Framing The World, CLI Edition

Framing The World, CLI Edition

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

NORTH AMERICA

LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

ASIA AND THE FAR EAST

WESTERN EUROPE AND EUROPEAN UNION

ECONOMICS AND INTERNATIONAL FINANCE

CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE AND RUSSIA

MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA (MENA)

TERRORISM AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Zambia, authorities and environmentalists fear the long-term impact of an acid spill at a Chinese-owned mine that contaminated a major river and could potentially affect millions of people after signs of pollution were detected at least 100 kilometres (60 miles) downstream.“It is an environmental disaster, really of catastrophic consequence when we consider the fact that Sino Metals has polluted a river on which millions of people depend for the livelihoods,” said environmental activist Chilekwa Mumba. He added that for local communities, "their entire livelihoods have been destroyed, they are farmers, their soil is disturbed, we are very close to harvest time, two months away from harvest time, what they had invested in, has all gone down the drain.”

South Africa, the presidency has expressed regret over the expulsion of its Ambassador to the U.S., Ebrahim Rasool. In a post on X, South Africa has called on all stakeholders to maintain diplomatic decorum in handling the matter and reiterated its commitment to a strong relationship with the U.S. The statement comes after the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Friday that Rasool was "no longer welcome" accusing him of being a "race-baiting politician" critical of President Donald Trump. Rubio’s statement followed a webinar where Rasool discussed demographic shifts in the U.S. and the Trump administration's policies.

Aurelia Puliafito 

NORTH AMERICA

United States of America, tensions between the United States and Canada continue. A new requirement, effective from 11 April, will strengthen the enforcement of a law that mandates all foreign nationals staying in the US for 30 days or more to be fingerprinted by American authorities. This rule will also apply to Canadians, a regulation that has never really been enforced on them before, tightening migration rules even at the northern border amid tensions between the United States and Canada. In addition to that, Trump’s administration has paused negotiations with Canada over the water-sharing treaty for the Columbia River, escalating Trump’s aggressive policy even towards an ally like Canada.

(Lorenzo Graziani)

Canada elects its new Prime Minister. After the resignation of the then leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, Justin Trudeau, announced at the beginning of the new year, the country of the maples has officially chosen its new prime minister, Mark Carney. A native of the Northwest Territories, with a stellar resume (he studied at Harvard and Oxford), a former banker, he swore in Ottawa as the Prime Minister of Canada. Carney now finds himself leading the country in a time of intense international tensions, particularly with its closest and historic ally, the United States. The Prime Minister will indeed face a fierce trade war with the U.S. government, as well as the paradoxical statements from Trump, who threatens to annex Canada and make it the 51st state. The stakes are high, but Canada and its new Prime Minister are ready to take on the challenge.

(Bianca Colli)

United States of America, Congress Expands Trump’s Powers.

In recent days, the Republican majority in Congress has pushed for the approval of a bill granting the Trump administration broad discretion over the use of federal funds. The measure, passed on Friday by the Senate, transfers to the President a significant portion of Congress's spending authority, a power that is deeply embedded in the American system of checks and balances. This is not the first move by the new legislature aimed at expanding the executive branch's reach: just last Tuesday, Republican leaders in the House exploited a loophole in the legislative system to suspend Congress's ability to challenge Trump’s tariffs. Republicans now control both chambers of Capitol Hill and appear determined to relentlessly increase their leader’s authority.

(Giovanni Ferrazza)

Lorenzo Graziani, Bianca Colli and Giovanni Ferrazza

LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

Peru : Trial of Pedro Castillo, Former President Accused of Attempted Coup. On March 4th, 2025 a tumultuous trial began for the former Peruvian president Pedro Castillo. Originally affiliated with the leftist party “Perù Libre” (Free Perù) before becoming independent, Castillo was arrested on December 7th, 2022 after only 17 months in office. Despite the brevity of its term, his presidency set records : six corruption cases under investigation, five different governments and three impeachment procedures. His arrest, however, came on the heels of an attempted dissolution of parliament and its replacement with an emergency government tasked with drafting a new constitution. Without the support of either the military and the institutions, his plan fell apart. Castillo now faces charges of rebellion and attempted coup against the constitutional order. The trial, broadcast live nationwide, is expected to be turbulent: the former president, sentenced to 34 years and six months in prison, claims to be victim of a conspiracy orchestrated by the right-wing opposition and refuses to undergo what he deems a political - and not legal - trial. Refusing to appoint his own lawyer, he was assigned a public defender, Edgar Callahualpa, who withdrew at the second hearing on March 6th due to the defendant’s lack of trust. He was subsequently replaced by Ricardo Hernández, who is determined to carry on with the defense and denounces the violation of the appointment procedure, which he believes should have been preceded by a disciplinary action. On March 10th, a day before the third hearing, Castillo started a hunger strike, considered a serious disciplinary infraction under the Peruvian Penal Execution Code, as a protest against the trial. This prompted the imposition of restrictive measures such as isolation and suspension of visitation rights. On 11 March, during the third hearing, Castillo reiterated his innocence and called for his immediate release. The evolution of the proceedings remains to be seen.

Venezuela, Maduro Opens the Doors to International Investors. On March 12th Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro announced the opening of key sectors oil, gas, petrochemical and refining to international investment, declaring that he would welcome foreign investors with “open doors and a red carpet”.

This decision follows the Trump administration’s move to revoke Chevron Corporation’s licence in the South American country, forcing the company to cease its activities by April 3rd. Washington justifies this measure as a response to Maduro’s lack of collaboration in the deportation of irregular migrants.

Maduro has sought to reassure investors about the stability of the Venezuelan’s oil production, emphasizing that in February produced over one million barrels per day, with 200.000 of those barrels coming from Chevron’s operations. Given the dramatic crisis in Venezuela, the influx of foreign investments appears crucial to maintaining oil production and infrastructure.

(Nicole Mancinelli)

Argentina, riots and arrests in Buenos Aires. The protest against the Milei government's pension cuts turned into a scene marked by violent clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement. In addition to various trade unions representing retirees, numerous left-wing political groups and organized football fan clubs are reported to have infiltrated the demonstration on Wednesday, March 12, shifting the primary objective from a political claim to a purely confrontational and riotous one. The response from the Policía de la Ciudad was severe, with 94 people arrested during containment operations. A particularly controversial case is that of Pablo Grillo, a 35-year-old photojournalist, who allegedly suffered a skull fracture after being struck by a tear gas canister. Following the incident, Minister of Security Patricia Bullrich emphasized that the projectile was fired correctly, while the head of government was more cautious in his statements, delegating the task of assessing the matter to the competent judicial authorities.

Panama, sovereignty of the Canal threatened again. According to reports from NBC News, President Donald Trump has allegedly requested "credible military options" from the Pentagon's top officials to increase U.S. influence over the Canal. Trump's requests have already led to the development of a series of implementable alternatives, which were reportedly presented to the White House by Admiral Alvin Holsey, commander of the U.S. Southern Command. Specifically, these options would range from a simple increase in cooperation between the U.S. and Panamanian military forces to a full-scale military operation aimed at bringing the Canal back under Washington's influence. The extent of such operations, according to some U.S. officials, would depend on the Central American country's willingness to cooperate with the United States.

(Lucas Torres)

Lucas Torres and Nicole Mancinelli 

ASIA AND THE FAR EAST

Philippines, Former President Duterte Arrested for Crimes Against Humanity. Based on a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, Rodrigo Duterte was arrested at Manila International Airport for his role in the brutal crackdown on drugs during his presidency (2016-2022). "When I become president," Rodrigo Duterte declared during a rally, "I will order the police to find those people and kill them. The funeral parlors will be packed." According to official data from the Philippine government, at least 6,000 people suspected of drug dealing or addiction were killed in controversial police operations. However, the actual number of victims of his harsh anti-drug campaign could be significantly higher: according to an estimate by prosecutors at the International Criminal Court, between 12,000 and 30,000 people may have been killed. The Philippines withdrew from the Court’s jurisdiction in 2019 under Duterte’s presidency. However, the alleged crimes date back to a period when the country was still a member, which keeps the investigation valid.

(Valeria Picciolo)

North Korea, announced new nuclear capabilities. North Korea has announced the construction of its first nuclear-powered submarine. The announcement comes amid growing concerns from the United States and South Korea, whose officials fear that North Korea may receive technological assistance from Russia to modernize its armed forces. The possession of a nuclear-powered submarine would grant Pyongyang greater operational capabilities, allowing it to travel long distances without the need to surface, thereby increasing its chances of approaching distant targets, such as the United States, without being detected. Furthermore, the official designation of the vessel, nuclear-powered strategic guided missile submarine, suggests that it has been designed for the launch of ballistic and cruise missiles equipped with nuclear warheads.

(Francesco Oppia)

North Korea rethinks its decision to (partially) open up to international tourism. On March 5th, some travel agencies announced on their social accounts the suspension of their organised tours to North Korea due to the new shutdown of the country. Pyongyang, after the draconian restrictions in response to COVID-19, started to welcome a limited number of Russian and Chinese visitors last year. But it was not until February 20th that Western tourists as well could set foot again in the only North Korean city open to the world, Rason, on the border with China. Therefore, after only three weeks Pyongyang reversed its decision, but the reasons remain unclear. We have to say, however, that the suspension came after a German influencer, returning from his trip, had criticised the visible poverty of the countryside. The Korea Times, consequently, supposes that the move could be aimed to prevent exposing the harsh realities of the country.

(Antonella Franzelli)

The G7 attacks the one-China policy. On Friday, March 14, the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting produced a joint statement that was particularly harsh toward China. Compared to a similar statement from last November, the conciliatory references to the one-China policy are gone, leaving room for accusations against Beijing of “coercion” toward Taiwan, following a joint statement from the United States and Japan last February. According to the one-China policy, there is only one China, and both Taipei and Beijing claim to be its sole legitimate representative. The spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Canada commented on the statement by emphasizing that “a lie even if repeated thousands of times will not become a fact”. The same spokesperson accused the G7 of violating the principle of non-interference in China’s internal affairs, which is fundamental to Beijing.

(Leonardo Di Girolamo)

Pakistan - March 11, 2025. An armed group of separatist militants from the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) attacked a passenger train in the southwestern province of Balochistan, taking several people hostage. The incident has triggered a security crisis in the region, already plagued by violent clashes between the military and rebel groups. The attack occurred on Tuesday afternoon when the Jaffer Express, traveling from Quetta to Peshawar, was intercepted by a group of gunmen while passing through Tunnel No. 8 in the mountainous Bolan region. According to railway authorities, the militants stopped the train and took control of several carriages, holding passengers and crew members hostage. In a press conference, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry stated that among the victims of the initial attack were 18 off-duty military and paramilitary personnel from the Frontier Corps, three railway employees, and five civilians.

Ratì Mugnaini Provvedi, Francesco Oppia, Valeria Picciolo, Antonella Franzelli and Leonardo Di Girolamo

WESTERN EUROPE AND THE EUROPEAN UNION

The European Parliament approves the Rearm Europe plan for the defence of the continent, agreeing to stay out of the legislative process to shorten the timeframe. The resolution, passed with 419 votes in favour, calls for urgent action for EU security. Supporting it are the EPP, Renew and most of the Socialists (S&D), although the PD is divided. The Greens also vote in favour, with a few exceptions. The ECR group is split, with Fratelli d'Italia in favour and PiS Poles against. The League, M5S, Sovereignists and the European Left oppose. Parliament remains excluded from the legislative process due to the urgency procedure wanted by von der Leyen. The vote is a contribution to the White Paper on the future of European Defence, expected on 19 March.

EU, Critical Medicines Act approved. The European Commission has approved the Critical Medicines Act, a new regulation to boost the production and availability of essential medicines such as antibiotics, insulin, anaesthetics and vaccines. The aim is to reduce dependence on China and India, which produce 60-80% of the active ingredients. Each Member State will have to adopt a national plan to guarantee supply, changing the rules on public procurement to favour ‘made in Europe’. The regulation provides for production incentives, diversification of the supply chain and new international partnerships. Strategic projects will benefit from simplified administrative procedures to speed up their implementation.

Bianca Franzini

ECONOMICS AND INTERNATIONAL FINANCE

Wall Street, a black week. Tensions over tariffs continue to rattle Wall Street, sending the S&P 500 into a correction and down to 6-month lows. Thursday's loss of 1.4% took the index's decline over the past three weeks past the correction threshold (-10%), while the Nasdaq 100, also in correction, fell 1.9%. Some $5 trillion has been wiped off the market since the February peak, making this the seventh fastest correction since 1929, according to Bloomberg. Among the stocks that have contributed most to the decline are Tesla, Meta and Adobe, the worst performer in the S&P 500, which plunged 14% on Thursday on a disappointing outlook. Despite economic data suggesting some resilience, investor pessimism continues to grow, fuelled by uncertainty over Trump's trade policies.

US, good news on inflation. US inflation fell more than expected in February to 2.8%, bolstering the case for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates amid slowing economic growth. The figure is lower than January's 3% and the 2.9% economists were expecting. However, "core" inflation, which excludes food and energy prices, rose at an annual rate of 3.1%, less than the 3.2% expected, signalling a slowdown that could support future rate cuts. After weeks of declines, Wall Street reacted positively, with the S&P 500 up 0.5% and the Nasdaq up 1.2%. Markets are now pricing in two rate cuts in 2024, while a third cut has an 85% probability. The Fed is trying to contain inflation without triggering a recession, but Trump's economic policies amid tariffs and uncertainty are complicating the picture. However, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell reiterated that there is no urgency to cut rates, stressing the need to distinguish real data from short-term fluctuations.

EU, concessions to the automotive sector. Brussels is set to relax new emissions rules for combustion engines, giving the car industry more time to comply and avoid immediate fines. Although the ban on internal combustion engines in 2035 remains unchanged, the Commission will allow more flexibility until 2027, allowing manufacturers to compensate for any overshoot in later years. The decision comes in response to declining sales of electric cars in Europe and pressure from carmakers. But some manufacturers, including Volvo, have warned that slowing the transition could make Europe less competitive with China. To support the local industry, Brussels will also call for more European content in batteries and encourage companies to work together on software and autonomous driving. It will also introduce measures to speed up the electrification of company fleets.

Germany, positive signs. German industrial production rose by 2% in January, beating forecasts and pointing to a possible slowdown in the sector's downturn. Growth was mainly driven by the automotive industry, despite a recent decline in factory orders. There are also positive signs from the Purchasing Managers' Survey, which points to an easing of the industrial recession that began in 2022. In addition, the future of Germany's factories looks brighter thanks to newly appointed Chancellor Merz's plans to strengthen defence and invest €500bn in infrastructure, which could boost GDP by up to 2% a year in the long term. According to some analysts, the macroeconomic environment is improving in the short term, although the German manufacturing sector remains vulnerable to tariffs on European imports threatened by President Trump.

US-EU, the trade war. In response to Trump's 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium, the EU has announced measures on €26 billion worth of US goods, but they will take effect from April to leave room for negotiation. The tariffs will apply to €8 billion of US exports, hitting iconic products such as whiskey, jeans and Harley-Davidson motorcycles, while additional measures of €18 billion could include cosmetics, clothing and agricultural products. The UK, while disappointed by the US action, did not respond immediately so as not to jeopardise negotiations with Washington. Meanwhile, President Trump had also doubled tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminium to 50%, but then backtracked when the Ontario government suspended a 25% tax on energy exports to the US in a bid to ease tensions between the two countries.

Leonardo Aldeghi

CENTRAL-EASTERN EUROPE AND RUSSIA

Russia-Ukraine War. On March 11, the American and Ukrainian delegations met in Saudi Arabia to discuss the conditions for a ceasefire with Russia. Kiev accepted the 30-day truce proposed by the United States and the agreement on minerals. Therefore, Washington promised to restore military and intelligence aid to Ukraine. Now it is Putin’s turn, and in a press conference on March 13, the Russian president declared to be in favour of halting the hostilities, but on condition that the ceasefire brings to “a long-term peace” and that it addresses “the root causes of the crisis”. Moreover, Putin asked to discuss with Trump the details of this truce before accepting it, like the issue of Ukrainian soldiers in the Russian region of Kursk. While Zelensky defined Putin’s stance as “manipulative”, in the evening of March 14, Trump and Putin had a phone talk, which Trump described as “good and productive”.

Russia, the Ministry of Defence announces that Russia has retaken control of Sudzha. It is the largest settlement that Ukrainian forces had conquered after the offensive in the Russian Kursk region that started in August 2024. Other two towns are now under Russian control again, and Moscow communicates major losses on the Ukrainian part, both military and human. Moreover, Putin promised to spare the lives of Ukrainian soldiers in Kursk if they surrender, but they have to decide quickly because time is running out.

Silvia Pasetto

MIDDLE-EAST AND NORTH AFRICA (MENA)

Israel halts electricity supply to Gaza. Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen has ordered the Israel Electric Corporation to immediately halt the electricity supply to the Gaza Strip. This decision represents a significant escalation in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, especially at a time when tensions are already running high due to the presence of 59 Israeli hostages in the hands of Hamas. The choice to cut off electricity will have severe consequences for the population of Gaza, as essential services such as hospitals, water treatment plants and basic infrastructure will be affected.

Military operation concluded in Western Syria. The Syrian Ministry of Defense has announced the “successful” conclusion of the military operation conducted in the western part of the country. The operation, which lasted several days, was marked by intense fighting between government forces and supporters of the deposed regime, as well as reports of mass executions of civilians. In parallel, Iran has expressed strong condemnation for the violence perpetrated against minorities in Syria, particularly the Alawite community, to which former President Bashar al-Assad belongs. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei described the attacks that caused the deaths of hundreds of people as “unjustifiable”, stressing the importance of protecting all religious and ethnic minorities in Syria.

(Chiara Bertolotto)

Gaza, the Arab plan for reconstruction has been approved. After denials from Somalia and Somaliland regarding the possibility of creating a Palestinian enclave for the population of Gaza, funded by the United States, Sudan has deemed any such proposals unacceptable following recent discussions. However, according to Reuters, Sudan did not receive such a proposal but preferred to silence any potential rumors. In fact, according to the Associated Press, it was the United States that suggested the idea of building a Palestinian enclave in Africa. Meanwhile, the leading Arab countries have adopted the Egyptian reconstruction plan, valued at 53 billion U.S. dollars, to rebuild the Gaza Strip.

(Matteo Francescucci)

Algeria, diplomatic clash with Paris. France and Algeria are experiencing one of the most tense moments in recent years. A number of Algerian influencers were arrested on charges of fomenting violence on French soil. One of them, Boualem Naman, was also expelled, but Algiers refused to take him back and sent him back to France. According to Chawki Benzehra, an opponent of Algeria's autocratic government and resident in Lyon, the regime in Algiers is behind these influencers and is trying to destabilise France by using part of its diaspora there.

(Michele Magistretti)

Matteo Francescucci, Michele Magistretti and Chiara Bertolotto

TERRORISM AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

Tensions in the Red Sea are rising due to recent attacks by the Houthi rebels. On March 12, 2025, the group’s military spokesman, Yahya Saree, announced the resumption of attacks against Israeli ships until humanitarian aid access to Gaza is restored and all border crossings of the Strip are opened.This decision follows a four-day ultimatum issued on March 7, in which the Houthis threatened to resume naval operations against Israel if the blockade on aid to Gaza was not lifted by the deadline. Previously, on March 5, the Houthis claimed to have shot down a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone in the airspace of Yemen’s western province of Hodeida, accusing the aircraft of conducting “hostile missions.” These events highlight the escalation of tensions in the region, with significant implications for the security of navigation in the Red Sea.

Trilateral Meeting in Beijing: China, Russia, and Iran Call for Lifting Nuclear Sanctions. March 14, 2025, a trilateral meeting between China, Russia, and Iran was held in Beijing to discuss Iran’s nuclear issue. The three countries jointly called on the United States and the West to lift sanctions imposed on Tehran over its nuclear enrichment program. The meeting occurred after U.S. President Donald Trump sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, seeking to restart negotiations on limiting Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program. Although Khamenei publicly rejected any dialogue with Washington, calling the Trump administration an “arrogant government,” Iran’s participation in the talks with China and Russia may indicate a willingness to engage in dialogue on this issue. China and Russia, both signatories of the 2015 nuclear deal (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action - JCPOA), have strengthened ties with Iran through energy agreements and military cooperation. The three countries are members of the BRICS alliance and share the goal of countering Western influence in the region.

(Federica Placidi)

Somalia, attack on a hotel in the centre of the country. On Tuesday, a terrorist attack on a hotel in the city of Belet Uen in the centre of the country resulted in the death of 10 people, mostly civilians. According to the Somali authorities, the attack was carried out by the notorious al Shabaab terrorist group. The attackers were killed during the assault on the hotel and in the firefight with the police. A security summit between politicians, police officials and local community leaders was taking place in the same hotel.

Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, agreement between the two countries on border demarcation. The agreement reached between the two former Soviet republics puts an end to a historical dispute over some 1,000 km of border. As a result, border crossings have been reopened after four years, with the two countries committing to building two new highways that will have a neutral status. An understanding was also reached in the redistribution of thousands of square kilometres of grassland, where the grassland around the town of Vorukh, a Tajik municipality on Kyrgyz territory, was allocated to Tajikistan, resolving one of the thorniest issues in the entire negotiation.

(Davide Shahhosseini)

Federica Placidi and Davide Shahhosseini

Framing The World is a project conceived and created by the collaboration between members of the team of Mondo Internazionale associates.

Alessia Boni: Latin America

Aurelia Puliafito: Sub-Saharan Africa

Bianca Franzini: Western Europe and the European Union

Caterina De Rosa: North America

Chiara Bertolotto: Middle-East and North Africa

Davide Shahhosseini: Terrorism and International Security

Federica Placidi: Terrorism and International Security

Francesco Oppia: Asia and Far East

Giovanni Ferrazza: North America

Giulio Ciofini: Sub-Saharan Africa

Gonzalo Pereyra: Terrorism and International Security

Leonardo Aldeghi: Economics and International Finance

Leonardo Di Girolamo: Asia and Far East

Lorenzo Graziani: North America

Matteo Francescucci: Middle-East and North Africa

Michele Magistretti: Middle-East and North Africa

Nicole Mancinelli : Latin America

Ratì Mugnaini Provvedi: Asia and Far East

Silvia Pasetto: Central and Eastern Europe and Russia