August 2026

Drone Revolution and Modern Warfare

Economic Nationalism

Europe's Deadly Heatwave

Justification of Two Nation Theory

Confabulating with Azizullah Jamro

In Conversation with Shah Nawaz Kathia - 6th in Punjab; PMS 2023-24

Smart ways to use chat GPT

History's Most Important Peace Treaties

Literature in the Age of AI

Obsession with The English Language

Exclusive Interview | Sam Dalrymple - The author of Shattered Lands

The Menace of Child Marriage

The Spice Trade

Urbanization at The Cost Of Environment

Demining The Strait of Hormuz

Replacing the UK Prime Minister

Scientifically

The 10 Biggest Polluters

MCQs/NATIONAL - INTERNATIONAL

World in Focus (June-July'26) - NATIONAL

World in Focus (June-July'26) - INTERNATIONAL

GK Tidbits

World’s Most, and Least, Liveable Cities

Are Modern Wars Being Manufactured for Financial Gain ?

India’s Nuclear Behaviour

Israeli Genocide in Gaza

In a report released on June 23, a United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) commission of inquiry said that Israel has deliberately targeted Palestinian children in Gaza, documenting a pattern of acts to establish genocidal intent. The commission, which is currently chaired by Srinivasan Muralidhar of India, cited instances to describe what it called “the intentional killing of Palestinian children through airstrikes in populated areas”.

NATO 2026 Summit

Need for AI Governance

Trump's Penrose stairs in Iran

The war between Iran and the United States is sending shockwaves across the globe, again. This re-flaring up of hostilities means that the Islamabad MOU signed between the warring parties has collapsed, as President Trump himself said that the ceasefire between the two countries was no longer in effect. Since Trump has not been able to extract any tangible gains from this war, he seems caught up in a dilemma. Iran retains leverage through its ability to disrupt the Strait of Hormuz and all efforts to resolve the crisis through military means have failed. Now, whatever step Trump takes to solve one problem appears to be creating another. A CNN analyst, Stephen Collinson, describes the situation as a geopolitical version of the Penrose stairs — a staircase that seems to rise and fall endlessly yet always returns to the same place.

The Climate-Energy Crisis

The New Normal of Disorder

The Resurgence of Russia Under Putin Power, Strategy, and the Quest for a New World Order

The US Iran War

Trump Failed Iran War

15 Largest Landlocked Countries

A landlocked country is one that does not have any coastline or direct access to an ocean. This geographical trait often brings political and economic challenges, such as limited access to vital maritime resources like fishing, oil and gas. It also restricts opportunities for international trade, which are essential for growth and development. However, being landlocked can also provide some benefits. It can act as a natural barrier against cheap imports, helping to strengthen local industries and food systems. The impact of being landlocked varies depending on a country's level of development, available trade routes, language, ease of business and other factors. While some European landlocked nations are wealthy, many in Africa, Asia and South America remain developing. There are currently 44 landlocked countries worldwide, and this write-up highlights some of the largest by land area.

Academia–Industry Links

Can Pakistan and India Still Make Peace ?

Nearly fifteen months after a military confrontation in May last year, over one hundred civil society representatives, including several politicians and public figures, from Pakistan and India have jointly appealed to the two prime ministers to take concrete and sustained steps towards restoring peace, dialogue and normal relations between the two countries. They sought to make it easier to get visas to encourage and enable people from both countries to visit each other. The statement argued that continued tension hurts millions of young people. The activists asked leaders to put the welfare of the people ahead of conflict. Since the Modi government in India has adopted a strict policy of not engaging with Pakistan, and is waging an all-out water war with the country, the question here is: can the two countries restore normalcy in their relations?

Challenges in the Taxation System of Pakistan

There cannot be two arguments that taxes are important for an economy, as they not only directly affect citizens and businesses through a system of incentives or a disincentive framework but also influence governance mechanisms. An effective tax system contributes directly to the growth of a country's economy. However, the complexities and structural inadequacies in the tax system of Pakistan are impeding the country's journey towards prosperity. In the following write-up, the author has taken a holistic look at Pakistan's tax system so as to identify the challenges and suggest the way forward in the light of the recently enacted Finance Act of 2026.

Rethinking Pakistan’s Security Approach

The Brain Drain Enigma

Youth in Pakistan