India has been a member of the BRICS group since 2009. It has been a staunch advocate for the synergistic power. Their summits have focused on a wide range of topics, all of which share the common goal of reorganizing the global economic and political order. The BRICS nations have together accomplished several significant milestones which include the establishment of the New Development Bank, the BRICS Payment System, collaborative anti-terror programs, climate mitigation, green energy, and other such initiatives. South Africa played home to the 15th BRICS Summit, which took place in the August of 2023 and was centered around the theme of “BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development, and Inclusive Multilateralism.” This essay considers issues from an Indian perspective that may pop up in the future BRICS summit.

Geopolitical risk is now among the most important factors in the formulation of multinational corporate strategy and the US trade policy. The US has aggressively enacted national-security-based trade sanctions, which recently include export controls on semiconductor chips and restrictions on outbound and inbound investment. The US has also adopted major legislation providing historical subsidies and tax breaks. Congress and the courts have upheld the president’s use of national security as a basis of trade actions and generally supported his protectionist policies. Trade should not be restricted or weaponized. Global and national rules need to be strengthened and, perhaps, a bit updated, but protectionism in the name of national security is a losing argument. The growing movement by the US to rely more on national security and protectionism in formulating trade policy is a very worrisome development. No one in Washington is proposing a return to pre-Trump policies. The real question is how far US trade policy will continue to change in the near future. Geopolitics will give us the answer.

This scholarly investigation delves into the legal complexities arising from the People’s Republic of China’s high-altitude balloons entering US airspace. By analyzing landmark cases, such as the Lockerbie incident, this study emphasizes the urgent need for clear liability norms in international airspace. The 2023 Montana Incursion served to clarify the self-defense and proportionality principles under international law. This study examines the nature of these balloons to determine whether they fall under international accords such as the Chicago Convention. It also explores military classifications and legal ambiguities surrounding non-combatant operators in armed conflicts. This paper identifies gaps in the principles of privacy and ethics concerning intelligence gathering within sovereign boundaries. It advocates for new multilateral treaties with geofencing standards to regulate high-altitude unmanned aerial vehicles. This author aims to fortify legal frameworks based on technological advances.

The deployment of drones for targeted killings in recent years has sparked intense debates regarding the ethical and legal implications of their deployment in contemporary conflicts. Through an examination of the complexities surrounding the application of fundamental international humanitarian law (IHL) principles - such as differentiating targets and ensuring a proportionate response – and their deployment, the article aims to illuminate the potential legal ramifications of using drones in targeted killing. It also highlights challenges arising from the ambiguous distinction between combatants and non-combatants, compounded by the remote nature of drone missions. The inclusion of a few relevant case studies enhances the analysis, providing practical insights into the nuanced legal landscape and emphasising the pressing need for a comprehensive legal framework tailored to regulate drone usage. This paper stresses the immediate requirement for an effective regulatory structure to ensure adherence to IHL, thereby upholding humanistic principles and reducing the human toll of conflicts.

The Government of Vietnam recently issued a Strategy for Intellectual Property 2030 and amended the Law on Intellectual Property in 2022 for the economic development of Vietnam through stimulating innovation and creativity. Many solutions are recommended to foster the integration of research and development, and intellectual property such as recycling, water cleaning, treatment of poisonous exhausted air, energy saving, green technology for conserving ecosystems. To have more inventions and patents, Vietnam needs to protect its intellectual property rights (IPRs) involving all its various sectors and entities more. However, the current status of IPRs protection in Vietnam shows limitations in this field due to lack of appropriate legal rules on civil and criminal sanctions. This article will give an overview of IPRs protection in Vietnam and then analyze some current provisions relating to civil and criminal sanctions for IPRs infringement based on the experiences of some foreign countries. It will also recommend some solutions for overcoming these challenges.

Mars is the planet closest to Earth. Many support that it may house humanity in the future. On the surface of Mars, sufficient resources are available to support life. Active studies are required to fundamentally comprehend the varied operating conditions and the major governing parameters involved in the growth of space colonization and supported atmospheric conditions. The existing legal framework of the Outer Space Treaty (OST), which was designed several decades ago, describes its goal of peaceful collaboration based on principles that we have not been able to uphold on Earth. It is vital to address the gaps in the legal system and ultimately deal with the mostly unanswered legal and regulatory questions. As interest in Martians colonisation missions from both government agencies and the private sector evolves, a workable solution that respects the essence of the OST and allows for limited sovereignty claims outside of protected habitation has been proposed.

With the increasing value of data and the growing power in the field of digital economy, China has taken the governance of cross-border data flow(CBDF) as an important national strategy. At the domestic policy level, China has piloted Beijing, Shanghai, Hainan and Xiongan New Area to create international data centers with the intention to control inbound and outbound data resources. At the domestic legislative level, China insists that the outbound data transfers be conducted in a secure environment. At the international cooperation level, on the basis of the Global Data Security Initiative, China builds the consensus of countries and promotes cooperation among countries along the Belt and Road routes on CBDF through the Digital Silk Road. Simultaneously, China will engage proactively in the newly international economic and trade agreements, with RCEP standing as a prime example. China’s discourse and model on CBDF governance have been continuously enhanced.

This study critically examines the integration of ILO Convention C111 into Vietnamese labour law, specifically examining its impact on sex-based discrimination. Employing feminist legal methodology, it assesses the reflection of the Convention’s anti-discrimination principles in national legislation and their effectiveness in promoting workplace gender equality in Vietnam. Preliminary findings suggest that, despite the Convention’s influence, there are significant obstacles to the full achievement of its objectives, largely due to socio-cultural and economic factors. The paper underscores the practical challenges of aligning the international labour standards with local laws preventing the implementation of C111’s provisions in combating gender-based discrimination in an employment setting. It argues that achieving true gender equality in employment transcends the simple adoption of international norms; it necessitates a holistic and profound approach. These insights are crucial for enhancing labour laws so as to foster genuine gender equality and emphasising the importance of practical implementation alongside the harmonisation of international standards.

Specifically, the matter of coups against governments – particularly those resulting from legitimate democratic elections – requires a more resolute approach. This entails criminalizing such actions and imposing substantial penalties on the individuals responsible. By doing so, the goal is to dissuade potential revolutionaries from attempting this act, given the clear stance and condemnation it would receive from the international community. Furthermore, it is imperative to highlight the international community’s inconsistent response to coups. This inconsistency becomes evident in the varying levels of support for different coups, seemingly influenced by the international community’s relationship with the affected state and, notably, its ousted president. This underscores the necessity for well-defined and unambiguous regulations governing coups themselves. The article aims to address this issue comprehensively and impartially, avoiding selective treatment. The significance of this issue lies in the need to address a legislative gap in international law.

This research concentrates primarily on the foundation of the China International Commercial Court (CICC), considering the structure and functions of the Court. The main objective of CICC is to develop a dispute resolution mechanism for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Given its predominant Chinese orientation, CICC may encounter various challenges as the BRI’s contracting members possess diverse judicial systems. This article will focus on the jurisdiction of the court and the procedures of enforcement of its judgments, orders, and direction. The authors also discuss the types of legal and administrative changes necessary to make CICC an effective and successful dispute resolution body. The BRI is a crucial element of Chinese strategies to control the global economic system. Therefore, CICC can provide critical insight into the present Chinese goals about international order. This paper finally examines that CICC symbolizes a Chinese ambition to strengthen, modify, or challenge the current international system.

In recent years, the global geopolitical landscape has been significantly influenced by nations asserting dominance in key sectors, including finance, intellectual property, and military industries. This ascendancy allows states to dictate terms and wield substantial impact on the world order. In particular, China has emerged as a pivotal player, strategically utilizing innovation and economic prowess to reshape international relations. This research examines China’s role in redefining global power dynamics, particularly within Africa, while evaluating the effectiveness and criticisms of its “soft power” strategies. China’s robust presence in critical sectors such as finance, intellectual property, and military industries underscores the correlation between leadership in these domains and global influence. The country’s economic and technological prowess has positioned it as a formidable player, enabling it to exert significant control over international rules and norms. The ramifications of such dominance transcend mere economic power, influencing diplomatic relations and shaping the international order.

Historically, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has provided development assistance to Latin American countries even though PRC has not achieved developed country status itself. In explaining this puzzle, the literature emphasises the prevalence of material and economic interests in the region. The present study seeks, by key informant interviews, to provide a deeper understanding of this dynamic, specifically by paying attention to how this practice has taken shape in the case of Venezuela. Beijing opens extensive lines of credit based on a holistic trial-and-error approach and case-by-case adaptation. Loans have shifted from being seen as a solution to local problems to becoming another source of national economic stagnation. The criticism directed towards Chinese lenders is that they lack clear standards and this holistic adaptation tends to perpetuate the bad practices of unstable governments.

The system of rice intensification (SRI) has been proposed as a way of transitioning towards more sustainable rice farming. In rainfed rice farming, however, various environmental constraints often make SRI practices challenging to adopt. We conducted an on-farm experiment in 30 rainfed lowland fields to examine the technical efficacy of SRI in southern Cambodia during the wet seasons of over three years of 2012, 2013, and 2015. Across the three years, the SRI practices produced significantly greater plant biomass and grain yield than non-SRI. We ascribed the yield increase to the increased number of grains per land area as the increased number of spikelets per panicle rather than the number of panicles per land area. With no significant difference in seedling age between the SRI and the non-SRI, we attributed the more substantial number of grains per panicle to the reduced planting density, increased manure application, and reduced amount of inorganic fertilizers in SRI fields. Our results suggest that the advantage of the SRI lies in the efficient use of internally available soil nutrients, whose mechanisms need quantitative understanding through future studies.

This study aimed to determine the optimal planting density for sesame cultivation in a double cropping system after harvesting onion and garlic in the Muan region. It compared the growth, yield, disease susceptibility, and labor hours for two varieties of sesame (Landrace and Geonbaek sesame) at different planting densities. Plant height in the Landrace sesame showed no significant variation with different planting densities, whereas Geonbaek sesame increased in height with higher planting densities. Both cultivars increased the number of viable branches at lower densities. The stem diameter was thicker in Landrace sesame with decreasing planting density, while in the Geonbaek sesame, there was no significant difference in stem diameter regardless of planting density. The number of capsules per plant for the Landrace sesame increased with decreasing density, whereas Geonbaek sesame showed no significant difference. Yield for both cultivars was higher at greater densities. However, the late direct sowing time and shorter cultivation period significantly reduced the yield of sesame cultivated in a double cropping system compared to that of sesame grown in a single cropping system, due to the late direct sowing time and shorter cultivation period. There was no significant difference in disease occurrence based on planting density. Furthermore, although labor hours did not vary with planting density when comparing the labor hours required for cultivating the Landrace sesame and Geonbaek sesame, the latter needed less labor time. This study reveals the optimum planting distance and density for sesame cultivation as a double cropping after harvesting onion and garlic, providing invaluable data for establishing sesame double cropping cultivation techniques.

Pepper cultivation requires a great amount of manual labor, especially for varieties needing support stakes to prevent them bending or breaking in heavy winds or rain. In Korea, it is recommended to secure support stakes and string lines carefully, so as to minimize the risk of damage caused by typhoons. The harvesting of peppers is a labor-intensive process with low rates of mechanization.The removal of stakes is particularly time-consuming during mechanical harvesting, and lodging is a major issue during cultivation and mechanical harvesting. Given increased mechanization during pepper harvesting, it is important to consider these issues when undertaking variety development and cultivation method improvements. Further research and development are required to improve cultivation practices and develop pepper varieties that are more resistant to lodging. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the impact of different cultivation methods on pepper lodging, thus broadening our knowledge on the desirable architecture of pepper plants required for lodging tolerance.

This research investigated the effects of the plant growth regulators (PGRs) on fruit characteristics and storability of ‘Shine Muscat’ grapes. The objective was to identify effective PGR treatment methods for high-quality production and efficient storage. The characteristics of ‘Shine Muscat’ fruits were more affected by the secondary treatment applied 14 days after full bloom than by the primary treatment applied at full bloom. The fruits treated with thidiazuron (TDZ) in the secondary treatment showed higher weight. However, the forchlorfenuron (CPPU) treated fruits exhibited lower acidity and higher soluble solids content, which led to a higher sugar-to-acid ratio. Additionally, it had higher firmness, contributing to a good texture and a brighter yellow-green skin color, thus indicating better quality. The storage period for ‘Shine Muscat’ varies depending on the storage method: up to 60 days in cold storage and up to 110 days in Controlled Atmosphere (CA) storage. Like other kinds of fruits, CA storage was more effective for long-term storage. Furthermore, considering that the quality characteristics manifested during the prestorage PGR treatment were maintained during CA storage, secondary treatment with CPPU was deemed effective for optimal quality and storage.

Bolivian tuber species like potato (Solanum tuberosum), native potato (Solanum sp), Oca (Oxalis tuberosa Molina), Olluco (Ullucus tuberosus Caldas), and Isaño (Tropaeolum turosum Ruíz & Pav.) hold extraordinary nutritional value and cultural significance, particularly within the Andean region. This study examined the mineral composition of Bolivian tuber species as an essential step toward understanding their nutritional significance and potential contributions to addressing dietary deficiencies. The research involved detailed analysis of diverse tuber cultivars, uncovering distinct mineral profiles across species. Native potato shows high levels of nitrogen (N), potassium (K), phosphorus (P), and magnesium (Mg) levels, alongside moderate micronutrients like iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn). Commercial potatoes exhibited prominence in N, P, and K, with moderate Fe, Zn, and manganese (Mn) levels. Oca, Isaño, and Papa Lisa displayed unique mineral concentrations, offering potential nutritional benefits. Intricate correlations and significant variances among elements highlighted the diverse mineral compositions among these tuber species. Multivariate analyses emphasized distinct mineral profiles unique to each species, revealing significant compositions of isaño and papa lisa's. The Multitrait Genotype- Ideotype Distance Index (MGIDI) identified isaño jaspeado, isaño and an unnamed native potato, AXT2, as promising ideotypes due to their exceptional mineral compositions. These findings provide comprehensive insights into Bolivian tuber species' various mineral compositions, underscoring their nutritional significance and potential in targeted breeding for improved dietary support and enhanced food security.

In this study, the expression of genes related to fruit ripening was investigated using realtime PCR. The study aimed to determine the effective conditions of calcium compounds (Calcium citrate, calcium chloride, calcium nitrate, GH-Ca, OS-Ca) and chitosan treatment to extend the shelf-life in the ‘Kumhong’ nectarine and ‘Madoka’ peach fruits. In this study, in the ‘Kumhong’ and ‘Madoka’ fruits, the expression of genes related to cell wall degradation, pectin lyase (PL), polygalacturonase (PG), and pectin methylesterase (PME), was inhibited by calcium, chitosan, or a mixture (Chitosan+CaCl2) treatment. In ‘Madoka’ peach, although the expression of the PG gene was suppressed at pre-harvest Ca and chitosan treatment, the expression of the PL gene was induced at pre- and post-harvest Ca and chitosan treatment compared to the control. The spray of calcium, chitosan itself, or a mixture (Chitosan+ CaCl2) on the trees at the ripening stage and harvested fruits can extend the shelf-life by suppressing the expression of cell wall degrading enzymes genes (PL, PG, PME) in ‘Kumhong’ nectarine and ‘Madoka’ peach tree. These results provide valuable information for the development of technology for the extension of the shelf-life of peach and nectarine fruits.

The cocoa sub-sector is an important pillar of Ghana’s economic stability and growth prospects; the sub-sector contributes to fiscal stability, infrastructure, and employment. In recent times, diversification has become a common observable feature in the industry. This study uses the conditional mixed process approach to examine the interaction between the diversification status and profitability of cocoa farming simultaneously in a single system. Using data from 401 farmers in the Western and Ashanti regions of Ghana in 2022, the study found that more profitable farmers were more likely to diversify. Conversely, diversified farmers were likely to be more profitable than non-diversified farmers. It also found that the farmer's age, experience, farm area, and location of the farm impacted both the profitability and diversification status of farmers. Thus, it is suggested that policymakers should direct policies and programs to support the creation of alternative farm-based livelihoods for farmers.

This study quantitatively analyzes the inter-sectoral linkages of emerging security based on the network of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in North Korea's Voluntary National Review Report (VNR) using Social Network Analysis (SNA). As a result of the analysis, North Korea's overall linkage score for each emerging security sector was high in the following order: health security (7.8), environmental security (5.9), food security (5.4), and energy security (4.0). This refers to the degree of interconnectivity with other security sectors. The ranking of security with high connectivity by the emerging security sector is as follows. Food security was in the order of environment > health > energy security, health security was in the order of environment > food security, energy security was in the order of health > environment > food security, and environmental security was highly connected in the order of health > energy > food security. This quantitative analysis indicates the importance of emerging security sectors and the need for mutual linkage in North Korea's SDGs implementation strategy. This will help set priorities for future cooperation in emerging security areas between North and South Korea and seeking organic linkage plans for each security sector.