Your Weekly Diplomatic Dispatch - 18th-24th July

The world changes within seconds; And it's been a week!

July 25, 2025

Hello !!

This week, we bring you stories that have made rather small headlines but are bound to catch your interest. 

From DC’s new Superman movie to the Olympics 2036 to the solar eclipse coming our way in 2027, its a ride!

Here’s your weekly roundup of the week’s most important stories, news, and articles from The Diplomatic Insight.

 Top Stories of the Week 

[1] Viewers Call Superman Pro-Palestinian, Debate Continues
$220 Million Worldwide Debut!

But is it political?

Now that people are watching it, the pre-release curiosity has turned into “watched it, now I can talk.”

[2] Once-in-a-Century Solar Eclipse to Occur in 2027
Six long minutes of moon blocking the sun!

Yes, this is happening in 2027 and has been called “one of the century’s most important astronomical events.”

But which city will have the closest & longest eclipse experience?

[3] China Begins Construction of World’s Largest Dam in Tibet
‘Project of the century’ has taken off!

 $170 billion minimum costs, 10 years of construction, and a $16.7 billion GDP boost, this huge project will create massive jobs too. 

But some people are unhappy.

[4] US Withdraws From UNESCO Following Palestine's Recognition as a Member State
Not in our national interest!

Well, that’s what the US said as it took a step out of the cultural body of the world.

But does UNESCO care?

[5] Qatar Joins Official Talks to Bring 2036 Olympics to Middle East
Remember the FIFA hustle in Qatar?

That can happen again if Qatar wins the bid. If that happens, it will be the first in the Middle East to host the Olympics.

But weather can be a spoiler.

[6] India to Retire MiG-21 Fighter Jets After 60 Years of Service
Bye bye MiG-21!

In the fighter jet’s legacy, 100 pilot deaths also make a solemn mention.

The MiG was India’s first supersonic fighter & 700 similar were sourced from the Soviets over the years.

From DiploTV

Key moments from the International Digital Security Forum (IDSF) 2025

🎙️ Featured Speakers:

  • Philipe Reinisch, Founder, SilkRoad 4.0 (Austria), on building trust-enabled digital platforms for cross-border collaboration.

  • Dr. Farhat Asif, Founder & President, Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies (Pakistan), on the importance of digital sovereignty in fostering peace and inclusive dialogue.

  • Augusto Lopez-Claros, Executive Director, Global Governance Forum (Spain), on the future of global tech governance and safeguarding democratic values in the digital era.

A Deeper Look

You may love these opinions and blog articles by contributing authors

How much edge has Ukraine achieved in ceasefire talks after swarming Russia with drones? And what is the tactical side of these incursions?

A dear contributor, Filza Younus, analyzes the drone offensive in detail.

“These Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) operations, dramatic both in frequency and scope, represent the largest Ukrainian aerial advance on Moscow since the start of the full-scale invasion,” she writes.

All talk on Gaza falls short of action, and an inability to understand what must be the basis of that action.

Our very own, Hassan Ahmed, breaks it down for us, and draws attention to the Humanitarian-International perspective.

“It’s not about the identities of the groups involved. It’s not about regional politics. It’s a humanitarian & international matter, and can only be resolved as such,” he argues.

Foreign policy analysts have long been tempted to draw parallels between the US's decades-long rivalry with the Soviets to what it now has with China. 

Javaria Khalid delves deep into why the US-China relationship does not qualify as another Cold War. 

“Although, the ongoing rivalry between the US and China exhibits some unsettling echoes of the Cold War, mainly due to its ideological undertones and competitive dynamics, labeling it “Cold War 2.0” would risk oversimplifying…” she writes.

The China-Central Asia Summit and Xi’s state visit to Kazakhstan were not new openings in China’s relationship to the region but were significant enough to turn the cooperation into long-term strategic partnership.

Our Managing Editor, Aroosa Salahuddin, takes a look at the contours of this partnership.

“The Central Asia summit establishes one thing, that China is increasingly seen as a high-value industry partner in Kazakhstan, not just an investor in energy,” she writes.

Want to be featured in our Op-ed section? Send your insights, opinions, and articles!

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Pakistan-Focus

Pakistan’s diplomatic activities this week

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