Andreas Ortega When Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping were cuddling up to each other during the Olympics, they affirmed their joint opposition to NATO’s reach. They are obviously opposed to democratic, non-totalitarian nations expressing their solidarity to one another by belonging to the alliance. It is well-known why …

Giancarlo Valori The Chinese awakening was one of the central events in the history of the 20th century history. In the penultimate decade of the 19th century, Western capitalism penetrated China: cheap industrial products damaged local crafts and industries. Social decadence and increasing poverty were worsened by famine …

Junaid Ahmad Can infrastructure investments provide a strong stimulus for the Indian economy? The answer is a resounding but conditional yes: conditional on how the investments will be financed and spent. Size versus Leverage The policy discussions on how to finance infrastructure inevitably focus on the size of …

A new report launched today by the World Economic Forum reveals that the semiconductors, electronics and pharmaceuticals sectors are leading the way in the digital transformation of manufacturing. The Manufacturing Transformation Insights Report 2022 offers new insights and findings emerging from the new Global Smart Industry Readiness Index …

Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies can improve older people’s health and well-being, but only if ageism is eliminated from their design, implementation, and use, said the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday. In a new policy brief, Ageism in artificial intelligence for health, the agency presents legal, non-legal and technical measures that can …

The 60th session of the Commission for Social Development kicked off on Monday, in a virtual format, with appeals to make COVID-19 a turning point for humanity, and a focus on making social protection systems universally available. Opening the session, the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), Liu Zhenmin, argued that the pandemic had highlighted the critical role of social policies. “The COVID-19 crisis has exacerbated …

In his message marking the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the UN chief on Friday called for an enabling environment where “today’s girls become tomorrow’s leading scientists and innovators, shaping a fair and sustainable future for all”. “Today, only one in three science and engineering …

Kester Klomegah The Maghreb region, with an estimated population of over 100 million people, has been an interesting geographical region for key global players due to its tremendous untapped natural resources. Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia established the Arab Maghreb Union in 1989 to promote cooperation and …

Douglas Daniel D’sa An introduction to international order While each state exercises its own and respects the other’s right to sovereignty, they are not inherently equal. Some states wield greater power and influence, while other states merely react and try to develop their economic and political might. But …