Author: The Chief Editor

The possibility of another war between Israel and Lebanon has increased, leading to concerns. Both parties have increased border fires this month. According to multiple sources including the BBC and CNN, tensions have increased between the parties. While Hezbollah has sent larger volleys of drones and missiles across the border this month, Israel has carried out attacks in various places, leading to dozens of deaths of both parties, along with their threats of a full-scale war. By this time, the Israel Defense Force has ”approved and validated” operational plans for an offensive in Lebanon amidst mutual threats by the parties,…

Many countries in Asia, Africa and other continents have enacted digital or cyber security laws. Given the increase in various cyber crimes in different countries, such laws have definitely some relevance. Digital laws help protect individuals and businesses from cybercrimes such as hacking, identity theft and fraud and provide a framework for ensuring internet privacy and data protection and addressing online harassment. But, according to multiple sources including the BBC and CNN, there are diverse concerns with digital or cyber security laws including the exploitation of dissent voices and restriction of the freedom of expression in different countries including, but…

Trafficking/smuggling is a concern in many countries. But the involvement of political leaders in trafficking/smuggling — both within the national territory and between/among countries — including human trafficking, drug trafficking and gold smuggling, leads to a difficulty in addressing it. According to multiple sources including the BBC and CNN, political leaders are involved in trafficking/smuggling in different countries in Asia, Africa and other regions, including, but not limited to, Cambodia, Mexico, Thailand, Bangladesh and Nigeria. In addition to the difficulty in addressing trafficking/smuggling, such involvement results in far reaching consequences including undermining the rule of law, perpetuating a cycle of criminal…

US President Joe Biden laid out a detailed three-stage peace proposal to end the Gaza war this month. The Israeli proposal, which, according to multiple sources including the BBC and CNN, includes a six-week ceasefire between the parties in which the Israel Defense Forces would withdraw from populated areas of Gaza and there would be a surge of humanitarian aid and the release of hostages and prisoners, negotiations and a permanent ceasefire and final end of the war and a major rebuilding plan for Gaza, will end the war, which has by this time killed more than 36000 Palestinians. But…

The Ukraine war, which started with the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, has been going on for more than two years. According to multiple sources including the BBC and CNN, the war that has by this time led to the deaths of more than 100,000 soldiers and civilians and brought many other negative outcomes for both parties. But there is no convincing possibility of ending the war — the largest war in Europe after World War II — as there are neither any peace efforts to end the war at present nor is there any willingness of…

Freedom of expression is crucial. It helps express opinions and hold those in power accountable — leading to improved governance — in different countries. But there is limited freedom of expression in many countries in Asia, Africa and other continents, leading to concerns. While around forty countries provide unrestricted freedom of expression, others provide restricted freedom of expression. But the freedom of expression is at the crisis level in around forty countries, mostly in Asia and Africa. Consequently, most people of the world have some form of restricted freedom of expression that leads to the suppression of their diverse concerns and a…

Protests were carried out in Kashmir last week against the soaring flour and energy prices. But, according to the BBC and several other newspapers, protests that were initiated by the Joint Awami Action Committee, an activist group, with several demands including subsidized flour and the provision of electricity at its production cost led to violent clashes between protesters and paramilitary forces called rangers in Muzaffarabad — the capital city of the region bordering India — and resulted in four deaths, including one police officer, many injuries and the suspension of schools, public transportation and businesses. Many have rendered the level of the…

Gold smuggling —  a lucrative illegal activity due to high demand and a source of huge profit — is a crucial problem. It is often associated with organized crime groups, has severe economic consequences and takes place in many countries in Asia, Africa and other regions through maritime, air and land routes. But gold smugglers use different countries including, but not limited to, the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Singapore and DR Congo as major international transit routes for smuggling gold. The illegal transportation of gold worth hundreds of billions of US dollars across borders every year avoids taxes, leading to…

Peace is vital for every society. It is crucial for fostering harmony, stability and cooperation among nations. But there are conflicts in different countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and other regions, including the Ukraine war, the Gaza war and the Sundanese civil war, leading to a lack of peace. Peace steps are definitely made to resolve conflicts and bring peace. However, efforts often go in vain because of geopolitical and other causes. The lack of political will is one of the important causes of continuing conflicts. Without a political will and genuine commitment from all parties involved, conflicts continue to escalate…

The wages of workers have improved — leading to better living conditions— across the world. But increased wages are not alright many times in different countries because of diverse factors including the rising cost of living and inflation rates, affecting the lives of workers. The wages of workers in developed countries tend to be higher than those in developing and less developed countries because of various economic and other factors such as higher productivity, advanced technology and stronger labor unions. According to multiple sources, millions of workers find it difficult to bear the cost of their living in many countries in Asia,…