Politics and Governance

 The tenure of the current coalition government led by the Pakistan Democratic Movement will end on 14 August 2023

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has declared that the current coalition government, headed by the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), will conclude its tenure on14 August 2023. Following this, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), responsible for conducting constitutional elections, will announce the date for the upcoming general elections in the country. It is anticipated that the elections in Pakistan will likely take place in either the last week of October or the first week of November 2023. Notably, the provincial assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have already been dissolved, and in August, the National Assembly and the remaining two provincial assemblies, namely Sindh and Balochistan, will complete their tenure on 15 august, paving the way for elections to be held nationwide.

8th International Conference on Democracy and Elections in Asia will be held from 23 to 25 August 2023

Asia faces challenges in democratisation and political change due to authoritarianism. Post-pandemic elections face challenges from party laws, election advertising, fake news, and political donations. The 8th International Conference on Democracy and Elections in Asia will be held in Bangkok, Thailand, from 23 to 25 August 2023. The conference aims to convene researchers and advocates for free and fair elections, analyse laws and disinformation campaigns, evaluate the rise of authoritarianism in Asia, and assess the future of democracy in the region. The conference focuses on themes such as harassment and violence against women candidates, youth participation, foreign interference in elections, independence of election management bodies, and the role of ethnic and minority groups. It includes short remarks, keynote speeches, plenary discussions, and breakout sessions.

Defence and Security

Quad navies will participate in Malabar exercise between 11 and 22 August 2023

US, India, Australia, and Japan’s navies will participate in advanced Malabar 2023 exercises off the east coast of Australia from August 11 to 22, 2023. These exercises will focus on interoperability, sea deterrence, and sea denial to ensure freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific. India, with a logistics agreement with all other Quad partners, will participate with its top-of-the-line destroyers, P 8 I anti-submarine warfare aircraft, and a submarine. The main focus of the naval drill, will be anti-submarine warfare operations, with the PLA Navy becoming belligerent in the Indo-Pacific after claiming claims to the whole South China Sea, much to the dismay of ASEAN countries like the Philippines and Indonesia in particular. Through the Malabar 2023 exercises, the participating nations seek to strengthen their capabilities to counter potential threats effectively, protect vital sea lanes, and maintain a rules-based order in the region.

3^rdInternational Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference will be scheduled on 29 and 30 August 2023

The Chiefs of Naval Staff and representatives from Africa’s maritime industry will meet at the International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (IMDEC), which will be held from August 29 to 30, in Burma Hall, Accra, Ghana, to talk about the difficulties facing maritime security on the continent. This conference will present cutting-edge technology as well as blue economy solutions for Africa. IMDEC will feature the largest gathering of Africa’s maritime industry, hosting regional and international Chiefs of Naval Staff to address the principal issues facing maritime security on the continent. The event offers an exclusive and unparalleled opportunity to network with 12 plus Chiefs of Naval Staff, Commanders of Coast Guards and their counterparts from international countries.

Trade and Economics

The 15th BRICS summit will take place on 22 to 24 August 2023

The 15th BRICS Summit will take place in South Africa from 22 to 24 August 2023.The Summit will be hosted at the Sandston Convention Centre (SCC) in Johannesburg, Gauteng. This marks the first in-person summit in four years, following the virtual format of the last three. The summit will focus on global challenges like multilateralism, climate change, and terrorism. The leaders will also discuss expanding the grouping’s membership and de-dollarisation of the global economy. The summit will involve business engagement, the New Development Bank, and the BRICS Business Council. South Africa will also continue its outreach efforts, holding a BRICS Outreach and BRICS Plus Dialogue during the 15th BRICS Summit. The South Africa summit is crucial for the organization’s future, as decisions will determine its trajectory and role in the global community.

Trade and Investment Working Group Meeting will be scheduled from 24 to 25 August 2023

The G-20 Ministerial Meeting in Jaipur, India, scheduled for 24 and 25 August 2023, aims to build consensus on Indian Presidency’s action-oriented proposals on global trade and investment issues. These include developing High-Level Principles for Digitalization of Trade Documents, creating a Meta Information Interface for MSMEs and a generic mapping framework for GVCs, and preparing a Compendium on Mutual Recognition Agreements. The team will draft a communiqué for the Trade and Investment Working Group, addressing priority issues, focusing on MSMEs’ integration in international trade. The communiqué will present India’s submission and propose solutions to facilitate their integration into global value chains. The outcomes will contribute to a shared understanding of challenges in accelerating global trade and investment and develop tools that could leverage existing opportunities to make growth inclusive and transparent.

Social Issues

2nd international conference on women will be held on 11 and 12 August 2023

The 2nd International Conference on Women, titled Women 2023, will take place in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 11-12 August, 2023. The conference will aim to address the status quo in women’s empowerment and promote discussions on gender equality, women’s engagement in various disciplines, future challenges, and opportunities. Experts and enthusiasts will be invited to join the network and envision a better future for women. The conference aims to raise awareness on women’s rights, gender-based violence, and gender equality issues and recognising the contribution made by women towards the advancement of various disciplines in the world. The conference celebrates women’s contributions across diverse disciplines, highlighting their impact on pushing boundaries of human knowledge and progress, showcasing their invaluable contributions.

38th UN water meeting will be held on 18 and 19 August 2023

The 38th UN-Water meeting in Stockholm, scheduled on 18 and 19 August 2023, Sweden, will aim to advance progress on SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation) by coordinating UN-Water Members and Partners’ approach to water and sanitation issues. The meeting aims to promote innovative solutions for a water-wise world. In this meeting UN-Water Members and Partners will propose themes, present options, and list pros and cons for various themes. The 38th UN Water Meeting is crucial for effective water management and conservation, focusing on interconnections between water, climate, energy, agriculture, and human health. This multidisciplinary dialogue is essential for developing innovative approaches to tackle complex water challenges. The meeting will be a catalyst for fostering international cooperation and knowledge exchange, transcending borders and ideologies to address the shared concern of water scarcity, and access.

Energy and Environment

Brazil will host Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization summit on 8 and 9 August 2023 in Belem

In an effort to renew the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO), Brazil has offered to organise a regional summit in the northern city of Belem in early August that will bring together nations that include portions of the Amazon rainforest as well as senior officials from the United States and France. The eight nations that constitute the ACTO will have the chance to explore ways to draw in investment, stop deforestation, safeguard indigenous people, and promote sustainable development in the face of climate change during the summit. By fostering dialogue, cooperation, and consensus among these nations and their international partners, the summit aspires to chart a path forward that ensures the Amazon’s protection, while simultaneously advancing regional development in a sustainable and responsible manner. The outcomes of this gathering are expected to set a foundation for impactful policies and actions that can safeguard one of the world’s most vital ecological treasures for generations to come.

6th International Conference on Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change will be held on 21 and 22 August 2023

The 6th International Conference on Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change will take place in Philadelphia on 21 and 22 August 2023. The conference focuses on current research in Environmental Science and Climate Change, focusing on solutions for environmental problems like air, water, soil, noise, thermal, radioactive, and light pollution. One of the central themes of the conference revolves around biotechnologies and their role in environmental conservation. Specifically, the scientific concepts behind biofuels, novel bioactive compounds, and waste conversion technologies will be explored in depth. The conference seeks to foster a deeper understanding of these cutting-edge technologies and how they can be effectively harnessed to reduce our ecological footprint and combat climate change.