Author: Stuart White

<strong>The Struggle for Democratic Equilibrium: Pakistan’s Ongoing Election Conundrum</strong>
8Jan By Stuart WhiteNo Comments
Asia, Politics

The Struggle for Democratic Equilibrium: Pakistan’s Ongoing Election Conundrum

Pakistan's much-anticipated General Elections awaited after nearly a six-month delay following the dissolution of the National Assembly in August 2023, are yet again marred by political discord. The Senate's recent announcement of an indefinite postponement, citing "security concerns" and the ongoing delineation of constituencies following the latest census, arrives amidst a mere 15 members out of 100 in attendance. This recurring postponement raises serious questions about power dynamics in both Pakistan's internal landscape and its global political standing, potentially brewing a societal crisis. It is notable that the last general elections in Pakistan took place in 2018. The intricate relationship between democracy and hypocrisy is emblematic in Pakistan's tumultuous journey toward...
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<strong>BNP is trying to keep Bangladeshi voters away from the polling booth</strong>
3Jan By Stuart WhiteNo Comments
Asia, Politics

BNP is trying to keep Bangladeshi voters away from the polling booth

The design is as clear as daylight. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its ally hardline Islamist forces want to sabotage the Parliamentary democracy in Bangladesh. They are not participating in the general election scheduled on January 7 and are instead resorting to large-scale violence. The aim is to dissuade voters from exercising their franchise and assume power through the backdoor. Boycotting elections and resorting to violence is an old and preferred twin tactic of the BNP. They adopted this path during the 2014 election as well but without much success. The history may repeat itself in 2024. At a time when the country’s Election Commission (EC) is taking every measure to ensure a  free and fair election, and the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government is extendin
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The Boundaries of American Power Over Israel
29Dec By Stuart WhiteNo Comments
World

The Boundaries of American Power Over Israel

President Biden’s popularity with the Israeli public gives him leverage, but placing conditions on American aid would likely backfire. The high death toll among Palestinian civilians in Israel’s war with Hamas has triggered repeated calls for placing conditions on American assistance to the Jewish state. “The truth is that if asking nicely worked, we wouldn’t be in the position we are today,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders in a floor speech in late November. “For many years, the United States has provided Israel with substantial sums of money with close to no strings attached…This blank check approach must end.” The reality is that U.S. aid to Israel has never been a blank check. We have often used military assistance as a way to achieve our own policy goals—to encourage Israel to take ri
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At a discussion on foreign policy, Xi outlines China’s ambition for global dominance with the slogans “break new ground” and “maintain fighting spirit.”
29Dec By Stuart WhiteNo Comments
China, World

At a discussion on foreign policy, Xi outlines China’s ambition for global dominance with the slogans “break new ground” and “maintain fighting spirit.”

President Xi Jinping, addressing a two-day Central Conference on Foreign Affairs Work, emphasised the need for diplomats and cadres to 'break new ground,' unite the majority of the world, and maintain a resilient 'fighting spirit' Beijing has vowed to seize “strategic opportunities” and enhancing its “international influence, appeal, and power” in order to shape the swiftly changing global landscape and hopes to achieve this through a reinforced Communist Party control of foreign affairs, steadfast opposition to Western “bullying” and “hegemonism”. According to a South China Morning Post report, citing a recently-concluded rare closed-door party meeting on China’s future foreign policy, President Xi Jinping, addressing the two-day Central Conference on Foreign Affairs Work, emphasis
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PM Narendra Modi gains 2 crore YouTube followers, making him the first leader in the world.
26Dec By Stuart WhiteNo Comments
Asia, World

PM Narendra Modi gains 2 crore YouTube followers, making him the first leader in the world.

The number of subscribers on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's personal YouTube channel crossed two crore on Tuesday, with the Indian leader becoming the only world leader to have this distinction and leading his contemporaries by a long distance. Officials noted that the videos posted on Modi's channel have more than 4.5 billion views, far ahead of his global peers. Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro is second on the list of subscriber numbers with around 64 lakh -- less than a third of Modi's. In terms of views, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is second to the Indian prime minister with 22.4 crore, a small fraction of Modi's. US President Joe Biden has 7.89 lakh subscribers while his Turkiye counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan has 3.16 lakh. 'Yoga with Modi', a Y...
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As a pivotal election approaches, China’s Xi asserts that “reunification” with Taiwan is “inevitable.”
26Dec By Stuart WhiteNo Comments
China, World

As a pivotal election approaches, China’s Xi asserts that “reunification” with Taiwan is “inevitable.”

The “reunification” of Taiwan with China is “inevitable,” Chinese leader Xi Jinping claimed in a speech Tuesday, reiterating Beijing’s long-held stance on the self-ruled island democracy ahead of a crucial election there next month. “The realization of the complete reunification with the motherland is an inevitable course of development, is righteous and what the people want. The motherland must and will be reunified,” Xi said in an address marking the 130th anniversary of People’s Republic of China founder Mao Zedong’s birth. The comments echo those previously made by Xi – one of China’s most powerful leaders since Mao – who has made taking control of Taiwan a cornerstone of his broader goal to “rejuvenate” China to a place of power and stature globally. But they take on particu
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Sri Lanka’s Political and Electoral Uncertainties Before the 2024 Elections
23Dec By Stuart WhiteNo Comments
Asia, Politics, World

Sri Lanka’s Political and Electoral Uncertainties Before the 2024 Elections

In Sri Lanka, political parties are getting ready for presidential elections scheduled for some time next year. Many of them have named their candidates; others are preparing to do so. The country is constitutionally mandated to hold presidential polls in 2024, and the president himself has hinted that he will go ahead with them. But the government is led by a deeply unpopular party associated with a once popular but now derided family, the Rajapaksas. It faces an uncertain situation and has yet to confirm when elections will be held, or if they will be held at all. Indeed, a section of the opposition has implied that they will not. This, however, has not prevented the Rajapaksas’ party, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), from joining the election frenzy. On December 15, it org
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Five things to remember about Pakistan’s economy, politics, and security in 2023.
23Dec By Stuart WhiteNo Comments
Asia, Politics, World

Five things to remember about Pakistan’s economy, politics, and security in 2023.

India's neighbouring country, Pakistan continued to grab headlines throughout the year 2023. Whether it was an economic crisis, food crisis, mass protests, political arrests or upheaval over election dates — Pakistan saw it all in this one year. Here's a quick recap of all that happened in Pakistan in the year 2023: Economic crisisIn 2023, Pakistan saw new lows. The Pakistani rupee hit an all-time low, crossing the PKR 300 mark against the US dollar in August 2023. The country's foreign reserves with the State Bank of Pakistan (SPB) also dropped to an alarming level — at $3.1 billion in January 2023. The cash-strapped country struggled to unlock funding from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In a bid to secure one, the SBP hiked interest rate by 300 basis points (bps) to 20 p
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Legal support for foreign policy, according to Xi Jinping, is a “urgent task” for China.
29Nov By Stuart WhiteNo Comments
China, World

Legal support for foreign policy, according to Xi Jinping, is a “urgent task” for China.

President says creating favourable legal conditions is essential as the nation opens up to the outside world He points to a need for reform in the trial system, and for more proactive participation in international rule-setting President Xi Jinping has called for stronger legal backing in areas related to foreign affairs so that China can better manage its opening up and mitigate risks. Xi described this as an “urgent task for advancing high-level openness to the outside world and addressing external risks and challenges”, state news agency Xinhua reported on Tuesday. The Chinese leader made the remarks at a Politburo study session in Beijing on Monday. China has introduced more foreign policy legislation in recent years. Photo: AP He told the gathe
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Following the incident with the convoy, China begins border training with Myanmar.
25Nov By Stuart WhiteNo Comments
China, World

Following the incident with the convoy, China begins border training with Myanmar.

China's military will begin ”combat training activities” from Saturday on its side of the border with Myanmar, it said on social media, a day after a convoy of trucks carrying goods into the neighboring Southeast Asian nation went up in flames The incident, which Myanmar state media called an insurgent attack, came amid insecurity concerns in China, whose envoy met top officials in Myanmar's capital for talks on border stability after recent signs of rare strain in their ties. Myanmar was told of the drills, military junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun said, adding that they aimed to “maintain stability and peace” near the border, and did not undermine China's policy of non-interference in Myanmar's internal affairs. “The military tie between China and Myanmar is firm and collaboration b
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