Author: Saanika.S

Modi’s Schedule in Italy Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Apulia, southern Italy, for the G7 Summit’s Outreach session. During his one-day visit, he will participate in discussions focusing on artificial intelligence, energy, and issues concerning the Africa-Mediterranean region. The summit which is hosted by Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni and attended by Pope Francis is taking place at the luxurious Borgo Egnazia resort. Modi is also slated to hold bilateral discussions with Pope Francis. In his departure statement, Modi expressed enthusiasm for meeting global leaders and addressing critical global challenges to improve quality of life. He highlighted the…

The Group of Seven (G7) has made a significant decision to allocate $50 billion in aid to Ukraine, funded through frozen Russian assets. This agreement, reached ahead of the G7 summit in Puglia, Italy, demonstrates a strong international commitment to supporting Ukraine amid its ongoing conflict with Russia. Global Leaders Gather in Italy to Back Ukraine The G7 summit in Puglia, Italy, brings together leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. This year’s summit is particularly focused on the crisis in Ukraine, with leaders coordinating their response to Russia’s aggression. The French presidency…

Expected Tax Increases and Revenue Growth Pakistan’s government, led by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, will reveal a crucial budget on Wednesday. This budget will be the first since the recent elections and Aurangzeb’s first presentation since taking office in March. The plan will include ambitious targets for tax revenue growth, possible tax changes, and address the fiscal deficit. The government has already set an economic growth target of 3.6 percent for the fiscal year starting July 1, up from 2.4 percent last year. Emphasis on Broad-Based Contribution In a press conference on Tuesday, Aurangzeb stressed that everyone must contribute to…

Russia was excluded after criticizing the event, though officials indicate that Moscow could participate in the future. Peace Efforts Amidst Conflict On June 15-16, representatives from ninety countries will convene in Switzerland to discuss a path to sustainable peace in Ukraine. This summit, organized at the request of Kyiv, aims to address the conflict that began nearly 28 months ago with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, Russia will not be in attendance, as they were not extended an invitation. Swiss President Viola Amherd announced the summit’s objective to forge a roadmap to end the war and involve both Russia and…

Far-Right Gains in European Elections The recent European Union elections saw significant gains for far-right parties in several countries, including France, Italy, and Austria. Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) also made notable progress, finishing ahead of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s SPD party. The hard-right performed well in the Netherlands as well. Despite these successes, experts cautioned against overestimating their impact. Francesco Nicoli from the Bruegel think tank emphasized that these are “second-order elections,” meaning the far-right victories, while noteworthy, are not as significant as they might appear. Christine Verger of the Jacques Delors think tank agreed, noting that while there might…

Israel’s Military and Palestinian Groups Named in Annual Report UN Notification and Reactions On Friday, the spokesperson for United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres confirmed that Israel’s military has been included in a worldwide roster of perpetrators who have transgressed against children, as announced by Guterres himself. This announcement, detailed in Guterres’ annual report on children in armed conflict, will be formally presented to the UN Security Council next Friday, according to UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric. Alongside Israel’s military, Palestinian groups Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad were also included on the list. The inclusion of these groups highlights the complexity and…

During the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum, Russian President Vladimir Putin urged for an enhancement of Moscow’s relations with the Taliban government. Notably, a delegation from the Taliban was in attendance during the Wednesday forum. Putin stressed the necessity of engaging with Afghanistan’s existing power dynamics and adapting to the current political landscape. Putin emphasized the importance of acknowledging the Taliban’s control for practical international relations. He highlighted that given the Taliban’s governance in Afghanistan, it is imperative for Russia to establish a functional relationship with them. Putin argued that this approach aligns with Russia’s historical practice of engaging with…

BJP Falls Short of Majority Prime Minister Narendra Modi has won a third term in office, but his party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), did not secure an outright majority in the 543-seat Lok Sabha. Despite leading in the polls, the BJP fell short of the crucial 272 seats required to govern alone. The party will need to rely on its coalition partners, who have gained additional seats, to form a government. A Personal Blow to Modi The election results represent a significant personal blow to Narendra Modi, who has consistently secured majorities in previous elections, both as the Chief…

Conservative Leader Enters the Race Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the conservative speaker of Iran’s parliament, has declared his candidacy for the snap presidential election on June 28. Ghalibaf’s entry into the race is noteworthy, given his influential political career and previous presidential attempts in 2005 and 2013. In 2017, he withdrew in favor of Ebrahim Raisi, who finished second to Hassan Rouhani, securing Rouhani a second term. The Election Background The snap presidential election, initially scheduled for 2025, was moved up following the unexpected death of President Ebrahim Raisi on May 19. Raisi, along with seven members of his team, including…

On Sunday, Mexicans headed to the polls for a historic election, potentially electing the country’s first woman president. This landmark event, however, has been overshadowed by a wave of violence, making it one of the most tumultuous elections in Mexico’s history. Historic Battle Between Two Women The two leading candidates in this presidential race are women. Claudia Sheinbaum, a scientist and former mayor of Mexico City, represents the leftist Morena party. Sheinbaum is closely aligned with outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, whose policies have heavily influenced her campaign. Opposing her is Xóchitl Gálvez, a businesswoman and former senator from…