SOAS University of London

Why an explosive fight erupted over the UK's new Chinese embassy It will be the biggest embassy in Europe, if approved. But its opponents fear it brings with it certain risks and dangers

Director of the SOAS China Institute Professor Steve Tsang provided insights to BBC News on the controversies surrounding the UK's new Chinese embassy.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The US has sanctioned UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese – here’s why she’s the wrong target UN special rapporteurs provide pro bono advice and expertise on vital latters of international law.

"Despite these attacks on her integrity and person, Albanese maintains faith in the human rights law instruments."

Dr @alvinahoffmann.bsky.social writes for @uk.theconversation.com on the imposed sanctions against UN special rapporteur, Francesca Albanese.

bit.ly/3IM5E83

📣 What do we inherit? What do we resist? What are we becoming together?

Join us tomorrow for the SamaBhav travelling film festival, exploring cinema, conversation, and community reflection.

Register: bit.ly/3H08MfR

🏆 Classic ballet dance wins best performance at annual Chinese Bridge!

Read more about the winner, our very own student Lucy Hirst: bit.ly/4lDlsZb

Taiwan’s once-dominant KMT falls ‘out of step’ with the electorate [FREE TO READ] Party that has failed three times to win presidency since 2016 faces reckoning over its ties to China in looming recall vote

"The KMT membership seems to be increasingly out of step with the average Taiwanese citizen in terms of age and ideology."

Prof Dafydd Fell commented in an article with @financialtimes.com on the fragility of Taiwan’s Kuomintang (KMT) political party.

bit.ly/46WnGOS

Business Today - 21/07/2025 Bringing the latest business news and up-to-date informed analysis from London and around the world.

Dr Kate Bayliss spoke on the BBC News 'Business Today' programme to discuss the UK government’s new plans to update water systems across the country.

www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

BBC Radio 4 - You're Dead to Me, Alexandre Dumas: author of The Three Musketeers Join Greg and his guests to learn all about acclaimed French novelist Alexandre Dumas.

Distinguished Research Professor Olivette Otele features on this week's episode of "You're Dead to Me" from BBC Radio 4, diving into the life and times of 19th century author Alexandre Dumas.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Now open at @soasgallery.bsky.social: “After the Assembly: Constituting India”

Marking 75 years of the Indian Constitution, this tells how India forged its path as a new republic, and of its ownership and remaking by today’s students, artists & ordinary citizens.

www.soas.ac.uk/about/news/s...

Fingers on buzzers please...

We're thrilled to be cheering on our SOAS University Challenge team, as they face UCL in the show's first heat next Monday 21 July!

Best of luck from the whole SOAS community 👏

Read: www.soas.ac.uk/about/news/s...

Image: Lifted Entertainment/Ric Lowe

When it comes to political assembly and expression, who decides what constitutes a "threat"?

As the government expands its proscriptive powers, @soasicop.bsky.social convenes a discussion on its impact for free speech and civil liberty.

Sign up: www.soas.ac.uk/about/event/...

From colony to kingmaker: Azerbaijan redraws Eurasia’s balance of power The ex-Soviet republic aims to play a bigger role in the Caucasus and is willing to upset Moscow and Tehran in the process, analysts say.

As Azerbaijan sets out to strengthen its position by forging alliances with Turkey and Pakistan, SOAS Professor Bhavna Davé tells @scmpnews.bsky.social what this means for its relations with Iran and Russia.

www.scmp.com/week-asia/po...

Can Brazil’s supercows feed the world? <p>Brazil’s Zebu cattle, or “supercows” are bred for size, strength, and meat quality. Every year the animals are showcased at ExpoZebu, Brazil’s premier cattle fair. These animals are preened, pamper...

Teaching Fellow Oscar Broughton featured on BBC World Service’s 'The Inquiry' podcast, discussing if Brazil’s ‘supercows’ can feed the world.

bit.ly/4eEntBP

📰 A new exhibition opens in China, exploring 1000 years of Yoga!

Launched by the Centre for Yoga Studies, ‘Embodied Liberation: The History of Physical Yoga’ looks into the origins, development and traditions of Yoga in India, and how it has evolved across the world - bit.ly/44zDqER

Dalai Lama lays out succession plan, denying Chinese efforts at control The Tibetan Buddhist leader, who turns 90 on Sunday, appears concerned that Beijing will sweep in after his death to install the next Dalai Lama.

Professor Robbie Barnett shared insight with @washingtonpost.com on the Dalai Lama on his 90th birthday and plans for a future successor.

bit.ly/46kSj08

EU’s shift to a US savings model risks dismantling its social contract Political choices should be debated democratically, not hidden in technocratic agendas of ‘financing gaps’

"Europe, is permanently at a crossroads. But this time, it seems existential as the region faces the challenge of fickle allies and stronger economic competitors."

Professor Daniela Gabor writes for @financialtimes.com on the risks around the EU adopting the US's saving model.

bit.ly/3TPMq3x

What are the connections between sport and religion? New research exploring this topic in Africa secures €2.3 million funding from @erc.europa.eu.

Find out more: bit.ly/46mBZvQ

China Steals Language and Home Life From Tibetan Kids as Young as 4 Beijing is building a broad network of preschools across Tibetan areas, seeking to inculcate loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party early in life.

As China's network of preschools grow in Tibet, Professor Robbie Barnett gave context to @wsj.com on the history between the two nations.

www.wsj.com/world/china/...

A pile of books with coloured spines showing the pattern of a rainbow

Reading with Pride: Celebrating LGBTQ+ books in the SOAS Library 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

@soaslibrary.bsky.social spotlight three LGBTQ+ books that have faced censorship and tell stories of resilience, resistance, and queer expression from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

Read the blog: bit.ly/3HZJMWf

🏆Congratulations to our very own Professor Shirin Rai, who's book ‘Depletion: the human costs of caring’ received the Best Book prize at the British International Studies Association awards! bit.ly/4kUscBE

We’re proud to be part of a new strategic partnership led by ten of the UK’s leading research-focused universities – #ResearchPlus has the primary aim of enhancing the strength of the UK’s research and innovation base.

Read more: bit.ly/3Tb7fWY

Here’s why the public needs to challenge the ‘good AI’ myth pushed by tech companies Big tech companies often push a positive view of AI.

"This "good AI" myth is a key tool used by tech companies to promote their products. Yet there’s evidence that consumers are wary of the presence of AI in some products."

Professor Arshin Adib-Moghaddam writes for @uk.theconversation.com on challenging the myth of “good AI”.

bit.ly/468RdV2

Earlier this month, high-level members of the Supreme Court of India delivered a special talk on technology’s ever-growing relationship with law to the next generation of students pursing careers in judiciary fields.

Read more about the special address: bit.ly/4liWIoC

📣 Join us for London Climate action Week!

With guest speakers from the likes of COP30 Brazil, UN Trade/Development and others, talks will cover everything from climate resilience, energy transition to how we can chart new paths to a greener planet.

Register: bit.ly/3ZHVf2O

Proud to be home to an international community of scholars and students! The QS World University Rankings recognises our diverse and inclusive environment as we also rank 15th in the UK for international students and 15th for international students diversity - all of which are in the top global 100.

YouTube video by rites RITES | by Alvin Carpio | short documentary film made for kids who have lost their loved ones

📣 Join us this evening for a screening of the documentary 'Rites' - by SOAS alumni and director Alvin Carpio.

Tickets: bit.ly/4l7WEb7
youtu.be/GN-uYs5W4ik?...

We are proud to announce a new joint PhD with BRAC University, Bangladesh, aimed at nurturing a new generation of scholars dedicated to transformative global development.

Pic: SOAS Vice-Chancellor Adam Habib with Chairperson of BRAC University's Board of Trustees Tamara Abed.

👉 bit.ly/4jSyTmu

📣An evening with Qawwal NajmuddinS aifuddin and group!
12th June, 5:30pm.

Join us in exploring the history of Classical Qawwali music.
Register: bit.ly/3ZOU2qH

Hike to Ala Archa National Park in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

With Faculty members and students at the School of International Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University.

Kazakhstan’s International Bureau of Human Rights in Almaty

Mutobo Demobilisation Centre

Immersive study tours designed by SOAS experts give students access to sensitive spaces across Rwanda, India and Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan - made possible because of the deep expertise and networks of our academics, working with long-standing local collaborators for many years: bit.ly/44bmc1m

People walking on a pedestrian lane during the daytime in Yangon, Myanmar

Why are online scam centres booming in Myanmar’s conflict zones? Because they have flourished in periods of war, peace and the grey areas in between.

Read more from the research project 'The Centrality of the Margins: Borderlands, illicit economies and uneven development': bit.ly/3HyweRj

The $15.8 Billion Gap: The Smart Economics Of Ocean Protection As world leaders meet at UNOC, it's time to get real about the rising risks, the low cost of action, and the need for bold leadership to protect the ocean.

“What’s missing is a bridge between the evidence, investable products, and connected-up approaches that encourage capital deployment at scale.”

Dr. Harald Heubaum shared insight with @forbes.com on the missing pieces in realising the value of the world’s oceans: bit.ly/4mUPuZu