Artemis II: A New Era of Human Deep-Space Exploration and Strategic Competition
On April 10, 2026 (U.S. time), corresponding to April 11 in India, the Artemis II mission concluded successfully with the return of the Orion crew module Integrity. Over ten days, four astronauts completed a crewed lunar flyby, traveling to the Moon and back. Beyond its technical accomplishments, the mission marks a historic inflection point, the revival of human deep-space exploration after more than five decades since the Apollo era.
Critical Infrastructure at Risk: Desalination and the Geopolitics of Water in West Asia
Water has long played a multifaceted role in warfare, serving as a weapon, a target, a strategic lever, and a life-sustaining resource. It is indispensable not only for drinking but also for maritime security and economic stability. In early March 2026, the Iranian Foreign Ministry accused Israel of targeting desalination facilities on Qeshm Island, a claim Israel denied.
Unequal Water World: Have we failed to conserve, manage, and protect water?
To begin with, managing freshwater, the elixir of life, has once again been put at the top of the unresolved scheme of the world. Several conferences, workshops and hybrid consultations are being organised to set the agenda for the Third UN Water Conference to be held in early December this year in the UAE. Meanwhile, the UN General Assembly sponsored the International Water Decade, designed to galvanise collaborative action on water-related challenges, which ends in 2028 and is largely off track.
Iran War and the Silence of the Lambs!
When military operations commence, missiles and bombs are deployed, and alliances are scrutinized; silence can indeed be more profound than the roar of weaponry and air raid sirens. In the escalating conflict involving Iran, the most notable sound in international politics may not be the loudness of fighter jets, but rather the relative silence from two of Tehran’s purported strategic partners, namely Russia and China.
Does the Gaza Board of Peace Undermine UN Peacebuilding Architecture?
Amid sustained criticism of the failure of multilateralism, the first quarter of the 21st century has seen multilateral organizations expand in both scope and mandate.
From Gaza to Kashmir: The Limits of Trump’s Conflict-Resolution Diplomacy
Since its inception in 1901, the Nobel Peace Prize has primarily recognised contributions to four broad areas: arms control and disarmament, peace negotiations, the advancement of democracy and human rights, and efforts to build a more orderly and peaceful international system. In the 21st century, the Nobel Committee has also expanded its scope to include initiatives addressing climate change and environmental threats, viewing them as integral to global peace and stability.
Biological Disasters, Climate Extremes, and India’s Air Power–Driven Humanitarian Outreach
India’s recent humanitarian intervention in Sri Lanka following Cyclone Ditwah once again underlined the growing centrality of the Indian Air Force (IAF) in regional disaster response. In November 2024, the IAF deployed IL-76 and C-130J transport aircraft to evacuate 335 stranded Indian nationals from Colombo while simultaneously delivering emergency relief supplies.
COP30 in Belém: Fragmented Multilateralism, Erosion of Climate Mitigation and Inclusion of Trade
Has the 30th edition of the UN-sponsored climate summit, COP30, been delivered as initially expected? Indeed, trust in the Paris Agreement has been maintained and partly fulfilled. Confidence in multilateralism remains strong despite the absence of the second-largest emitter of Greenhouse Gases (GHG), the US. However, the divisions among coalition member groups within COP remain as sharp as they have been in 30 years of climate negotiations.
South Asia’s Quiet Refugee Crisis: Caught Amid Law, Identity, and Climate
I grew up in Guwahati (Assam), where questions of identity were never theoretical. They surfaced in school registers, land records, police verifications, and anxious family conversations. Some people carried documents with them like talismans. Others lived in fear that a single missing paper could erase their place in the only country they had ever known. Long before I understood the politics of migration, I witnessed its emotional cost.