The geopolitics of minerals- Kazakhstan’s middle power diplomacy

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the geopolitics of kazakhstan's minerals

Kazakhstan is top uranium producer accounting nearly 39% of the global output~14% of world’s uranium reserves. Even US is partnering with the country in developing one of the world’s largest tungsten deposits (JORC 410,100t). In April, 2025, Kazakhstan announced a <20 million tons Rare Earths (REE) deposits and thereby Mining and quarrying remains a mainstay of the economy and it accounts the industry shares of GDP as 26.8 % as of 2023.

The Third Tier That Still Is Not Allowed to Stand

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india’s cities are growing faster than its governance systems can handle.

India’s cities are growing faster than its governance systems can handle. Streets flood after every downpour, garbage piles up overnight, and citizens often don’t know whom to even approach when something goes wrong. What is supposed to be the closest tier of democracy-the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)-is, in practice, a peripheral player in its own jurisdiction.

From Theocracy to Upheaval: How Western Sanctions and Isolation Engineered Iran’s 2026 Crisis

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iran protest 2026

While internal governance failures play a significant role, the persistence and severity of Iran’s inflationary crisis cannot be understood without recognising the central role of U.S. and Western economic sanctions, which have systematically eroded the state’s capacity to regulate prices, stabilise currency, and deliver welfare.

Canada–U.S. Relations: Mark Carney’s Rebuttal to Donald Trump

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Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks during a news conference before a cabinet planning forum at the Citadelle in Quebec City, Quebec, on January 22, 2026. | Photo Credit: Reuters

In a significant diplomatic exchange at the 2026 World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney forcefully countered a provocative statement by U.S. President Donald Trump asserting that “Canada lives because of the United States.” Carney emphasised Canada’s sovereignty, resilience, and distinct national identity, underscoring broader tensions in Canada–U.S. relations amid shifting global geopolitical dynamics.

Issue Brief – Immediate Aftermath: Capture, Custody, and U.S. Intentions

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CDFA-Pictures-Maduro-in-Custody.png

Following the U.S. strikes and the reported capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, U.S. authorities confirmed that they have been transported to U.S. custody and are expected to face criminal charges, particularly related to narcoterrorism and drug trafficking, in the Southern District of New York. The move marks an unprecedented escalation in U.S. action against a sitting head of state and raises profound legal, diplomatic, and normative questions regarding sovereignty and international jurisdiction.

Issue Brief: Power, Oil, and Precedent – The U.S. Strikes on Venezuela

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The U.S. Strikes on Venezuela

The U.S. strikes on Venezuela reflect a convergence of historical interventionism, geopolitical rivalry, and contested security narratives. While Washington presents its actions as necessary for counter-narcotics enforcement and regional security, much of the international community views the operation as a breach of sovereignty and a serious challenge to international law.

Tea Garden Communities in Assam: Intersection of Class & Gender Discrimination

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Tea pickers in Assam tea fields

Gender inequality is considered a significant issue in India, as the nation ranks 123 out of 189 countries in the United Nations Gender Inequality Index, indicating that major work needs to be done to reduce the gender gap across the country (ETP, 2022). Assam, a state in northeast India, has a growing population of nearly 31 million.

A University on Its Knees: The Suspension That Shamed Jamia’s Administration

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This Picture is just an illustration.

Jamia Millia Islamia University has placed a faculty member of its Department of Social Work under suspension following widespread complaints over the content of a recent semester question paper. According to official orders issued on December 23, the professor who set the first-semester examination paper for the BA (Honours) Social Work course has been suspended with immediate effect.

The Evolution of Boko Haram from a local insurgency group into a global Security threat: A contemporary PESTLE analysis of Boko Haram’s rise

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boko haram illustrations

Terrorism is widely recognised as a complex phenomenon shaped by multiple factors, including ideological motivations, political objectives, social grievances, and the strategic use of violence against non-combatants.

Majuli’s Timeless Mask Tradition: The Living Soul of Assam’s Cultural Heritage

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majuli mask

Indian culture is an enduring mosaic of harmony in diversity, where age-old customs and contemporary energy merge into a vibrant legacy. The five-hundred-year mask-making tradition of Assam is a unique specimen of the region’s culture and heritage. The earliest evidence of mask-making in India, as a documented cultural tradition, originates in Assam in the 15th century with Srimanta Sankardeva’s Bhaona performance.

Suspicion as Evidence: The Legal Puzzle of Preventive Detention

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Preventive detention

Preventive detention, while constitutionally permissible, embodies a dangerous paradox as it seeks to preserve democracy by momentarily suspending its core value: liberty. What was intended as a temporary emergency provision has evolved into a permanent feature of governance, frequently used for administrative convenience rather than genuine security threats.

Tirukkural: An Ancient Tamil Masterpiece Guiding Modern Life with Timeless Wisdom and Moral Clarity

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Tirukkural-written-by-the-revered-Tamil-poet-philosopher-Thiruvalluvar.

The Tirukkural is widely regarded as one of the most significant works in Tamil literature and among the most celebrated of the Patiṟeṉkīrkaṉakku or “Eighteen Ethical Works.” As a text that has exerted immense influence on Tamil culture, thought, and moral philosophy, the Tirukkural occupies a central position in the intellectual and ethical heritage of South India.

A Historic Mandate And Democracy’s Response to Anti-Muslim Xenophobia in the West

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New York City Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani celebrates during an election night event in Brooklyn, New York City, November 4, 2025. Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images

Mamdani’s biography itself challenges the xenophobic narratives that have come to define anti-Muslim political campaigns in the West. Born in Kampala, Uganda, in 1991, he represents the cosmopolitan heritage of contemporary multiculturalism. His father, Mahmood Mamdani, is a renowned academic and professor of government and anthropology at Columbia University