Nirvaan Pandit, Stanford University -- As Global South club “BRICS” expands, it teeters between potential and paralysis—poised to reshape the global order in a time of volatility, yet just as likely to fade into the background of failed coalitions. For India—caught between Western partnership and Southern solidarity—the dilemma lies in choosing between them.
Araha Uday, Stanford University -- Supervision and regulation as we know emerged following the Great Recession when policymakers vowed to prevent what took place then–billions of dollars in bailouts for the biggest banks—from happening again. Although the majority of bailed-out banks eventually repaid their loans (leading to the federal government profiting $109 billion), some still have outstanding balances. Still, a few missed payments are a small price to keep banks afloat; at least a chance of future repayment remains. A complete bank failure, on the other hand, would mean no repayments at all, highlighting the high stakes in maintaining a stable banking system.
Paul Squatrito, University of Oregon -- Sub-Saharan Africa stands at a pivotal juncture. The region’s population is projected to double by 2050, exceeding 2.5 billion people, placing immense pressure on food systems already struggling to meet demand. Compounding this challenge are climate-induced disruptions, post-harvest inefficiencies, and limited access to modern agricultural inputs. With over 280 million people facing food insecurity, technological innovation is not merely an option but a necessity. Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a potent force, capable of addressing systemic inefficiencies, predicting risks, and optimizing agricultural productivity. Yet, the integration of AI into agriculture is fraught with challenges, including technological inequities and the potential displacement of rural labor.
Kyle Feinstein, Stanford University -- The world’s eyes are on the United Nations as President Trump signed an executive order to withdraw the United States from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). President Trump’s act will halt American funding for the UNHRC and the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), a support organization for Palestinian refugees. This withdrawal is a response to perceived anti-Israel bias and concern over the inclusion of member states with questionable human rights records.
Humza Khan, Northwestern University -- Energy is foundational to modern society, with the scramble to secure this resource driving large parts of history. However, at a time when the U.S. is producing more oil than ever and renewable technology is rapidly advancing, it is ironic that greater energy production and transmission are severely needed.
Eliana Svilik, Stanford University -- Global energy markets have transformed since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine shifted key resource flows, creating new winners and losers. Prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the former was the world’s second largest producer of natural gas and third largest producer of crude oil. EU member states relied on this supply for the majority of its oil and gas as part of a developed, seemingly mutual partnership. As the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion nears, changes in energy supply chains demonstrate that the U.S. and EU have largely won the concurrent energy war.
Amy Cao, Stanford University -- On January 20, President Trump returned to office. In the month since, the President has levied 25% tariffs against Canada and 10% tariffs against China. After President Trump’s first term already dismantled the World Trade Organization (WTO) and associated guardrails, the effects this time could be catastrophic beyond imagination.
Fasih Zulfiqar, IBA Karachi -- Out of the global Muslim population of 1.6 billion, just 14% utilize banking services. In Pakistan, only 21% of adults had bank accounts as of December 2017. While there are multiple factors behind the low bank account penetration in Muslim-majority nations, religion plays a pivotal role.
Aliyah Banerjee, The University of Texas at Austin -- Safety apps have become popular solutions to address women’s safety in India, using features like panic buttons, location-sharing, and SOS alerts to enable safe travel at night and aid in instances of sexual violence or harassment. However, a lack of digital literacy, feelings of constraint with location-sharing services, fear of control by abusive partners, data privacy concerns, and perpetuation of sexual violence stereotypes pose significant barriers for female users of these apps. To alleviate these concerns, using one-sided matching is proposed to build a novel safety platform for women.
