Statecraft

#WATCH: In Part 4 of "The Nowhere Hindus," we talk to Pakistani Hindus and well-known activist Hindu Singh Sodha in Jodhpur to understand why the majority of these refugees will not be eligible for citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) despite having lived in India for 10-20 years. Having fled from Sindh, Pakistan, to find refuge and practice their faith in Sanatan Dharm freely, these Pakistani Hindus are at their wit's end but remain hopeful that someday at least their children will get to live a life of dignity in India, if not them. Watch Parts 1, 2, and 3 of 'The Nowhere Hindus' here: Part 1: https://lnkd.in/gj7ZhJtD Part 2: https://lnkd.in/gD_EDVZb Part 3: https://lnkd.in/gh_ekjHi #Pakistan #Sindh #Hindu #Muslim #Islam #Karachi #India #Rajasthan #Delhi

#WATCH: At the recent ET World Leaders Forum, Dr S. Jaishankar, India’s External Affairs Minister, said that the goal of India’s Neighbourhood First policy is to make connections that are so deep and domains so indispensable, that the chances of volatility in the region diminish. #Jaishankar #India #NeighbourhoodFirst #ActEast

#WATCH: Russian President Vladimir Putin said that India, China, and Brazil are partners that are genuinely interested in resolving Russia’s conflict with Ukraine. He added that he is very sure that the leaders of these three countries share a strong sense of trust. #Russia #India #Brazil #China #Ukraine #NATO #Putin #Modi #XiJinping #Lula #UkraineWar #VladimirPutin

#StatecraftInTheNews: In a historic move, India's Congress party has established an internal group to promote LGBTQ+ rights, signalling growing political recognition for the community. The move comes after numerous setbacks and challenges for LGBTQ+ rights in India. The new group will be led by LGBTQ+ activist Mario da Penha under the Congress's All-India Professionals' Congress division. This is the first time a major Indian political party has created a representative framework for queer people. This move follows the Supreme Court's 2018 decision to decriminalise homosexuality. However, in a significant setback last year, the court declined to legalise same-sex marriage, leaving the issue to be debated in parliament. PM Modi's government has also maintained that parliament is the right platform to decide on same-sex marriage. Congress's move aligns with its poll promise to legalise civil unions for same-sex couples. Mario da Penha called this a “major moment for queer inclusion in Indian politics.” In another landmark development, Anish Gawande became the first openly LGBTQ+ spokesperson for a major Indian political party, the opposition Nationalist Congress Party, highlighting an increasing acceptance of LGBTQ+ voices in national politics. The government has introduced measures like allowing same-sex couples to access food programs, open joint bank accounts, and receive healthcare without discrimination. However, it continues to shy away from legalising same-sex marriage. The Indian government is now seeking public input to shape policies for the LGBTQ+ community, but much work remains to be done to achieve full equality and recognition for LGBTQ+ rights in India.

#WATCH: "I will create a government efficiency commission tasked with conducting a complete financial and performance audit of the entire federal government." Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he would be taking up Elon Musk's suggestion to create a "Government Efficiency Commission" to address corruption and misappropriation of resources in the federal government. The former US President even suggested that he would be okay with Musk heading this task force, if the latter were free to do so. #DonaldTrump #GovernmentEfficiencyCommission #Trump #Musk #ElonMusk #US

#StatecraftInTheNews: Ukrainian lawmakers approved 9 new ministers, marking President Volodymyr Zelensky's biggest cabinet reshuffle since Russia's invasion. Andrii Sybiha, Zelensky’s former deputy chief of staff, replaced Dmytro Kuleba as Foreign Minister. The new appointment comes as Ukraine seeks more support and aims to strengthen ties with the Global South. Herman Smetanin, previously the head of the JSC Ukrainian Defense Industry, has taken charge of strategic industries, focusing on domestic arms production, while Oleksiy Kuleba, a former deputy head of Zelensky's office, has been appointed Deputy PM overseeing reconstruction and infrastructure. Olha Stefanyshina, Ukraine's former Deputy PM for European Integration, now handles Ukraine's EU & NATO integration. She emphasised the need for "hundreds and thousands" of changes to join the EU. As Zelensky prepares for key meetings with foreign allies in September, the reshuffle aims to bring "new energy" to the government amid ongoing war challenges.

#StatecraftInTheNews: Australia and Japan have united in condemning China's actions towards the Philippines in the South China Sea, labelling them as "dangerous and coercive". In a joint statement after their meeting in Queenscliff, the two nations expressed serious concerns over China's increased activities in the region. Both countries emphasised the need for stability and security in the South China Sea, urging China to respect international law and territorial sovereignty. The two countries also discussed involving Japan in the AUKUS security alliance, which currently includes the US, UK, and Australia.

#StatecraftInTheNews: French Emanuel President Macron appointed Michel Barnier as the country’s new PM. Barnier, known for his role in EU's Brexit negotiations, faces immediate challenges, including France's 2025 budget. The leftwing alliance, which won June's election, accused Macron of ignoring the results by choosing a conservative PM. Demonstrations are being called, but the far-right National Rally holds the balance of power. National Rally leader Jordan Bardella said they won't block Barnier for now but will assess his policies on their merits. Key issues include cost of living, security, and immigration. Left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon called Barnier's appointment a "democratic coup." The left lacks the numbers to block Barnier's appointment, but tensions are rising. Markets reacted positively to Barnier's appointment, with bank shares up and government borrowing costs slightly down. The euro also saw a small increase. Barnier must navigate a divided parliament, implement budget cuts, and maintain Macron's reforms, especially controversial pension changes.

#WATCH: "If you really want to enjoy eating paan, you must make an investment in Kashi." Indian PM Narendra Modi had a light-hearted moment during an interaction with a group of leading Singaporean CEOs from diverse sectors including investment funds, infrastructure, manufacturing, energy, sustainability and logistics. He told Quek Kwang Meng, the Regional CEO of Mapletree Investments, that if he really wanted to enjoy meetha paan, which was served at the roundtable meeting, he should make investments in the Indian city of Banaras, which is renowned for its paan. #NarendraModi #Modi #Banaras #Varanasi #Kashi #Paan #MeethaPaan #BanarasiPaan #Singapore #India #Jaishankar

#WATCH: "Her laugh is so fascinating!" Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to troll the US Democratic Party as he "endorsed" Kamala Harris for president since his original choice, Joe Biden, had stepped down from the race. As if that wasn't enough, Putin went on to talk about Harris' infamous laugh, which he called "fascinating" and something that makes him feel that "everything is good." #VladimirPutin #Putin #JoeBiden #Biden #KamalaHarris #EasternEconomicForum #Russia #Ukraine