Qamar Bashir

Oil has been a dominant force shaping global economies over the past two centuries, acting as both a maker and breaker of fortunes. Fluctuations in oil prices and supply chain disruptions have historically been a nightmare for governments worldwide. Low oil prices in the mid-20th century encouraged the production of large, fuel-inefficient vehicles, the conversion […]

In December 2024, the United States and China renewed their government-to-government Science and Technology Agreement (STA) with a five-year protocol, continuing a collaboration first established in 1979. Over the decades, the STA has yielded significant mutual benefits, with the US leveraging China’s biodiversity to advance agriculture, medicine, and environmental science, besides joining hands in climate […]

A young, pregnant woman from Lebanon fled to the United States – the “Land of Opportunity” – with her husband and family, escaping the horrors of a war-torn homeland. They arrived in America shattered, both emotionally and financially. Struggling to find their footing in a foreign land, they faced a harsh new reality that seemed […]

Efforts to challenge the US dollar’s global dominance have historically been hindered by disparities among nations in economic strength, foreign reserves, human resource development, infrastructure, productivity, innovation, and wealth creation. However, recent advancements have enabled international and regional organizations to make significant progress in reducing reliance on the dollar for investment, trade, and reserves. Emerging […]

The stunning results of the USA elections surprised both Democrats and Republicans alike. Trump’s unprecedented victory was accompanied by Republican wins in the US Senate and House of Representatives. Before the 2024 elections, Democrats controlled the Senate with 51 seats to Republicans’ 49, while Republicans held a narrow majority in the House with 220 seats […]

Being in the field a month before the elections, going door to door and meeting a diverse range of people – from rich to poor, from White to Black, and including Asian, African, and other communities – was an experience like no other. Each of these individuals was preparing to choose the upcoming leader of […]

It is an exhilarating experience to be in one of the most pivotal states in the US – Michigan, one of the seven key swing states that, alongside Arizona, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Georgia, and North Carolina, will shape the outcome of the presidential election, the future of America, and, by extension, the world. Swing states […]

President Xi Jinping, since assuming office, has been a driving force in elevating China to unprecedented heights, not only in the country’s history but also in the global context. He possesses the qualities of a charismatic, pragmatic, and highly composed leader, rarely seen losing his temper, displaying worry, or revealing any personal anxiety. His humility […]

For Pakistan, hosting the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers Meeting is indeed an honor, but in the current charged political, security, and law and order situation, it presents an immense challenge. In many countries, especially established democracies, protests during high-profile regional and international meetings are considered a normal and routine affair. A […]

Iran has fallen into a strategic trap for the second time, and only with capabilities comparable to Israel’s military strength and allies as powerful as the USA and the West would Iran have any realistic fighting chance to safeguard its economic, industrial, and military assets. The formidable offensive and defensive military capabilities of Israel, the […]