November 16-30

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• With the advancement of technology, there has been an increase in research and development in the field of electric vehicles, leading to a rise in the import and export of electric cars in the present day. China stands out as one of the major global players in the electric vehicle sector. The rapid growth of China in the electric vehicle industry is causing considerable concern for the United States and the European Union. The U.S. aims for at least two-thirds of new cars sold by 2032 to be electric, while the EU targets all cars sold to be electric by 2035.The global automotive industry employs around 14 million workers, with a total production value surpassing 3 trillion dollars. China's significant role and growth in the electric vehicle market have implications for the global automotive landscape, leading to shifts in goals and strategies in major regions like the U.S. and EU.

• The year 2023 is being highlighted as India's shining year. With the world's largest population and a rapidly growing economy, India is expanding its global position. Throughout the current year, India hosted the Global South Virtual Summit, which saw the participation of 125 countries. It also received an invitation to the G7 summit held in Japan and participated in the Quad (Quadrilateral) Summit. In addition, in July of the same year, India hosted both the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the G20 Summit, engaging in a busy diplomatic schedule. In a comparison of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth among the top ten economies, India emerged as the country with the highest growth rate, reaching 7%.

• After grappling with inflation and economic issues for some time, the critical election journey in Argentina has come to an end. Javier Milei, known for his far-right views, emerged as the new President of Argentina, securing 55.7% of the votes and winning 21 out of 24 provinces. The voter turnout was 76.3%, with blank ballot rates unexpectedly high at 1.55%. Following the Argentine election, predictions suggest potential new conflicts in Latin American politics, especially with the victory of billionaire Daniel Noboa in Ecuador's election and the likelihood of Trump's success in the 2024 U.S. elections.

• As Israel's attacks on Palestine continue despite the implemented ceasefires, the Austria-based think tank, the International Institute for Peace, has put forth some perspectives to end the conflict and establish peace in the region. The organization emphasizes the necessity of a two-state solution (the establishment of an independent Palestinian state) to resolve conflicts and issues between the two countries. The second proposal is a one-state solution (a single governance model where Israelis and Palestinians have equal rights). The third suggestion involves a regional approach with contributions from Arab countries to the peace process. The fourth recommendation suggests international intervention with active involvement from actors such as the U.S., Russia, and the UN. The final proposal suggests a land swap where Israel and Palestine exchange certain territories to address to conflict.

• Globally irregular rainfall patterns and resulting flood disasters have heightened expectations for a harsh winter worldwide. The Ukrainian think tank Razumkov Centre has published an article assessing the country's energy infrastructure ahead of the upcoming winter season. Approximately 50% of Ukraine's energy production infrastructure suffered significant damage at the beginning of 2022 due to the attacks initiated by Russia. The restoration of the damaged infrastructure does not seem feasible in the short term. To protect the infrastructure from potential attacks,set barriers and signal-jamming devices are being installed. Even if there are no attacks on the infrastructure, the cooling weather is expected to result in an energy deficit of nearly 2 GW in the country.

• The housing crisis in the UK continues to persist. Recent research highlights that at least one in every ten individuals in the country is at risk of losing their home. This amounts to approximately 814,000 people, and when the child population in households facing the risk is included, the total number of individuals at risk exceeds 1.1 million. The survey reveals that due to rising rental prices, 3.5 million tenants (45%) fear the prospect of becoming homeless.

• The use of unmanned aerial vehicles - drones - for hobby purposes has been steadily increasing in many countries. In Africa, numerous high-ranking military officials have convened to discuss the threats posed by drones and have reached agreements on certain issues. The widespread use of drones for propaganda and attack purposes raises various risks for countries. The ease of access to drones and the potential to enhance their destructive capabilities through minor modifications draw the attention of many illegal armed groups, leading to the creation of hazardous situations.