The Conversation

By Amin Saikal, Australian National University | – (The Conversation) – This week marks the third year since America’s retreat from Afghanistan and the Taliban’s return to power. The United States had intervened in Afghanistan in response to the September 11 2001 terror attacks by al-Qaeda. The aim was to combat international terrorism and chart […]

China

Over half of new Car sales in China in July were EVs, as America faces threat of Falling Behind

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – In July, China reached an unprecedented inflection point for an industrialized society, with more electric cars purchased than internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. William Gavin at Quartz points out that 3 years ago, only 7% of cars sold in China were EVs. Just this year, EV sales are up 37%. […]

Afghanistan

The Push To Recognize ‘Gender Apartheid’ As A Crime

Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty

Written by Michael Scollon with reporting by RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi | – (