New Bundesbank chief likely to be less hawkish

Significance Weidmann decided to quit early as his efforts to oppose ultra-loose monetary policies were continuously resisted in the ECB. Unlike his predecessors, Nagel does not appear to possess strongly held convictions regarding monetary policy, suggesting he will be more pragmatic in relations with the ECB. Impacts Nagel will make digital modernisation a key objective during his time as Bundesbank president. Nagel’s support for stronger German connections with Chinese financial markets may weaken amid political tension. A strong economic recovery in 2022 would embolden those in the ECB governing council supporting the phasing out of asset-buying programmes.

Haiti New Year violence to heighten political tension

Headline HAITI: New Year violence to heighten political tension

3. Towards the idea of Pakistan

‘Towards the idea of Pakistan’ highlights the forts, tombs, and mosques that summed up the presence of the Mughuls in West Pakistan. These markers of conquest and conviction have created a physical landscape that is aesthetically awe-inspiring and spiritually soothing. Looking at the partitioned history of the Indian subcontinent from the 11th to the 18th century, shows where Buddhism migrated, Sikhism manifested, Hinduism strengthened, and Islam became established. The period produced a protracted, hybridized composite Indo-Islamic identity, which became involved in the politics of the mid-20th century. The inability to resolve the political tension between the various religious and political groups inevitably resulted in the Partition and creation of Pakistan in 1947.

Cultural Diplomacy and Co-operation in ASEAN: The Role of Arts and Culture Festivals

Summary Beyond their traditional role as entertainment, form of expression and meeting spaces within local communities, arts and culture festivals can perform various functions. They can serve as showcases of artistic pride, signal openness towards cultural diversity, support the local economy, contribute to reducing political tension and provide grounds to consolidate international relationships. On occasion, such festivals function as tools to support the vision of a multilateral co-operation institution, as is the case of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Through a comprehensive review of the arts and culture festivals curated in ASEAN, this article investigates the festivals’ ulterior motivations. A range of economic, political, diplomatic, and organisational logics explain the evolution of such festivals during the last fifty years. The article concludes that arts and culture festivals have remained a compelling and instrumental co-operation mechanism in ASEAN, but formats and approaches need substantial revision.

An African School for African Americans: Black Demands for Education in Antebellum Boston

This article examines Black parents’ efforts to establish and secure quality education for their children in antebellum Boston, Massachusetts. It situates the African School, a Black-owned cultural institution, within Black nationalist politics and reveals how the schoolhouse became a site of political tension between Black Bostonians and the Boston School Committee. Analyzing petitions, school records, and newspapers, this essay finds that the African School cultivated Black citizenship ideologies that prioritized political activism. This study invites new understandings of the political intersections of education and citizenship, and it illuminates the utility of Black nationalism in antebellum Boston.

Cross Carpeting and the Challenges to Democratic Culture and Political Stability in Nigeria's Fourth Republic

Cross carpeting is an act of swapping political parties. It is an act of changing party allegiance or moving from one party to another. Cross carpeting in known by different nomenclature such as party hopping, party switching, party crossover, party defection, party decamping, floor crossing, canoe-jumping, political party prostitution and political nomadism. The spate of cross carpeting at all the levels of government in Nigeria is beginning to cause serious political tension, hostility and a source of worry to Nigerians. It is against this backdrop that this study seeks to examine the effect of cross carpeting on democratic culture and political stability in Nigeria’s fourth republic. Cross - sectional research method was adopted and data was collected via a survey of 300 respondents in south – south geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Data collected were analyzed using correlation and linear regression analysis with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 23. The findings of the study revealed that cross carpeting negatively and significantly impacts on democratic culture and political stability in Nigeria’s fourth republic. On the basis of these findings, the study recommends among others that every political party should have ideologies, programme and policies which will serve as a compass to their members and discourage them from defecting to another party.

Digital society and human with soft skills

The digitalization of society in the modern world is becoming the main carrier and source of social change. In conditions of instability and socio-political tension, education becomes extremely important, which will be united by common tasks and development prospects. In these conditions, it becomes necessary to have high-quality training of specialists with soft skills.

Apple's China bargain is running out of time

Significance A major exception is Apple, for which China is both a major market and a global production base. The firm's activities in China have sparked controversies in both China and the West, but so far it has navigated them successfully. However, recent developments in China's internal environment and foreign relations make the situation more difficult. Impacts Apple's attempts to diversify its supply chain will create opportunities for other Asian countries. Apple's data activities in China will face scrutiny from overseas, potentially leading to regulatory or market responses. Apple will only retain the foundations of its integrated business model through rigorous compliance with Chinese legislation and regulation. Chinese-US political tension is here to stay; any major US firm with exposure to China is at risk of being used as a pressure point.

The Emerging History of Transnational Criminal Law Relating to Cybercrime

Dominic Brodowski digs through the early days of cybercrime’s emergence emphasizing how it acquired a strong transnational element in various ways and how dominant legal frameworks such as the Budapest Convention emerged from soft law and national legislation. He examines the more recent shift from a prosecutorial focus to the pursuit of evidence held abroad, and the rising political tension around the Russian- and Chinese-backed initiative on a UN convention on cybercrime.

Northern Ireland’s DUP faces daunting challenges

Significance Poots’s election comes against the backdrop of Unionist anger over the Northern Ireland protocol (NIP) and the DUP’s dwindling support in the polls. Poots has said his main objective is to abolish the NIP. Impacts Political tension over the NIP in the lead-up to the Unionist 'marching season' in July could trigger more social unrest and riots. An EU-UK veterinary agreement would go a long way in reducing trade disruption between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. A poor result for the DUP in next year’s elections would weaken further its ability to scrap the NIP.